Salad Bush Cucumbers are a common, well-loved cucumber variety. They were bred to take up very little space and are resistant to most diseases, making them an extremely popular option for farmers. They are also popular with customers because of their versatility and sweet taste.
Read on to learn how to grow, harvest, and prepare the Salad Bush Cucumber. You’ll want to add this to your garden lineup this year!
Characteristics of the Salad Bush Cucumber
The Salad Bush Cucumber is around 8 inches long, making it smaller than your average cucumber. It is straight and cylindrical, with thin, deep green skin that can have bumps and/or stripes.
A Cucumber with Versatile Taste
Like most cucumber varieties, the Salad Bush Cucumber is juicy and crispy, with a refreshing taste.
This cucumber is commonly used in salads and eaten raw because it is less acidic than your average cucumber. Its flesh has a sweet taste, while its skin has an earthy flavor. Because it is so sweet, it is also ideal for pickling.
Using Salad Bush Cucumbers
The Salad Bush Cucumber can be eaten fresh and is easy to slice because of its even shape. Always use a sharp knife and slice cucumbers vertically for an easy, refreshing appetizer or horizontally for circular slices that are the perfect garnish for any salad.
Although its skin is a good source of fiber, it comes off painlessly with a peeler if you prefer to remove it.
The Salad Bush Cucumber is ideal for pickling because of its small size and can be easily canned at home.
Simple Pickling Recipe
Cucumbers can be pickled using a handful of ingredients and a glass jar by following a few easy steps:
1. To start off, you’ll need four ingredients:
- 1 cup of white vinegar
- 1 cup of water
- ½ a cup of sugar
- 1 tbsp of pickling salt
2. Add all of the ingredients to a pan and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring regularly until the salt and sugar have been fully dissolved.
3. Lastly, pour this mixture into a jar with cucumbers, covering them completely. Once the cucumbers are submerged, quickly seal the jar. Set aside for at least 24 hours.
For more information, read our complete guide on How to Pickle Cucumbers.
Pickled cucumbers can last up to a month, making them a great meal-prep snack.
Health Benefits
Like other cucumber varieties, Salad Bush Cucumbers are a great source of antioxidants and vitamins – especially vitamin A, which promotes immunity, and vitamin K, which helps strengthen the bones – as well as being extremely hydrating. Its mild, sweet taste makes it good for kids and easy to incorporate even the pickiest of eaters’ diets.
Recipes
Here are a few simple, delicious recipes that can be made using Salad Bush Cucumbers and help you take advantage of all the health benefits this vegetable offers.
If you’re entertaining, try this delicious (and easy!) Cucumber Dip. This healthy snack is a perfect option because it’s vegetarian, kid-friendly, and can be made in only 10 minutes.
If you’re looking for a refreshing, healthy lunch option, try this Pickled Radish Cucumber Salad. It’s simple to make but has enough of a kick to make for an interesting meal.
Lastly, if you’re in the mood for a hydrating drink, a Cucumber Juice might do the trick. It’s easy to consume on the go and filled with all of the vitamins and antioxidants that cucumbers offer.
Where to Purchase the Salad Bush Cucumber
The Salad Bush Cucumber is a popular variety, and fresh ones can be found at most grocery stores and online.
That being said, it’s so easy to plant and space-efficient that you might prefer growing it yourself! We highly recommend the Salad Bush Cucumber seeds sold online by one of our favorite seed retailers, True Leaf Market.
How to Grow the Salad Bush Cucumber
The Salad Bush Cucumber plant is on the smaller side, growing to be only around 3 – 4 feet – about half the size of your average cucumber plant variety. It is also more resistant to fungi and other pests than most cucumber plant varieties. This makes them a good option to grow yourself, and can even be grown at home, on your balcony!
We’ll touch on the basics here. For in-depth information on how to grow and care for any cucumber variety, read our complete guide, Growing Cucumbers.
Planting
That being said, the Salad Bush Cucumber does require plenty of sunlight and water to thrive. It cannot withstand the cold and must be kept above 65°F. Rich, fertile soil is best and must be kept damp, being regularly watered at the roots.
Granulated fertilizers are recommended, as well as the addition of organic nutrients to improve the soil’s drainage.
Our blog post on How to Plant Cucumbers discusses best practices for starting and planting cucumber seedlings.
Trellising
As the plant grows, it eventually needs to be supported using a trellis. Prune the plant as needed.
We also have a blog post on Growing Cucumbers Vertically that will help you grow the healthiest cucumber plants (plus, it’s a good idea for small space gardens).
When to Harvest the Salad Bush Cucumber
The Salad Bush Cucumber plant has a high yield – one of the reasons why it’s so popular among farmers and home growers.
When cucumbers are dark green, firm to the touch, and around 6 to 8 inches in length, they’re ready to harvest. This usually occurs around 50 days after they were planted.
Pick these cucumbers sooner rather than later to retain their sweet taste. Cucumbers that are left on the vine for too long turn bitter-tasting.
A Safe, Yet Delicious, Bet
The Salad Bush Cucumber is a classic for a reason. Not only is this variety easy to grow and harvest, but it also has a sweet taste that makes it the perfect option for any recipe or snack. Whether you enjoy your cucumbers pickled or fresh, the Salad Bush Cucumber fits the bill.
Ready to continue discovering these funky fresh vegetables? Then learn more about cucumbers by checking out my planting guides, recipe tips, brand suggestions, and more!