DescriptionShintokiwa Cucumber SeedsScientific Name: Cucumis sativusFamily: CucumberType: AnnualNative Range: Canada, Hawaii, Lower 48 States, Pacific Basin excluding Hawaii, Puerto RicoHardiness Zones: 4-11; plants are frost tender so wait to plant until at least two weeks after last spring frost; plants will benefit from row cover before flowering stage to stay warm and keep cucumber beetles off of the plants; Soil Requirements: Loamy soil; close to neutral pH between 6.9 and 7.3; at least 70°; require fertile soil–mix in compost or manure and work into soil; must remain moist and well-drained; mulching may be necessary to keep pests at bay and to prevent the plant from developing disease by touching the ground, as well as create a barrier for female cucumber beetles trying to lay their eggs in the soil; Light Preference: Full sunWater: Consistent watering; 1″ of water per week per plant when germinating; increase to a gallon per week once cucumbers start to form; inconsistent watering will create a bitter cucumber; avoid watering foliage in order to prevent leaf disease; Days until Germination: 7-10 days; seeds will germinate quickest (7 days) at 80°;Sowing: Sow shintokiwa cucumber seeds indoors in large-celled trays, or outdoors when all danger of frost is past and soil is warmed to about 65°; plant seeds 1/2″ deep; seeds can be planted in rows, in hills, or on a trellis;Plant Spacing: 1′-1.5′ Plant Height: This plant is best trellised as it allows for the fruits to develop straightHarvest: 70-75 days; fruits can get as long as 12″ and still keep their sweetness and crunch; harvest when fruit is a deep green with a firm feel;Grows Well With: Corn; beans; peas; radishes; sunflowers; fruit trees; marigold; nasturtium; Grows Poorly With: Potatoes; aromatic herbs; Potential Problems: Cucumber beetles; nematodes; downy mildew; poor pollination by bees; all male flowers and subsequent lack of flowering; whiteflies; bacterial wilt; anthracnose; mosaic viruses;
