Saladmore Bush Cucumber

Start seeds indoors 3 to 4 weeks before your last spring frost in soil temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Sow at a depth of approximately 1 inch. Transplant seedlings outdoors once they've developed true leaves and soil temperatures have stabilized, typically after all frost danger has passed.

Transplant hardened seedlings outdoors after your last spring frost when soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Space plants 12 inches apart with 48 inches between rows. Cucumber roots are sensitive to disturbance, so handle seedlings gently and plant at the same depth they were growing indoors.

Direct sow seeds outdoors after your last spring frost when soil temperature reaches 65 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer. Sow seeds 1 inch deep, spacing them 12 inches apart with 48 inches between rows. Thin seedlings as needed once they've sprouted.

Harvest cucumbers when they reach 7 to 8 inches long and maintain a deep green color; don't wait for them to yellow, which signals overmaturity and bitterness. Pick them regularly, every 2 to 3 days once production begins, to encourage the plant to keep flowering and setting fruit. Cut or gently twist cucumbers from the vine rather than yanking, which can damage the plant. For pickling, harvest while the cucumbers are slightly smaller and the skin is still tender.