Boston Pickling, Cucumber Seeds

Boston Pickling Cucumber Seed

Time-honored heirloom produces heavy crops for preserving
Smooth medium cucumbers reach ideal pickling proportions
Vigorous vines reward frequent, regular harvesting
Turn the crisp bounty into classic homemade pickles

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Key Attributes

Botanical Name

Cucumis sativus

Days to maturity

52 Days

Sun

Full Sun

Packet

25 Seeds

About Boston Pickling, Cucumber Seed, Cucumber Seed

Boston Pickling cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is a time-honored heirloom variety with roots reaching back to the late 1800s, when it was widely grown and highly regarded. Vigorous, productive vines set heavy crops of smooth, medium-sized cucumbers with a bright green color and uniform shape. Renowned for pickling, the fruit has crisp, tender flesh and consistently high quality, making it a standout choice for both home and commercial use.

Growing details

Planting

Sow Depth

1/2"

Days to Germination

3–10 days

In-row plant spacing

12-18"

Row Spacing

Plant profile

Maturity

Summer

Life Cycle

Annual

Plant Height

8-12"

Growth Habits

Vining, Climbing

Type

PICKLING CUCUMBERS

Seed & variety

Seeds Per Ounce

1,177

Color

Green

Seed Type

Heirloom

Growing Season

Warm-Season Crop

Before Planting

Prepare for Cucumber by selecting a full-sun, warm location with fertile, well-drained soil and ample space for vines. Incorporate compost and correct nutrients according to a soil test, then shape raised beds or hills where drainage is slow. Wait until the soil is warm, and install trellises before planting if cucumber will be trained vertically.

Planting

Direct sow cucumbers after frost danger has passed and soil reaches about 65–70°F, or start them indoors only 3–4 weeks earlier in individual cells. Keep the medium warm and evenly moist. Harden seedlings briefly and transplant without disturbing their sensitive roots. Space trellised cucumbers about 12 inches apart; allow bush or ground-grown types roughly 3 feet.

Watering

Cucumbers need steady moisture from flowering through harvest, usually 1–2 inches per week. Direct deep irrigation toward the roots and avoid sharp wet-dry swings, which can reduce yield or leave fruit misshapen.

Fertilizer

Side-dress cucumber with balanced fertilizer after establishment and again as flowering or fruiting begins. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which promotes foliage while reducing flowers, fruit, or maturity.

Harvesting

Pick cucumbers when they reach the variety’s intended size, color, and firmness, before seeds enlarge or skin yellows. Cut the stem rather than pulling, and harvest every one or two days to sustain production.

Tips

Train vines onto a trellis to improve airflow and produce straighter fruit. Hand-pollinate early flowers when pollinator activity is low, and remove row covers once female flowers appear.

AVG. Seeding Rate

30 seeds/15', 100 seeds/50', 250 seeds/125', 500 seeds/250', 1,000 seeds/500', 15M/acre at 2 seeds/ft. in rows 6' apart.

Disease Resistance Abbreviations

ALS, DM, PM, S

Angular Leaf Spot, Downy Mildew, Powdery Mildew, Scab

Pests & Diseases

Bacterial wilt, downy mildew, powdery mildew, anthracnose, and angular leaf spot are key cucumber diseases. Sudden wilt following cucumber-beetle feeding strongly suggests bacterial wilt; remove the vine. Use resistant varieties, exclude beetles before flowering, rotate cucurbits, and avoid overhead irrigation where angular leaf spot recurs.

Cucumber beetles, aphids, and spider mites are key cucumber pests; squash bugs and vine borers may also appear. Cover seedlings before bloom, uncover them for pollination, and remove beetles or egg clusters early.