Lemon Cucumber
Cucumis sativus
Pick at 1½-2½" diameter. This versatile cucumber is sweet and flavorful, and doesn't have much of the chemical that makes other cucumbers bitter and hard to digest. Though often served raw, Lemon is also a good pickling cucumber. Specialty market salad item. NOTE: Very late to begin bearing. USDA Certified Organic.
Harvest
65d
Days to harvest
Sun
White-Tailed Deer
Zones
2–11
USDA hardiness
Height
8-18 inches
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Lemon Cucumber in USDA Zone 7
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Lemon Cucumber · Zones 2–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Light: White-Tailed Deer. 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
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
Bloom time: Summer
Edibility: Fruits are commonly eaten raw or pickled. Fresh cucumbers last in the fridge for about a week.
History & Origin
Origin: Himalaya to Northern Thailand
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Heat
- +Attracts: Bees
- +Edible: Fruits are commonly eaten raw or pickled. Fresh cucumbers last in the fridge for about a week.
- +Fast-growing
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Basil
Repels aphids, spider mites, and thrips while potentially improving cucumber flavor
Marigold
Deters cucumber beetles, aphids, and nematodes with natural compounds
Nasturtium
Acts as trap crop for cucumber beetles and squash bugs, drawing them away
Radish
Repels cucumber beetles and borers, breaks up soil for cucumber roots
Bush Beans
Fixes nitrogen in soil and doesn't compete for vertical space
Corn
Provides natural trellis support and wind protection for cucumber vines
Dill
Attracts beneficial insects like parasitic wasps that control cucumber pests
Lettuce
Benefits from cucumber's shade and doesn't compete for nutrients
Keep Apart
Aromatic Herbs (Oregano/Mint)
Strong oils can inhibit cucumber seed germination and stunt growth
Sage
Allelopathic compounds suppress cucumber growth and development
Fennel
Releases growth-inhibiting chemicals that stunt most vegetables including cucumbers
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good resistance to cucumber mosaic virus and downy mildew
Common Pests
Cucumber beetles, squash bugs, aphids
Diseases
Powdery mildew, bacterial wilt, downy mildew