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
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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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