Double Yield Cucumber, 1924 Heirloom, Organic options Available

If you were looking through the Joseph Harris Co. "Harris Seeds" Catalog in 1924, you would have found this groundbreaking debut:

"NEW! HARRIS’ DOUBLE YIELD CUCUMBER. The most productive pickling cucumber ever grown. We have named this new variety 'Double Yield' because it actually produces twice as many pickles as any other variety we have ever seen. The fruit is of a beautiful green color, very symmetrical, and just the right shape for pickles. If the fruit is kept picked, the vines will continue to bear until killed by frost. It is truly the 'Pickler's Dream' come true!"

• Legendary Productivity: Bred specifically to produce a higher volume of fruit per square foot than standard heirloom varieties.
• The Perfect Pickler: Produces slender, uniform 4-to-6-inch fruits with small seeds and a firm, "snap-tight" crunch.
• Continuous Harvest: As long as you keep picking the cucumbers, the vines will continue to produce new blossoms and fruit until the first frost.
• Symmetrical Beauty: Features a classic blunt-ended shape that makes for professional-looking pickles in the jar.
• Versatile Kitchen Staple: While famous for pickling, the young, 2-to-3-inch fruits are exceptionally sweet and tender for fresh snacking.

1. Sowing the Seeds:
Cucumbers love warm soil and plenty of sun. They can be started indoors in peat pots, but direct sowing is usually most successful.

• When: Direct sow outdoors only after the soil has warmed to at least 65–70°F and all danger of frost is gone.
• Depth: Sow seeds 1/2 inch to 1 inch deep.
• Germination: Expect sprouts in 7–10 days.

2. The Best Spot:
Choose a location with Full Sun and rich, well-draining soil. To save space and keep the fruit clean, we highly recommend growing Double Yield on a trellis or fence. The vining habit allows the plant to climb, which also improves airflow and reduces the risk of disease.

3. Maintenance for "Double" Yields:

• Spacing: Thin seedlings to 12 inches apart along a trellis, or plant 3 seeds per "hill" spaced 3 feet apart.
• Watering: Cucumbers are 95% water! Provide consistent, deep watering at the base of the plant. Uneven watering can result in bitter-tasting fruit.
• Harvesting (Critical): To live up to its name, you must harvest frequently. If you leave large cucumbers on the vine, the plant will stop producing. For the best pickles, harvest when fruits are 2 to 4 inches long.

Because of its thin skin and firm flesh, Double Yield is the ideal candidate for Fermented Crock Pickles or Quick Refrigerator Dills. Its ability to maintain its crunch even after being submerged in brine for months is what has kept this variety at the top of the "Pickler's List" since 1924.

Garden Tip: Cucumbers are heavy feeders! Mix a generous amount of compost into your soil before planting, and provide a balanced liquid fertilizer once the first yellow blossoms appear to ensure your "Double Yield" remains truly incredible. 🥒🧺✨