VegetableCucumber
Hartley Cucumber
Hartley is an F1 hybrid cucumber that brings reliable performance and disease resistance to gardens across all zones 2 through 12. This dark green slicer produces blocky 7 to 9 inch fruits with remarkably few white spines, making it as pleasant to handle as it is to eat. Ready to harvest in 60 to 69 days, it grows as a vining plant that adapts equally well to field beds, containers with support, raised beds, and even greenhouse production with adequate pollinator access.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-12
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
2-12
Size
48in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
The real appeal of Hartley lies in its combination of disease resistance and practical growth habit. It shrugs off Anthracnose, Cucumber Mosaic Virus, Downy Mildew, Powdery Mildew, and Leaf Spot, protecting your harvest when other cucumbers falter. Its naturally smooth skin with minimal spines means less work during harvest and a more pleasant eating experience. The fact that it thrives in both hot and cool climates gives gardeners genuine flexibility across seasons.
Common Uses
Hartley is bred as a slicing cucumber, making it the go-to choice for fresh eating, salads, and any preparation where you want crisp, clean cucumber flesh. The blocky shape and consistent 7 to 9 inch length make it equally suitable for pickling if you prefer that route, though its breeding prioritizes the fresh market.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date for your zone once soil has warmed adequately. Space plants 18 inches apart, with rows 48 inches apart if growing horizontally.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds into warm soil after the last frost date.
Harvesting
Pick cucumbers when they reach 7 to 9 inches in length and while the skin is still dark green and firm. Harvest regularly every 2 to 3 days once production begins around day 60 to 69 after planting; frequent picking encourages continued flowering and fruiting. Cut fruits from the vine rather than twisting them to avoid damaging the plant.
Pruning
As a vining variety, Hartley responds well to trellising and support. Train vines onto stakes, trellises, or cages to maximize air circulation, reduce disease pressure, and save garden space. Pruning lateral shoots is optional but can help focus energy into main vine production.
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)