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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11 Feb 12, Rhonda (Australia - temperate climate)
I have a burpless cucumber and it is growong well I have had about 4 normal cucumber. But now it is growing one that look more like a rockmelon any sugegestion.
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01 Feb 12, chris (Australia - temperate climate)
I have been trying to grow la diva cucumbers ,the vine is going great and getting lots of flowers but only very small cucumbers before they wilt and die ,i have not seen any bees around , maybe they are not getting polinated .HELP
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28 Jan 12, jill (Australia - temperate climate)
white spots on leaves making leaves dry & brittle
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21 Jan 12, john murray (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
do you pick cucumber when the stems dry the same as pumpkin
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02 Feb 12, Jen (Australia - temperate climate)
I am growing a Lebanese cucumber and I pick them when they are small (about 10cm) as they are very sweet, they occasionally get to store size if the children don't find them first! The telegraph variety I picked at about 25 cm. I have never waited for vines to die down.
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08 Jan 12, Jill (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have had a massive crop of lebanese cucumbers which stopped producing a couple of weeks ago. Now I am getting tennis ball or slightly larger cucumbers - haven't tried them yet but they are very hard. These are coming off the same vine as the earlier lebanese. What causes this please?
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04 Jan 12, Sandra (Australia - temperate climate)
I am growing cucumber up a trellis - they have just started to fruit and I have picked one but the skin seems scarred or eaten a bit (not through to the inside) rather a motley look. Does anyone know what that would be?? What could I spray or do to stop it.
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14 Aug 12, john (Australia - temperate climate)
hi. that sounds like slugs or snails wait till night.take a torch with you and you will find out;
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06 Jan 12, Miguel (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Sandra, It sounds like the skin may have split as a result of growing too quickly. Try cutting down the watering a bit
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17 Dec 11, cheryl (Australia - temperate climate)
Why do my cucumbers go fat in the middle and curl up
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Showing 381 - 390 of 495 comments
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My cucumbers have been weird this year. They are similar to John D's - they have grown in the shape of a butternut pumpkin from early on and they are now about 30 cm and yellow/brown. They have good sunlight, were watered regularly, in mushroom compost. They did not at any stage go dark green, just from light green to yellow. They probably weigh about 2 kilo's each. I have not cut one open yet - i think the whole crop may be headed to the chickens... any ideas to avoid the same next year would be appreciated.

- Ben R

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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