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(Best months for planting Cucumber in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

October: After risk of frost

• Harvest in 60-70 days
• Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed.
• Best planted at soil temperatures between 16°C and 35°C.
• Space plants: 40-60cm

Cucumbers are frost tender. A trailing plant which will grow tendrils as it gets bigger. Lebanese cucumbers are best picked about 10 -12 cm (4 - 5 in) and eaten whole. Gherkins are usually picked 5 or 6 cm (2 - 3 in) long and pickled. They have a prickly skin. Apple cucumbers are round with a pale, almost white, smooth skin.

Grow in full sun. Grow up a trellis or framework to save space and keep the fruit clean. Needs ties to support it at first. Water regularly and fertilise to encourage growth.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Cucumber

Pick frequently before the fruit become too big.
Use raw in salads, peeled if preferred.

Your comments and tips

05 Jan 09 Graham Hales (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)

my cucumbers start to form on the plant then they rot

31 Jan 09 Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Graham, your cucumbers might be failing because they are not being pollinated. Try pollinating some by hand with a small soft paintbrush.

12 Jan 10 (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)

I have two cucumber plants growing in a poly-tunnel. One has developed a 'webby substance between the leaves and the stem and appears to have tiny moving cream coloured mites moving about in it and the leaves have turned yellow and crispy. The other one appears to be fine, although signs of a similar infestation seems to be appearing. I have used an organic general insectide. Help would be must appreaciated. Liz

24 Feb 10 Colleen (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)

Is the end of the summer too late to plant out cucmber plants and seedlings. Or would it be wise to put them in pots on a warm deck. Please.

13 Oct 10 Panapa (New Zealand - temperate climate)

i have cucumber seedlings in at the moment there are 4 leaves... the two bottom ones have gone yello and the top to are kind of whilting and not growing anymore, i live in wellington... any thoughts of advice

14 Oct 10 David (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)

Panapa, your cucumber seedlings might be suffering from wet feet. If the soil is cold and wet, seedlings can get a fungal growth which will eventually kill them. Try building up a mound of soil and compost about 8 - 10 cm high, then sowing your cucumbers in that.

29 Dec 11 josie (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)

this is my 3rd year of growing cucumbers in a tunnel house, but this year 3 of my 6 plants have all male flowers!! Is there anything I can do about this? It also appears that my zucchini plants are producing mainly male flowers they are growing outside so the bees should have good access to them.

29 Dec 11 josie (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)

Liz I have that problem with my peppers--- I tried everything from wiping the leaves with a damp cloth to spraying evil stuff. But now I am spraying with sunlight liquid watered down, and it seems to be working.:) Good luck.

31 Jan 12 valma (New Zealand - temperate climate)

plenty of cucumbers on plant but they are very slow to get bigger. Earlier plant did very well with veges growing very quickly. Help

31 Jan 12 (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Valma, are you keeping your plants well watered?