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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21 Feb 18, John (Australia - temperate climate)
We grow a variety called Biet Alpha and picked copious amounts of cucumbers off it. It is a more traditional green cucumber with bristle patches on the skin. The cucumbers were about 15-18 cm long but the size is certainly compensated by the yield.
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20 Feb 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Go to internet seed selling companies - Boondie Seed, Collection, New Life and look through the varieties there. You need a burping variety I have read.
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01 Feb 18, Margaret (Australia - temperate climate)
My apple cucumbers have flowers but no cucumbers there are lots of lady Beatles on them do not like to use a chemical spray could that be the reason?
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05 Feb 18, Darren (Australia - arid climate)
By lady beetles, I assume you mean ladybugs. They are a beneficial insect so I wouldn't recommend spraying them. I am having the same problem; apparently it has something to do with the extreme heat.
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05 Feb 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Check to see you have female and male flowers. There can be up to 7 times more male than female flowers. Usually on the vines come male flowers first and then produces female flowers. The female may only be open for 1 day. Do some hand pollinating. Look up the internet for a youtube video.
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28 Jan 18, JOHN schofield (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Help I got such nice fruit but they get stung and I cut off the worst part deep cut and eat rest taste great so my question what do I do as I don’t spray and they grow against a wall ,
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30 Jan 18, Mike (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I take it you mean they are stung by some insect. Try and find an organic spray on the internet. Try and work out what the insect is.
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28 Dec 17, Tony (Australia - temperate climate)
Can you freeze Apple Cucumbers. As I have tons of them all growing at the same time
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01 Jan 18, Tanya (Australia - temperate climate)
No you cant freeze them, they go all horridable, mushy.
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30 Dec 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
They would probably end up all mushy. Try pickling them - look up internet for a pickling recipe . You only need a plant or two to feed a family - or stagger the planting times. Feed the neighbours or friends. I have just given away over half my sweet corn crop (30 plants) as I didn't think they would hold on too well (go starchy) in the current hot weather.
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I had two cucumbers plants growing in pots both produced a good size cucumber with other smaller ones growing as the larger cucumbers started to ripen the leaves on both plants stated to dry out and turned pale I've lost one plant which produced one large cucumber tasted great the other is going down the same path the 1 cucumber also tasted great why did my plants die or are dieing ? thanks

- JOHN

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