VegetableCucumber
Wisconsin Smr-58 Pickling Cucumber
Wisconsin SMR-58 is an heirloom pickling cucumber bred for serious pickle makers who demand both yield and flavor. This open-pollinated variety produces abundant harvests of mild-flavored fruits in just 50-59 days, thriving in zones 2-13 with full sun and moderate water. The vining plants reach 36-48 inches and are equally at home sprawling across garden beds, climbing trellises, or growing in containers with support, delivering the dependable performance that made this variety a standard in commercial and home pickling operations.
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
48 in
Height
TypeVining
Spacing
18
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-13
Size
48in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
Wisconsin SMR-58 earns its reputation as one of the best non-hybrid pickling cucumbers through sheer productivity and exceptional disease resistance. The plants deliver massive yields of mild-flavored fruits perfectly suited to soaking up pickling brines, while standing up to Cucumber Mosaic Virus, Powdery Mildew, and Scab. Fast maturity means you can pick at the ideal stage for pickling, capturing crisp texture and subtle flavor that more bitter varieties simply can't match.
Common Uses
Wisconsin SMR-58 is purpose-built for pickling. The fruits are harvested at just the right stage to deliver the crisp, snappy texture and mild flavor that makes exceptional dill pickles, bread-and-butter pickles, and fermented preserves. The prolific harvest means you'll have plenty of fruit coming in over the 50-59 day window to preserve for months, whether you're a canning enthusiast or exploring fermentation for the first time.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds once soil has warmed to at least 65-80 degrees Fahrenheit and all frost danger has passed. Plant seeds 1-2 weeks after your region's last spring frost date for best results.
Harvesting
Harvest Wisconsin SMR-58 cucumbers at 50-59 days from planting, picking fruits when they reach the ideal size and color for pickling. Check plants every 2-3 days once flowering begins, as fruits intended for pickling should be harvested before they become large or waxy. Pick by gently twisting and lifting each fruit from the vine, being careful not to damage the plant. Consistent harvesting encourages more flowering and continued production throughout the season.
Pruning
No pruning is necessary for Wisconsin SMR-58. The vining growth habit naturally spreads across supports or ground space. When training onto trellises, gently guide new growth upward rather than pruning aggressively, as side shoots and lateral branching contribute to overall yield.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Cucumis sativus
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Cucumis
Growth Habit
Vining
Native Status
L48 (I)HI (I)PR (I)CAN (W)
History & Origin
“Wisconsin SMR-58 emerged from decades of horticultural refinement focused on creating a pickling cucumber that could meet the demands of both commercial canners and home food preservers. The variety's development prioritized disease resistance, consistent fruit production, and the mild flavor profile that made pickles more approachable to broader audiences. As an open-pollinated, heirloom cultivar, it represents a deliberate choice to preserve genetics that perform reliably year after year, allowing gardeners to save seeds and continue growing the same reliable variety indefinitely.”