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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25 Dec 14, aimee (Australia - temperate climate)
am growingcucumber in grand coverd in flowers not one cucumberi am desperat ples help
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14 Dec 14, George (Australia - temperate climate)
My father is an avid cucumber grower and he and all his friends this year initially had cucumbers but later the plants grew with plenty of leaves but no cucumbers. In Sydney we have had alot of rain probably daily over the last few weeks but it was interesting that he and all his friends had the same issue of not many cues but heaps of growth and leaves.
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30 Dec 14, Chris (Australia - temperate climate)
George sounds like your fathers plants have access to too much nitrogen which usually results in lush green growth but at the cost of flowers and fruit.
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12 Dec 14, Suzanne Riggs (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I am growing my Lebanese cucumbers in a pot with a trellis covered in flowers growing well and not one cucumber! what can I do ?
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12 Dec 14, Karyn West (Australia - temperate climate)
My cucumbers were going great guns for about 3 weeks and then the leaves had a grey tinge to them and now the leaves are pale, yellow, sickly, flowers have disappeared and the cucumbers are curling:( What happened????
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28 Dec 14, Nicole (Australia - temperate climate)
Could be powdery mildew. Make sure you don't wet the leaves when you water. I use a soaker hose. I also spray the plant with milk, whey or sauerkraut juice as the lactobacillis is a natural enemy to fungi. Bicarb of soda and water is also a possibility as it raises the pH. Here's a Youtube video showing powdery mildew on cucumbers to see if that is what your problem is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdaN_wUsalE
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25 Nov 14, Grant Campbell (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi my question is my Lebanese cucumber vine is growing out of control on the ground if I cut half of the vine will it kill the whole plant?
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09 Dec 14, nick (Australia - temperate climate)
Should be fine. Mine keeps growing more heads and I cut them off all the time to discourage growth. Be mindful you don't the important stems though. Personally I have mine growing out of a DIY pine box with 5 in 1 bsoil up a fly screen frame.
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25 Nov 14, Murray (Australia - temperate climate)
When do you know when they are ripe and ready o pick im talking about standard cucumber
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21 Nov 14, Lea (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have apple cucumbers growing to day I found one that has been half eaten I left it can you tell me what kind of animals would eat them
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Showing 291 - 300 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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