Cucumis sativus (60 days) An open-pollinated white-spined parthenocarpic cucumber, Little Leaf sets fruit without pollination, so may be left under row cover the entire season. Compact vines with smaller-than-normal leaves save space and leave the mature cucumbers much more visible. Despite the plants’ emaciated appearance, they produce a huge number of cukes, even under stress. The blocky fruits are a little smaller than what we were used to, but they serve a dual purpose, pickling well while also providing good fresh eating. Has become a big customer favorite and rated as Donna Dyrek’s top choice among the 21 picklers in her Zone 4 2015 trial. Bred in the Ozarks at the University of Arkansas and released in 1991. Resistant to ANTH, ALS, DM, CMV, PM, scab. PVP has expired. ①
This item is certified organic
1239
Little Leaf H-19
- Organic
Additional Information
Cucumbers
About 30-50 seeds/g; variations noted.
Days to maturity are from seeding date. From transplant, subtract 20 days.
Culture: May be started indoors for early production, or direct-seeded when soil has warmed. Minimum germination soil temperature 65°, optimal range 65–95°. Very tender, will not survive frost. Direct seed 3" apart thinning to 1' apart in rows 4–6' apart or 6 per mound in hills 4' apart thinning to 3 best plants. For transplants: once seedlings have 1–2 true leaves, about 3 weeks old, plant 1' apart in rows 4–6' apart. Cucumbers require good fertility and regular rain or irrigation for abundant yields. Without adequate water, fruits will be misshapen and bitter. Pick cukes frequently for best production, or else the plants shut down. Make sure to remove blimps to the compost pile.
Combat striped cucumber beetles by handpicking early AM when the dew makes them sluggish, or use floating row covers, removing when cukes flower. Cucumber beetles are the vector for BW.
Using compost in conjunction with row covers (rather than either alone) increased cucumber yields at the University of Michigan.
Parthenocarpic varieties can set fruit without being pollinated, an advantage in cold cloudy summers. Gynoecious varieties produce almost exclusively female flowers for uniformity and high yields.
Saving Seed: Saving cucumber seed is easy! Take that big yellow cuke that got away and save it for seed. Scoop out the guts of overripe fruit and ferment it in an uncovered container for a few days. A moldy gross cap to the slurry means the seeds are ready to rinse and dry. To ensure true-to-type seed, grow only one open-pollinated variety per season.
Diseases:
ALS: Alternaria Leaf Spot
ANTH: Anthracnose
BW: Bacterial Wilt
CMV: Cucumber Mosaic Virus
CVYV: Cucumber Vein Yellow Virus
DM: Downy Mildew
PM: Powdery Mildew
PRSV: Papaya Ring Spot Virus
R: Rust
WMV: Watermelon Mosaic Virus
ZYMV: Zucchini Yellows Mosaic Virus
Pest: Striped Cucumber Beetle Cultural controls: use tolerant or resistant varieties, rotate crops, till under crop debris soon after harvest, use floating row covers until flowers appear, use plastic mulch, perimeter trap cropping (Black Zucchini and Blue Hubbard make particularly good trap crops), use yellow sticky strips, hand-pick early morning when beetles are very sluggish. Materials: Surround, Pyrethrum (PyGanic).
Germination Testing
For the latest results of our germination tests, please see the germination page.
Our Seeds are Non-GMO
All of our seeds are non-GMO, and free of neonicotinoids and fungicides. Fedco is one of the original companies to sign the Safe Seed Pledge.
This item is certified organic