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Cucurbitaceae
CUCUMIS sativus 'Cross Country'
Cross Country Cucumber, Cucumber
The old-fashioned pickling cucumber, ‘Cross Country’, produces lots of perfect crunchy pickling cucumbers that are ready for harvest only 53 days after planting. Its moderately compact vines produce heavily in the warmth of summer.
Asian in origin, cucumbers have been cultivated since ancient times. These frost-tender annual vines thrive in the warmth and sunshine of summer. They have large, broadly lobed leaves that are green and scratchy to the touch. When mature they produce yellow flowers that are either male or female. Pollen-bearing male flowers are produced first, followed by the fruit-bearing female flowers. The female flowers are easily recognizable by the bulbous ovaries at their bases.
Mature cucumbers are elongated or rounded, can be various shades of green and have small prickles on their skins. Some cucumbers are bred to be harvested young for pickles while others are raised to be harvested when more mature and used for slicing. Overripe specimens turn yellow and have softer flesh and large, firm and inedible seeds, so it’s best to harvest them when they are young and crisp.
Grow your cucumbers in full sun and fertile, evenly moist, perfectly drained garden loam. After threat of frost has passed, sow cucumber seeds directly in the ground. If transplanting container-grown plants take care to not damage their tender white roots unless they are root-bound. Root-bound plants can be saved only if their roots are gently teased apart before planting. Be sure to harvest fruits regularly, so they will continue to flower and produce fruit.
Cucumbers may be trained on a trellis or cage or allowed to ramble freely across the ground. Fresh or pickled, cucumbers are a favorite vegetable, and they are as easy to grow as they are tasty.
12 - 1
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Vegetable
Full Sun
6"-10" / 15.2cm - 25.4cm
4'-5' / 1.2m - 1.5m
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
Southern Asia
Neutral
Well Drained
Loam
Very Fast
Average Water
Vining/Climbing
Summer, Fall
Showy
Yellow, Gold
Dark Green
Green
Yellow, Green
No
Single
Yes
Coarse
Matte
Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Vine
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