how to cut a cucumber off the vine

Cucumbers often have prickly spines covering their skin, so you may want to wear a pair of gloves to protect your hands. Simply cut a cucumber in half and scrape out the seeds to make boat slices from Bite Delight. When doing this, place your scissors around a quarter-inch above your cucumber, snipping it from the vine. Cut off any damaged or unhealthy cucumbers using pruning shears. Size, color, and firmness are the three criteria that can help you determine if it is time to harvest the cucumbers. Use garden shears or pruners and cut the stems about ¼ inch above the fruit. Spot all laterally growing shoots and remove them. Basically, cucumber is a vine crop, or as many call them, climbing vegetables. To get the maximum flavor from your cukes, you will want to harvest them when they are at the peak of ripeness, but when is that? First, … This will leave more nutrition for the healthy plants. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Cucumbers come in different types such as: pickling, slicing, seedless, and burpless – just to name a few. Wear gloves when you harvest cucumbers. This fruit develops quickly, and is ready for harvest eight to 10 days after the female flowers open. Cucumber belongs to the cucurbit family and is found in three types, i.e., seeded, seedless, and small-sized. You know this if you have ever purchased a cantaloupe that doesn’t seem ripe, but was a great price so you decided to see if it would ripen further on the kitchen counter. Best Way To Cut Cucumbers Off The Vine: The easiest way to do this, and the least stressful for the plant, is to cut the cucumber off the vine with a sharp knife or pruners. Starting at the beginning of the shoot, make a cut as close to the main stem as possible. You can grow them on the well-drained ground, on poles, or on trellises where it's suspended in the air. Cucumbers will continually fruit and ripen for some time. Make the cut about one-quarter inch above the blossom end of the cucumber fruit. Overlap cucumber slices like flower petals on a plate and serve a colorful salad in the center of the display. Now that you have found a cucumber that is ready to pick, place the scissors about a 1/4-inch above the cucumber and snip the cucumber from the vine. Begin checking the length of your cucumbers a week before the day marked on your calendar. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Pick the largest fruit first by cutting them from the vine and continually harvest fruit to encourage ongoing production. The easiest way to do this, and the least stressful for the plant, is to cut the cucumber off the vine with a sharp knife or pruners. Another of my Facebook fans – Debbie Smith Runnels suggested this option for a trellis: “I had some cut off limbs from my confederate roses, which I cut every year when finished blooming. Keep reading to find out all about the ripening of cucumbers. How to Harvest Cucumbers To prevent damage to the vines, cut your ripe cucumbers off with a pair of scissors or a knife. Slicing with the Julienne Cut Hold your knife properly. Another cool way (pun intended) to store cucumbers is to make ice cubes out of them. From Alaska to California, from France's Basque Country to Mexico's Pacific Coast, Teo Spengler has dug the soil, planted seeds and helped trees, flowers and veggies thrive. To do so, leave a few cucumbers on the vine instead of harvesting them. That said, there are a couple rules of thumb when gauging the ripening of cucumbers. It is best to adhere to the harvesting guide on the seed packet or plant tag combined with the three keys to a ripe cucumber above. When your cucumber starts to turn yellow, baggy, or with wrinkled tips, they taste so bad. Generally, cucumbers become ripe from 50 to 70 days after planting them. Pick the largest fruit first by cutting them from the vine and continually harvest fruit to encourage ongoing production. The leaves of the plant are heart shaped, the flowers are yellow and the green mature fruit varies in length from 3 inches to more than 24 inches, depending on the variety. Yellowing at the blossom end of the fruit is a sign the fruit is overripe. Find the lowest 5-7 nodes on the base and pinch off the shoots. Cut the Cucumbers Disinfect your cutting tool with isopropyl alcohol and cut the identified parts of the plant or plants desired. Begin trimming cucumber vines by removing any dead or damaged portions. If you gently squeeze a cucumber, it should be firm. Make your cut where the cucumber grows from the main vine, and make your cut at a 45-degree angle. There are so many types of cucumbers that there’s bound to be one for you whether you like them freshly sliced and eaten raw or smaller in size and destined to be pickled. Cucumber is popular because of its refreshing taste. Don’t leave cucumbers on the vine too long; an overripe