Maine is famous for its potatoes and lobsters and not so much for its cukes - but here is a wonderful heirloom from the Boothby family in Livermore, Maine, passed on to us by Maine seed saver Will Bonsall. The Boothyb's Blond Cucumber is a crisp, medium sized slicer, 6-8” long, with a very pleasant flavor and texture; even more appealing is its rich yellowy cream color with contrasting black spines. Shape is longer and broader than the short oval “lemon” cukes and its color is deeper and richer than the European white cukes. 20 seeds PLANTING Cucumis sativus Germination: 4-10 days Germination Temperature: Optimum soil temperatures 70-85ºF Seed Sowing Depth: 1/2-1" deep Sowing Indoors: 3-4 weeks before last frost. Provide 70-85ºF soil temperature. Sow 2-3 seeds per cell/pot. Sowing into individual biodegradable peat/cow pots reduces root damage when transplanting. Transplant 36-48" apart after last frost. Sowing Outdoors: Sow after last frost when soil temperature is over 70ºF. Sow a few seeds every 36-48". Harvest: Check and pick every day to keep the harvest flowing. Tips: Boothby's Blond Cucumber should be planted in fertile soil, amended with compost or well rotted manure and kept well watered. Trellising the vines allows for good air circulation, takes up less space and provides shade for heat sensitive crops like lettuce. They benefit from growing on black plastic and by using row covers for weed, insect control, and more rapid growth.
