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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15 May 20, Tracey (USA - Zone 6b climate)
Can cucumbers be planted by berries?
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15 May 20, ASHLEY (USA - Zone 9b climate)
Hi, I was curious to know if I could sow/start cucumbers from seed indoors?
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25 Apr 20, Mr salam al imran (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
I need a English cucumber seeds bt how I get plz let me know
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27 Apr 20, Anon (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Try the internet for seed selling websites.
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25 Apr 20, Alex (Australia - arid climate)
Hi have some Lebanese cucumber plants that were growing very well and fruit more than I could use, The last month or so the older leaves have yellowed and the new growth is tending to cluster including the flowers and look dwarf like. It is still fruiting but not much. Any ideas? Thank you.
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27 Apr 20, Another gardener (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My guess is it is coming to the end of its life. Sometimes you have two or three flushes of flowers and fruit and then that is about it. It has taken a lot of nutrient from the soil and there isn't much left to support the plant. The leaves start dying and that is the end of it's life cycle.
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18 Apr 20, Stephanie (USA - Zone 8a climate)
This is my first year planting in this zone as I recently moved here. I am used to planting in a much different climate. My other plants in my garden seem to be doing well. However, my cucumbers are dying. Please help!! I plant 2 foot apart. I planted next to green beans and radishes. Are they getting too much water?not enough fertilizer?
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25 Dec 20, Zain (USA - Zone 8a climate)
Cucumbers growth’s slows down when the temperature goes over 95 degrees and also below 50 degrees
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17 Apr 20, Daniella (Australia - temperate climate)
2 little cucumber plants is growing now as we're in authum please advice me if I can grow the plants outdoor in a pot? Thanks a million Daniella
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20 Apr 20, (Australia - temperate climate)
Read when to plant in the temperate climate.
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Showing 81 - 90 of 497 comments
See comments for all plants

Have you had a lot of humidity (higher than usual) lately ? If so, your plants may be having a hard time transpiring. Transpiration is the process of releasing moisture (like sweating and evaporation rolled into one). Plants suck up water through their roots and move the water up through their stems and into their leaves, where they release the water (transpiration). Only about 5-10% of the water they intake is used for growth - the rest is released into the environment. The movement of water facilitates the movement of nutrients. So if the movement of water is SLOWED due to really high humidity (and this mostly happens in greenhouses when they are not properly ventilated) plants start to show signs of nutrient deficiencies of all kinds (maybe blossom end rot in tomatoes despite having plenty of bio-available calcium in the soil). That is to say; you could have a lot of misleading signs like: blossom end rot, or nitrogen deficiency (honestly I'm not sure which nutrients need the most water to be moved).....but the take away is the signs could be really confusing, and appear totally illogical. This only happens in high humidity situations; again like an improperly vented greenhouse, or if somehow you have managed to trap the humidity in your space...... this is a long shot.....but I lived on the Gold Coast (Broad Beach area) 30+ years ago...... and I still remember how humid it could get... especially further North. Clearly, some plants are better at moving the water in high humidity situations....tomatoes tend to have difficulty in very high humidity. Ensuring proper air flow may be helpful.

- 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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