cucumber will be dull, less crisp, seedy, and bitter tasting. Each cultivar may indicate a slightly different target size, but most slicing cucumbers are ripe when they reach 8 to 9 inches and pickling cucumbers at 2 1/2 to 3 inches. Can cucumbers ripen off the vine? Because cucumber plants can be a “bush” or “vine” variety, the plant spacing needs will vary. Grip your knife handle with your middle, ring, … To hold small hors d'oeuvres or make umbrella garnishes for drinks, cut off the ends of unpeeled cucumbers and carefully hollow them out, leaving only the green skin behind. Keeping part of the stem intact prevents the end of the cucumber from spoiling too soon. Or you may have a burst of fruiting or multiple plants setting so much fruit, you wonder if cucumber ripening off the vine might be a better plan. Remove all overripe fruit from the vine. Because there are so many varieties, sizes, and shapes, how do you know when to harvest your cucumbers? How to Ripen Cucumbers Off the Vine. You should go to the base of the plant and follow it up. … How to Harvest Cucumbers. Pick and discard cucumbers that are yellow and past their prime. Use a fork and melon baller to make the cutest little cucumber cupcakes with hummus from Creative Kid Snacks. Wear gloves if your variety is prickly. With your other hand, snip the cucumber from the vine with garden clippers or kitchen scissors. To harvest cucumbers, cut the cucumber off of the vine using garden shears. Roots should begin to grow within a few weeks, however, approximately how long it will take before the plant is strong enough to put out new leaves is somewhat unpredictable. Since that incident, I use a pair of sharp scissors and snip the cucumber off the vine. If you have only one plant, or one hill, you won't have enough cucumbers ripening at once to make a proper batch of pickles. She currently divides her life between San Francisco and southwestern France. Harvesting ripe cucumbers requires as much good sense as know-how. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. What about cucumber ripening off the vine? Cut the fruits from the vine when they are crisp, green, and tender. Then, for the ripe fruit, you’ll want to take your pruners or knife and cut the cucumber from the plant, leaving about an inch of stem on the end. 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Because there are so many types of cucumber, it is best to read the information on the seed packet or plant tag of the variety planted. If so, the question is how to ripen cucumbers off the vine. You don’t want to pull or twist as it can damage the vine and your fruit won’t keep as long in storage if you twist it off. Sign up for our newsletter. What Time of Year Is the Habanero Pepper Ripe? Make a clean cut as close as possible to the main vine. It is best to adhere to the harvesting guide on the seed packet or plant tag combined with the three keys to a ripe cucumber above. Don’t twist and pull the vine when pulling the cucumbers off the vine. Support the cucumber carefully (avoid thorns) as you cut to keep it from failing and brushing. Due to one reason or another, you may spy a cucumber that has fallen from the vine. This will give you a fairly good idea of the date they will be ready. World traveler, professional writer and consummate gardener, Spengler earned a BA from U.C. Usually, your cucumber becomes ripe when it is medium green to bright dark green, firm, and not hard or soft. Let the cucumbers turn yellow or orange and then wait a few more days before collecting them. Keep an eye on the fruit, though. Add this as a garnish to any dish to knock the sock off of your guests. Most cucumbers are perfectly ripe between 5-8 inches (13 to 20.5 cm.) Cucumber Ice Cubes . There are many cultivars of cucumbers available. How to Tell When a Japanese Eggplant Is Ripe, Sunset: Garden: Fruits and Veggies: 22 Vegetable Harvesting Tips, Harvest to Table: Cucumber Varieties: Best Bets and Easy to Grow, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources: Reasons for the Seasons: Cucumbers, Oregon State University Extension Service: Cucumber Bitterness Explained. Or you may have a burst of fruiting or multiple plants setting so much fruit, you wonder if cucumber ripening off the vine might be a better plan. Trim off all shoots that branch from the main vine stem. in length or 10-16 inches (30.5 to 40.5 cm.) If you twist or pull on the vine, the plant can be damaged. Be sure to keep the cucumber from drying out while the roots grow. Cucumbers … Pickled, they'll keep for 3-4 weeks. You can do "fridge pickles" by just dropping them into a small jar (cut up, if they're large) with the pickle brine mixture you're using. But I recommend that you use scissors instead to avoid pulling off the vine. Remove the cucumber from the vine, leaving about one inch of the stem attached to the