High Tunnel Cucumber Trial, 2012
Judson Reid, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Cornell Vegetable Program
March 7, 2013
Greenhouse cucumbers, if marketed successfully, can be a high revenue crop in tunnels. Advantages include:
- 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
Indoor Mushroom Cultivation, Post-Harvest Handling, and Food Safety
June 6, 2024
Buffalo, NY
This workshop is intended for mushroom producers and those considering mushroom production. Hosted by CCE Wyoming County the workshop includes a tour and discussion of Flat#12 Mushroom production process, from substrate to sales, including their food safety plan creation, implementation, and the audit process. Alternative production methods will also be discussed.