Slicing Cucumber
Where to buy seeds
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Marketmore 80 is a reliable, disease-resistant slicing cucumber that delivers 8- to 9-inch dark green fruits in just 60 to 69 days. This open-pollinated heirloom thrives in zones 2 through 12, making it one of the most adaptable cucumber varieties for home gardeners across North America. Its vigorous vining habit and exceptional resistance to six major diseases, combined with increased beetle tolerance, have made it a trusted standard since its development. Whether you're growing in a garden bed, container with support, or greenhouse, Marketmore 80 produces consistently blocky fruits with white spines that are ready to harvest at their peak.
Full Sun
Moderate
2-12
48in H x ?in W
Annual
High
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The standout feature here is the disease resistance package: Marketmore 80 shrugs off Anthracnose, Cucumber Mosaic Virus, Downy Mildew, powdery mildew, alternaria leaf spot, and scab all at once. That's a real advantage if you garden in humid regions or have had cucumber troubles before. The fruits themselves are blocky with distinctive white spines and a slight taper at the ends, growing to a manageable 8 to 9 inches, and they mature quickly enough that you can succession-plant for continuous harvests through summer. This is an open-pollinated variety, so you can save seeds from your best plants year after year.
Marketmore 80 is a slicing cucumber bred for fresh eating and market production. The blocky shape and consistent 8- to 9-inch size make these cucumbers ideal for slicing into salads, eating fresh off the vine, or packing into pickling jars. Home gardeners appreciate them for their yield and reliable quality throughout the season.
Start seeds indoors 3 to 4 weeks before your last spring frost. Sow seeds in seed-starting mix at a depth of 1/2 inch, keep soil warm at 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and provide bright light once seedlings emerge. Transplant to individual pots when true leaves appear.
Harden off seedlings over 7 to 10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions. Transplant outdoors after your last frost date when soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Space plants 18 inches apart with 48 inches between rows. Plant at the same depth they were growing in containers.
Direct sow seeds outdoors after your last spring frost date when soil temperatures reach 65 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer. Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep, placing 2 to 3 seeds per spot and thinning to the strongest seedling once plants emerge.
Pick cucumbers when they reach 8 to 9 inches long and are still dark green with a firm texture; they should snap slightly when bent. Begin harvesting at 60 to 69 days from planting. Check vines every 1 to 2 days during peak season, as fruit size up quickly. Harvest by gently twisting the fruit or cutting it with pruning shears to avoid damaging the vine. Regular harvesting encourages more flowers and fruit production throughout the season.
Since Marketmore 80 is a vining cucumber, pruning is optional but can improve fruit quality and airflow. If growing on a trellis, you can remove lower leaves once the plant reaches 12 inches tall to reduce disease pressure and make harvesting easier. Pinch off any damaged or diseased leaves as soon as you notice them.
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