Socrates – Cucumber Seed

Description

The Marie Ballard Aster Socrates – Cucumber Seed is a high-quality hybrid variety renowned for its excellent flavor, crisp texture, and high yield. This cucumber produces long, smooth, and uniform fruits with a deep green color, perfect for fresh eating, pickling, and salads. With its disease resistance and ability to thrive in a variety of growing conditions, Socrates is a reliable choice for both home gardeners and commercial growers. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a beginner, this easy-to-grow cucumber variety offers an impressive harvest in a short amount of time.

Features & Specifications:

• Plant Type: Hybrid Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)
• Fruit Size: Long, smooth, cylindrical cucumbers, approximately 8-10 inches in length
• Fruit Color: Deep green, with a consistent and uniform appearance, ideal for fresh eating or pickling
• Flavor Profile: Crisp, refreshing, and mild flavor, perfect for raw consumption in salads or sandwiches
• Plant Growth Habit: Vining cucumber with vigorous growth and a compact, manageable size for smaller garden spaces
• Maturity Time: 50-55 days from planting to harvest, offering an early and reliable harvest
• Plant Height: Vines can grow up to 3-4 feet in length, ideal for vertical gardening or trellis systems
• Sun Requirements: Full sun; requires at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily to produce optimal fruit
• Soil Requirements: Prefers well-draining, fertile soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0
• Watering Needs: Regular watering to maintain consistent soil moisture, avoiding both drought stress and waterlogging
• Seed Spacing: Space seeds 2-3 inches apart and thin to 6-8 inches between plants for optimal growth
• Fertilizer Requirements: Prefers balanced organic fertilizer to support healthy growth, particularly nitrogen for lush foliage
• Disease Resistance: Excellent resistance to common cucumber diseases, including powdery mildew and downy mildew
• Pest Resistance: Naturally resistant to common cucumber pests like aphids and cucumber beetles, but periodic monitoring is advised
• Harvest Time: Beets are ready for harvest in about 50-55 days, with fruit picking continuing throughout the growing season
• Uses: Ideal for fresh eating in salads, sandwiches, and wraps, as well as for pickling and making homemade relishes
• Cold Hardiness: Best suited for warmer climates, but can tolerate mild frosts, making it suitable for spring to summer plantings
• Storage Tips: Fresh cucumbers can be stored in the fridge for up to a week, maintaining their crisp texture and freshness
• Seed Count: Approximately 200-300 seeds per packet; available in larger quantities for commercial or professional growers
• Planting Time: Ideal for planting after the last frost date in spring when soil temperatures are warm, and night temperatures stay above 50°F (10°C)
• Yield: High-yielding variety, producing consistent and uniform cucumbers over an extended period
• Growth Rate: Fast-growing, reaching maturity within 50-55 days of planting
• Maintenance: Low-maintenance with minimal pruning or care needed once vines are established
• Cold Tolerance: Prefers warm growing conditions, but can tolerate some fluctuations in temperature

The Marie Ballard Aster Socrates – Cucumber Seed is the ideal choice for gardeners seeking a productive, flavorful, and disease-resistant cucumber variety. Whether you're harvesting for fresh salads, sandwiches, or making your own pickles, this cucumber will deliver crisp, high-quality fruits throughout the growing season. Easy to grow and maintain, the Socrates cucumber is a perfect addition to any vegetable garden.