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 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

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06 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Most varieties of apple cucumber are ripe when the greenish tinge has gone and they are a clear white. When they are overripe they go yellowish and are often bitter. This would apply to most apple cucumbers but there are some more recent varieties available that are green when they are ripe and some that are a golden, almost brown colour. Trust this helps.
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31 Jan 17, Norm Colless (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi, I have apple cucumbers growing vigorously and with heaps of male flowers but no female flowers. What can I do please
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04 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
I don't know of anything that will induce cucumbers, pumpkins, squash, etc to produce female flowers. Male flowers are always produced first but it is very frustrating. Female flowers generally appear as the season becomes consistently warmer. Trust this helps.
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23 Feb 17, Pete (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You can encourage pumpkins to put out more female flowers by snipping the growing end off after about 1.5 to 2m of vine. This made side shoots, which tend to make more females.
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27 Jan 17, Sue Barnes (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Could you please tell me when to plant Suyo Long Cucumber in Brisbane, should i put in jiffy pots to start or straight in ground where they are to grow.
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05 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Direct sowing is always the best but Jiffy pots are OK. (They do not like root disturbance that can occur with transplanting from trays). They don't like frost but that shouldn't be a problem in Brisbane and as they are very mildew susceptible they don't like overhead watering. Good air circulation and ground watering are good ways to reduce mildew problems. Trust this helps.
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26 Jan 17, Harry (Australia - tropical climate)
How do you tell the difference between a female and male flower
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28 Jan 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
On all cucurbits which include cucumbers, melons, squash, pumpkins and zucchinis the female flower has a small fruit behind the flower. the male flowers, which contain pollen, do not and are generally on longer thinner stems. If the female flower is pollinated (fertilised) by pollen from the male flower the fruit will continue to develop to maturity
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07 Jan 17, Lynda Allan (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
My cucumbers have flowers and start to develop fruit and then when very small go yellow and die.
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12 Jan 17, Anna (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Your cucumbers havent been properly pollinated. I suggest you get a small paintbrush and pollinate them by taking some pollen from the male flower and applying it to the female flower.I use this method with pumpkins and watermelon too
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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.

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