Growing Cucumber

cucumis sativis : Cucurbitaceae / the gourd family

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

(Best months for growing Cucumber in Australia - temperate regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed

September: Bring on in pots

  • 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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for Australia | for all countries
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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25 Nov 11, Valli (Australia - tropical climate)
I have the same probelm too, too many flowers, but all tiny fruits. I am going to try this manual fertilization.
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24 Nov 11, patrick (Australia - temperate climate)
white bloches appearing when 100mm.long approx fead well watered well
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18 Nov 11, Pam (Australia - temperate climate)
HELP, i have been trying to grow cucumbers (burpless), the plant looks great, get flowers, get little tiny cucumbers then they go YELLOW and die. I have been watering and regular sea sol. Do you think it is because they are planted next to tomatoes? Help please,
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13 Mar 12, malcolm mckercher (Australia - temperate climate)
have you tried mag potash at first flowering?
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29 Jan 12, Bryan (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Pam, Seasol is NOT a fertiliser, it is a plant tonic and soil conditioner. When used accordingly, it is highly beneficial in assisting the plant with nutrient uptake.
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21 Nov 11, Hannah (Australia - temperate climate)
Pam, it sounds like your female flowers are trying to produce fruit but because they aren't getting fertilised by the male flowers, the little fruit are turning yellow and dying. You might want to give manual fertilising a go - pluck off the male flowers (small ones with no tiny 'fruit' at their base) and brush their faces on the faces of the female ones to transfer the pollen. Good luck!
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03 Dec 11, (Australia - temperate climate)
Thankyou so much, I have now real fruit
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Showing 391 - 400 of 498 comments
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Ignore my current zone, I used to live in central NH so I know your cuke season is brief. To me, nothing beats Chicago Pickling (a cheap and excellent heirloom) unless you have lots of disease challenges in your garden, in which case I'd go with Eureka--not quite as tasty, but vigorous. To get crunchy pickles, pick them small, put them in an ice bath right away and then pickle as soon as possible. For refrigerator pickles, calcium chloride helps keep them crunchy. For fermented (half-sours) you keep them crunchy by cutting off the blossom end of the cuke and adding tannins to the jar, from grape, oak, or horseradish leaves. That might help you with refrigerator pickles too. To me, the hardest part can be getting dill and cukes to be ready at the same time!

- colleen

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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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