Florida Cucumbers
Cucumbers are a great vegetable to grow in a home garden that can be eaten raw, sliced into a salad, or pickled and added to hamburgers. Cucumbers grow best when 
planted in the spring; in Florida, spring begins around January or February based on the region. Cucumbers are able to grow in all areas of Florida and are easy to care for by hobbyist gardeners. Two types of cucumbers that are typically grown in a garden are vining and bush cucumbers. Vining cucumbers are easy to grow alongside of a garden fence or trellis.
When planting cucumbers, plant the seeds 4-8 inches apart approximately half an inch below the soil surface. The soil should be slightly acidic and constantly damp. Cucumbers will grow and mature within 40-55 days. After harvest, store the cucumbers in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to a week.
After picking cucumbers fresh from the garden, try making this pickle recipe from FDACS’ Harvest of the Month Classroom Recipe Book!
Ingredients:
- 2 large Florida cucumbers
- ½ cup vinegar
- ¼ cup white granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons Mrs. Dash salt-free seasoning
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Preparation:
1. Wash and slice cucumbers into ¼ or ½ inch rounds; set aside.
2. Combine the vinegar, sugar, Mrs. Dash seasoning, stirring to combine until sugar is mostly dissolved.
3. Place cucumbers in the vinegar solution; stir to coat.
4. Cover the container and refrigerate overnight, stirring occasionally.
5. Dish a few cucumber slices into sample cups and serve.
For more information on cucumbers visit: