High Tunnel Cucumber Trial, 2012
Judson Reid, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Cornell Vegetable Program

- High quality fruit
- Decreased downy mildew
- Quicker yields than tomatoes
Disadvantages include:
- Powdery Mildew
- Spider Mites
- Higher labor than tomatoes
The Cornell Vegetable Program worked with several seed companies to conduct a variety trial of high tunnel cucumbers in 2012.
Conclusions
Cucumbers remain an underutilized crop in Northeast high tunnels. The varieties in this trial exceeded 10 lbs of fruit in just 10 weeks of production . As more tunnel growers look to create rotations which accommodate cool season greens, cucumbers provide greater flexibility than tomatoes, which require 6-7 months in the soil to reach maximum economic return. However, cucumbers are more likely to suffer from pests such as mites and thrips, which increases input costs for control measures. Labor on cucumbers is also higher than that of tomatoes.
Read the full report below.
The Cornell Vegetable Program and cooperating grower express gratitude to Harris Seed and Bejo Seed for their collaboration in this project.
2012 High Tunnel Cucumber Trial Full Report (pdf; 576KB)

Upcoming Events
Vegetable Pest and Cultural Management Field Meeting for Auction Growers -- Chautauqua
July 14, 2026
Panama, NY
A field walk will demonstrate pest management in fresh market vegetables in both field and greenhouse (high tunnel) vegetables, primarily for those growing for wholesale auction. CCE Cornell Vegetable Program Specialist Judson Reid will identify weeds, insects and diseases in vegetables and will go over management options such as inter-row cover crops, grafting, and where appropriate, spray options.
DEC recertification credits will be offered.
Vegetable Pest and Cultural Management Field Meeting for Auction Growers -- Allegany
July 15, 2026
Fillmore, NY
A field walk will demonstrate pest management in fresh market vegetables in both field and greenhouse (high tunnel) vegetables, primarily for those growing for wholesale auction. CCE Cornell Vegetable Program Specialist Judson Reid will identify weeds, insects and diseases in vegetables and will go over management options such as inter-row cover crops, grafting, and where appropriate, spray options.
DEC recertification credits will be offered.
Pest Management for Small-Scale Growers
July 23, 2026
Rochester, NY
Join us for a hands-on field day exploring integrated pest management tools for small-scale growing spaces and the opportunity to build community with local growers! Learn the best practices for using row covers, biocontrols, trapping, and more.