Shimshon Cucumber is a hardy, heat-tolerant heirloom bred in Israel by the late Ezra Gallon, a respected plant breeder at the Weizmann Institute. Named after Samson the biblical hero, this variety lives up to its namesake with exceptional resilience and strength in challenging growing conditions. The fruits reach 5 to 5.5 inches long and mature in 55 to 70 days, producing crispy, crunchy, sweet cucumbers that reward gardeners who choose this variety for its reliable performance and delicious flavor.
Full Sun
Moderate
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Bred specifically for toughness and heat tolerance, Shimshon delivers crispy, sweet fruit in just 55 to 70 days without demanding perfect conditions. The Israeli breeder Ezra Gallon named this variety as a tribute to strength and resilience, qualities that shine through in its ability to thrive where other cucumbers struggle. At 5 to 5.5 inches long, the fruits are compact enough for quick harvests yet substantial enough to slice and enjoy fresh.
Shimshon cucumbers are eaten fresh, sliced raw into salads, and preserved through pickling. The compact 5 to 5.5 inch size makes them particularly well suited to quick preparation and whole or halved pickling, where their crisp texture holds up beautifully. The sweet flavor and crunchy bite work equally well in fresh salads or as a crisp snack straight from the garden.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds directly into warm soil after the last frost date, when soil temperature reaches at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit (ideally 70 degrees or warmer for faster germination).
Pick cucumbers when they reach 5 to 5.5 inches long for peak crispness and sweetness. Harvest regularly and before they yellow or oversized, as this encourages the plant to produce more fruit throughout the season. The fruits should feel firm and have a bright green color; twist or cut them gently from the vine to avoid damaging the plant.
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“Shimshon was developed by the late Ezra Gallon, a plant breeder who worked with Israel's prestigious Weizmann Institute. Gallon named the variety for Samson the Hero, embedding into its very name a message about strength and the ability to overcome difficult circumstances. This deliberate choice reflected his intention to create a cucumber that would perform exceptionally well despite harsh growing conditions, drawing on decades of plant breeding knowledge and a deep understanding of what farmers and gardeners needed from their crops.”