I feel like there needs to be a cucumber discussion thread. I know I like to grow a variety of cucumbers and I am sure I am not the only one.

So come and join us talking about cucumbers.

So today I decided to start a six pack of some Corporal Shmatko cucumbers of which I had gotten seeds at Backer Creek. They look really nice in a pictures and description and are a pickling type.

Not that I will be pickling but I will be eating.

I also direct seeded some Ancient Chinese cucumbers. The other day I had direct seeded my Muncher and Green Fingers cukes.

Still have my main big row of cucumbers to do. But that area needs a lot of work before it can be planted. As in pull weeds and even some wanna be sapling trees!!

I need to finish planting out my tomatoes and peppers before I get to doing that so it will wait. Probably going to plant my Burpless long cucumbers there or maybe Marketmore 76. We will see. I guess I could plant some of each as it is a long space of 12 feet. I trellis the cukes so lots will fit.

Now what type of cucumbers do you prefer, for what use.
I have grown the long smooth ones and the old school prickly ones.
For simple taste in cucumber salad, the old school prickly ones have a slight edge.

For what ever reason cucumbers have been a hit-miss item for me with plants dying, not from bugs, or seeds simply not coming up, although last year I thought the seeds were defunct when I went out to the squash patch and noticed an odd vine.
My cucumber simply had taken a long time to arrive.
If I get enough this year, at once, I may try some pickling for the first time in twenty years again.
I have enough jars to put up three dozen , or more jars but four or five would be all I would do , probably.

I like cucumber salad over mashed potatoes but only the first day can you really taste the cucumber as by the second day they have pickled to the point that while still good the cucumber taste is muted.
With my disfunctional taste buds, that might be an exercise in futility anyway.

I love fresh cucumber salad and also a cucumber and tomato salad. In fact that is my favorite summer type lunch, a big cucumber and tomato salad fresh from the garden.

I never pickled, just eat my cucumbers. No matter if they are those extra long ones or the pickling types they are all great for fresh eating.

I know this sounds dumb but what's cucumber salad? Do you mean just the slices in vinegar?

The one I grew up with was sliced cucumber, chopped onion, salt, pepper, heavy cream and vinegar.

The one I grew up with was that the cucumber was peeled, then you run a fork down the sides-either for looks or to make the cucumber absorb more vinegar? It was apple cider vinegar and a little water, wth S&P on top of the bowl. It never had a name that I remember. My Mom didn't make it, my aunt did, and that's why I don't know if it had a name. I always think of it as Auntie Esther's Cucumbers.

Both mentioned are correct. I have either depending on mood and if I have sour cream in the house, I actually love the sour cream version as I grew up with it because mom made it that way. But I always have vinegar so often it is just with vinegar for the dressing, If course you can use any favorite salad dressing also,

I have started Summer Dance (F1) cucumbers. I grew them last year and they did great for me, had plenty to give away.
I am giving up on the Diva cucumbers, I really like them, but they just don't bear fruit for me.
I will start bush champion later in the season for fall cucumbers - although last year they didn't grow, I didn't need them because the Summer Dance kept bearing.
And what you are calling 'cucumber salad', my family called 'slicers'. Either in just a vinegar marinade (with a little sugar), or with vinegar and sour cream (or cream, or the dreaded mayo).

Oh! So we were having cucumber salad, and there are just different versions/recipes for it. Thanks to both!

Rita, I didn't know you could eat the ones that are for pickling. I wonder why the spiny ones are used mostly for pickling?

I had a great season for cukes last summer. I planted three crops throughout the summer all did well. I am right partial to Marketmore 76. I have been growing them for years and usually have good results. The last several years I have been growing them in five gallon buckets with three plants to a bucket. I use about 3/4 of a bucket of potting mix and a quarter of a bucket of composted cow manure. I train them up a trellis of one sort or another. So far the process has worked well. Cucumber salad is one of my favorite hot weather snacks. I mix white vinegar with sliced onions and some chopped garden grown tomatoes. Can't wait. Good luck in all your gardening endeavors.To add: RpR - I too like cucumber salad on my mashed potatoes.

Her is a blast from the past Rita. Cucumber (Cucumis sativus 'Improved White Spine') Actually it performed well, similar to Early Fortune which was a favorite of my youth. Today most folks want solid dark green in a slicing cuke. This years trial is Raider.

Thought I would save some typing, growing:



Thought the lemon apple seeds would be too old, but they came up. Love spacemaster 80. Trying straight eight for the first time.

We like cucumber salad too, sliced cucumbers, sliced onion, vinegar, sour cream and dill.

farmerdill said:Her is a blast from the past Rita. Cucumber (Cucumis sativus 'Improved White Spine') Actually it performed well, similar to Early Fortune which was a favorite of my youth. Today most folks want solid dark green in a slicing cuke. This years trial is Raider.

I liked you review but I think I would be looking for better performance.

Saltflower said:Rita, I didn't know you could eat the ones that are for pickling. I wonder why the spiny ones are used mostly for pickling?

Any of the pickling cukes I have grown have been very tasty for just fresh eating.

NakedChickenFarm said:Thought I would save some typing, growing:



Thought the lemon apple seeds would be too old, but they came up. Love spacemaster 80. Trying straight eight for the first time.

We like cucumber salad too, sliced cucumbers, sliced onion, vinegar, sour cream and dill.

Looks like a nice selection of cucumbers you will be growing.

Looks like everyone is agreement about liking various cucumber salads!!

Growing Homemade this year for the first time. Nibbled the first tiny one this morning. I did knock the spines off but it was oh, so good!

I wonder why some cukes have spines and others don't?

Well, my funky gardening results last year with all OP plants has led me to plant General Lee hybrids this year. Hope that wasn't too much of a transgression. I've also got some Suyo Long seeds I'm thinking of trying later in the season.

Cucumbers, vinegar, salt-n-pepper, onions....and the longer they marinate the better!!!!!