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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13 Oct 08, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Andrew, you might get a hybrid if you collect and plant the seed from the cucumbers, but growing them adjacent to eat will be fine. If you want to keep the seed to plant again, then you will need to bag the flowers to prevent cross-pollination.
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12 Oct 08, Andrew (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have two types of cucumber I wish to plant along a long fence. Can I plant them next to each other or will I end up with a hybrid between the two?
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11 Oct 08, Eliese (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Plant your cucumbers on tressils i have had alot of sucess with mine!!
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08 Oct 08, MARK (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
They are best grown on a stakes to prevent slugs and snails eating the leves. And they will come overgrown if not on steakes.
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08 Oct 08, Elise (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I planted my cucumbers about two weeks ago, yet they havn't sprouted yet .Im sorta on a schedule for school. Any ideas why they haven't emerged?
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23 Dec 07, Tzard (Unknown climate)
Make sure you don't water the leaves only the stem to avoid mould and the plant rotting. When on stakes.
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04 Nov 07, Chris (Unknown climate)
I've had success growing cucumbers across straw. In contact with the soil they often seem to rot or get ravaged by slugs. You can try companion-planting with sweetcorn, using the growing corn stems as living supports. Plant cucumber seedlings next to the corn when the corn reaches 20 cm or so.
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03 Nov 07, Bronwyn (Unknown climate)
do cucumbers grow along the ground or do they need to be staked
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Showing 491 - 498 of 498 comments
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Hi David, i dont bother to trellis, i let them grow like pumpkins along the ground. yes this can leave a yellowing on the bottom, but they grow well and taste perfect, in fact im having trouble keeping up with them. I did this last year because i planted seeds in a large seed raising tray and let them go to far before transplanting and so i just upturned the tray and planted it undisturbed in the middle of a garden bed. We are growing on raised beds as our soil is stoney and clay and we are totally reliant on rainwater. We are in central Victoria and have hot harsh summers so i set up a shadecloth cover for the really hot days. 13mm spray irrigation and we have had no powdery mildew at all. Hope your cues are starting to grow. :)

- Sarah Day

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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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