Specialty Cucumbers

A closer look at the types

Specialty cucumbers cover a wide range of shapes, colors, and uses.

Asian types like Suyo Long and Itachi produce long, slender fruits with a crisp texture and sweet flavor. Suyo Long has ridged, bumpy skin, and the fruits reach 15 in. Trellis them for straight fruit.

Mideast and Beit Alpha types such as Gimlet and Mojito are smooth, thin-skinned, and nearly seedless, with a sweet, mild flavor. Many are parthenocarpic, so they set fruit without pollination. That makes them productive in greenhouses and tunnels.

Lemon and round types are heirlooms with pale yellow skin and a mild flavor.

Gherkins and cornichons are picked tiny for pickling.

Specialty types often command a premium at farmers' markets, where shoppers are curious about new shapes and colors. A few plants of each type let you test what sells before you scale up. Many of these varieties also do well in containers or small greenhouses, since they set fruit freely and stay productive with regular picking.

Margarita and other mini types are bred for snacking. Harvest them small and often, keep them cool, and handle gently, since thin skin bruises easily. Most hybrids here carry resistance to powdery mildew and several viruses.