VegetableCucumber
Wisconsin SMR Cucumber
Wisconsin SMR Cucumber is an open-pollinated heirloom pickling cucumber bred for serious yields and mild flavor. This non-hybrid variety grows as a vining plant reaching 36 to 48 inches tall, producing its first harvest in just 50 to 59 days. Recommended by Utah State University, it's considered the absolute best non-hybrid pickling cucumber available to home gardeners. It thrives across hardiness zones 2 through 13 in full sun, and its disease resistance to Cucumber Mosaic Virus, Powdery Mildew, and Scab makes it reliable even in challenging seasons.
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
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
Wisconsin SMR-58 is a vining open-pollinated heirloom that produces massive yields of small pickling cucumbers with remarkably mild flavor. The variety grows vigorously on its own vine structure and can be trained onto supports in containers, raised beds, or traditional garden plots. Its proven resistance to three major cucumber diseases, combined with its proven performance at university research stations, makes it a trusted choice for gardeners seeking abundant, disease-resistant pickling cucumbers without hybrid vigor premiums.
Common Uses
This variety shines as a pickling cucumber, which is its primary intended use. The mild flavor and small fruit size are perfectly calibrated for brining whole or in chunks, making it ideal for traditional dill pickles, bread-and-butter pickles, and fermented pickle preparations. While technically suitable for fresh eating, pickling is where Wisconsin SMR-58 delivers its greatest value to the gardener and kitchen.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds outdoors after the last spring frost when soil temperatures reach 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant seeds 1 inch deep in warm, rich soil, spacing seeds 18 inches apart or sowing closer and thinning seedlings after germination.
Harvesting
Harvest Wisconsin SMR-58 cucumbers at the small pickling stage, typically 4 to 6 inches in length, for best flavor and texture in preserved applications. Pick fruit regularly every two to three days once flowering begins to encourage continuous production throughout the season. Cucumbers ready for harvest will be firm, bright green, and have a slightly bumpy skin texture characteristic of pickling varieties. Use a sharp knife or pruning shears to cut fruit from the vine rather than twisting, which can damage the plant. Harvesting at the younger, smaller stage encourages the plant to produce more fruit rather than focusing energy on ripening fewer, larger cucumbers.
Pruning
Wisconsin SMR-58 is a vining variety that benefits from early support structure installation. Train the main vine onto trellises or stakes and allow lateral branches to develop naturally for maximum fruit production. Pinching off the growing tip after the plant reaches the top of its support can encourage branching and more lateral fruit set, though this is optional for gardeners seeking continuous vine growth.
Growing Calendar
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
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 carries a name rooted in agricultural research and regional pride. Developed and studied through university breeding programs, particularly at Utah State University, this variety represents decades of selection for reliable pickling performance. The SMR designation itself points to specific disease resistance traits that were deliberately bred into the line, making it a product of intentional heirloom development rather than chance discovery. Its preservation as an open-pollinated, non-hybrid cultivar means gardeners can save seeds year after year, continuing a tradition of self-sufficiency that defines true heirloom vegetables.”