Harvesting Cucumbers

Generally the time to harvest for cucumbers is approximately sixty to seventy days from planting to harvest. Cucumbers can be picked at anytime there is fruit, of course depending on the cucumber variety and use of the fruit. Cucumbers should be picked early in the morning and refrigerated immediately. The larger a cucumber gets, the more of it's flavor is lost, becoming bitter and unpalatable. Cucumbers that have turned yellow are past their peak. Once the first cucumbers are ready to be harvested cut the vine about a half an inch above the fruit. Harvest all of the vegetables before maturity to ensure quality fruits and a higher yields. During harvest time, cucumbers should be picked at least every other day, with daily harvesting being ideal.

The two varieties of cucumbers that the home gardener would mainly encounter would be pickling, and slicing varieties. Pickling cucumbers should be picked daily before they have the chance to grow too large. Slicing cucumbers should be picked before the get larger than eight inches. Any larger and the seeds harden, and the flavor begins to bitter a bit.

As a general rule of thumb, again depending on the variety cucumbers meant as pickles should be picked when they are about two inches long, but you could go up to six inches long depending on your personal preference. Slicing cucumbers should be picked when they reach about eight inches long.

When harvesting your cucumbers be sure to remove any failed fruits to keep your plants productive.