Cucumis sativus 'Patio Snacker'

RHS Plant Profile

cucumber (ridge) 'Patio Snacker'

Fruit Edible Annual Biennial

A short-growing, vining cultivar, producing stems up to 1.5m (5ft) high and reliably early and continuous crops of cucumbers around 20cm (8in) in length. Its size makes it well suited to container cultivation and where space is limited. It is also suited to outdoor cultivation in the UK and produces cucumbers from female flowers that do not need to be pollinated in order to develop the crop

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1 year
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand

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

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): H1B

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Cucurbitaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Climbing
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: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in an acidic to neutral, moisture-retentive, well drained compost and a position in full sun, in a conservatory or greenhouse or outdoors in summer in a container on the patio. This is a compact, variety that produces fruit without the need to be pollinated by male flowers. See cucumber cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Edible fruit
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse whitefly

Diseases

May be susceptible to Cucumber mosaic virus and powdery mildews