The Easy Way To Tell If Your Cucumbers Are Ready To Pick For A Perfect Harvest

Cucumbers are among the most satisfying summer crops to grow, but harvesting them at the right time can make the difference between a tender, crisp bite and something seedy or bitter. Luckily, it's surprisingly easy to tell when your cucumbers are ready to pick for a perfect harvest if you know what to look for. 

Most cucumber varieties mature in 50 to 70 days, but color, size, and feel are better indicators that your cucumbers are ready to harvest. A cucumber that is ready to pick will have a uniform, rich green color with no yellow or orange. The yellow suggests it's overripe and may be soft or bitter. The skin should be firm but not hard. When gently squeezed, it should yield slightly, but it shouldn't feel hollow or squishy.

Pickling and slicing cucumbers were developed for two different purposes. Pickling cucumbers were bred to absorb brine and mature by growing wider. Slicing cucumbers have more palatable skin and are longer and thinner. Both can be eaten fresh, however. If you're growing slicing cucumbers, pick them when they are about 6 to 8 inches long. Pickling types are often harvested at a smaller 2 to 4 inches, depending on the recipe and personal preference. Being left on the vine too long is one reason cucumbers become bitter with tough skins and seeds. Leaving overripe cucumbers in your garden also inhibits future production from the plant, so harvest at the right time to avoid these easily preventable problems.

One big mistake to avoid with cucumbers is not harvesting enough. Frequent harvesting prevents fruit from maturing fully on the vine, which would slow or stop new flower production. This means checking your cucumber plants every two to three days during peak season, and once you start harvesting, keep harvesting. Cucumbers grow shockingly fast. With the right conditions, they can seem to double in size overnight. For the most part, harvest your cucumbers at the size you like to eat them, but don't allow them to yellow.

Use a sharp knife or pruning shears to avoid damaging the vine as you harvest. Twisting or pulling the cucumbers can injure stems and reduce overall yield. Also, be sure to thoroughly check under all the leaves. Many times, you will discover a huge, mostly overripe cucumber has been hiding. Consistent, gentle harvesting will provide higher yields all season.