National Pickling Cucumber

Cucurbitaceae

Developed 1924 by Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station for National Pickle Packers Association. THE standard pickling cucumber for nearly a century. Short, thick, blunt-ended cylinder with black spines. Tapered ends fit pickle jars perfectly. Heavy continuous yields. Resistance to scab and cucumber mosaic virus. Versatile: excellent fresh eating at larger sizes too. EARLIEST cucumber in this set (50-58 DTM). Shorter vines (3-4 ft) — best container cucumber.

At a Glance

Days to Maturity

50–58 days

Sun

6+ hours

Container

Yes

3+ gallon pot

Zone Planting Guide

Your USDA Zone:

Growing Guide

Germination

Germination Time 3–10 days

Optimal Temp 85°F

Seed Depth 1"

Watering

Weekly Water 1–2 "

Needs High

Method Base watering only.

Soil

pH Range 6–6.8

Resilience

Heat: High Cold: Low Drought: Medium

Nutrition

Feeding Intensity Heavy feeder

Recommended Recipes Worm castings topdress, Compost tea, Kelp foliar

Harvest

Storage 10 days

Sources

seed-catalog Victory Seed Company — National Pickling (history) seed-catalog High Mowing Organic Seeds seed-catalog Pinetree Garden Seeds university University of Minnesota Extension — Growing cucumbers in home gardens university Kansas State University Extension — Bitter cucumbers fact sheet university Colorado State University Extension — PlantTalk: Warm season vegetables (frost tender, best growth temps)

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National Pickling Cucumber Planting Dates by Zone

Planting dates for National Pickling Cucumber vary by USDA hardiness zone. Select your zone below for frost dates, start-indoors timing, and a full monthly planting calendar.

Zone 5A Zone 5B Zone 6A Zone 6B Zone 7A Zone 7B Zone 8A Zone 8B Zone 9A Zone 9B

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