When to Pick Cucumbers: Maximize Freshness!
Growing and harvesting your own cucumbers can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Getting the timing right for when to pick cucumbers is essential to ensure the best flavor and texture. In this article, you’ll learn the key factors to consider when deciding when to harvest your cucumbers.
Whether growing your cucumbers indoors or harvesting them from your garden, here are the details you need to decide when to pick cucumbers: Your cucumbers should have a nice light or green color when they’re ready for harvest. They should be firm to the touch, but not hard or mushy. Pickling cucumbers will be ready when they are at least 2 inches long. Slicing cucumbers will be about 7-8 inches long to start picking them. When you taste one, it should taste and smell fresh and you should be able to hear the crunch.
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Checking Cucumbers for Ripeness
Cucumbers grow very fast. From seedling to harvest you can expect to have a hearty supply of cucumbers in just a couple of months. Around the 50th day after planting, start checking your cucumber plants for signs of approaching maturity. Usually, cucumbers are ready for harvest in 50 to 70 days
Gently squeeze your cucumbers. Cucumbers that are ready to pick will be firm to the touch. You’ll also want to examine a few of them to make sure that they are uniformly green, which is another indicator of ripeness.
If you’re still not sure if your cucumbers are ready to pick, slice one open and give it a taste. It should be crisp with soft seeds. The area around the seeds should have a jelly-like consistency.
If your cucumbers have turned yellow, they are past their prime and will probably taste bitter.
Specific Signs For When To Pick Cucumbers
You will get the freshest cucumbers when you pick them slightly before they reach maturity. While it can be hard for a novice gardener to know exactly when that is, there are some benchmarks and visual signs that will tell you when the time is right, until you have more gardening experience.
Cucumbers will be ready to pick about 8-10 days after the first female flowers open. Another timeframe that you should consider is the time from the initial planting. This varies between cucumber types and varieties, but it should be between 50-70 days.
Another benchmark for when to pick cucumbers is their size. Pickling cucumbers are usually about 2 inches long, but some varieties can be up to 6 inches. Slicing pickles will be 8 inches or longer when they are ripe for picking, depending upon the variety. In addition to the length, take a look at the girth. Cucumbers that are ripe for picking should be about 1 ½ inches in diameter.
VeggieGardener.com says that another sign to look for is whether the vines are steadily growing up the trellis.
Horticulturist, Melinda Myers, says that if cucumbers are misshapen, your plants may need more water, plant food, or sun.
Here’s another great video about when to harvest cucumbers. ​
How to Pick Cucumbers
During peak season, check your plants every day. Most likely you will have at least a few cucumbers to harvest. The more you pick, the more the plant will produce. Gardner and writer, Bonnie Grant, from Gardening Know How, says that it’s best to check your plants and pick cucumbers in the morning when the vines are cool.
During off-peak season, harvest your cucumbers every other day to be sure they are not getting too large or too mature.
Every fruit may not grow to maturity. Assess your plants for cucumbers that are stunted, not growing or that have rotten ends. Pick and discard cucumbers that are yellow and past their prime. This will leave more nutrition for the healthy plants.
Don’t twist and pull the vine when pulling the cucumbers off the vine. Use garden shears or pruners and cut the stems about ¼ inch above the fruit. Hold the cucumber in your other hand so that it doesn’t drop to the ground and get bruised. Twisting and pulling vines may damage them and reduce your yield.
Certain types of cucumbers, like burpless cucumbers and English cucumbers have a thinner skin, making them more susceptible to bruising. Take a basket out to your plants and lay softer cucumber varieties gently in the basket.
If you plant lemon cucumbers, it can be a bit more difficult to tell when they are ripe. They earned their name because, well, they look kind of like lemons. Bonnie Plants recommends picking lemon cucumbers just before they begin turning yellow. If you wait until they turn yellow all over, the cuke becomes overly seedy and doesn’t taste as good.
As colder weather sets in, about a month before you expect any frost, pinch off any remaining blossoms. The rest of the plants will mature more quickly and you’ll get the most from your crop.
Here’s a super quick video showing exactly how to do it.​
Storing Cucumbers Until You are Ready to Eat Them
If you’ve noticed that the cucumbers that you buy in the grocery store feel waxy, that’s because commercial growers coat them with wax to prevent moisture loss and maintain freshness longer.
Unlike many other fruits and vegetables, cucumbers will not continue to ripen after you pick them.
Pickling cucumbers tend to stay fresher longer than slicing cucumbers. You don’t need to refrigerate them, unless you want to. Store picklers in a cool, dark place for as long as five days before pickling them.
Cucumbers will always freshest when you eat them as soon as possible after picking. You can store most cucumbers in the refrigerator crisper bin for up to three days. Place them in loose plastic, or perforated bags. Don’t stack them on top of one another or place other vegetables on top of them to avoid unnecessary bruising.
Another way to store cucumbers in the refrigerator is to use paper towels to wrap each cuke separately and toss them in a bag. Then, put it into the refrigerator crisper bin. Some gardeners swear that this method works that best and that it keeps cucumbers fresh for up to a week.
Watch this video by Cooking Light to learn more about how to store cucumbers so they stay fresh longer.
Read also our other articles about when to harvest basil and onions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ideal size to harvest cucumbers?
The ideal size to harvest cucumbers depends on the variety and your personal preference. Generally, pickling cucumbers should be 3-4 inches long, while slicing cucumbers are best at 6-8 inches. You can harvest them at a smaller size for a sweeter taste and tender texture.
How can I tell if a cucumber is ripe and ready for picking?
A ripe cucumber will have a firm texture and even, dark green color. The skin should be smooth, without any wrinkles or yellowing. When you gently press the cucumber, it should feel solid, not mushy. A ripe cucumber will also be easy to remove from the vine with just a slight tug.
What is the time frame for harvesting mini cucumbers?
Mini cucumbers typically take 55-65 days to mature after planting. You can expect to harvest them when they reach about 4-6 inches in length or smaller, depending on the specific variety and your preference. Regularly check your mini cucumbers to ensure they are not overripe or becoming too large for their intended use.
How to choose the best cucumbers at the store?
When shopping for cucumbers, look for those with a vibrant, dark green color and firm texture. Avoid cucumbers that have any soft spots, wrinkles, or yellowing, as these are signs of over-ripeness or damage. You may also want to look for cucumbers with the stem still attached, as this can indicate their freshness.
What are the general signs of readiness for different cucumber varieties?
While specific signs of readiness may vary by cucumber variety, there are a few common indicators to look for:
Firm texture and consistent coloration, typically dark green
Smooth skin free of blemishes, wrinkles, or yellowing
Easy separation from the vine when picked
Consult variety-specific guidelines for the most accurate harvest timing and tips.
How long after flowering should I expect cucumbers to be ready for harvesting?
Cucumbers typically take about 10-14 days to mature after flowering. This can be slightly longer or shorter, depending on factors such as the cucumber variety, growing conditions, and weather. Monitor your plants frequently, and look for the signs of ripeness mentioned earlier to determine when they’re ready for harvesting.
