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 S
T T T           T T T T
P P             P P P P

(Best months for growing Cucumber in Australia - sub-tropical 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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19 Feb 11, Beth (Australia - temperate climate)
Help! Accidentally pulled a cucumber plant right out of the ground when fiddling with stocking ties in the rain. Replanted immediately, but it is very limp and sad looking. was beautiful. can i save it?'
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20 Feb 11, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
It might help to give it a bit of shade - pile up the mulch around it or arrange some sticks and shadecloth over the top. Plus gallons of water while it tries to get its roots re-established
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22 Feb 11, Beth (Australia - temperate climate)
Thanks - stepping up the 'kindness' a notch is definitely helping - it's now looking better every day.
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06 Feb 11, Joe (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
To Bob (Jan 29) Dear Bob, I have a suggestion as to the problem with the palm tree. That's go to scrap merchant or dealer and purchase an old copper hot water cylinder and cut into sheet form and place in the ground in a vertical manner against the fence closest to palm tree, so when the roots of the palm come contact with the copper they will die whether this kills the tree I am unsure but I hope that you can sucessfully grow your garden and have plenty vegetables. Follow up if you have any queries via email
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03 Feb 11, theressa (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
i think i have cucumbers growing in my padock they have the same flower and leaves but the fruit is prigkley when i cut one open it was about 10cm long it smelt and looked like one first time gardner is this how they start of any help would be great
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09 Mar 11, jade (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have cucumbers in the garden and in the paddock - and I don't think this is my fault I think it may be birds and wildlife. My cucumbers are prickly and the stems are extremely prickly. Their flowers are yellow.
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29 Jan 11, Bob (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have an established vegie garden but the neighbour's palm trees, root have invaded all four plots, any ideas other than to poison the roots? I have tried to dig up the sides to place in a barrier but this didn't work.
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12 Jan 11, Beth (Australia - temperate climate)
I've made a trellis for my Lebanese cucumbers. Should I still plant them on 'hills' under the trellis?
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23 Dec 10, Alan (Australia - temperate climate)
My Lebanese cucumbers are now about 60-70cms high and have a lot of flowers on --, the cucumber forms behind the flower but after a couple of days it dries off and eventually just falls of. Would appreciate some advice re the cause of this
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01 Jan 11, mira (Australia - temperate climate)
I found that hand pollenating the flowers fixed that. I pick a flower that doesn't have a cucumber, tear off the petals to leave the middle and press it against the flower with the cucumber when it is open so that the pollen mixes.
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The rules of companion planting indicate that cucumbers and tomatoes/potatoes should not be planted in close proximity to one another. Let's consider what companion planting is all about first. 1. Companion planting is about creating a diversity in the garden that reduces the chances of PESTs/disease wiping out your garden. So in CP you don't plant things that are prone to the same diseases or attract the same pests close together. In the case of cukes and tomatoes it is: fusarium wilt and powdery mildew. (there could be more things...but this is enough that you have violated one of CP rules). 2. CP is about nutrition in the soil -- that is, you would not plant two things in close proximity that both require heavy amount of any particular mineral/vitamin. So for example if both plants are heavy feeders of potassium -- clearly they would compete too heavily for this resource most likely all plants would not get enough potassium. Cucumbers are heavy feeders and require lots of nitrogen and potassium. Pale, yellowish leaves indicate nitrogen deficiency. Leaf bronzing is a sign of potassium deficiency. Potatoes LOVE potassium, and low levels of potassium cause hollow heart (the middle of the potatoes looks like it is rotting), further the potato plant needs ALL it's potassium at the early stages (BEFORE setting tubers). Potatoes are also HEAVY feeders. Tomatoes are HEAVY feeders. So CP says not to plant heavy feeders next to each other... they compete to much for nutrition. Ok, so now you know why CP says not to plant these plants next to each other. The question then becomes.... but CAN I still do it knowing about the wilt and mildew and potassium and general heavy feeding of all the plants.... SURE, BUT be sure to add lots of nutrition to the soil (compost/manure) add lots of potassium (before planting mainly) and be sure to top up the nutrition during the growing phases... so maybe add manure/compost before planting, mid season and again when fruit starts setting. Also all these plants LOVE water... and lots of it, and this to me, makes it convenient when watering, to have my water lovers all in one spot... that way I can just dump a 5 gallon bucket of water int he middle of them. Also, careful how you trellis the cucumber, you don't want to create a roof over the tomatoes/potatoes that will hold moisture and encourage the mildews.

- Celeste Archer

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