Growing directions. (From Cornell University's Cooperative Extension Website - will open in new window: close window to return here). These directions say to start the seeds directly outdoors, and this is fine. But you can start them indoors, too, if you prefer: in that case, start the seeds no more than two weeks before you plan to transplant them outdoors - they grow very, very quickly. (And one week before might be safer.)

You can scroll down through the cucumbers or go directly to one of the varieties by clicking here:

Cucumber, Miniature White	Cucumber, Salad Bush Hybrid	Cucumber, Spacemaster Hybrid
Cucumber, West India Burr Gherkin

Cucumber, Miniature White - Item #CUK101 Cucumis melo Vines that rarely grow to more than 3' long will produce lots of little yellow/white cucumbers. For best eating, pick the cukes when they are about 3" long. No need to peel these sweet little cukes. Time to maturity: about 50 to 55 days. Recommended container size: Minimum soil depth of 10", minimum diameter of 14" to 15" (larger would be even better). Quantity - 15 seeds Price - $1.90

Cucumber, Salad Bush Hybrid - Item #CUK105 Cucumis melo A great container choice, Salad Bush Hybrid's vines are only about 2' to 3' feet long. It has lots of 7" to 8" dark green cucumbers. Good disease resistance. Time to maturity: about 58 days. Recommended container size: Minimum soil depth of 10", minimum diameter of 14" to 15" (larger would be even better). Quantity - 15 seeds Price - $1.75

Cucumber, Spacemaster Hybrid - Item # CUK102 Cucumis melo Spacemaster Hybrid is one of the few cucumbers suitable for container-growing without being trellised. It's small and bushy, and bears prolifically. The plant will be about 3' in diameter. The cucumbers are about 7" to 8" long when ready to pick (normal size cukes) and will be ready about 60 days after planting the seeds. Recommended container size: Minimum soil depth of 10" is recommended: I would give this plant at least a 14" diameter container, and preferably larger. A laundry-basket lined with black plastic would work very well here. Quantity - 15 seeds Price - $1.60

Cucumber, West India Burr Gherkin - Item #CUK103 Cucumis anguria West India Burr Gherkins have a long history: originally from West Africa, they were introduced to Jamaica in the 17th century, in connection with the slave trade. Seeds were brought to the USA from Jamaica in 1793. These are not a "true cucumber" and will not cross with the "true cucumbers": you can grow them side-by-side. They are grown in the same manner as "true cucumbers". Burr gherkins have lovely long vines (trellising is necessary) that bear hundreds of small, tasty, odd-looking little cucumbers. The cucumbers must be eaten or pickled when very young: about 1 and 1/2" long. If you let them get larger, they will become bitter and covered with rubbery spines. Burr gherkins have some definite advantages: they do very, very well in hot and humid areas. They are also not subject to the insect pests/diseases that can bother true cucumbers. If you can manage trellising or some other kind of support, this would be a very interesting plant to grow. It would make an excellent "green curtain" in front of a south-facing window, keeping out the hot sun. Recommended container size: (I can only guess - I have not grown this yet, nor can I locate any references to container size for it.) My guess would be a container at least 12" deep and at least about 12" across. Quantity - 20 seeds Price - $ 1.60

Cucumber, Bush Pickle - Item #CUK104 Maturing in about 50 days. These compact vines produce many 3 to 4" fruit, good for either whole or sliced pickles. Great for small spaces. Recommended container size: Try growing 2 plants in a 5 gallon container. Quantity - 20 seeds Price - $ 1.75

Cucumber, Little Leaf - Item #CUK106 Compact and stress tolerant. These plant produce medium sized, blocky fruit on short, multi-branching vines. The leaves are only 1/2 the size of other cucumbers making it easier to find the fruit. The plants are parthenocarpic, meaning they set fruit without pollination! Good for fresh eating or pickling this 57 day plant is cool tolerant and good for container growing indoor and out. Recommened Container Size: try 1 to 2 in a 5 gallon or larger pot. Quantity - 15 seeds Price - $ 1.75

Cucumber,Cool Breeze - Item #CUK107 These 5' vines produce numerous 4-5" Fench Cornichon type cukes that are great for making sweet pickles or slicing fresh into salads. This is a all female variety, and will set fruit without pollination. So would be good not only for small gardens but also in a greenhouse or in a brightly lit window. Recommended Container Size: 1 to 2 plants in a 5 gallon container. Quantity - 20 seeds Price - $ 1.75