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 16°C and 35°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 40 - 60 cm 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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05 Feb 13, Alison (Australia - temperate climate)
Does anyone have advice on how to eradicate tiny ants from my veggie pots and planting bags. ( i don't have a lot of garden space,so I'm growing all my veg and berries in pots and large planting bags, but the ants seem to LOVE them!!
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10 Feb 13, Jake (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You can spray the container with a surface spray that will kill them as they go in and out, but another option is to submerge the container in water for a few hours. The ants will leave.
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16 Sep 13, ej (Australia - temperate climate)
When potting up, cover each drainage hole with a used tea bag. It will keep both the ants & the worms out.
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05 Feb 13, Alison (Australia - temperate climate)
Im growing cucumber in large,deep,planting bags. I planted 8 seedlings about a week ago and they are in a full sun position, I water them twice a day ( not flood them probably about a cup each ) I have lost 3 so far, its almost as if they have been sprayed with weed killer, they have just curled up and shrivelled away. Can you advice me on how to save the last 5 plants.
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03 Feb 13, Margaret Hamilton (Australia - temperate climate)
Why are my cucumbers only producing male flowers?
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02 Feb 13, Barbara Mewburn (Australia - temperate climate)
The apple cucumbers have grown with very flat -almost fluted main stems, with many cucumbers on them. (I've never seen anything like it.) They are all dissapointingly bitter. some are growing up the fence, the rest are growing very low to the ground. My husband has watered them every second day overhead. I suspect that they haven't been watered deeply enough. He is reluctant to put in the watering system, he likes watering by hand. Now many of the leaves are rotting in one patch. He has grown cucumbers successfully before. Thankyou, in anticipation.
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09 Feb 13, David Kiefel (Australia - temperate climate)
I have read recently that cucumbers like a deep watering which apparently assists in making them less bitter... seems to be working so far.
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02 Feb 13, Karl Swadek (Australia - temperate climate)
How do you know when the apple cucumber is ready to pick, it is about 12cm long.
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11 Jan 13, Peter (Australia - temperate climate)
why some cucumbers are bitter
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25 Jan 13, Ian (Australia - temperate climate)
Two reasons not enough water. You have possibly let them dry out Second picked them to late
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Showing 351 - 360 of 498 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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