Cucumis sativus 'Lili'

RHS Plant Profile
cucumber (ridge) 'Lili'

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Annual Biennial

A highly reliable slicing cucumber variety producing large crops of attractive dark-green fruit with an excellent flavour. It shows good disease resistance to downy mildew, has good storage ability and is ideal for growing in an unheated greenhouse or outdoors in warmer areas. 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
Alkaline or Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
West–facing or South–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)
H2

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
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow from seed in a heated greenhouse or on a sunny windowsill 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 cucuber mosaic virus. Shows good resistance to downy mildews