Description
Sowing: Cucumbers do not take well to
transplanting, so either start them early in peat pots or plant them
directly. Start Straight Eight cucumber seeds indoors about 2 weeks
before frost, placing 3-4 seeds 1/2" deep in the pot. Keep the air
temperature at least 80 degrees F.
For planting them in a hill, place three seedlings or 7-8 seeds in each hill; space hills 4-5' apart. If rows are preferable, plant seedlings 1' apart or place 5 seeds within 1' and later thin them. Cucumbers love heat and cannot endure even a light frost; if cold temperatures threaten, cover the seedlings.
Growing: Straight Eight cucumbers tend to be very disease resistant. Moisture is the key to growing excellent cucumbers; keep the soil consistently moist. When the vines have developed, apply mulch or straw to conserve moisture and control weeds. Watch out for cucumber beetles, and remove them immediately to prevent damage.
Harvesting: These straight, dark green cucumbers work very well for slicing. For best taste, harvest them as soon as they reach a length of 8". If picked consistently all season, the yield will be very high. When the blossom end of the cucumber begins to turn yellow, this indicates that the cucumber has passed its prime. Cucumbers store very well in the refrigerator.
Seed Saving: Allow the cucumbers to mature past the eating stage - the cucumber will be very soft and the skin will turn either white, brown, yellow, green, or orange, depending on the variety. This may take up to five weeks. Remove the cucumbers from the vine and allow them to cure in a dry, cool place for another two weeks. Cut open the cucumbers and scoop out the seeds into a bowl; add an equal amount of water, and keep in a 90 degree location away from sunlight for 24-36 hours. The mixture will be fermenting, and mold may form; stir it twice a day. At the end of the fermentation process, add more water while stirring - the hollow Straight Eight cucumber seeds and debris will float to the top, and the good seeds will sink. Remove the water and debris, and spread out the good seeds on a flat surface to dry for about two weeks. Store Straight Eight cucumber seeds in a cool, dry place for up to 8 years.