Cucumber 'Marketmore 76'

'Marketmore 76' is a highly regarded outdoor (ridge) cucumber variety that performs exceptionally well in the UK climate. Unlike greenhouse varieties, it is robust enough to be grown outside in a sunny, sheltered spot. It produces straight, dark green, cylindrical fruits about 20cm long with a slightly bumpy skin and a crisp, refreshing flavour that never turns bitter. This variety is noted for its excellent disease resistance, including scab and mosaic virus, which helps ensure a healthy crop throughout the summer. The plants have a trailing or climbing habit and can be grown along the ground or trained up a trellis to save space and keep the fruits clean. For British gardens, it is best to start seeds indoors in April and transplant them outside in June. They require a rich, moisture-retentive soil and frequent watering. Removing the male flowers is not necessary with this variety. It is a reliably heavy cropper from July until the first frosts of autumn.

Sun: Full sun.

Soil: Rich, well-drained, moist soil.

Hardiness: H2 — down to 1°C.

Flowering: Jul, Aug.