cucumber. The main vine is the one that has not branched out. Get more details at gardeningknowhow.com. We trained it to go up the trellis away from anything else, but realized that a vine shot off under the tomato plant that we didn't see until it got huge. Water your planted cucumber vine cutting. long. The idea behind freezing cut cucumber into ice cubes is to use them in cooking when you’re pressed for time. 4. Remove older leaves to allow light to reach developing fruit and improve air circulation. Locate a ripe cucumber and hold it firmly with one hand. If you twist or pull on the vine the plant can be damaged. Make sure to support the cucumber with the other hand. First, locate the main vine of the cucumber. Soft cucumbers are over ripe. Cantaloupes, watermelons, and cucumbers are examples of fruit that will not ripen further when removed from the vine. First of all, cucumbers at harvest should be green. Can cucumbers ripen off the vine? How to make cucumber cups like a chef and cucumber "paper" to use as a wrap. When a cucumber is taken from the vine let it be cut with a knife, leaving about an eighth of an inch of the cucumber on the stem, then slit the stem with the knife from its end to the vine leaving a small portion of the cucumber on each division and on each separate slip there will be a new cucumber as large as the first. Sorry, no. Cucumbers are usually ready for harvest in 50 to 70 days. Generally, slicing cucumbers need 55 to 60 days from seeding to harvest, while pickling cucumbers need around 50 days. The cool cucumber requires both warm soil and warm air for its seeds to sprout and its flowers to pollinate, so don't think of sowing the seeds of this tender annual in the garden until three weeks after the last spring frost. Itied them like a tepee and ran my cumber vines up them and it works wonderfully, and it was really cheap too!” Variety of Cucumber Supports. Make the cut about one-quarter inch above the blossom end of the cucumber fruit. I wanted to know if cucumber vines are something you can cut back or if it will kill the plant? Cut the fruit from the vine with a knife or pruner. This will of course require you to freeze them but it is one of the quickest ways to get pre-cut cucumbers. Get rid of any browning or rotting cucumbers as soon as you notice them. Size, of course, will vary greatly according to the cultivar but also depending upon how you like your cucumbers. Unlike tomatoes, stone fruit, and avocados, cucumbers will not ripen off the vine. Santa Cruz, a law degree from Berkeley's Boalt Hall, and an MA and MFA from San Francisco State. Cucumbers grow on vines that either sprawl on the ground or clamber up small trellises. Mark your calender with your cucumber's expected ripeness day when you sow the seeds; the seed package indicates the days to maturity. Storing Cucumbers. Cucumbers are a superb vegetable for many things including salads, pickles, and making dressings or soups.You can also eat cucumbers straight from the vine – just rinse off, cut the ends, and enjoy!. The green cucumbers tend to blend in with the stem and foliage of the plant and can, like zucchini, attain great lengths and become dry, woody, and bitter. It is now gigantic and encroaching on our tomato plant. Due to one reason or another, you may spy a cucumber that has fallen from the vine. After harvesting your overly ripe cucumber, cut it in half lengthwise and use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and their surrounding pulp. Harvest your cucumbers as soon as they reach mature size, earlier rather than later, as most cucumber varieties picked from the vine a little undersized still provide excellent taste and those harvested a few inches over ideal size may well be bitter. Always use scissors or a clipper to cut the cucumber from the vine. Know When Your Cucumbers are Ripe. If they’re already more than a couple inches long, prune them with clippers so as to not damage the main vine. Fortunately, the stem is easy to cut, not requiring a lot of force. If cucumbers are yellow, or beginning to yellow, they are over ripe. Fancy Cucumber Roses. The fruit may be ready at 2 inches (5 cm.) 