Growing and Reviewing Cucumber Varieties

Documentary updated 6/10/26

This is my on-going documentary and review of the different cucumber varieties and cultivars I tested in my edible garden in Oviedo, Florida, zone 10A. Feel free to ask me any relevant questions that I have not covered in my documentary notes. Share with me what is your favorite cucumber variety that you grow in your edible garden! I am still learning about the different varieties and cultivars.

Growing & Tasting Itachi F1 Cucumber

• Name: Itachi F1
• Tested in Oviedo, FL Zone 10A, on the side of my house in an elevated garden bed with indirect sunlight
• Seed Source: Johnny’s Selected Seeds Company
• Germination rate: 100%
• Seedling transplanted:
• Harvest size: 9-11 inches
• Taste profile: thin skin, crisp, almost seedless, white to pale light green
• Culinary uses: instant yard snack, great in stir fry, not sweet at all.
• Result: like

“Sweet”? Ummm…coming from a sweet tooth Mama, I do not find any cucumber to be considered as “sweet”, including this one.

Growing & Tasting “Good Luck F1” Cucumber

• Name: Good Luck F1
• Tested in Zone 10A FL
• Seed company: Pan Asia Heirloom on Etsy
• Seed sown (date):
• Germination rate: 100%
• Seedling transplanted:
• Harvesting: Harvest when the cukes are about 8-inches long. First harvest was on 4/26/26.
• Fruit production: below average
• Taste profile:
• Pests: unknown (I do not see the pest that causes holes in the leaves.)
• Conclusion: NOT recommended. The Good Luck F1 is not as prolific as the recommended varieties tested. The fruit shake is not uniform and I find it ugly too. I am going to abort this plant instead of letting it run its full life cycle.

Growing & Tasting “Max Pack F1” Cucumber

• Name: Max Pack F1
• Tested in Zone: 10A
• Seed company: Johnny’s Selected Seeds
• Seed sown (date): 2/20/25
• Seed germination rate: 100%
• Seedling transplanted:
• Harvesting:
• Fruit production: high (40+)
• Taste profile:
• Pests: Melon worms started infestation around end of May.
• Conclusion: Recommended

Growing & Tasting “Taiwanese Heat-Tolerant F1” Cucumber

• Name: “Taiwanese Heat-Tolerant F1” cucumber
• Tested in Zone 9B/10A Oviedo, FL in Spring 2024
• Seed seller/company: Pan Asia Heirloom on Etsy
• Seed sown in mid February
• Seed germination rate: 100%
• Seedling transplanted into raised bed in March
• Harvesting: Seed seller Paul Liu of Pan Asia Heirloom on Etsy recommends to harvest the cucumbers ten days from when it starts flowering.
• Fruit production: high yield (70+)
• Taste profile: I harvested four cucumbers of different sizes to taste it in early June. The ideal size would be the smallest sized shown in picture for a crispy crunchy taste and texture it is known for. Anything slightly bigger becomes tender. I was surprised the seeds in the largest cucumber are all still soft and tender. The flesh is tender as well. The big size cucumbers may be more suitable for my kids when they are about 6-12 months old learning to hold vegetables and fruits in their hand and knawing on the medium soft edibles with their gum. The large ripen cucumber tender texture reminds me more of a zucchini rather than the crunchy cucumber with perhaps a slight sweetness you taste from a zucchini versus that raw taste of traditional cucumbers. I am not a fan of eating raw cucumbers but I actually like eating this “Taiwanese Heat-Tolerant F1” cucumber.
• Pests: No pest issues found until around mid June with spider webs and tiny caterpillars.
• Conclusion: I do recommend growing this “Taiwanese Heat-Tolerant F1” cucumber cultivar. I give away more cucumbers than eat it at home. My curiosity to explore and test other cucumber varieties continues to see which one I like best after testing out at least 10 cucumber varieties. I would grow this again but not now.

What I Learned About Growing Cucumbers

Cucumber varieties that have been tested, but NOT recommended for high fruit yield:
Jibai Shimoshirazu (heirloom; Monoecious)
Good Luck F1 (hybrid; Gynoecious and Parthenocarpic)

There are three types of cucumbers and many cultivars.

1. Slicing cucumbers (long, thick, dark skin)
2. Pickling cucumbers (short, stout, bumpy)
3. Specialty & Heirloom cucumbers (unique flavor, color, and or appearance)

Cucumbers are categorized by the three types of flower they produce:

1. Monoecious (Traditional): produces both male and female flowers; pollination required
2. Gynoecious (Predominantly Female): hybridized varieties that produce mostly female flowers which result in high fruit yield
3. Parthenocarpic (Seedless): produces female flowers that do not need pollination to fruit. Note: If pollinated by a neighboring cucumber variety, they will produce seeds.