Marketmore 76 Cucumber Seeds

Bring the flavor and satisfaction of freshly harvested cucumbers to your garden with Marketmore 76, a trusted slicing variety valued for its attractive dark green fruits, productive vines, and classic cucumber flavor.

Botanically known as Cucumis sativus, Marketmore 76 produces smooth, uniform cucumbers that typically reach approximately 8–9 inches long. The flesh is sweet and tender, making the fruits especially well suited for fresh salads, sandwiches, chilled summer dishes, and straight-from-the-garden snacking. True Leaf Market lists the variety at approximately 67 days to maturity and describes it as a popular, productive open-pollinated cucumber that performs well during summer heat.

Marketmore 76 develops vigorous vines that may be allowed to spread across the garden or trained vertically on a sturdy trellis. Trellising can save ground space, improve airflow, make harvesting easier, and help the developing cucumbers remain cleaner and straighter. Cucumbers are warm-season plants and should be planted only after frost danger has passed and the soil has warmed.

Why Gardeners Choose Marketmore 76

Marketmore 76 offers the qualities many home gardeners want in a traditional slicing cucumber:

• Smooth, attractive dark green fruits
• Sweet and tender flesh
• Approximately 8–9 inch mature fruit length
• Approximately 67 days to maturity
• Heirloom and open-pollinated seed
• Non-GMO variety
• Productive vining growth habit
• Suitable for trellises, raised beds and large containers
• Excellent for fresh eating
• Performs well during warm summer weather

The supplier also lists the disease-profile codes CMV, DM, PM and Sc, abbreviations commonly used for cucumber mosaic virus, downy mildew, powdery mildew and scab. Disease performance still depends on local weather, garden conditions and pest pressure.

Product Details

Marketmore 76 is an annual crop, so USDA winter hardiness zones are less important than frost dates, soil warmth and the length of the local growing season.

Flavor and Kitchen Uses

Marketmore 76 is best known as a fresh slicing cucumber. Harvested while firm and dark green, its sweet, tender flesh and refreshing texture make it a versatile choice for everyday meals.

Use freshly harvested cucumbers for:

• Garden salads
• Cucumber sandwiches
• Fresh vegetable trays
• Chilled cucumber dishes
• Yogurt and cucumber sauces
• Infused water
• Summer wraps
• Fresh snacks
• Lightly seasoned cucumber salads

For the finest texture and flavor, harvest before the fruits become oversized, yellow or heavily seeded.

How to Grow Marketmore 76 Cucumbers

Planting Season

Cucumbers need warm soil and frost-free conditions. Direct sow outdoors after the final spring frost when the soil temperature reaches approximately 70°F at a depth of one inch. Seeds planted in cold soil may germinate slowly, rot or produce weak growth.

In warmer regions, additional sowings may be made while enough frost-free growing time remains. Successive planting can help extend the harvest rather than producing all cucumbers at once.

Starting Seeds Indoors

Marketmore 76 may be started indoors, although cucumbers generally perform especially well when directly sown into warm garden soil.

For indoor starting:

1. Begin approximately three to four weeks before the expected transplant date.
2. Use individual biodegradable pots or cells to reduce root disturbance.
3. Fill containers with clean, well-draining seed-starting mix.
4. Plant one or two seeds approximately ½ inch deep.
5. Keep the mix warm and evenly moist.
6. Provide strong light immediately after seedlings emerge.
7. Thin to the strongest seedling if both seeds germinate.
8. Transplant carefully after frost danger has passed and the soil has warmed.

Cucumber roots are sensitive to disturbance, so avoid keeping seedlings in small containers for too long. The University of Minnesota recommends starting cucumber seeds indoors no earlier than four weeks before the last frost and transplanting carefully without damaging the taproot.

Direct Sowing Outdoors

Direct sowing is often the simplest and most reliable method.

1. Select a warm location receiving full sun.
2. Prepare fertile soil that retains moisture but drains freely.
3. Sow seeds approximately ½ inch deep.
4. Keep the soil consistently moist until germination.
5. Thin seedlings after emergence.
6. Provide space for vines to spread or install a trellis early.
7. Protect young plants from cold nights and cucumber beetles when necessary.
8. Remove protective row covers once flowering begins so pollinators can reach the blossoms.

For row planting, seeds may initially be placed approximately 2 inches apart and later thinned so established plants stand approximately 8–12 inches apart. Vines grown along the ground require several feet of open space on either side of the row.

