Demeter is an exclusive hybrid cucumber bred for labor-saving greenhouse and tunnel production, reaching harvest in just 48 days from transplants. This parthenocarpic slicer produces thin-skinned fruit that requires careful handling but rewards growers with consistently high-quality cucumbers in controlled growing environments. Its compact growth habit and reliable performance under protection make it a game-changer for commercial and serious home gardeners who want to extend their harvest season while minimizing pollination challenges.
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Moderate
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Moderate
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Demeter's real advantage lies in its parthenocarpic nature, which means it sets fruit without requiring pollination, a genuine benefit when growing in greenhouses or tunnels where pollinators are scarce. At just 48 days from transplant to harvest, it's remarkably fast. The thin-skinned fruit demands more attention during harvest and storage, but this thin skin also delivers the tender, refined quality that makes greenhouse cucumbers so prized by chefs and discerning gardeners.
Demeter is grown specifically for fresh slicing, where its thin skin and refined quality shine. It excels in greenhouse and tunnel production systems where growers want consistent, high-quality fruit for market or personal use.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds indoors in 50-cell plug trays, placing 1 to 2 seeds per cell, 3 to 4 weeks before your planned transplant date. Maintain soil temperature at 80 to 85°F using a heat mat until seedlings emerge, then lower temperatures to 73 to 76°F during the day and a minimum of 70°F at night. Transplant once seedlings develop approximately 3 true leaves and before they begin to stretch in the tray.
Move hardened-off seedlings outdoors once they have 3 true leaves. In greenhouse or tunnel systems, transplant into prepared beds and space plants 12 to 18 inches apart in 2 rows per bed. Ensure soil temperature is warm and consistent before planting.
Pick cucumbers at 48 days after transplanting when they reach optimal size for slicing. Handle fruit gently during harvest to avoid abrasions and cuts, which show prominently on the thin-skinned fruit and reduce shelf life and quality.
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