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 16°C and 35°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 40 - 60 cm 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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26 Oct 12, matthew mccallum (Australia - temperate climate)
Should i stake the young ones
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22 Oct 12, Gary (USA - Zone 9b climate)
I've only know of growing cucumbers in a fence or trellis.. hearing of them being grown on the ground sounds very strange to me.. one it takes up more room and two it's more likely to have problems with bugs and such.
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13 Jan 13, Charles L (Australia - temperate climate)
Yes, growing them on the ground is begging for trouble. I'd say it's almost a guaranteed disease target. A trellis is really the only way to go....although I sometimes have them growing up adjacent bushes/small trees as well. On the ground the moisture and lack of air flow is a calling card for mildew and wilts..
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15 Oct 12, bill (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
i grow them on the ground on top of mulch and it is the first time this has happened
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15 Oct 12, bill (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
my cucumber leaves are slowly disintergrating like they have mildew on them ? help please
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20 Oct 12, tracy (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
sorry bill but I think the cucumber has had it. You could give it a good dose of seaweed emulsion or fish emulsion and see if the plant improves. May be a soil born virus so if the plant does not pick up. best to pull it out and move cucumber growing to a different spot of the veggie patch. I would rest the affected bed, build it up with plenty of organic matter-maybe a green manure crop and try again in a year or so. Hope this helps.
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17 Sep 12, (Australia - temperate climate)
do they all grow on trellis?
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17 Sep 12, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I've grown cucumbers both trailing across the ground and on top of straw mulch. They were fine, although the skins were white where they touched the ground. A bit more slug/snail damage as it was easier for the pests to get to them.
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10 Sep 12, Louis (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Where or how do I get English cucumber seeds, thanks for the interesting site. Regards
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18 Aug 12, Patri (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
When a cucumber plant starts getting smaller flowers, does it mean nutrient deficiency or that the plant is coming to an end soon?
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Showing 371 - 380 of 498 comments
See comments for all plants

Have you had a lot of humidity (higher than usual) lately ? If so, your plants may be having a hard time transpiring. Transpiration is the process of releasing moisture (like sweating and evaporation rolled into one). Plants suck up water through their roots and move the water up through their stems and into their leaves, where they release the water (transpiration). Only about 5-10% of the water they intake is used for growth - the rest is released into the environment. The movement of water facilitates the movement of nutrients. So if the movement of water is SLOWED due to really high humidity (and this mostly happens in greenhouses when they are not properly ventilated) plants start to show signs of nutrient deficiencies of all kinds (maybe blossom end rot in tomatoes despite having plenty of bio-available calcium in the soil). That is to say; you could have a lot of misleading signs like: blossom end rot, or nitrogen deficiency (honestly I'm not sure which nutrients need the most water to be moved).....but the take away is the signs could be really confusing, and appear totally illogical. This only happens in high humidity situations; again like an improperly vented greenhouse, or if somehow you have managed to trap the humidity in your space...... this is a long shot.....but I lived on the Gold Coast (Broad Beach area) 30+ years ago...... and I still remember how humid it could get... especially further North. Clearly, some plants are better at moving the water in high humidity situations....tomatoes tend to have difficulty in very high humidity. Ensuring proper air flow may be helpful.

- Celeste Archer

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