Straight Eight Cucumber
Cucumis sativus 'Straight Eight'
A reliable 1935 All-America Selections winner that produces perfectly straight, 8-inch dark green cucumbers with excellent flavor and crisp texture. This dependable heirloom variety is prized by home gardeners for its consistent shape, disease resistance, and versatility in both fresh eating and pickling applications.
Harvest
58-65d
Days to harvest
Sun
White-Tailed Deer
Zones
2–11
USDA hardiness
Height
8-18 inches
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Straight Eight Cucumber in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 vine →Zone Map
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Straight Eight 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
Radishes
Repels cucumber beetles and squash bugs, helps break up soil for cucumber roots
Marigolds
Deters cucumber beetles, aphids, and nematodes with natural compounds
Nasturtiums
Acts as trap crop for squash bugs and cucumber beetles, repels aphids
Bush Beans
Fixes nitrogen in soil, doesn't compete for vertical space with vining cucumbers
Corn
Provides natural trellis support for vining cucumbers, efficient space usage
Dill
Attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs and parasitic wasps that control cucumber pests
Lettuce
Grows well in cucumber's shade, maximizes garden space without competition
Sunflowers
Attracts pollinators essential for cucumber fruit development, provides natural support
Aromatic Herbs
Oregano, thyme, and chives repel cucumber beetles and improve overall garden health
Keep Apart
Sage
Inhibits cucumber growth through allelopathic compounds and competes for nutrients
Melons
Attracts same pests like cucumber beetles, increases disease pressure and competition
Potatoes
May increase susceptibility to blight diseases and compete heavily for soil nutrients
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good resistance to cucumber mosaic virus and downy mildew
Common Pests
Cucumber beetles, aphids, spider mites
Diseases
Bacterial wilt, powdery mildew, angular leaf spot