Crop type: Cucumbers
Cucumis sativus ‘Mini Munch’
Common name: Cucumber ‘Mini Munch’
Crop slug: cucumbers
This Allotment Pro editorial draft summarises the cited RHS cultivar profile. Check the source and adjust cultivation decisions for local conditions.RHS cultivar profile
1 - Overview
‘Mini Munch’ is an all-female mini cucumber notable for an especially heavy crop of small snack-sized fruits. Each cucumber is ready at about 7cm long, with a crunchy texture and excellent flavour. The compact fruit size and long harvest window make it useful for frequent fresh picking rather than producing a few large slicing cucumbers.
Cropping can continue from June to October under suitable protected conditions. The cultivar holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.
2 - Size
- Ultimate height
- 2.5–4 metres
- Ultimate spread
- 0.1–0.5 metre
- Time to ultimate size
- 1 year
Although its fruits are miniature, the trailing vine is tall and vigorous. Train it vertically on a strong support so the many small cucumbers remain visible and easy to harvest.
3 - Growing conditions
- Suitable soils
- Clay, loam and sand
- Moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Soil pH
- Acid, neutral or alkaline
Use fertile, good-quality potting compost that holds steady moisture but drains freely. The very heavy crop needs regular water and feeding, without leaving roots waterlogged.
4 - Position and hardiness
- Light
- Full sun
- Aspect
- South- or west-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- Hardiness
- H1c — suitable outside only in summer where temperatures remain around 5–10°C or warmer
Grow in a conservatory, greenhouse or similarly warm sheltered position. Protected cultivation is best for maintaining the long June-to-October harvest of this tender annual.
5 - Colour and seasonal interest
Green foliage develops in spring, followed by yellow female flowers and numerous small green cucumbers in summer. Fruits and foliage may continue into autumn under protection. The abundance of short, smooth snack fruits around 7cm long is the cultivar’s decisive visual feature.
6 - Botanical details
- Family
- Cucurbitaceae
- Native to Great Britain and Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Trailing
- Name status
- Accepted
Genus
Cucumis is a genus of tendril-bearing twining plants that includes cucumbers, melons and gherkins. Species occur naturally across parts of Africa, India, Southeast Asia and Australia.
Safety
Bitter cucumber fruit can be toxic to pets if eaten. Do not feed bitter fruit to animals, and discard any cucumber with an abnormal bitter taste.
7 - How to grow
Cultivation
Sow from March to April in a heated greenhouse or in pots on a sunny windowsill, maintaining a constant 21°C for germination. Pot young plants individually into 25cm containers filled with good-quality potting compost and maintain 12–15°C while they establish.
Water little and often to keep the compost evenly moist, and feed every two weeks. Support the long trailing stems and inspect the plant frequently from June to October, picking fruits at about 7cm to preserve their crisp snack size and encourage continued heavy production.
Propagation
Propagate by seed.
Suggested locations
- Patio and container plants
- Conservatory and greenhouse
- Protected edible garden
Pruning
Pinch out the main growing point once it reaches the top of the support. Shorten side-shoots to two leaves beyond each developing fruit, directing growth towards the large number of mini cucumbers.
Pests
May be susceptible to glasshouse whitefly, glasshouse red spider mite, slugs and snails. Inspect leaf undersides and protect young plants.
Diseases
May be susceptible to cucumber mosaic virus and powdery mildew. Maintain greenhouse hygiene, suitable humidity and airflow, and remove plants showing clear virus symptoms.