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          
      T T T T T T      
      P P P P P        

(Best months for growing Cucumber in Australia - 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

22 Feb 19, Michael (Australia - temperate climate)
You have left it very late to plant. You may or may not grow a crop - you can try. No idea on the rat problem. Look on the internet - but gee Ratsack works - you are going to kill them anyhow, does it really matter how.
26 Sep 19, Natalie (Australia - temperate climate)
Yeah, ratsak kills the rats! and the owls that eat them :(
06 Feb 19, Sue Proctor (Australia - temperate climate)
Borage is a great plant for attracting bees ..they absolutely love it. It’s a very hardy plant with lovely blue flowers but it can reseed and spread around the garden
06 Feb 19, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I grew borage last year in the winter - grew tall 1.2m high and bushy - fell over everywhere. Had to stake and rope it. A bit turned off by that. Bees love it. I now grow a perennial basil for bees. Will have my own bee hive in a few months.
31 Dec 18, Denise Jackson (Australia - temperate climate)
I have Tomatoes and Apple Cucumbers growing in the same veggie garden. Cucumbers are about 50 or 60 cm behind the tomatoes. I have them on a vine but the leaves and flowers or fruit keep dying slowly from the bottom of stem gradually going up. The leaves at the top half are still green and flowering have found little bugs maybe aphids or little spiders on the back of the green leaves. Does anyone know what they are or how to get rid of them. Tomatoes are growing and fruiting fine. Are they the problem?
05 Jan 19, Mike Logan (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
If you read the notes here on cucumbers it says don't grow close to tomatoes. Could be cucumber fly problem if leaves are being eaten.
08 Nov 18, Marilyn (Australia - temperate climate)
What is the best variety of cuumber to grow on a trellis the position has full morning sun
13 Nov 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have just grown crystal apple cuies - a lot better taste than the green ones I believe. Available Boondie seeds.
13 Nov 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Try any variety. Prefer all day sun.
02 Nov 18, Sue (Australia - temperate climate)
Would 1/1.5 metres be too close to climbing tomato plant
Showing 61 - 70 of 387 comments

If you have TRUE high humidity: humidex above 95% consistently -- then you have a real issue. If you have a "created" high humidity situation: like a poorly ventilated greenhouse; then correcting the ventilation will fix things. You can create an updraft by placing a screened window/door very close to ground level (or the lowest level that opens to fresh air) and then furthest and highest away from this point another screened window (on the ceiling/roof, or very high on the wall). So if you have a door on the North/East Bottom. the window goes on the South/West Top. When both of the windows are open, you should get a nice updraft that will whisk away all your humidity. It is best to situate the ground level door/window in a shady spot -- because this will be cooler air, and as this comes in it will force the hot/humid air up and out. There are also green house fans that can be installed (but if you do your updraft correctly you will probably not need one) ; and if you are fully indoors even a dehumidifier might work. If you are in a garden setting like the situation above; I think perhaps the cucumber created a roof that was helping hold in the moisture. In this case prune the cucumber to increase airflow. Things like fences can hold moisture; for example if you have a garden between two houses and there is a wood picket fence; this could impede the flow of air, and cause humidity to build up. The answer will ALMOST always be to increase air flow. If this is a true climate issue then you should select what you are growing with care, choosing plants that can tolerate high humidity; and still trying to situate your plants/garden in such a way that air flows freely. I have an allotment, that has "dense" fencing on two sides (I am in the back corner) and I can feel that I have an extra humid situation. I have found that runner beans do well; once they climb higher than fence level, they get a lot of air flow and do nicely. As far a hydroponics; I am not well versed enough to even begin guessing at the issues that may exist in these environments. Just remember that even when the humidex is NOT high, plants still need the airflow to move what they have transpired away from their leaves.

- Celeste Archer

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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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