Productivity of Asian Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.) in Mississippi.

A two year field experiment was conducted during the 2004 and 2005 growing seasons at the Mississippi State University, Coastal Research and Extension Center's Beaumont Horticultural Unit to evaluate Asian cucumbers yield performance under coastal Mississippi environmental conditions. The cucumber varieties: “Natsuhikari”, “Tasty Queen”, “Crisp Petrel”, “Tokiwa”, “White Sun”, and “Summer Express” were grown conventionally on raised beds using drip irrigation and plastic mulch on McLaurin sandy loam soil. The results revealed that growing season greatly effected fruit load and quality. The total average yield for cucumbers in 2004 was 67.98 t ha¹ and was 65.6% greater than the 2005 average yield. Yield among varieties showed significant differences. Yield of “Natsuhikari” was highest at 79.84 t ha¹, and was significantly greater than “Crisp Petrel”, “Tokiwa”, “White Sun” and “Summer Express” yields by 7.25, 12.92, 23.53, and 24.06 t ha¹, respectively, in 2004. However, yield of “Tasty Queen” was significantly higher than “Summer Express”, “Crisp Petrel”, “Natsuhikari”, “White Sun”, and “Tokiwa” yields, exceeding each by 4.32, 10.53, 10.95, 14.72, and 15.05 t ha¹, respectively in 2005 (at α=.05, using Duncan's Multiple Range Test). There was not a significant difference in cucumber yield between “Natsuhikari” and “Tasty Queen”, “Crisp Petrel” and “Tokiwa”, or “White Sun” and “Summer Express” in 2004.  Nor were there significant differences between “Summer Express” and “Crisp Petrel”, or “Natsuhikari”, “White Sun” and “Tokiwa” in 2005. Based on two years of research results, the “Natsuhikari” and “Tasty Queen” varieties performed well, revealed high yield, displayed potential disease resistance and adaptability to the coastal Mississippi soil-climatic environment.