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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15 Jan 16, john mcquire (Australia - temperate climate)
I started apple cucumbers from seed early nov. and harvested untold number of cucumbers on about five bushes,and now have three more to put in the ground, so I am eagerly waiting for them again.
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12 Jan 16, Robert (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Why do my cucumbers taste bitter I used cow manure
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26 Feb 16, hennie (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
bitter cucumbers usual are moisture starved , the most common is that they have grown to large for the cultivar , pick them young , to get better quality fruit.
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13 Feb 18, Ahad (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
Cut small piece of cucumber by stem side, and rub two cutted side throughly. Until it make no white foam. Then it will be bitter less.
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08 Jan 16, Paul (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Lebanese, continental and apple cucs growing in same bed, Lebonese and cont are going great but apple are getting too 1" long and stop growing
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08 Jan 16, Ha (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi I live in Canberra .I would like to grow the vegetables and fruit which can grow all year .I am growing celery and strawberries now.
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02 Jan 16, tastyvish (Australia - arid climate)
Yes cucumber is bit temperamental till it established! I am in Melbourne and i failed several times but this year i have found that mulching and even watering have saved my young plants from extreme heat, yes what i have found the plants don't like any type of fertilizer till they become established.Watering in the morning will also help to prevent plant from powdery mildew which is biggest killer of cucurbit family.
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01 Jan 16, Param (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi i planted cucumbers few times this season and all the seedling have died again and again. Never had that problem in past. It was very hot recently in melbourne aus. Any thoughts???
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10 Jan 16, Shahrukh (Australia - temperate climate)
The first time I planted Lebanese Cucumber this season in Ballarat only one of six survived. I planted in the same spot again but removed all fertiliser from the plant hole. I also covered them with plastic oil container bottoms when the temperature dropped. When the weather grew warmer I threw over pieces of shade cloth on days of 30 degrees and over usually in the afternoon. This is the first time I have had healthy looking fruiting cucumber plants.
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22 Dec 15, Vaughan (Australia - temperate climate)
How do I pollinate them.
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Showing 251 - 260 of 497 comments
See comments for all plants

Have you had a lot of humidity (higher than usual) lately ? If so, your plants may be having a hard time transpiring. Transpiration is the process of releasing moisture (like sweating and evaporation rolled into one). Plants suck up water through their roots and move the water up through their stems and into their leaves, where they release the water (transpiration). Only about 5-10% of the water they intake is used for growth - the rest is released into the environment. The movement of water facilitates the movement of nutrients. So if the movement of water is SLOWED due to really high humidity (and this mostly happens in greenhouses when they are not properly ventilated) plants start to show signs of nutrient deficiencies of all kinds (maybe blossom end rot in tomatoes despite having plenty of bio-available calcium in the soil). That is to say; you could have a lot of misleading signs like: blossom end rot, or nitrogen deficiency (honestly I'm not sure which nutrients need the most water to be moved).....but the take away is the signs could be really confusing, and appear totally illogical. This only happens in high humidity situations; again like an improperly vented greenhouse, or if somehow you have managed to trap the humidity in your space...... this is a long shot.....but I lived on the Gold Coast (Broad Beach area) 30+ years ago...... and I still remember how humid it could get... especially further North. Clearly, some plants are better at moving the water in high humidity situations....tomatoes tend to have difficulty in very high humidity. Ensuring proper air flow may be helpful.

- Celeste Archer

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