Marketmore 80
Cucumis sativus 'Marketmore 80'
An improved version of the classic Marketmore series, this open-pollinated slicing cucumber offers exceptional disease resistance and reliable production for home gardeners. The vigorous vines produce dark green, straight fruits with crisp texture and mild flavor that never turns bitter. This variety has become a standard in home gardens due to its consistent performance and excellent keeping quality.
Harvest
68-70d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
2–11
USDA hardiness
Height
8-18 inches
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Marketmore 80 in USDA Zone 7
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Marketmore 80 · Zones 2–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | June – June | July – August | July – September | October – August |
| Zone 2 | May – June | July – July | July – August | September – September |
| Zone 11 | January – January | February – February | February – March | April – June |
| Zone 12 | January – January | February – February | February – March | April – June |
| Zone 13 | January – January | February – February | February – March | April – June |
| Zone 3 | May – May | June – July | June – August | September – October |
| Zone 4 | April – May | June – June | June – July | September – October |
| Zone 5 | April – April | May – June | May – July | August – October |
| Zone 6 | April – April | May – June | May – July | August – September |
| Zone 7 | March – April | May – May | May – June | July – September |
| Zone 8 | March – March | April – May | April – June | July – August |
| Zone 9 | February – February | March – April | March – May | June – July |
| Zone 10 | January – February | March – March | March – April | May – July |
Succession Planting
Direct sow Marketmore 80 every 14 days from your last frost date through early July in zone 7 — roughly early May through the Fourth of July. At 68–70 days to harvest, a sowing on July 1 should finish before the first fall frost. Stop once daytime highs are running consistently above 90°F; germination stalls and plants that do emerge struggle badly to set fruit in that kind of heat.
If you started seeds indoors in March or April and transplanted in May, one or two succession sowings direct-seeded in late June will carry your harvest into September without much overlap with the first planting's peak production.
Complete Growing Guide
This vigorous open-pollinated cultivar matures quickly at 68–70 days, so succession plant every two weeks for continuous harvest rather than planting all at once. Unlike some slicers prone to bitterness, Marketmore 80's genetic stability means flavor remains consistently mild regardless of heat stress, though plants still prefer full sun and consistent moisture to prevent drought-induced softness. The exceptional disease resistance to powdery mildew and cucumber mosaic virus means you can space vines more densely than traditional varieties, reducing fungal problems. Watch for spider mites in hot, dry conditions—this cultivar's dense foliage can trap heat and create ideal mite habitat, so monitor leaf undersides carefully. A practical tip: pinch the main vine's growing tip once it reaches 8–18 inches to encourage lateral branching, which maximizes fruit production in compact spaces and improves air circulation around the plant.
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: High Organic Matter. Soil pH: Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.. Spread: 3 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Harvest Marketmore 80 cucumbers when they reach 7-8 inches long with a uniformly dark green color and firm, smooth skin texture that yields slightly to gentle pressure. Pick fruits while still crisp and before they begin to yellow or develop soft spots, as this variety maintains excellent quality at this stage. For maximum productivity, adopt continuous harvesting by picking every two to three days rather than waiting for all fruits to mature simultaneously, which stimulates the vines to produce more blooms and extends your harvest season. A crucial timing tip: harvest in early morning when plants are fully hydrated and fruits are coolest, as this preserves crispness and ensures the longest storage life in your refrigerator.
The "vegetable" is botanically a fruit– it is a pepo, a berry with a hard rind. Long and cylindrical, starting out prickly when young and smoothing out to a bumpy surface as it matures. Length and girth can vary based on cultivar and culinary purpose but grow at least 3 in long. Some varieties are bred to be seedless.
Color: Green. Type: Berry. Length: > 3 inches. Width: 1-3 inches.
Garden value: Edible, Showy
Harvest time: Summer
Edibility: Fruits are commonly eaten raw or pickled. Fresh cucumbers last in the fridge for about a week.
Storage & Preservation
Store freshly harvested Marketmore 80 cucumbers in the refrigerator crisper drawer at 50-55°F with high humidity for maximum shelf life of 7-10 days. Wrap individual cucumbers in paper towels to absorb excess moisture and prevent decay. Avoid storing near ethylene-producing fruits like tomatoes and melons, which accelerate ripening and decay.
For preservation, slice cucumbers for refrigerator pickles using a simple vinegar brine—their crisp texture holds well for quick pickles that last 2-3 weeks refrigerated. Marketmore 80's never-bitter flavor makes excellent fermented pickles using traditional salt-brine methods. Dehydrate thin slices at 135°F for crispy cucumber chips. While freezing destroys the crisp texture, frozen cucumber works well in smoothies and cold soups like gazpacho.
History & Origin
An improved cultivar of the original Marketmore line, this open-pollinated variety was developed as part of Cornell University's cucumber breeding program, which focused on creating disease-resistant slicing types for commercial and home garden use. The Marketmore series itself became established in the 1960s and gained recognition for combining productivity with disease tolerance. While specific documentation on the exact year or breeder responsible for the "80" designation remains limited in widely accessible sources, the variety represents the continuation of Cornell's systematic selection work aimed at enhancing resistance to powdery mildew and other common cucumber diseases while maintaining the crisp texture and reliable production characteristics that made the original Marketmore a standard choice among gardeners.
