The Spacemaster Cucumber is ideal for growing in small spaces, hence its name. This incredible fruit produces a large yield yet it takes up very little space.
Without further ado, let’s get into everything you need to know about the Spacemaster Cucumber.
All About Spacemaster Cucumbers
The Spacemaster Cucumber is known for being the perfect small garden cucumber. It is also known for being the ideal cucumber to grow in a container.
This fruit earns its reputation of being the master of efficient space usage because it’s of the compact bush variety of cucumber, which means it’s the kind of cucumber that takes up little room yet can produce a substantial yield.
Characteristics
The Spacemaster Cucumber is capable of growing anywhere from 18 to 36 inches tall depending on the amount of room you leave for it to grow.
Just because the plant itself is small and compact doesn’t mean the cucumber will be small. The dark green cucumber grows to about 8 inches which means it’s perfect for snacking and for being incorporated in full dishes.
Spacemaster Cucumbers are warm weather-loving cucumbers but can grow in most climates as long as they are planted at the right time.
Eating the Spacemaster Cucumber
What Does the Spacemaster Cucumber Taste Like?
The Spacemaster is known for its strong, sweet flavor. It has a crunchy texture and is juicy when you bite it.
The quickest way to eat Spacemaster Cucumbers is to just slice them up for a nice sweet snack.
Another option is, of course, to pickle them. In order to do this, you first have to pick them during the earlier stages of growth.
To pickle the cucumbers, slice them into thin sheets and place them in a bowl with salt. Toss the pickle and salt in the bowl and leave to rest for around 30 minutes.
Separately, put vinegar and sugar in a pot, warm it to dissolve the sugar, and leave the solution to cool. Then, wipe off the salt from the cucumbers and place them in a jar with the solution and leave them in the fridge for a minimum of 3 hours.
Want a delicious salad that’s perfect to take to work? Try this Tomato Cucumber Coriander Salad.
Sometimes you want to change up your meals. If you need to change up your salad game, try this Asian Cucumber Salad.
If you’re still unsure about what you want to do with your Spacemaster Cucumbers, take a look at this list of Cucumber Recipes.
Health Benefits
Cucumbers are rich in fiber and water, which makes them a hydrating snack that’s also great for digestion. Cucumbers are also low in calories as a result of their high water content.
Spacemaster Cucumbers, specifically, are high in fisetin. Fisetin is an anti-oxidant that has anti-inflammatory properties. There is also research that suggests fisetin helps with memory and is good for those with Alzheimer’s disease.
Cucumber is also known for being high in vitamins B and C. These are good for providing energy for cellular functions and for immune health, respectively.
Growing Your Spacemaster Cucumbers
We’ll briefly go over the basics of growing Spacemaster Cucumbers, but for more in-depth information, read our article on How to Plant Cucumbers.
Planting
To start, you only need half an inch of space between seeds when sowing. When they grow, you want about 12 to 24 inches between each plant, so you have to thin and move things around as they grow.
The ideal temperature of the container or your garden should be around 80 to 90 degrees. Spacemasters love the heat, so this is important to keep in mind during the growing process.
Seeds take about 3 to 10 days to germinate, depending on the heat of the soil. The hotter the soil, the quicker your seedlings will sprout.
If you are planting your Spacemaster Cucumbers indoors, they should be sowed 3-4 weeks before the frost ends.
If you are planting the cucumbers outdoors, then they should be planted after the frost has passed. Specifically, you should wait until the nightly temperature is at least between 60 to 70 degrees.
Spacemasters need full sun for proper growth but tolerate partial shade. The light sandy soil they’re planted in should be moist and watered 2 to 3 times a week.
Diseases
Spacemaster Cucumber is resistant to Cucumber mosaic virus and scab. This is great news for anyone who wants to grow this plant, but there are diseases that, sadly, they are not resistant to. The diseases are:
- Angular leaf spot
- Damping-off
- Downy mildew
- powdery mildew
- Root rot
- Verticillium wilt
The two biggest diseases in this list to worry about are mildew and root rot, as they are common for all plants you’ll encounter.
To prevent mildew, make sure there’s enough space and ventilation for the plant. Also, make sure to avoid watering the leaves of the plant. Instead, water the base of the plant.
Ironically, however, the easiest way to get rid of the mildew is to wet the leaves because although mildew is a fungal infection, it dislikes water.
To avoid root rot, make sure to water slowly and make sure you don’t overwater the plants. The only way to get rid of root rot is to cut off rotted roots with sterile scissors.
Where to Buy Spacemaster Cucumber Seeds
There are many places you can buy Spacemaster Cucumber seeds, but we recommend you buy your seeds online at True Leaf Market.
The Master of Space Usage Is the Perfect Addition to Any Small Garden
The Spacemaster Cucumber is an incredible fruit that’s able to grow in abundance with limited space.
It’s delicious both as a regular snack, pickled, and in salads. This cucumber can provide everything you can possibly ask for from a cucumber.
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!
Al DeWolf
Wednesday 10th of May 2023
I’m growing space masters in a 20 gallon fabric container. Two plants. Should I prune any of the big leaves off? Pick off the flowers?
Matt
Friday 12th of May 2023
I wouldn't.