Allow the cucumbers to mature past the eating stage - the cucumber will be very soft and the skin will turn either white, brown, yellow, green, or orange, depending on the variety. Seed Saving: Cucumbers usually produce both male and female flowers in the same plant, and will cross with other varieties of cucumber be sure to separate the varieties to prevent cross pollination. Cucumbers store very well in the refrigerator. For best taste, harvest at 1.5" for pickling and 2" for slicing. Harvesting: This round, lemon colored cucumber works very well for both pickling and slicing. Watch out for cucumber beetles, and remove them immediately to prevent damage. When the vines have developed, apply mulch or straw to conserve moisture and control weeds. Growing: Moisture is the key to growing excellent cucumbers keep the soil consistently moist. Planting several radishes with cucumbers seems to repel damaging cucumber beetles however, cucumbers do not like being planted near potatoes or aromatic herbs. Some gardeners plant their cucumbers with corn, since the two plants benefit each other and the cucumbers will climb the corn. Since cucumbers love to climb, providing a trellis will save space in your garden and produce straighter cucumbers that are easier to pick however, the vines will simply spread out over the ground if no trellis is provided. Cucumbers love heat and cannot endure even a light frost if cold temperatures threaten, cover the seedlings. If rows are preferrable, plant seedlings 1' apart or place 5 seeds within 1' and later thin them. For planting them in a hill, place three seedlings or 7-8 seeds in each hill space hills 4-5' apart. They should be planted no sooner than a week after the last spring frost, when the air temperatures consistently average 65-75 degrees F. Before planting them, "harden" the seedlings by setting them outside during the day. When two or three leaves appear on each plant, cut off all but the strongest plant with a scissors. Keep the air temperature at least 80 degrees F. Start yellow lemon cucumber seeds indoors about 2 weeks before frost, placing 3-4 seeds 1/2" deep in the pot. Sowing: Cucumbers do not take well to transplanting, so either start them early in peat pots or plant them directly.
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