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

20 Dec 19, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
If you look at the flowers, the male has no little cue behind the actual flower, whereas the female has the little cue then the flower in the front. I had 8 apple cues in recently and they produced hundreds of flowers if not thousands. Only picked about 100 cues from it all together. If you can check the cues about 7-10 am to see if the bees are working. I read it takes about 10-12 visits by bees to pollinate a pumpkin flower. Cues could be similar. Hope you have some cues growing by now.
25 Nov 19, David (Australia - temperate climate)
my apple cucumber die just after they come up ,they get about 3 or 4 leaves on them then they just die off. can you help???
02 Mar 20, Jason (Australia - temperate climate)
Not a lot of info to go on... what happened to the leaves? And how often did you water? I'd hazard a guess at overwatering/poor drainage, as from your description it happened suddenly. Or possibly pests, but I guess you'd have noticed that
26 Nov 19, anon (Australia - temperate climate)
Don't have your soil boggy wet either. Have good draining soil. If very hot protect them from the sun a bit while they establish themselves.
26 Nov 19, anon (Australia - temperate climate)
My first thought is watering. If hot to very hot weather little plants need watering morning and afternoon. Little plants only have a shallow root system so require watering a lot more often. If the leaves are not eaten then maybe watering. If the leaves have parts eaten off, then some kind of grub probably. Big plants need a lot of watering - just common sense. .
16 Nov 19, Mick (Australia - temperate climate)
What fertiliser can you use on apple cucumbers crystal
18 Nov 19, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
A comment about WHAT fertiliser to use on different plants. In a hardware store's catalogue last week. Complete Garden Fertiliser NPKS 12-1-5-16, Fruit & Citrus 13-1-5-16, Rose 11-1-6-15. Like really, they are virtually the same fertiliser. We are brainwashed about all the different fertilisers to use. My local agronomist recommends for vegetables what the commercial farmers use Nitrophoska 12 N 5.2 P 14.1K 8S and you can have it with trace elements also. Works for me. Or if you are an organic person use organics but you need to apply about 2-3 time the required amount per square meter to have the same NPKS.
18 Nov 19, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
General all-round vegetable fertiliser.
21 Feb 19, Tony (Australia - temperate climate)
Is it to late to plant cucumbers and how get rid of rats low cost way no poison thanks
28 Sep 19, Lynne (Australia - temperate climate)
Tony, an old bushy's trick is to grease a tub or bucket (plastic works well) to about 3 to 4 inches from the top, fill to just below the grease line with water and put grain or food that floats onto the water. Check daily.
Showing 51 - 60 of 387 comments

I will try that. Over the summer I had about 20 sun jewel flowers plants in my garden, with hundreds if not thousands of flower heads - saw about two bees all summer. The bee population has taken a massive hit world wide I hear.

- Mike

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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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