Growing Cucumber

cucumis sativis : Cucurbitaceae / the gourd family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
                  P P P

(Best months for growing Cucumber in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • P = Sow seed

October: After risk of frost

  • 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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04 Oct 17, Darren (Australia - temperate climate)
I'm sure it would, in the right sized pot. A good quality potting mix, with plenty of compost added to it, and some coir peat to help moisture retention. But what are you growing with your sweetcorn? The cucumbers could grow around and up the corn.
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06 Oct 17, Brad (Australia - temperate climate)
When the corn get big enough i was thinking of running beans up them.
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03 Oct 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Try growing on a trellis. An inverted V or even a vertical one. I'm trying a vertical one at the moment. Pumpkins and watermelons take up so much room. Best to decide what you are going to plant and where before you start planting. Give each the required area to produce a good crop.
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21 Aug 17, JC (Australia - tropical climate)
Hi, I've just moved to Cocos Keeling Islands and have heard it is difficult to grow any fruit or veg here. Any advice on what to plant and when, how to improve soil conditions etc. would be appreciated as fresh food options are costly and not reliable. TIA
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24 Aug 17, Darren (Australia - temperate climate)
This is just a generic answer, not specific to the Cocos Keeling Islands. Any where the soil conditions or climate are considered poor, I would suggest raised garden beds filled with a good soil blend and organic matter. If the soil is unavailable, then a good potting mix (without moisture retention) and organic matter/compost will be fine. Then just grow what you want according to your climate.
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22 Aug 17, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
Improving soil condition is about adding good soil if possible or adding organic matter - compost, manures, plant residue, grass clippings, veggie scraps etc to the soil and letting it all decompose - could take a few months. As for what to plant ask the locals what grows and what doesn't. I assume it is hot and wet so that rules a lot of things out. Look around and see what grows and have a go.
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02 May 17, Janice Cranford (USA - Zone 9a climate)
Why are my cucumber plants not making a cucumber, only flowers?
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03 May 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Cucumbers often produce male flowers early in the season before they start to produce female (cucumber) flowers. The male flowers have a longer stem and do not have the unformed cucumber at the base of the flower. I'd say, give them a bit more time.
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22 Apr 17, Francesca Lemon (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi, I am planning to move to Mount Victoria up in the Blue Mountains and was wondering if cucumber can grow in the cooler climate? Thanks!
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23 Apr 17, Ken (Australia - temperate climate)
You should be able to grow cucumbers successfully at Mt Victoria even with a longer winter as you get hot summers. Plant the seeds indoors in September in egg carton cells ready for transplanting into the garden in October. Plant the carton cell as well, it will rot. You can plant seed up until mid December. Choose a warm spot with good air circulation to reduce mildew problems. Growing them on a trellis is also beneficial.
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Showing 181 - 190 of 497 comments
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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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