← Plant Guides

How to Grow Tokyo Long Green Cucumber

Wikimedia Commons

Tokyo Long Green Cucumber

Cucumis sativus

vegetable

Tokyo Long Green is a Japanese heirloom cucumber variety known for its long, slender, dark green fruits that can reach 12-14 inches in length. These thin-skinned cucumbers have a mild, crisp flavor and tender flesh with small seeds, making them ideal for fresh eating and pickling. This vigorous vining plant produces abundantly throughout the growing season.

When should you plant Tokyo Long Green Cucumber in your zone?

Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.

Get my Tokyo Long Green Cucumber timeline →

Example Tokyo Long Green Cucumber timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

  1. Plant Tokyo Long Green Cucumber

    Around Apr 17

    Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.

  2. Tend & protect

    Late spring–summer

    Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.

  3. Harvest Tokyo Long Green Cucumber

    Around Jun 6

    ≈ 50 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Tokyo Long Green Cucumber dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily minimum; 8+ hours optimal for maximum yield
💧
Water: Consistent moisture is critical; water deeply 1-2 inches per week, more frequently during heat waves. Keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water at the base to keep foliage dry and prevent disease.
📏
Spacing: 12 inches
📅
Days to maturity: 50-65 days from transplant or direct seeding
🌱
Planting depth: 1 inch for seeds; transplants at same depth as nursery pot

Soil

Type: Well-draining, rich loamy soil with good organic matter content
pH: 6.0-7.0
Amendments:
Compost Well-rotted manure Peat moss or coconut coir Balanced fertilizer (10-10-10 or similar)

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 3-10; plant after all frost danger has passed. Prefers warm soil (60°F minimum, 70°F+ ideal)

2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b

Sign up free to see if Tokyo Long Green Cucumber grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.

Get my Tokyo Long Green Cucumber timeline →

Growth Stages

1

Seedling

7-10 days

Emergence of cotyledons followed by first true leaves. Plant develops shallow root system.

Keep soil warm (70-75°F) and consistently moist. Provide bright light. Thin seedlings to strongest plant if direct seeding.

2

Vegetative

2-3 weeks

Rapid vine growth with multiple leaf nodes developing. Tendrils appear and plant establishes climbing/sprawling habit.

Install trellis or support system early. Begin fertilizing every 2 weeks with balanced fertilizer. Mulch around base. Ensure consistent watering.

3

Flowering

1-2 weeks

First flowers appear (male flowers first, then female flowers with tiny cucumber behind bloom). Vines cover support structure.

Maintain consistent watering to prevent blossom-end rot. Side-dress with compost. Increase phosphorus and potassium fertilizer slightly. Ensure good pollination.

4

Fruiting

3-4 weeks

Cucumbers develop rapidly, elongating into characteristic long, slender, dark green form. Multiple fruits develop simultaneously along the vine.

Pick fruits regularly to encourage continuous production. Provide adequate water (especially critical at this stage). Monitor for pests and diseases. Apply mulch to keep soil cool and moist.

5

Harvest

4-8 weeks

Fruits reach 10-14 inches length with dark green color and firm texture. Plant continues producing until frost or disease terminates season.

Harvest every 2-3 days to maintain quality and encourage production. Cut fruit rather than pulling to avoid vine damage. Continue watering and fertilizing for sustained yield.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil Beans Corn Dill Nasturtium Oregano Parsley Radish Sunflower

Avoid planting near:

Potatoes Rosemary Sage Fennel Kohlrabi Aromatic herbs in large quantities

Common Pests

  • Row covers until flowering; neem oil; yellow sticky traps; insecticidal soap; remove and destroy infested leaves; plant resistant varieties if available

  • Improve air circulation; avoid overhead watering; sulfur dust or spray; potassium bicarbonate fungicide; remove severely affected leaves

  • Increase humidity with misting; neem oil; insecticidal soap; strong water spray to dislodge; avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization

  • Yellow sticky traps; neem oil; insecticidal soap; reflective mulch; encourage natural predators

  • Strong water spray; insecticidal soap; neem oil; encourage ladybugs and lacewings; reflective mulch

  • Improve air circulation; avoid overhead watering; copper fungicide; remove and destroy infected leaves; plant in sunny location; resistant varieties

Uses

🍳

Fresh Eating & Salads

Culinary

Tokyo Long Green cucumbers are excellent for fresh consumption due to their tender skin, crisp texture, and mild flavor. Slice for salads, side dishes, or eat fresh as a snack. [source]

🍳

Pickling & Preservation

Culinary

These slender cucumbers are traditionally used in Japanese pickling preparations and Asian cuisines. Their thin skin and small seeds make them ideal for quick pickles and fermented preparations. [source]

🏠

Cosmetic & Skincare

Household

Cucumber slices have been traditionally used for facial treatments and skincare applications, valued for their hydrating properties and silica content. The mild nature of Japanese cucumber varieties makes them gentle for sensitive skin applications. [source]

💊

Nutritional & Wellness

Medicinal

Cucumbers are low in calories and contain vitamins K, C, and potassium, plus silica for bone health. They have hydrating properties and may support digestion and kidney health. [source]

🦋

Pollinator Support

Wildlife

Cucumber flowers attract bees and other pollinators, supporting garden biodiversity. Growing Tokyo Long Green contributes to pollinator habitat and garden ecosystem health. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Harvest when cucumbers reach 10-14 inches long and have dark green color but are still firm. Pick every 2-3 days to encourage continuous production and prevent overgrown fruits. Use pruning shears or knife to cut rather than pull to avoid damaging the vine. Early morning harvest yields crispest fruit. For pickling, harvest at 6-8 inches; for slicing, wait until full size. Fruit quality declines rapidly after reaching peak maturity.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 Tokyo Long Green is a heritage Japanese variety that has been cultivated for centuries, valued in traditional Japanese cuisine for its delicate flavor and thin, tender skin.
  • 🌱 Unlike many modern hybrid cucumbers, Tokyo Long Green is an open-pollinated heirloom, allowing gardeners to save seeds from mature fruit for next season's planting.
  • 🌱 These cucumbers are often grown vertically on trellises in Japanese gardens and Asian agricultural systems to maximize space efficiency and improve fruit quality by allowing better air circulation.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Compost Full Sun Heirloom Mulch pH Pollination Trellis True Leaves
Shop Tokyo Long Green Cucumber plants and related plants at Plant Addicts →

Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.

Get your personalized Tokyo Long Green Cucumber planting timeline

Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Tokyo Long Green Cucumber seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.

Get my Tokyo Long Green Cucumber timeline →