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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03 Oct 15, Barbara mason (Australia - temperate climate)
All my apple cucumber seedling have been eaten, what do I use to prevent this happening when I plant again next week?
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24 Aug 15, Mojo (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
The effect of temperature especially the fruit quality
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12 Aug 15, Jammie (Australia - temperate climate)
They haven't pollinated. If no bees are in your area you will have to manually polinate them.
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12 Aug 15, Anita (Canada - Zone 7b Mild Temperate climate)
I am in Zone 7b. I tried some Asian cucumbers - they turned out pretty well this year - you should consider giving them a try. They got up to 1-2 feet. Check them out here -> earthlychow. com/asian-cucumber-tien-chin-long
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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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Showing 271 - 280 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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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. GardenGrow is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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