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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23 Mar 15, kate (Australia - temperate climate)
First time gardener , planted cucumber were growing nicely one day next day all leaves are eaten look awful black spots on underneath of the leaves - what is it and can I save what I have left ?
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30 Jan 15, Priscilla (Australia - temperate climate)
My cucumbers are light green in colour, huge, and odd shaped. some of the stems were prickly is that right.
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11 Dec 15, Bill (Australia - temperate climate)
yep should be prickly like on the stems and leaves and fruit
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27 Jan 15, andy. (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Ihave some apple cucumbers growing.Some plants have a good crop others have none at all.What is going on?
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08 Nov 15, Ashley Duffin (Australia - arid climate)
This sounds like a pollination problem. if you are using bug sprays , avoid using during flowering. having more of the same plants close together (high density plantings) can aid this also , although a use of trellising to keep area workable may be needed, to avoid mildew diseases. If sprinkler watering try doing this when pollination insects are less active to stimulate more productive pollination.
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25 Jan 15, Kerry (Australia - temperate climate)
I planted a couple of cucumber plants. I had never done this before. Next thing I know these pumpkin looking plants popped up. (Had no idea what they were. Thought I had been given wrong plants in my punnet. ). Now I have heaps of apple cumbers but the leaves on the plants look different. One darker than the other. The darker plant is providing no fruit, the other is very generous. Should I keep the plant with the darker leaves or discard
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20 Jan 15, Don ride (Australia - temperate climate)
When should these be picked.When do you know they are ripe How long will they keep My plants seem to be bearing lots
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17 Jan 15, Summer (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
. Press a male and female flower together (still attached to the plant) so the male dust and female dust mixes. This is how you make cucumbers
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06 Jan 15, Caitlin (Australia - arid climate)
I have my veggie garden at home it is full with lettuce, tomato, corn, capsicum, cucumber and beans. My cucumber plant was getting bigger and was starting to kill my other plants so I decided to replant it when it had cucumbers on it. Now they are dying but it is hot so what can I do?? Was it the right thing to do ??
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04 Jan 15, Karl (Australia - temperate climate)
Never water your cucumbers at evening as that's what causes the mildew on leaves. You don't need to spray with anything just eliminate the cause don't treat the symptom. Water between 5 and 9 in the morning when their nutrient uptake is at its best.
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Showing 181 - 190 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.

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