VegetableCucumber
Spacemaster Cucumber
Spacemaster Cucumber is a dwarf vining cultivar bred for gardeners working with limited space, producing dark green, smooth, slender fruits 7-8 inches long on compact 36-inch vines without runners. This open-pollinated, organic heirloom cucumber reaches harvest in 60-69 days and thrives in hardiness zones 2-13, making it adaptable across nearly every North American growing region. Unlike sprawling cucumber varieties, Spacemaster concentrates its energy into uniform fruit rather than excessive vine growth, allowing you to grow cucumbers in containers, raised beds, and small garden plots where traditional varieties would overwhelm the space.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-13
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Growth Stats
24 in
Height
TypeBush
Spacing
12
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-13
Size
24in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
Dark green, 7-8 inch fruits develop on remarkably compact 36-inch vines with no runners, freeing you from the endless sprawl that typically defines cucumber growing. The dwarf habit makes it one of the few cucumbers genuinely suited to container culture with proper support, yet it doesn't sacrifice productivity or fruit quality. Open-pollinated genetics mean you can save seeds year to year, connecting you to a living heirloom rather than purchasing new seed annually.
Common Uses
Spacemaster cucumbers work equally well fresh sliced for salads or pickled whole due to their uniform 7-8 inch size and slender profile. The manageable fruit length makes them particularly suited to home pickling, where consistent sizing ensures even brining. Fresh consumption as snacking or salad cucumber remains common, though the variety was developed with small-space and container gardening in mind.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date when soil temperatures consistently reach 60°F or warmer. Harden off plants gradually over 7-10 days before moving them to their final location. Space transplants 12 inches apart.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds into warm soil after the last frost date when soil temperatures are at least 60°F. Plant seeds 1 inch deep and thin seedlings to 12 inches apart once they develop their first true leaves.
Harvesting
Harvest fruits when they reach 7-8 inches long and while the skin is still dark green and firm. Cucumbers picked at this size are at peak quality for both fresh eating and pickling. Check plants every 2-3 days once flowering begins, as cucumbers can mature quickly in warm weather. Cut fruits from the vine rather than twisting them to avoid damaging the plant. Consistent harvesting encourages continued production throughout the growing season.
Pruning
Train the vining growth upward onto a trellis, stake, or vertical support system from an early stage. Unlike sprawling cucumber varieties, Spacemaster's naturally compact vines respond well to being guided along vertical structures; this training becomes essential rather than optional when growing in containers or small spaces. Remove any side runners that emerge to direct energy toward vertical growth and fruit production.
Growing Calendar
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Cucumis sativus
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Cucumis
Growth Habit
Bush
Native Status
L48 (I)HI (I)PR (I)CAN (W)
History & Origin
“Spacemaster emerged as a response to a specific gardening problem: the reality that most cucumber varieties demand far more ground than the average home gardener possesses. Developed as an open-pollinated heirloom, this cultivar represents the kind of practical plant breeding that prioritizes real growing conditions over maximum vine vigor. By selecting for compact growth without sacrificing yield or fruit characteristics, breeders created a cucumber that works within constraints rather than demanding endless trellis space.”