You nurtured your cucumbers from seed to plant.You want to get the benefits of your labor.Knowing when and how to pick cucumbers can help you increase your harvest yield and keep your garden healthy.
Step 1: The plant tag or cucumber seed packet can be found here.
You can see when your cucumbers should be ready to harvest and how long they should last.This will make it difficult to find ripe cucumbers.There are other ways to tell when your cucumbers are ripe if you can't locate the seed packet or buy your seedlings from a garden center.Cucumbers are usually ready to harvest about 70 days after they are sown.
Step 2: There are female flowers on the vine.
Cucumbers have male and female flowers, and the first flowers to appear are male.The stem of the flower has a cucumber-shaped swelling.After the female flower appears, it will only take a few days for a cucumber to grow to a mature size.Cucumbers can become bitter if left on the vine too long.
Step 3: The length of your cucumbers is important.
Cucumbers can be ripe at different lengths.Cucumbers grow quickly with plenty of water, so keep an eye on emerging baby cucumbers every day.Cucumbers are ready when they are about 15 cm to 20 cm long.Cucumbers can be found at 2 inches (5.1 cm) long.Some types of cucumbers are even longer than 10 inches.
Step 4: Cucumbers are medium to dark green.
To check for firmness, gently squeeze the cucumbers.The cucumber's color might depend on the variety you are growing.Cucumbers may have a yellow hue.It is possible to determine the proper color of your cucumber by consulting your seed packet.
Step 5: Cut above the cucumber.25 inches to 1 inch from the vine.
Use your other hand to support the cucumber.The cucumber will be bruised if it falls.The fruit can be damaged if people grab it with their hands.Gloves will protect your hands from the prickly cucumber.Cucumbers have thin skins and bruise easily, so be careful with burpless cucumbers.
Step 6: Decide what to use your cucumbers for.
Cucumbers are best used in salads and sandwiches.Cucumbers can be used to make a snack.Cucumbers are meant to be eaten fresh.You can find ideas on how to incorporate fresh cucumbers into a variety of dishes on the internet.
Step 7: Cucumbers should be stored or chilled as necessary.
Cucumbers can be wrapped in plastic or stored in a bag.This helps keep them dry.Cucumbers can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.Cucumbers can stay in the refrigerator for up to 2 days if the temperature is not too cold.Cucumbers can be eaten for up to a year.