Slicing cucumbers are cultivated to be consumed fresh. Some other types cultivated commercially are those grown to be pickled and a type called burpless, which produces less gas when consumed. These cucumbers are typically sliced and find use in sandwiches and salads. They usually have dark green skins that are sometime peeled before consumption.
Farmers harvest slicing cucumbers when they reach a length of around 8 inches (20 cm). Known also as ridge or hill types, these cucumbers are bigger and longer and have thicker skins than pickling cucumbers, which are shorter. Uniformly colored, their skins may be ridged or smooth. They are also cheaper in comparison. Their thicker skins make them more damage resistant, and they can be shipped or handled easily.
These unripe cucumbers have pale green flesh with many edible seeds and are delicious to serve in salads. If they are allowed to ripen, they become yellow in color and quite sour in taste. Gardeners can easily grow slicing cucumbers in home gardens. There are many different types of slicing cucumbers that are bred to have nonbitter, thin skins that don't require any peeling. Cylindrical in shape, their flesh can be quite crunchy and watery.
Green, long slicing cucumbers are found in many supermarkets. Gardeners specially cultivate certain varieties that have slow seed development. Cucumbers form on vines, and gardeners harvest them as and when they need them. Typically, they pluck the cucumbers when they have reached a certain size to prevent them from becoming woody. Gardeners are aware that big cucumbers left to grow on a vine too long may prevent new cucumbers from growing.
If they grow for too long a time, these cucumbers may develop very large seeds, thicker skins, and more bitter-tasting flesh. When growing cucumbers at home, gardeners pluck them at the recommended size for each type. The Bush Slicer cucumber is a hybrid type of slicing cucumber that is resistant to scabs and powdery mildew. With small seed cavities and crisp, delicious flesh, this cucumber can be easily grown in compact containers.
Straight Eight cucumber vines are very prolific, and they produce fruit that is around 10 inches (25 cm) or less. The Corinto cucumber variety grows well in a wide range of temperatures and is resistant to angular leaf blight and cucumber mosaic virus. Dasher II, Pot Luck, and Marketmore are some other types of popular slicing cucumbers. Some other hybrids that produce fruit quite well are the Raider, Babylon, and Fountain varieties.
