Cucumis sativus 'Socrates'

RHS Plant Profile

cucumber 'Socrates'

Annual Biennial

A vigorous indoor, all female cucumber variety producing high yields of mini, bitter free cucumbers (15cm long) with an excellent flavour. Best suited to a glasshouse or poly-tunnel. Harvest between July and October

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1 year
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Neutral or Alkaline or Acid

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H1C

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Cucurbitaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Trailing
Potentially harmful: Pets: Bitter fruit can be TOXIC if eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Cucumis is a genus of twining plants with tendrils which includes cucumber, melons and gerkins. Around 30 species are native to Africa and 25 to India, Southeast Asia and Australia.
Name Status: Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow from seed in a heated greenhouse in pots and maintain a constant temperature of 21C. Prick out young plants into 25cm pots filled with a good quality growing potting compost and maintain a temperature of 12-15C. Water little and often to keep the compost evenly moist and feed every two weeks. See vegetable cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

Pinch out the growing point of the plant once it reaches the top of the support. Shorten sideshoots to two leaves beyond any developing fruit

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse whitefly, glasshouse red spider mite, slugs and snails

Diseases

May be susceptible to cucumber mosaic virus. It shows some resistance to powdery and downy mildew