Calypso Cucumber was developed by the University of North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station as a very high-yielding pickling cucumber for commercial growers. However, it is a fine choice for home gardeners as well. The blocky (1 x 3) cukes are a very dark green with a minimal white spine. It is a gynoecious variety, producing only female flowers- a small percentage of male pollinator seeds are added. When planting only a few plants, it will benefit from growing with a standard variety, such as Marketmore or Spacemaster. Resistant to powdery mildew, cucumber mosaic virus, and anthracnose.

20 seeds

PLANTING

Cucumis sativus

Germination:4-10 days

Germination Temperature:Optimum soil temperatures are 70-85F

Seed Sowing Depth:1/2-1″ deep

Sowing Indoors:3-4 weeks before the last frost.Provide70-85Fsoil temperature.Sow 2-3 seeds per cell/pot.Sowing into individual biodegradable peat/cow pots reduces rootdamage when transplanting. Transplant 36-48″ apart after the last frost.

Sowing Outdoors:Sow after the last frostwhen the soil temperature is over70F.Sow a few seeds every 36-48″.

Harvest:Check andpick every day to keep the harvest flowing.

Tips:Calypso 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.