Kings Seeds NZ Cucumber Poona Kheera is a heirloom Indian cucumber known for its unique appearance, crisp texture and a...
Kings Seeds NZ
Cucumber Poona Kheera is a heirloom Indian cucumber known for its unique appearance, crisp texture and a mild, sweet flavour that sets it apart from more familiar smooth, green slicing cucumbers. Gardeners who like growing something a little unusual will find this variety a genuine conversation starter.
As fruit ripens, the skin often develops a mottled, russeted colouring quite unlike a typical cucumber, a distinctive trait of this heirloom type that many gardeners come to love once they know to expect it. Beneath that unusual skin, the flesh stays crisp and mild, good for fresh eating and slicing.
Heat tolerance is another real strength of Poona Kheera, and it is genuinely prolific once established, making it ideal for warm climates and summer planting when many other cucumbers can start to struggle. The vines themselves are very hardy, with good disease tolerance, and they are early to produce fruit, so you are not left waiting long into the season for your first harvest.
For gardeners after a cucumber that is both productive in the heat and interesting to look at, Poona Kheera brings genuine heirloom character to the vegetable patch.
Sowing and Growing Cucumber Poona Kheera
Sow from September to November, either direct into warm soil or raised undercover for transplanting. Maintain a temperature of 20-30°C for germination, which typically takes 6-10 days. Once frosts have passed and seedlings are established, plant into a warm, sunny position, spacing plants 45cm apart within the row and 90cm between rows.
Harvesting Cucumber Poona Kheera
Fruit is ready 50-70 days from transplanting, notably early for a cucumber. Harvest while the flesh is still crisp and the flavour mild and sweet, checking regularly since the skin's changing colour as it ripens can make judging readiness a little different from smoother cucumber varieties.