Planting Depth and Spacing

Planting Depth: Approximately ½ inch
Final Plant Spacing: Approximately 8–12 inches
Trellis Height: Approximately 3–4 feet or taller
Vine Space Without Trellis: Allow approximately 2–3 feet on either side of the row
Hill Planting: Three or four seeds per hill, with wide spacing between hills

A trellis allows closer row spacing and can produce cleaner, straighter cucumbers. Install the support before the vines become large so the roots are not disturbed later.

Sunlight Requirements

Marketmore 76 performs best in full sun.

Choose a location receiving at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily. Adequate sunlight supports vigorous vines, flowering and fruit development.

Too much shade may result in:

• Weak or stretched vines
• Reduced flowering
• Slower fruit development
• Lower yields
• Increased leaf moisture and disease pressure

Soil Requirements

Cucumbers perform best in fertile soil that is both moisture-retentive and well drained. The recommended soil pH is approximately 6.0–6.5, which is slightly acidic. Raised beds can improve drainage in locations with heavy or compacted soil.

Ideal soil characteristics include:

• Loose texture
• Good drainage
• High organic matter
• Consistent moisture retention
• Slightly acidic pH
• No standing water

Before planting, mix well-finished compost into the soil. Avoid fresh manure immediately before growing edible crops.

Watering

Consistent watering is especially important while the plants are flowering and developing fruit.

Cucumber plants generally require approximately one inch of water per week, although hot weather, sandy soil, containers and trellised plants may require more frequent watering. Water deeply at the soil level instead of applying small amounts every day.

Best watering practices:

• Check the soil regularly rather than watering on a rigid schedule.
• Water deeply so moisture reaches the root zone.
• Use drip irrigation, a soaker hose or careful watering at the base.
• Avoid repeatedly wetting the foliage.
• Water earlier in the day when possible.
• Do not allow the soil to alternate between extremely dry and saturated.

Irregular moisture can contribute to misshapen fruits, stress and reduced production.

Fertilizing

Marketmore 76 benefits from fertile soil but does not need excessive nitrogen.

Before planting, incorporate compost or a balanced vegetable fertilizer according to the product label. Once vines begin growing, a light side-dressing may support continued development.

Avoid overfertilizing with nitrogen because it can encourage abundant leaves and vines while delaying flowers and fruit.

Trellis Growing

Growing Marketmore 76 vertically offers several advantages:

• Saves garden space
• Keeps fruits away from wet soil
• Improves airflow around leaves
• Makes harvesting easier
• Helps produce straighter cucumbers
• Makes pests and plant problems easier to notice

Guide young vines gently toward the support. Avoid bending or forcing mature vines because cucumber stems can break easily.

Container Growing

Marketmore 76 can be grown in a large container when provided with adequate soil volume, moisture and support. True Leaf Market identifies the variety as suitable for container culture.

For container growing:

• Choose a large pot with drainage holes.
• Use rich, high-quality container mix.
• Install a sturdy trellis at planting time.
• Place the container in full sun.
• Check soil moisture daily during hot weather.
• Fertilize lightly and regularly according to the fertilizer label.
• Do not allow the container to remain in standing water.

Small containers dry too quickly and may restrict root development.

Flowering and Pollination

Cucumber plants generally produce male flowers before female flowers. Male flowers may open and fall without forming fruit, which is normal.

Female flowers have a small cucumber-shaped swelling behind the blossom. Bees and other insects transfer pollen from male flowers to female flowers, allowing fruits to develop. Cold, rainy or cloudy weather may reduce pollination and lead to poor fruit set.

To support pollination:

• Remove insect-barrier row covers once flowers open.
• Avoid spraying pesticides while bees are visiting flowers.
• Grow pollinator-friendly flowers nearby.
• Maintain healthy, evenly watered plants.

Days to Maturity

Marketmore 76 reaches maturity in approximately 67 days under favorable conditions. This number is an estimate and may be measured from direct sowing or transplanting differently depending on the seed supplier.

Maturity may be delayed by:

• Cold soil
• Late frost
• Low light
• Root disturbance
• Poor fertility
• Inconsistent watering
• Heavy pest pressure
• Extreme heat
• Inadequate pollination

Harvesting

Harvest Marketmore 76 cucumbers when they are:

• Firm
• Smooth
• Dark green
• Approximately 8–9 inches long
• Still tender and not yellowing

Check the vines frequently during warm weather because cucumbers can increase in size quickly.

