Diva Cucumber is an open-pollinated variety that delivers exceptional flavor in a compact, fast-maturing package. This All-America Selections winner produces dark green, semi-glossy fruits 6 to 8 inches long and reaches harvest in just 58 days from transplants, making it one of the speediest cucumbers you can grow. Hardy across zones 2 through 12, it thrives in full sun with moderate water and compact growth that adapts well to both garden beds and containers.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-12
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Preferred Temp70-85°F
Growth Stats
72 in
Height
—
Width
18 in
Spacing
58–58
Days to Harvest
PeriodAnnual
TypeVine, Forb/herb
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-12
Size
72in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
Pick these cucumbers small and you'll experience why Diva earned its AAS recognition, delivering especially flavorful, tender fruit with a distinctly sweet character. The variety is parthenocarpic, meaning it sets fruit without pollination, which makes it exceptionally reliable for greenhouse, high tunnel, and outdoor growing. Its compact growth habit and spineless skin make harvesting effortless, and with consistent picking you'll enjoy a steady supply throughout the season.
Common Uses
Diva Cucumber shines as a fresh eating cucumber, especially when harvested at its ideal small size where flavor and tenderness peak. The burpless characteristics and spineless skin make it exceptional for slicing into salads, serving fresh with dips, or preparing quick pickles. Its consistent size and shape also suit it well for uniform cuts in meal prep and crudités platters.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Late Spring
First Harvest
Early Summer
Last Harvest
Early Fall
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Sow seeds indoors in 50-cell plug trays with 1 to 2 seeds per cell 3 to 4 weeks before your planned transplant date. Maintain temperatures above 70°F during the day and no lower than 60°F at night for optimal germination and growth. Germination requires soil temperatures between 65 and 80°F.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings outdoors when both soil and air temperatures have fully warmed, spacing plants 18 inches apart in rows 60 inches apart. Handle seedlings gently to avoid disturbing the roots during transplanting. Wait until frost danger has completely passed, as this variety is frost-tender and cold temperatures will stunt or kill young plants.
Harvesting
Begin harvesting when fruits reach 6 to 8 inches long, which occurs around 58 days from transplanting. The ideal time to pick is when the skin is dark green and semi-glossy; harvest at this small size for maximum flavor and tenderness. Pick daily once fruit bearing begins to encourage the plant to continue producing, and never let overripe fruits remain on the vine as they signal the plant to stop flowering. Handle fruits gently when harvesting to avoid bruising.
Pruning
Pruning is not necessary for Diva Cucumber given its naturally compact growth habit. The variety develops a controlled plant form that doesn't require significant training or cutting back.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Cucumis sativus L.
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Cucumis
Duration
Annual
Growth Habit
Bush
Native Status
L48 (I)HI (I)PR (I)CAN (W)
History & Origin
“Diva Cucumber emerged as an All-America Selections winner in 2002, representing a significant achievement in cucumber breeding. The variety was developed as a gynoecious parthenocarpic type, combining the all-female flowering characteristic with the ability to set fruit without pollination. This breeding advancement addressed a practical need for reliable, high-yielding cucumbers in both commercial and home garden settings, particularly for protected cultivation in greenhouses and high tunnels where pollinator access is limited.”