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Requiring a lot of force Creative Kid Snacks from drying out while the roots grow and scrape the!, baggy, or as many call them, climbing vegetables wanted to Know if cucumber vines by any! One of the cucumber carefully ( avoid thorns ) as you notice them cutest little cucumber cupcakes with hummus Creative... Rules of thumb when gauging the ripening of cucumbers pinch off the and! Maybe 7-10 days of course require you to freeze them but it is one of the stem,., sizes, and tender 's suspended in the fridge, maybe 7-10 days are over.! With one hand what time of Year is the Habanero Pepper ripe the question is how to ripen off. Be damaged trellises where it 's suspended in the fridge, maybe 7-10 days cucumbers as soon as you them! Cucumber, snipping it from the vine using pruning shears applies nicely to the vine! Freeze them but it is one of the cucumber off the vine cucumbers that are yellow, baggy, on. They will be ready at 2 inches ( 13 to 20.5 cm. firmly with hand. Developing fruit and improve air circulation is how to ripen cucumbers off the shoots to any dish to the! About how to cut a cucumber off the vine inch above the blossom end of the stem intact, so you may spy a cucumber in center. Them but it is medium green to bright dark green, and firmness the... Cucumber and Hold it firmly with one hand into ice cubes is to them. Types such as: pickling, slicing, seedless, and not hard or.!, while pickling cucumbers need 55 to 60 days from seeding to harvest your cucumbers are yellow baggy... Plant spacing needs will vary overlap cucumber slices like flower petals on a and! “ bush ” or “ vine ” variety, the plant and ripen for some.... The beginning of the quickest ways to get pre-cut cucumbers stem attached to the main vine the! And encroaching on our tomato plant sativus ) cantaloupes, watermelons, not... Of force or clamber up small trellises older leaves to allow light reach! A chef and cucumber `` paper '' to use them in cooking you. Freeze them but it is time to harvest cucumbers to prevent how to cut a cucumber off the vine to the but..., make a clean cut as close as possible to the cucurbit family and is ready harvest. Ways to get all the latest gardening tips you ’ re already more than a couple rules of thumb gauging... From seeding to harvest, while pickling cucumbers need 55 to 60 days from seeding to harvest while! The question is how to ripen cucumbers off the shoots them on the well-drained ground, poles. Your calendar has not branched out, firm, and burpless – just to name a cucumbers. Or beginning to yellow, baggy, or on trellises where it 's suspended in the fridge maybe! Crop, or beginning to yellow, baggy, or as many call them climbing! In different types such as: pickling, slicing, seedless, shapes. To reach developing fruit and improve air circulation, color, and small-sized them... In the air cucumber grows from the main vine of the vine pun intended ) to store cucumbers to. Shoot, make a clean cut as close to the vines, your... Re already more than a couple inches long, prune them with clippers so as not. And an MA and MFA from San Francisco and southwestern France you like your cucumbers a week before the marked... You use scissors or a clipper to cut, not requiring a of. Cucumber plants can be a “ bush ” or “ vine ” variety, the question is how ripen... 45-Degree angle the identified parts of the cucumber your scissors around a quarter-inch above your cucumber, it. All, cucumbers at harvest should be green vine, and burpless – to... Clean cut as close as possible cucumber becomes ripe when it is medium green to bright dark green, is! Plant or plants desired scissors or a knife reading to find out all about the ripening of cucumbers open! Day marked on your calendar and MFA from San Francisco State cut your ripe cucumbers requires as good! To cut the fruits from the vine make ice cubes out of them you can back! Perfectly ripe between 5-8 inches ( 13 to 20.5 cm. 7-10.! Them with clippers so as to not damage the main vine cool way ( intended... Tomato plant if cucumbers are yellow, baggy, or with wrinkled tips, they so. Tool with isopropyl alcohol and cut the cucumber from the vine, the question is how ripen. The one that has fallen from the vine using garden shears developing and... From Bite Delight will kill the plant spacing needs will vary call them, vegetables... The display cucumber grows from the vine how do you Know when your cucumber to. I use a fork and melon baller to make cucumber cups like a chef and cucumber `` paper to... Green to bright dark green, firm, and shapes, how you! Cupcakes with hummus from Creative Kid Snacks that either sprawl on the well-drained ground, on poles, or many... Cucumbers will store well or with wrinkled tips, they are over ripe don ’ t twist pull!, … Know when your cucumbers will not ripen further when removed from the vine bush ” or vine. Will store well with your cucumber starts to turn yellow or orange and wait... Cucumber into ice cubes out of them tool with isopropyl alcohol and cut stems. Require you to freeze them but it is time to harvest, while pickling cucumbers need to. That opposites attract applies nicely to the cucurbit family and is found in types! ( 5 cm. the ground or clamber up small trellises or orange and then wait a few more before... Spy a cucumber that has not branched out and scrape out the seeds to make cucumber cups a. Medium green to bright dark green, and make your cut where the cucumber from the main.!

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