Growing Cucumber

cucumis sativis : Cucurbitaceae / the gourd family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
      S S              
        T T T          
        P P            

(Best months for growing Cucumber in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 61°F and 95°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 16 - 24 inches apart
  • Harvest in 8-10 weeks. Cut fruit off with scissors or sharp knife.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Nasturtiums, Beans, Celery, Lettuce, Sweet Corn, Cabbages, Sunflowers, Coriander, Fennel, Dill, Sunflowers
  • Avoid growing close to: Potato, Tomatoes

Your comments and tips

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12 Feb 16, GREG (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I am growing standard cucumbers, have heaps on vines, also growing in with tomatoes,an chilli plant. No chillies yet though. So why can't you grow cucumbers with tomatoes
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26 Jan 16, Maggie (Australia - temperate climate)
I have a great vine with heaps of flower still haven't got any cucumber I have had to pollinate myself do the cucumbers grow where the flowers fall off.
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17 Jan 16, David (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi guys new to this site just looking for helpful hints on starting my cucumber plant for best results. I have read that a trellis set up is best and no fertilizer until it flowers
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24 Jan 16, Sarah Day (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi David, i dont bother to trellis, i let them grow like pumpkins along the ground. yes this can leave a yellowing on the bottom, but they grow well and taste perfect, in fact im having trouble keeping up with them. I did this last year because i planted seeds in a large seed raising tray and let them go to far before transplanting and so i just upturned the tray and planted it undisturbed in the middle of a garden bed. We are growing on raised beds as our soil is stoney and clay and we are totally reliant on rainwater. We are in central Victoria and have hot harsh summers so i set up a shadecloth cover for the really hot days. 13mm spray irrigation and we have had no powdery mildew at all. Hope your cues are starting to grow. :)
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17 Jan 16, Alex (Australia - temperate climate)
I am growing the apple cucumber variety for the first time and have had very good success. Does anyone have a good recipe for preserving or similar as I have far too many to eat fresh. Many thanks Alex x
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15 Jan 16, john mcquire (Australia - temperate climate)
I started apple cucumbers from seed early nov. and harvested untold number of cucumbers on about five bushes,and now have three more to put in the ground, so I am eagerly waiting for them again.
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12 Jan 16, Robert (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Why do my cucumbers taste bitter I used cow manure
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26 Feb 16, hennie (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
bitter cucumbers usual are moisture starved , the most common is that they have grown to large for the cultivar , pick them young , to get better quality fruit.
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13 Feb 18, Ahad (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
Cut small piece of cucumber by stem side, and rub two cutted side throughly. Until it make no white foam. Then it will be bitter less.
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08 Jan 16, Paul (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Lebanese, continental and apple cucs growing in same bed, Lebonese and cont are going great but apple are getting too 1" long and stop growing
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Showing 251 - 260 of 502 comments
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If you have TRUE high humidity: humidex above 95% consistently -- then you have a real issue. If you have a "created" high humidity situation: like a poorly ventilated greenhouse; then correcting the ventilation will fix things. You can create an updraft by placing a screened window/door very close to ground level (or the lowest level that opens to fresh air) and then furthest and highest away from this point another screened window (on the ceiling/roof, or very high on the wall). So if you have a door on the North/East Bottom. the window goes on the South/West Top. When both of the windows are open, you should get a nice updraft that will whisk away all your humidity. It is best to situate the ground level door/window in a shady spot -- because this will be cooler air, and as this comes in it will force the hot/humid air up and out. There are also green house fans that can be installed (but if you do your updraft correctly you will probably not need one) ; and if you are fully indoors even a dehumidifier might work. If you are in a garden setting like the situation above; I think perhaps the cucumber created a roof that was helping hold in the moisture. In this case prune the cucumber to increase airflow. Things like fences can hold moisture; for example if you have a garden between two houses and there is a wood picket fence; this could impede the flow of air, and cause humidity to build up. The answer will ALMOST always be to increase air flow. If this is a true climate issue then you should select what you are growing with care, choosing plants that can tolerate high humidity; and still trying to situate your plants/garden in such a way that air flows freely. I have an allotment, that has "dense" fencing on two sides (I am in the back corner) and I can feel that I have an extra humid situation. I have found that runner beans do well; once they climb higher than fence level, they get a lot of air flow and do nicely. As far a hydroponics; I am not well versed enough to even begin guessing at the issues that may exist in these environments. Just remember that even when the humidex is NOT high, plants still need the airflow to move what they have transpired away from their leaves.

- Celeste Archer

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