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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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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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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Showing 281 - 290 of 387 comments
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It is very hard to grow things during summer along the coast in Qld with all the rain and heat. Generally start planting seeds etc late Feb/Mar. Rain brings on the breeding cycle of a lot of insects etc. If plants are growing fast and too big - too much nitrogen. Yellow leaves - with lots of rain the fertiliser is leached through the soil. Also yellow leaves can be from a trace element deficiency. Use a fert that has trace elements. Here is my tips - during summer try and improve your soil with compost manures etc. Put grass clippings and leaves etc on you garden bed and dig in and turn over a couple of times during summer. Soil has to be watered to help break down the leaves etc. You should then only need a very light feritising.before planting in March. Plant cabbage broccoli etc in early May.

- Anonymous

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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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