Boston Pickling Cucumber is a classic heirloom variety known for its small, 3-6-inches-long, deep-green fruits that are perfect for crisp homemade pickles and reliable garden production. This variety was released in 1880 and is prized for its ability to produce fruit over a long season. Whether for snacking or slicing, growing your own brings a wonderful sense of freshness, and nothing beats the flavor of a cucumber harvested minutes before eating. The plant’s manageable size makes it great for small spaces, trellises, or container gardens, while its fast growth offers a rewarding experience for gardeners of all levels. Known for reliability and consistent shape, Boston Pickling has been a favorite among home gardeners and commercial growers for generations because it delivers high yields, great taste, and ideal size for pickling. Also Known As: Boston Pickle Cucumber, Boston Picklers, Heirloom Boston Green Pickler, Classic Pickling Cucumber, Bush Cucumber, Kirby Cucumber, Bostongurka, Boston Gherkin, Boston Wallies, Boston Cornichon. Plant Name: Cucumber, Boston Pickling Latin Name: Cucumis sativus Days to Germinate: 3-10 Days to Harvest: 55 Plant Height: 6 - 8 Feet Spread: 3 - 4 Feet Growth Habit: Vining USDA Zones: 3-11 Lifespan: Annual Brand: TomorrowSeeds Sunlight: Full Sun, Partial Shade Pollination: Heirloom, Open-Pollinated GMO: No Fungicide-Treated Seeds*: No Seeds Packed For**: 2026 *Fungicide-treated seeds protect the seedlings from diseases until they are up and growing. Do not eat treated seeds. **Seeds are freshly packed for the growing season of the year listed. Seeds are still viable beyond pack date. Store in a cool and dry location such as the refrigerator or basement to best preserve germination rates. Planting Instructions: Soil Preparation: Choose an area with heavy, well-draining soil that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. Remove weeds, large rocks, and litter from the planting area. Leave small weeds and dead grass, they will enrich the soil when turned under. Spade or till the soil 8-12 inches deep. Loosening the soil will help the plant establish strong roots. Plants grow best in soil with lots of organic matter. You may optionally add fertilizer or organic material such as compost, leaves, or rotted hay to mix into the soil at this point. For small gardens, scatter 2-3 tablespoons of fertilizer evenly and work into the top 2-3 inches of soil for each hill or 2 foot by 2 foot planting area. For larger gardens, scatter 2-3 pounds of a complete fertilizer for each 100 square feet of planting area. Work fertilizer or organic material into the soil and leave the surface smooth. Form rows of soil beds 4-6 inches high and at least 4 feet apart. This formation of ridges will help with drainage. Planting: Cucumber grow best in warm weather (75F-85F). Starting Indoors: For an earlier harvest, you may optionally start planting indoors in containers 2-3 weeks before the last expected frost date in Spring, keeping seedlings at least 70F. Harden off then transplant seedlings outdoors in a sunny location when the soil temperature is above 65F. To transplant seedlings, prepare a transplant hole outdoors in a sunny location. Remove the plants carefully from the pots or flats and set them in the holes, burying some of the stem in the ground. Pack the soil loosely around the plant and leave a slightly sunken area around each plant to hold water. Water the plants after transplanting. Optionally, Train plants to climb a 6-8 foot trellis or fence as they establish. Directly Sowing: If directly sowing cucumbers outdoors, plant in mid-late spring when the soil warms to at least 70F. If Fall planting, sow in early summer, at least 12-14 weeks before the first expected frost date - or if growing indoors, keep at >70F using supplemental grow lights. To plant, make holes 1 inch deep and spaced 2 feet apart down the rows of raised beds. Plant 2-3 seeds per hole. If choosing to thin to the strongest plant, determine the strongest and healthiest plant, then remove all other plants, narrowing to a single plant per hole. Cover seeds thinly with soil and water after planting. Optionally, train plants to climb a 6-8 foot trellis or fence as they establish, spacing plants 10 inches apart at the base of the trellis. *Tip: You can plant fast maturing crops such as lettuce and radishes between cucumber hills to save space. These will be harvested before the cucumber vines get too large. Planting Depth: 1 inch Within-Row Spacing: 2 feet (sprawl) or 10 inches (trellis) Between-Row Spacing: 4 feet Care During the Season: Watering: Water the plants deeply, soaking the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches, once a week. If there is no rainfall, water 2-3 times a week. Sandy soils may need to be watered more often than heavy clay soils. Mulching around plants can help retain moisture. Weeding: Keeping plants weed-free improves production. If plowing or hoeing, do not dig deeper than 1 inch to prevent from cutting the feeder roots. Fertilizing: Once plants start to bloom and set fruit, you may optionally apply a fertilizer that is higher in potassium and phosphorus and lower in nitrogen. Read and follow fertilizer instructions for best application. Water plants after fertilizing. Insecticides: Insecticides may be used to protect plants. Bt-based insecticides and sulfur are organic options that can be used for prevention. Sulfur also has fungicidal properties and helps in controlling many diseases. Before using a pesticide, read the label and follow cautions, warnings and directions. Diseases: If spots or mold appear, treat plants with an approved fungicide. Neem oil, sulfur, and other fungicides may be used. When using fungicides always follow label directions. Harvesting: Harvest cucumbers when reach the desired size and are green in color. Pickling cucumbers are best picked 3-4 inches long and up to 1 inch in diameter. It is best not to wait until cucumbers start yellowing because they will be over-mature and have a strong flavor. To harvest, use a pair of clean scissors or a knife to cut the cucumber from the vine, leaving about an inch of stem attached to avoid damaging the plant.
