Slicing Cucumber
Dar is a compact Polish heirloom cucumber that rewrites the rulebook for gardeners working with limited space. This bush-type variety produces bumpy, brightly striped fruit measuring 4, 6 inches long and reaches only 4, 6 inches in mature height, making it ideal for containers, small gardens, or tight quarters. Ready to harvest in 50, 60 days, Dar yields fruit that holds remarkably well on the plant, eliminating the frantic daily picking required of many cucumber varieties. What truly sets it apart is its proven tolerance to downy mildew, a common scourge in humid summer climates, combined with its versatility as both a slicing and pickling cucumber.
Full Sun
Moderate
?-?
6in H x ?in W
Annual
Moderate
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Dar brings European heritage and practical elegance to small-space gardening. The striking bumpy, striped exterior isn't just beautiful, it signals a dual-purpose cucumber equally at home on a summer salad or in a pickling jar. The bush habit and compact growth mean you can tuck it into containers or fill gaps in crowded beds without the sprawling vines that consume garden real estate. Its fruit's tendency to stay put on the plant rather than hiding under leaves makes harvesting effortless, and downy mildew resistance means you won't be battling one of the season's most frustrating fungal problems.
Dar shines as a dual-purpose cucumber, equally suited to fresh slicing and pickling. Its 4, 6 inch size and crisp texture make it perfect for quick snacks straight from the garden or chopped into summer salads, while its compact fruit shape and firm flesh render it ideal for whole-jar pickling projects. The variety's all-purpose nature means a single planting can supply both your fresh-eating and preserving needs.
Sow Dar directly into warm soil after the last frost date, when soil temperature reaches at least 60°F. Plant seeds in small hills or clusters spaced 12 inches apart, thinning to the strongest seedling per site once plants have developed true leaves.
Pick Dar cucumbers when they reach 4, 6 inches long and while the skin still feels firm and the bumpy striping is bright and vivid. Harvest regularly, every 2, 3 days during peak season, to encourage continued flowering and fruiting. The variety's fruit holds well on the plant, so you won't face the pressure to pick constantly, but regular harvesting ensures tender, flavorful cucumbers and prevents oversized, seedy fruit from developing.
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“Dar emerged from Polish cucumber breeding, bringing Old World genetics into modern small-space gardens. As a superb new Polish variety, it represents the ongoing evolution of heirloom cucumbers within Eastern European gardening traditions, where compact growth and disease resilience have long been priorities for home gardeners managing limited plots.”