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EmailBotanical name: Cucumis Sativus
Plant type: Vegetable
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Soil type: Loamy
Soil pH: Neutral

Cucumbers are a warm-season vegetable that will grow in any amount of space thanks to its ability to climb. The most common varieties of slicing cucumbers have sprawling vines with large green leaves and curling tendrils. The growth of these plants is fast, and the crop yield is abundant if you care for them properly.
Planting
- For an early crop, start cucumber seeds indoors about 3 weeks before you transplant them in the ground. They like bottom heat of about 70ºF (21ºC). If you don’t have a heat mat, put the seeds flat on top of the refrigerator or perch a few on top of the water heater.
- Seed or transplant outside in the ground no earlier than 2 weeks after last frost date. Cucumbers are extremely susceptible to frost damage; the soil must be at least 65ºF for germination. Do not plant outside too soon!
- Mix in compost and/or aged manure before planting. Make sure that soil is moist and well-drained, not soggy.
- Sow seeds in rows, 1 inch deep and 6 to 10 inches apart.
- If you are transplanting seedlings, plant them 12 inches apart.
- A trellis might be a good idea if you want the vine to climb, or if you have limited space. Trellising also protects the fruit from damage from lying on the moist ground.
Care
- When planting seeds in the ground, cover with netting or a berry basket to keep pests from digging out the seeds.
- When seedlings emerge, begin to water frequently, and increase to a gallon per week after fruit forms.
- When seedlings reach 4 inches tall, thin plants so that they are 1½ feet apart.
- Fertilize 1 week after bloom, and again 3 weeks later.
- Water consistently; put your finger in the soil and when it is dry past the first joint of your finger, it is time to water. Inconsistent watering leads to bitter-tasting fruit.
- Mulch to hold in soil moisture.
- If you have limited space or would prefer vertical vines, set up trellises early to avoid damage to seedlings and vines.
- Spray vines with sugar water to attract bees and set more fruit.
Pests
- Cucumbers may not set fruit because the first flowers were all male. Both female and male floewrs must be blooming at the same time. This may not happen early in the plant's life so be patient.
- Lack of fruit may also be due to poor pollination by bees, especially if prevented by rain, cold temperatures, or insecticides. Remember, gynoecious hybrids require pollinator plants.
- Cucumber Beetles
- Whiteflies
- Bacterial Wilt
- Mosaic Viruses
Harvest/Storage
- Harvest when about 6 inches long; any cucumbers left on the vine too long will turn yellow, get tough skins, and lower plant productivity.
- At peak harvesting time, you should be picking cucumbers every couple of days.
- Keep them picked. If you don’t, as plants mature, they will stop producing.
- Cucumbers are over 90 percent water. Store wrapped tightly in plastic wrap to retain moisture.
- They will keep for a week to 10 days when stored properly in the refrigerator.
Recommended Varieties
- ‘Sweet Success’
- ‘Straight Eight’
- ‘County Fair’
Recipes
Cooking Notes
See our fun video on How to Make Easy Refrigerator Dill Pickles!
Wit & Wisdom
- Make a second planting. In already-warm summer soil, cucumbers will grow quickly and ripen ina bout six weeks!
- Don't forget that cucumbers aren't just for eating. When puréed in the blender, cucumbers make a great summer facial for toning the skin.
Comments
sun requirements?
I see I'm not the only one who has started my cucumber seeds. I thought I had started mine a little early by mistake but they're indoors.. This is the first garden I've grown by myself and I see nothing about sun requirements for cucumbers. I assume it is full sun. Any tips?
Where are my seedlings
I sowed heirloom Beit Alpha Cucumbers and Armenian cucumbers March 12th as well as grey zucchini and lakota squash. The squash and zucchini are up, but still no sign of the cucumbers and they are getting the same amount of sun and water. I planted them according to 1 inch depth. Should I reseed now to see if I can get some to come up?
cucumber seeds
The cucumber seeds need nice warm soil to germinate. They may still come up when the soil gets warmer. You can start some seeds in pots indoors in case you need to fill in a few spots in the garden.
seedings
I've started my seed indoors now they are coming up very lanky. How can I make them put on more leaves and compact? Or do I just let them grow long stems?
lanky stalks
The biggest issue with starting seeds indoors is the need for artificial light or a lighted windowsill. when the plants grow under natural sunlight they stop shooting up thin and thicken out but the leaves are reaching for the light and are staying long to find it. best thing to do is get it in the light or start over with a 4' flourescent over the bed with blue light it reflects spring time and will help too
indoor seeds
If these seeds are indoors, then the seedlings stretch for the sunlight. Most likely cause is not enough sunlight. Repotting the seedlings in bigger pots and maybe adding a grow light will help. The seeds may be better planted directly in the garden when the soil has warmed up.
Lots of flowers, no fruit
I am growing "lemon cucumbers", a heirloom. The plants could not look any healthier, strong,good color and full of flowers, but the flowers die off and I get no fruit. Any feedback on why this is happening.
Lemon Cucumbers
Planted lemon cuts last year they did great. It takes weeks for the bees to find the plants. Once you see the bees you will see the fruit. This variety will produce a huge plant so prepare for the space. It will also produce a lot of cucumbers.
cucumbers
How long does it take for cucumber plants to mature?
53-56 days
53-56 days
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