How to Grow Sweet Success Cucumbers: Facts, Information, Tips, and Advice

Sweet Success cucumbers are a hybrid variety known for their long, slender, and smooth-skinned fruit with a refreshingly sweet and mild flavor. This award-winning cucumber is highly productive and disease-resistant, making it an excellent choice for gardeners seeking a reliable and easy-to-grow variety. Sweet Success cucumbers are best for slicing, salads, and fresh eating, as their tender skin and crisp texture make them a delightful addition to any meal.

In this guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know to grow Sweet Success cucumbers, from planting to care, pest management, and harvesting. Follow these tips, and you’ll enjoy a bountiful crop of delicious, sweet cucumbers.

Key Facts About Sweet Success Cucumber

Type: Hybrid slicing cucumber
Size: 12-14 inches long
Shape: Long and slender
Color: Dark green, smooth skin
Taste: Mild, sweet, and crisp
Days to maturity: 55-60 days
Growth habit: Vining
Best for: Slicing, fresh eating, and salads

Why Choose Sweet Success Cucumbers?

Sweet Success cucumbers are a popular choice among gardeners because of their non-bitter, crisp, and sweet flavor. Their thin, tender skin means there’s no need for peeling, and they are practically seedless when harvested young. These cucumbers are also parthenocarpic, meaning they don’t require pollination to produce fruit, making them ideal for growing in greenhouses or areas with fewer pollinators. Additionally, Sweet Success is highly disease-resistant, providing an abundant harvest with minimal effort.

This variety is perfect for anyone who enjoys fresh, sweet cucumbers for snacking, salads, or slicing into sandwiches.

Growing Sweet Success Cucumbers

1. Choosing the Right Location

Sweet Success cucumbers thrive in warm, sunny locations. Choose a spot in your garden that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Like all cucumbers, they perform best in warm temperatures, so ensure the soil and air are warm before planting.

Soil Requirements:

Sweet Success cucumbers prefer well-drained, fertile soil with a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0.
Before planting, amend the soil with organic matter, such as compost or well-rotted manure, to enhance fertility and drainage.

2. Planting Sweet Success Cucumbers

You can start Sweet Success cucumber seeds indoors or sow them directly into the garden once the soil has warmed to at least 70°F (21°C).

Starting Indoors:

Start seeds indoors 3-4 weeks before the last frost date.
Sow seeds about 1/2 inch deep in small pots or seed trays.
Keep the soil consistently moist and warm (70-75°F) to encourage germination.
Transplant seedlings outdoors when they have 2-3 true leaves and all danger of frost has passed.

Direct Sowing Outdoors:

Sow seeds directly in the garden once the soil has warmed up to at least 70°F.
Plant seeds 1/2 inch deep, spacing them 12 inches apart in rows about 3 feet apart.
Water thoroughly after planting to help the seeds germinate.

3. Caring for Sweet Success Cucumbers

Proper care will ensure a productive crop of Sweet Success cucumbers. These cucumbers grow vigorously and require consistent attention for the best results.

Watering:

Cucumbers need consistent moisture to prevent bitterness and ensure a sweet, crisp texture. Water deeply, providing 1-2 inches of water per week, depending on rainfall.
Water early in the morning, and avoid getting the leaves wet to reduce the risk of fungal diseases. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses work best for cucumbers.

Fertilizing:

Apply a balanced fertilizer (such as 10-10-10) when the plants are about 6 inches tall to support healthy growth.
Once the plants begin flowering and setting fruit, side-dress with compost or organic fertilizer to keep them productive.

Trellising:

Sweet Success cucumbers grow on vines and can benefit from trellising or vertical support. Trellising keeps the fruit off the ground, improves air circulation, and makes harvesting easier.
Install trellises or supports early in the season to guide the vines as they grow.

Mulching:

Apply organic mulch, such as straw or shredded leaves, around the base of the plants to help retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds.

4. Pest and Disease Management

Sweet Success cucumbers are highly resistant to many common cucumber diseases, but it’s still essential to monitor for pests and take preventive measures.

Common Pests:

Aphids: These small insects can weaken plants by sucking sap from the leaves. Control aphids with insecticidal soap or by introducing beneficial insects like ladybugs.
Cucumber beetles: Cucumber beetles can damage the leaves and spread diseases like bacterial wilt. Use row covers to protect young plants, and apply neem oil to deter cucumber beetles.
Spider mites: Spider mites can cause leaves to yellow and speckle. Keep plants well-watered, and use neem oil to manage infestations.

Common Diseases:

Powdery mildew: This fungal disease causes white, powdery spots on leaves. To prevent it, avoid overhead watering and ensure good air circulation around the plants.
Downy mildew: This disease can cause yellow spots on the leaves. Plant cucumbers in well-drained soil, and avoid overcrowding to reduce the risk of infection.

5. Harvesting Sweet Success Cucumbers

Sweet Success cucumbers are typically ready to harvest 55-60 days after planting. For the best flavor and texture, harvest the cucumbers when they are 12-14 inches long and still firm.

Use a sharp knife or garden shears to cut the cucumbers from the vine, leaving a small section of the stem attached.
Regular harvesting encourages the plant to continue producing fruit throughout the season.

Harvesting Tips:

Pick cucumbers while they are still young and tender for the best flavor. Overripe cucumbers may lose their sweetness and become watery.
Check your plants daily during the peak growing season, as cucumbers can grow rapidly and may become oversized if left on the vine too long.

6. Storing Sweet Success Cucumbers

Once harvested, Sweet Success cucumbers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. To keep them fresh:

Store the cucumbers in a perforated plastic bag or wrap them in a paper towel to retain moisture.
Place them in the vegetable crisper drawer of your refrigerator.

Avoid storing cucumbers near ethylene-producing fruits like apples or bananas, as this can cause them to spoil more quickly.

Common Questions and Answers About Growing Sweet Success Cucumbers

Q: How long does it take for Sweet Success cucumbers to mature?
A: Sweet Success cucumbers typically take 55-60 days to mature from seed.

Q: Can Sweet Success cucumbers be grown in containers?
A: Yes, Sweet Success cucumbers can be grown in large containers. Choose a container that is at least 12 inches deep, and provide a trellis or support for the vines to climb.

Q: How often should I water my Sweet Success cucumbers?
A: Water your cucumbers deeply and consistently, providing 1-2 inches of water per week. Water early in the morning, and avoid wetting the leaves to reduce the risk of fungal diseases.

Q: Do Sweet Success cucumbers need a trellis?
A: Yes, trellising is recommended for Sweet Success cucumbers, as it helps improve air circulation, keeps the fruit clean, and makes harvesting easier.

Q: How can I tell when Sweet Success cucumbers are ready to harvest?
A: Sweet Success cucumbers are ready to harvest when they are 12-14 inches long and still firm. Harvest regularly to keep the plant producing more fruit.

Q: Are Sweet Success cucumbers seedless?
A: Sweet Success cucumbers are practically seedless when harvested young, making them ideal for fresh eating and slicing.

Conclusion

Sweet Success cucumbers are a wonderful choice for gardeners who enjoy sweet, crisp cucumbers with tender skin and few seeds. With proper care, including consistent watering, trellising, and pest management, you’ll enjoy a bountiful harvest of delicious cucumbers perfect for slicing and fresh eating. Whether you’re growing them in a garden, raised beds, or containers, Sweet Success cucumbers will become a favorite addition to your summer garden.

Learn more about all the different cucumber varieties here