Beit Alpha Cucumber – MIg

Description

Beit Alpha Cucumber is a classic Middle Eastern heirloom variety prized for its thin, tender skin, crisp texture, and exceptionally sweet, mild flavor. The smooth, dark green fruits typically grow 12–18 cm long and contain very few seeds, making them perfect for fresh eating without peeling. This vigorous, high-yielding variety is ideal for salads, sandwiches, snacking, and pickling when harvested young. It performs exceptionally well in warm climates, including the UAE.

When to Plant in the UAE

• Outdoors: Direct sow seeds in early September and again in early March for the best harvests.
• Successive Planting: Sow every 2–3 weeks during each planting season for a continuous harvest.

Planting & Care Tips

• Light & Soil: Plant in full sun in fertile, well-draining soil enriched with compost.
• Depth & Germination: Sow seeds 2–3 cm deep. Germination typically occurs within 3–7 days.
• Spacing: Space plants 45–60 cm apart, with 90–120 cm between rows. Train vines on a trellis to improve airflow, fruit quality, and ease of harvesting.
• Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during flowering and fruit production. Avoid allowing the soil to dry out completely.
• Feeding: Apply compost before planting and feed with a balanced fertilizer every 3–4 weeks. Increase potassium once flowering begins to encourage abundant fruit production.
• Harvest: Harvest cucumbers in approximately 55–65 days, when fruits are 12–18 cm long, firm, smooth, and dark green.
• Harvesting Tips: Pick fruits regularly to encourage continuous production. Use clean pruners or scissors to avoid damaging the vines.