Pickling cucumbers also are flavorful and good to eat fresh, although not as large as slicing cucumbers.
Slicing cucumbers, however, do not make good pickles due to their high water content.
No matter which variety you choose, you’ll enjoy their fresh, crispy texture and versatility.
The Spruce / Margot Cavin
Regardless of variety, we’ll talk you through the basics of how and when to harvest cucumbers.
Check the vines daily after they start to produce.
The cucumber should feel firm.
The Spruce / Margot Cavin
Here are some general guidelines:
How to Harvest Cucumbers
Wear gloves when you harvest cucumbers.
Some of them, particularly pickling varieties, are prickly.
Use a sharp knife orprunersto cut the cucumber of the vine.
Be sure to leave a small, one-inch section of stem attached to the cucumber.
This prevents the stem end from rotting in storage if you won’t be using the cucumber right away.
If you twist or pull on the vine, the plant can be damaged.
The Spruce / Sandhya Moraes
The burpless varieties of cucumbers are susceptible to bruising.
Lay them gently in a container as you gather the ripe fruit.
Picking the cucumbers as soon as they are ready encourages the plant to produce longer into the season.
Pickling cucumbers will last a bit longer.