Use clean scissors or pruners to cut the stem rather than pulling the fruit from the vine. Pulling may damage the plant or disturb roots that form along the vine.

Frequent harvesting encourages the plant to continue producing. Leaving oversized cucumbers on the vine may reduce further yield.

Successive Planting

Because Marketmore 76 matures in approximately 67 days, gardeners with a long warm season may sow additional plantings at intervals.

Successive sowing can:

• Extend the harvest
• Replace plants damaged by pests or weather
• Prevent all fruits from maturing at once
• Maintain production later into the season

Calculate the final sowing date by counting backward from the expected first fall frost and allowing extra time for slower late-season growth.

Common Growing Problems

Seeds Do Not Germinate

Possible causes:

• Soil is too cold
• Seeds were planted too deeply
• Soil dried out during germination
• Soil remained waterlogged
• Seeds were damaged by pests
• Heavy soil reduced oxygen around the seed

Wait until the soil is warm and keep it evenly moist, not saturated.

Seedlings Collapse After Emerging

This may be caused by overly wet soil, poor airflow or seedling disease.

Use clean growing mix, avoid overwatering and provide good air circulation.

Vines Grow but Produce Few Cucumbers

Possible reasons include:

• Male flowers appeared before female flowers
• Low pollinator activity
• Excessive nitrogen
• Very hot weather
• Cold or rainy flowering conditions
• Irregular watering

The first flowers are often male and may fall naturally before female flowers begin opening.

Cucumbers Are Misshapen

Uneven fruit development may result from:

• Incomplete pollination
• Moisture stress
• Root damage
• Extreme temperatures
• Heavy pest pressure

Maintain consistent soil moisture and support pollinating insects.

Leaves Develop White Powdery Areas

White patches may indicate powdery mildew. Improve spacing and airflow, water at the soil level and remove severely affected leaves when appropriate.

Fruits Become Yellow or Seedy

Yellow fruits are usually overmature. Harvest more frequently while the cucumbers are firm and dark green.

Cucumbers Taste Bitter

Bitterness may become more noticeable when plants experience heat or moisture stress. Maintain steady watering and harvest fruits before they become oversized.

Pest and Disease Awareness

Common cucumber challenges may include:

• Striped cucumber beetles
• Spotted cucumber beetles
• Spider mites
• Bacterial wilt
• Powdery mildew
• Downy mildew
• Cucurbit viruses
• Angular leaf spot
• Anthracnose

Good cultural practices include crop rotation, weed control, trellising, good airflow, watering at soil level, inspecting plants frequently and removing diseased plant material.

Quick Growing Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Marketmore 76 a hybrid cucumber?

No. The supplier identifies Marketmore 76 as an heirloom, Non-GMO and open-pollinated variety.

Can I save seeds from Marketmore 76?

Because it is open-pollinated, seed may be saved from mature fruits. However, cucumbers can cross-pollinate with other compatible cucumber varieties nearby. Seed purity is not guaranteed when multiple varieties flower in the same area.

Is Marketmore 76 suitable for containers?

Yes. Use a large container with good drainage and provide a strong trellis. Container-grown cucumbers require closer attention to watering and fertilizing.

Does Marketmore 76 require a trellis?

No, but a trellis saves space and can help keep the cucumbers clean and straight. The vines may also be allowed to spread across the ground.

How long are the cucumbers?

Marketmore 76 fruits commonly reach approximately 8–9 inches long.

How long does Marketmore 76 take to mature?

Approximately 67 days under favorable growing conditions. Weather, soil temperature and plant care may change the actual harvest date.

Can I plant Marketmore 76 seeds before the last frost?

Cucumber plants are sensitive to freezing temperatures. Seeds may be started indoors shortly before the last frost, but outdoor planting should wait until frost danger has passed and the soil is warm.

Why are the first flowers falling off?

The first cucumber flowers are commonly male flowers. They do not form fruit and may fall naturally. Female flowers usually appear later and have a small immature cucumber behind the blossom.

Important Product Notice

This listing is for seeds only.

The package does not include:

• Live plants
• Mature cucumbers
• Soil
• Containers
• Trellises
• Fertilizer
• Gardening tools

Seed quantity is based on the package option selected.

Germination and growing results vary according to soil temperature, planting depth, watering, sunlight, weather, seed storage, pests, diseases and local growing conditions. Images of mature plants and fruits illustrate the variety under suitable growing conditions and do not guarantee identical results in every garden.

Mai’s Family LLC
Love Plants, Love Earth.