Slender, early, and thin skinned Japanese style long cucumbers on vigorous plants. Plant Tasty Emperor cucumber seeds for high-yielding plants that are productive for a long period with fruits growing to 25-30cm (10-12") long. They have superb flavour and a crisp, crunchy flesh. Be sure to trellis the vines for straighter fruits. Grow cucumbers in rich, fertile soil that is kept moderately moist throughout the season. We recommend using an handful of Complete Organic Fertilizer, worked into the soil at transplant time. Keep plants well picked for better production. Try to water the soil only, keeping the leaves as dry as possible.
Matures in 65 days. (Hybrid seeds)
West Coast Seeds Tasty Emperor F1 Cucumbers Seeds, Per Package
Starting
Sow 3-4 seeds 2cm (1″) deep in each spot you want a plant to grow. Thin to the strongest seedling. Space plants 23cm (9″) apart in rows 90cm (36″) apart.
Timing
Cucumbers need very warm soil to germinate. If direct sowing, wait until mid-June. If weather turns cool and wet after that, just re-sow. Or start transplants indoors in individual peat or coir pots 3-4 weeks before transplanting out into warm soil. If starting indoors, use bottom heat. Transplant when the plants develop their third true leaf. If the plants are too big, they may experience transplant shock. Optimal soil temperature for germination (and transplanting): 15-30°C (60-85°F).
Harvest
For a continuous harvest, make successive plantings every 2 to 3 weeks until about 3 months before first fall frost date. Keep picking the cucumbers regularly, because if they get too big, the plant will stop producing. About one month before first frost, start pinching off new flowers so plants channel energy into ripening existing fruit.
