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

26 Oct 12, matthew mccallum (Australia - temperate climate)
Should i stake the young ones
22 Oct 12, Gary (USA - Zone 9b climate)
I've only know of growing cucumbers in a fence or trellis.. hearing of them being grown on the ground sounds very strange to me.. one it takes up more room and two it's more likely to have problems with bugs and such.
13 Jan 13, Charles L (Australia - temperate climate)
Yes, growing them on the ground is begging for trouble. I'd say it's almost a guaranteed disease target. A trellis is really the only way to go....although I sometimes have them growing up adjacent bushes/small trees as well. On the ground the moisture and lack of air flow is a calling card for mildew and wilts..
15 Oct 12, bill (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
i grow them on the ground on top of mulch and it is the first time this has happened
15 Oct 12, bill (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
my cucumber leaves are slowly disintergrating like they have mildew on them ? help please
20 Oct 12, tracy (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
sorry bill but I think the cucumber has had it. You could give it a good dose of seaweed emulsion or fish emulsion and see if the plant improves. May be a soil born virus so if the plant does not pick up. best to pull it out and move cucumber growing to a different spot of the veggie patch. I would rest the affected bed, build it up with plenty of organic matter-maybe a green manure crop and try again in a year or so. Hope this helps.
17 Sep 12, (Australia - temperate climate)
do they all grow on trellis?
17 Sep 12, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I've grown cucumbers both trailing across the ground and on top of straw mulch. They were fine, although the skins were white where they touched the ground. A bit more slug/snail damage as it was easier for the pests to get to them.
10 Sep 12, Louis (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Where or how do I get English cucumber seeds, thanks for the interesting site. Regards
18 Aug 12, Patri (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
When a cucumber plant starts getting smaller flowers, does it mean nutrient deficiency or that the plant is coming to an end soon?
Showing 371 - 380 of 498 comments

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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