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 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
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.
Reply or Post a new comment
26 Sep 19, Natalie (Australia - temperate climate)
Yeah, ratsak kills the rats! and the owls that eat them :(
Reply or Post a new comment
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
Reply or Post a new comment
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.
Reply or Post a new comment
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?
Reply or Post a new comment
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.
Reply or Post a new comment
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
Reply or Post a new comment
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.
Reply or Post a new comment
13 Nov 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Try any variety. Prefer all day sun.
Reply or Post a new comment
02 Nov 18, Sue (Australia - temperate climate)
Would 1/1.5 metres be too close to climbing tomato plant
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 61 - 70 of 387 comments
See comments for all plants

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

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

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.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.