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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16 Mar 17, Margaret McDonald (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Why are the skins (of Lebanese cucumbers) so tough?
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02 Feb 17, Kiri baird (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Hi I have only had two cucumbers of my 3 plants is still early days?
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08 Jan 17, Lynda Allan (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
My cucumbers start to develop then yellow and die off?
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03 Jan 17, Ken (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Planted at least 10 weeks ago,no sign of fruit.
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06 Dec 08, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Emma, it sounds as though your cucumber plants have been eaten by slugs or snails. You could try some slug bait in half a plastic bottle (so that birds can't reach it) or go out with a torch to catch and kill them at night.
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Showing 21 - 25 of 25 comments
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Ignore my current zone, I used to live in central NH so I know your cuke season is brief. To me, nothing beats Chicago Pickling (a cheap and excellent heirloom) unless you have lots of disease challenges in your garden, in which case I'd go with Eureka--not quite as tasty, but vigorous. To get crunchy pickles, pick them small, put them in an ice bath right away and then pickle as soon as possible. For refrigerator pickles, calcium chloride helps keep them crunchy. For fermented (half-sours) you keep them crunchy by cutting off the blossom end of the cuke and adding tannins to the jar, from grape, oak, or horseradish leaves. That might help you with refrigerator pickles too. To me, the hardest part can be getting dill and cukes to be ready at the same time!

- colleen

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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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