Variety field guide
What to expect from Sumter Pickling cucumber Seeds
Sumter Pickling cucumber seeds produce green fruit, up to about 6 in long, on vining/climbing plants.
Read the complete product descriptionTraits, flavor, garden use, variety notes, and the full catalog record
Sumter Pickling cucumber seeds produce green fruit, up to about 6 in long, on vining/climbing plants. Grow it for fresh eating or pickling, trellised gardens, succession sowing, and summer harvest. Ideal for dill, sweet, or bread-and-butter pickles, these cucumbers also make a refreshing addition to salads and snacks. Sumter Cucumber Seeds produce productive pickling cucumber with vigorous vines and resistance to common cucumber diseases.
About Sumter
Sumter is an annual pickling cucumber with green color, 49–60 in mature height or spread, and a vining/climbing habit. Harvest form or size: Up to about 6 in long. Botanically it is Cucumis sativus L. Maturity or first bloom: 50-59 Days; germination: 7-10 Days at 75–90 °F. Best for fresh eating or pickling, trellised gardens, succession sowing, and summer harvest. Ideal for dill, sweet, or bread-and-butter pickles, these cucumbers also make a refreshing addition to salads and snacks.
History and provenance
North Carolina State University records Sumter as a Clemson Agricultural Experiment Station cultivar released in 1973. The exact identity of the seed lot remains tied to its supplier and lot records, so no additional lineage is assigned beyond the cited record. Growers saving seed should keep the original packet, source, year, and selection notes with the lot. Developed for both home gardeners and commercial growers, Sumter delivers consistent performance and firm, delicious cucumbers well suited for fresh eating and pickling alike. Their classic cucumber flavor and crisp texture make them a versatile favorite in any kitchen. Resistant to downy mildew, powdery mildew, anthracnose, and angular leaf spot, Sumter maintains healthy foliage and continuous fruit production even in challenging growing conditions. Dependable, disease-resistant, and delicious, the Sumter Cucumber is a go-to choice for gardeners who value flavor and reliability.
Growing facts
| Scientific name | Cucumis sativus L. |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Annual |
| Maturity / first bloom | 50-59 Days |
| Germination | 7-10 Days at 75–90 °F |
| Seed depth | 1/2 in |
| Plant height / spread | 49–60 in |
| Growth habit | Vining/Climbing |
| Spacing | 12 in between plants; 36 in between rows |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Soil | Loamy; pH 6.0–6.5 |
| Water | Moderate |
| Support | Trellis |
Starting Sumter from seed
How to grow Sumter Pickling cucumber
Botanical identity: Cucumis sativus L. Life cycle: Annual.
Sow 1/2 in and use a seed-zone temperature near 75–90 °F. Expected emergence: 7-10 Days. No stratification; direct sow into warm soil or start briefly in biodegradable cells and transplant young
Plant during Late Spring. Space plants 12 in apart with 36 in between rows or planting bands.
Provide Full sun, moderate water, and loamy near pH 6.0–6.5. Support: Trellis.
Garden performance and care
Harvest Sumter frequently at the intended eating stage so oversized fruit does not slow production. Keep vines off wet soil where possible, water at the root zone, and watch early for cucumber beetles and wilt symptoms. Expected emergence is 7-10 Days; the listed maturity or bloom timing is 50-59 Days.
Harvest, bloom, and uses
Sumter is best for fresh eating or pickling, trellised gardens, succession sowing, and summer harvest. Harvest form or size: Up to about 6 in long. Color at the principal harvest or mature stage: Green. Ideal for dill, sweet, or bread-and-butter pickles, these cucumbers also make a refreshing addition to salads and snacks.
Saving seed
Seed saving for Sumter Select several healthy, true-to-type plants so the saved lot represents the variety rather than one unusually early or large individual. Cucumis sativus L. varieties can cross with other cucumbers of the same species through insect-carried pollen. Isolate by distance, flowering control, bagging, or hand pollination and maintain enough plants to represent the variety. Mark seed fruit early, then allow it to grow far past eating stage until large and pale, yellow, or golden. Hold mature fruit briefly if sound, scoop seed and pulp, ferment about 24–48 hours, wash away pulp and light seed, and dry the heavy seed thoroughly in a thin layer. Label the lot with isolation and selection records and test germination before distribution.
Common problems
Watch Sumter for cucumber beetles, squash bugs where applicable, aphids, powdery or downy mildew, bacterial wilt, crown rot, poor pollination, and fruit damage on wet soil. Rotate cucurbit crops, provide airflow, water at the root zone, protect young plants before flowering, and remove covers when blossoms need pollinators. Do not work wet vines.
Frequently asked questions
When is Sumter ready?
50-59 Days from warm direct sowing or equivalent established transplant
How long does germination take?
Expect 7-10 Days near 75–90 °F; actual emergence changes with moisture, seed condition, and soil temperature.
How large does it grow?
About 49–60 in with a vining/climbing habit. Support: Trellis.
Can it grow in a container?
Possible in a large container only with a sturdy trellis, frequent watering, and enough root volume.
How is it used?
Primary uses: fresh eating or pickling, trellised gardens, succession sowing, and summer harvest. Ideal for dill, sweet, or bread-and-butter pickles, these cucumbers also make a refreshing addition to salads and snacks.
Can I save seed?
Yes where the crop biology allows, but keep compatible varieties isolated, use several healthy plants, wait for full seed maturity, dry thoroughly, and label the lot.
Minimum Seed Count:50 seeds