Origin: Himalaya to Northern Thailand
Advantages
- +Exceptional disease resistance makes Marketmore 80 reliable for most gardeners
- +Produces consistently straight, dark green fruits with excellent market appearance
- +Never turns bitter, offering dependable mild and crisp flavor every harvest
- +Open-pollinated variety allows seed saving for future growing seasons
- +Outstanding keeping quality extends shelf life after harvest
Considerations
- -Vulnerable to bacterial wilt spread by cucumber beetles in gardens
- -Susceptible to anthracnose disease in humid or wet conditions
- -Requires consistent watering and warm soil for optimal vine vigor
- -Moderate difficulty level means some gardening experience recommended for best results
Companion Plants
Radishes and nasturtiums do useful work near cucumbers, but in different ways. Radishes draw flea beetles away from cucumber seedlings. Nasturtiums function more like a trap crop — aphids and cucumber beetles find them first, which buys your vines some time. French marigolds (Tagetes patula) are worth planting even if you don't have a confirmed nematode problem; their roots produce thiophenes that suppress Meloidogyne populations in the soil, and NC State Extension specifically recommends a solid planting of them in beds where nematodes have already shown up. Basil is a fine neighbor — no documented antagonism — though I'd grow it for the kitchen rather than any pest-repellent effect.
Potatoes and melons are the two to keep at a distance. Potatoes share soil-borne pathogens with cucumbers and compete aggressively in the same root zone. Melons are fellow cucurbits, so tucking them right next to Marketmore 80 just concentrates cucumber beetle pressure in one corridor — a problem that compounds fast once those beetles start vectoring bacterial wilt.
Plant Together
Basil
Repels aphids, spider mites, and thrips while potentially improving cucumber flavor
Radishes
Deters cucumber beetles and borers, breaks up soil for cucumber roots
Marigolds
Repels cucumber beetles, aphids, and nematodes with natural compounds
Nasturtiums
Acts as trap crop for cucumber beetles and aphids, deters squash bugs
Corn
Provides natural trellis support and shade, complementary root zones
Beans
Fixes nitrogen in soil for cucumber uptake, compatible growth habits
Lettuce
Efficient space use as ground cover, similar water and nutrient needs
Dill
Attracts beneficial insects that prey on cucumber pests
Keep Apart
Aromatic Herbs
Strong herbs like sage can stunt cucumber growth and affect flavor
Potatoes
Compete for similar nutrients and may increase disease susceptibility
Melons
Attract same pests and diseases, cross-pollination can affect fruit quality
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #169225)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Excellent resistance to cucumber mosaic virus, downy mildew, powdery mildew, and angular leaf spot
Common Pests
Cucumber beetles, aphids, spider mites
Diseases
Bacterial wilt, anthracnose
Troubleshooting Marketmore 80
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Plants wilting despite adequate water, lower leaves showing brown blotches and scorched edges, roots look lumpy or knotted
Likely Causes
- Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) — microscopic soil-dwellers that invade roots and disrupt water uptake, causing the characteristic lumpy root galls
- Bacterial wilt (Erwinia tracheiphila), spread by cucumber beetles — clogs the vascular system and causes irreversible collapse
What to Do
- 1.Pull and bag affected plants; don't compost them
- 2.If nematodes are confirmed, plant a solid cover of French marigolds in that bed the following season — NC State Extension notes marigolds suppress nematode populations — and avoid cucurbits, tomatoes, and okra in that spot for several years
- 3.Send a soil sample to your state's nematode assay lab before replanting susceptible crops; NC State Extension points growers to the NCDA&CS Nematode Assay Laboratory for confirmation
Chewed leaves and scarred fruit on seedlings or young plants, small yellowish or striped beetles visible on foliage
Likely Causes
- Striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum) or spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata) — adults feed directly and also vector bacterial wilt
- Eggs overwintered in old plant debris in or near the bed
What to Do
- 1.Remove all cucurbit plant material at season's end and turn the soil to disrupt overwintering eggs — NC State Extension's AG-295 lists this as a primary cultural tactic
- 2.Rotate cucurbits out of the same bed for at least 3 years before returning any cucurbit-family crop to that spot
- 3.Cover plants from germination until flowering with row cover; pull it off once blooms open so pollinators can get in
Powdery white coating spreading across upper leaf surfaces, starting mid to late summer, oldest leaves hit first
Likely Causes
- Powdery mildew (Podosphaera xanthii or Erysiphe cichoracearum) — a dry-weather fungus that moves by airspores, not rain splash
- Dense planting that traps humid air around the foliage
What to Do
- 1.Space plants at least 18–24 inches apart and train vines upward on a trellis to keep leaves out of each other's shadow
- 2.Strip heavily infected leaves and put them in the trash, not the compost pile
- 3.Start a potassium bicarbonate or neem-based spray on a 7-day schedule at the first white patches — once the coating covers more than a third of a leaf, you're playing catch-up
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Marketmore 80 take to grow from seed?▼
Can you grow Marketmore 80 cucumbers in containers?▼
Is Marketmore 80 good for beginner gardeners?▼
What does Marketmore 80 cucumber taste like?▼
When should I plant Marketmore 80 cucumber seeds?▼
How do you prevent bacterial wilt in Marketmore 80 cucumbers?▼
Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.