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

28 Nov 19, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
The yellow leaves might be due to too much fertilizer. Try just using one type. They should grow if you are giving them enough water and protecting from very cold nights. The female flowers have a tiny, cucumber shape just behind the flower.
11 Nov 19, Bhaidas Bhula (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Sometimes the cucumber plant only has male flowers. Is this normal? and sometimes the female flower forms a cucumber and shrinks and falls off.Why is this?
11 Nov 19, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Most curcubits (cucumbers, courgettes etc) produce male flowers first. If the weather is cool, no female flowers appear for a while. If the immature cucumber falls off it has not been fertilised. If there are not many bees around, you can use a soft artist's brush or cotton bud, to transfer some pollen from the male stamens to the female flower.
14 Sep 19, Kirsty (New Zealand - temperate climate)
What cucumbers are suitable for growing in hanging baskets?
17 Sep 19, Anon (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
A plant needs a preferred amount of soil (nutrient) to grow a reasonably decent crop. Without knowing what size pot you have I always question whether people use a big enough pot for what they want to grow. For myself I would not try to grow cucumbers in a pot smaller than 500-600mm diameter and 300mm deep.
16 Sep 19, Anon (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
What is the difference between growing in hanging basket and on trellis. Probably grow any kind. Try apple cucumbers - a lot more taste.
07 Sep 19, maxine (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Can Cucumbers be grown in large garden pots?
09 Sep 19, Anon (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Yes - have good fertile soil to start with and make sure you water them regularly.
22 Aug 19, Alicia (New Zealand - temperate climate)
If your harvest is small then you could try hand pollination to ensure a larger harvest, as no pollination means no fruit.
26 Aug 19, Anon (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Hand pollen in the morning as the flower is shut in the arvo.
Showing 11 - 20 of 25 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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