Poinsett 76 Organic Cucumber

Nature & Nurture Seeds

Cucumis sativus

$4.99

Pkt(≈25 seeds)
VALUE SIZE: 1/8 oz (≈ 120 seeds)
Certified Organic

70 days. Poinsett 76 are straight, dark green, non-bitter and delightfully crisp cucumbers. They are 7 – 8” long with a 2 – 2½” diameter. With the market dominated by hybrids, Poinsett 76 is one of the best open-pollinated, classic slicing cucumbers. Very popular in the 1980’s & 1990’s, we became impressed with its overall vigor, productivity and disease resistance. Resistant to many common diseases that plague cucumber plants, including powdery & downy mildew, anthracnose, angular leaf spot, and scab. If you have trouble growing cucumbers, give these a whirl!  Bred and released by Dr. Henry M. Munger of Cornell University along with Clemson University in 1976. These cukes are fantastic raw in salads or in cool and tangy condiments like Indian raita or Greek tzatziki.  Also wonderful in Middle Eastern Fattoosh Salad.

As with all cucurbits, cucumbers do not like their roots disturbed during transplanting so if starting seeds indoors, use biodegradable pots. Seeds can be started inside or outside. Start seeds indoors May 1st into a good starting mix (we recommend Vermont Compost’s Fort Light). Ideal temperature for germination: 85-95° (use heating mat). Cucumber seedlings are sensitive to damping off fungus so keep soil lightly moist but not too wet and use a fan (set to low) to provide air circulation. Days to germination: 4-10. Once 2 leaves appear, grow plants at 72°. Transplant outdoors (plant biodegradable pot into soil) around June 1st into fertile soil with lots of compost or decomposed manure. Or direct sow seeds outdoors June 1st (1/2” deep). Space plants 1 foot apart. Protect seedlings from cucumber beetles by covering seeds/seedlings with row cover fabric at planting and leave it on until plants are flowering. Protect plants from deer and groundhogs. For an extra boost, foliar feed young cucumber plants (1 week after transplanting) with fish/seaweed. Cucumbers perform and taste best in cool (less than 85°) weather.