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So we planted a cucumber plant for the first time last month. That vine is crazy filled with flowers. This morning I noticed a fruit, about the size of a big dill pickle. My hubby does not know when it's okay to pick it off the vine. Is there a recommended size? Basically, how do we know when it's ready to be picked? Does it change color, get soft, any other sign we should watch out for?
The size and color will depend on the type of cucumber, but generally speaking they should be about 5 to 8 inches long and firm. If you still have the card that came with the plant I would check that because size may vary. You can always pick them smaller (for example if you where going to make pickles) but whatever you do just don't let them get too big, they can be very bitter.
Congratulations on your first cucumber. Do you know what kind you have? Pickling cucumbers are grow to about 4" and regular cucumbers grow to about 6-8".
I don't really pay attention to size. I pick them when I want them or need them. The smaller they are the smaller the seeds
Congratulations on your first cucumber. Do you know what kind you have? Pickling cucumbers are grow to about 4" and regular cucumbers grow to about 6-8".
I don't really pay attention to size. I pick them when I want them or need them. The smaller they are the smaller the seeds
We do the same, we don't want them full of seeds so like the little ones. OP, if it is any size to speak of it is ready, depending on what you want. It is not like say, a tomato that has to be ripe or a pepper that has to be ready or a piece of fruit.
Dang, how large I let them get depends upon what I intend to do with them. For sandwich slices I let them get a bit larger than a yellow squash, for refrigerator pickles, it's the same, for sweet pickles I don't let them get more than 4 inches long.
It probably depends on what kind of cucumber it is, to be sure. Unless it's a pickling cuke, I would say wait until it's skin is nice and dark and fairly plumped out.
Seriously, you can harvest them anytime you want. They don't get ripe the way a tomato gets ripe.
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. Do you know what kind you have? Pickling cucumbers are grow to about 4" and regular cucumbers grow to about 6-8".
