6 Cucumber Varieties for Cooler Climates

To thrive, cucumbers ideally need to be kept above 55ºF throughout the night and day. However, if you live in an area that occasionally experiences a cool summer, you might find that 55ºF isn’t always possible! If your garden is at a higher altitude or exposed to strong coastal winds, tender plants, like cucumbers, can really struggle.

Another issue could be the length of the growing season. In parts of Alaska or Canada, the growing season isn’t particularly long. So growing cucumber varieties that take a long time to mature might not make it before the first frost hits.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase through one of these links I may earn a commission. This comes at no extra cost to you.

Cucumbers for short growing seasons

Compared to melons, cucumbers mature a lot more quickly. Even melon varieties for cooler climates need roughly 80 days from germination to fruiting.

Most cucumber varieties need between 55-65 days, but many varieties will mature and ripen sooner. Ideal if your garden has a particularly short growing season.

The cucumbers on this list mature quickly, so you should be able to fit them into a short growing season. And if your area doesn’t get too cold, it will simply extend the time you can enjoy picking them!

Cold tolerant cucumber varieties

These cucumbers are not cold-hardy in the traditional sense, they’re still tender annuals that are sensitive to frost. However, they will mature quickly and are well known for their toleration of cooler conditions.

1. Manny

A hardy, slicing cucumber that can deal with lower light levels and cooler temperatures. It works best in a greenhouse if possible. It’s one of the fastest-growing and highest-yielding slicing cucumbers for cooler climates.

If your garden is too small for a traditional greenhouse, this slim outdoor greenhouse from Amazon is a good alternative. You can remove the shelves and place a planter at the bottom with vertical supports for your cucumbers to climb up.

Fruit development type: Parthenocarpic (doesn’t need insects for cross-pollination, so ideal for greenhouses)

Time to maturity: 50 days

2. Mini Muncher

A lovely snack-sized cucumber that produces a great yield. Mini Munch cucumber plants can thrive in relatively cool summers, so they’re ideal for greenhouses in cooler locations.

They’re also resistant to powdery mildew which can be a common issue in cooler climates.

Fruit development type: Gynoecious (mostly female flowers, seed packets usually contain another seed variety that can pollinate)

Time to maturity: 55 days

3. Paraiso (F1)

A robust variety that copes well with various growing conditions, especially cool summers.  It’s also resistant to powdery mildew and cucumber mosaic virus.

Parasio cucumbers are fairly long (around 8 inches), deep green, and should have a great crunch.

Fruit development type: Parthenocarpic (a hybrid variety that doesn’t need insects for cross-pollination, so ideal for greenhouses)

Time to maturity: 60 days

4. Double Yield

Usually grown as a gherkin variety, Double Yield is known for its high yield rates! From germination to picking, it’s a fast-maturing cucumber so it’s an ideal cucumber for shorter growing seasons.

Grown since the early 20th century, it’s a very popular, traditional variety that is considered relatively hardy and vigorous.

Fruit development type: Monoecious (open-pollinated, has separate male and female flowers)

Time to maturity: 52 days

5. Jogger

Ideally suited to outdoor growing, the ‘Jogger’ cucumber is a great cucumber to grow in cooler climates. It has dark green skin with tiny white (soft) spines, and a juicy inside that’s bitter-free.

We’ve recently had very varied weather, with hot days, mixed with cooler temps and plenty of rain. However, my ‘Jogger’ cucumbers have thrived outside without a greenhouse.

Fruit development type: Monoecious (open-pollinated, has separate male and female flowers)

Time to maturity: 52 days

6. Corentine

A European gherkin cucumber variety that’s considered half-hardy, Corentine cucumbers are a great choice for cooler climates.

They’ll thrive even if the summer temperatures remain cool. Plus, with their short time to maturity, you’re guaranteed a longer cropping time in areas with a shorter growing season.

Fruit development type: Parthenocarpic (doesn’t need insects for cross-pollination, so ideal for greenhouses)

Time to maturity: 45 days

7. Corinto (F1) Organic

The Corinto is a great slicing variety that produces dark green, relatively smooth fruits at 8-10 inches. It’s very tolerant of cool conditions and sets well even if the summer is relatively cool. They’re so tolerant of varying conditions that it’s even used as a heat-resistant cucumber variety.

It’s a variety that should also be resistant to cucumber mosaic virus, powdery mildew, and cucumber vein yellowing virus.

Fruit development type: Parthenocarpic (doesn’t need insects for cross-pollination, so ideal for greenhouses)

Time to maturity: 48 days

Tips for growing cucumbers in cooler climates

To get a good crop of cucumbers or gherkins in areas with variable summers, check out some of these tips. 

• A mini vertical greenhouse or grow house really is best when you’re growing tender crops like melons or cucumbers in areas with variable summers.
• Using an a-frame trellis is a great way to maximize how much you can grow in your garden but it also allows the cucumbers to receive more sunlight when up high. This a-frame cucumber trellis from Amazon can easily be folded away after the growing season has finished.
• If you don’t have the space or budget for a greenhouse, make sure to plant your cucumber plants in a sheltered spot that receives as much sun as possible (they really need 8 hours of sun to produce a good crop). Placing them near a wall can help them pick up some residual heat.
• Smaller varieties will mature quicker allowing you to pick more in a shorter growing season.
• Cucumbers will only germinate in temperatures of at least 50ºF, so it’s best to start seeds off indoors if you live in a cool area. Roughly 3-4 weeks before the last recommended frost date in your area is ideal.

If you’re looking to fill your garden with more, successful cold hardy fruits or vegetables, here are some other cold-tolerant crops you could try:

• Cold tolerant pawpaws: A wild American fruit with amazing tropical flavor
• Most cold hardy grape varieties: ideal for northern or coastal climates
• Melons for cool climates and short growing seasons: These melons develop quickly and are tolerant of cooler conditions.

Featured Image by Julia Schwab from Pixabay