Zaplitny ‘Oak Brae’ Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) A very RARE family heirloom from the Ukraine that we are fortunate to offer. In 2024 we were given some very old heirloom cucumber seeds by Pete Korotash of Prince George, BC. The seeds have been in his family for over 127 years. Pete’s great grandparents, Dmytro and Anna Zaplitny came to Canada in 1898 from the Ukraine on a steamship to Montreal, and then a train to Sifton, MB. They eventually settled on the north shore of Lake Dauphin, MB in a village known as Oak Brae. The cucumber seeds and others were brought in a trunk and planted that summer. We were very excited to sow these seeds and revive the Zaplitny history and diversity. An amazing heritage cucumber fruit resembling the Kaiser Alexander but earlier, and more stout in form. This is definitely an old world variety that matures on short-medium length vines around 60 days and turns scaly when over ripe like a prehistoric raptor egg. Makes a very sweet slicer or pickler. Plants withstood the prolonged drought of 2025 and produced very well. Fruits are oval with slightly grooved ridges, reaching no more than 4-6 inches.
60 days to maturity
15 seeds per packet
Planting Instructions: Seed indoors 1/2 inch deep. Line out transplants after risk of frost has passed, spacing 5-6 feet apart. Direct seed in raised hills sowing 5-6 seeds 1/2 inch deep. Soil temperature should be at least 21 degrees C. Space mounds 5-6 feet apart, thinning to 3 plants per mound. Cucumbers can be trellised.
