Grow Guide to Cucumbers

Cucumis sativus

Plant Description

Crisp, refreshing, and fast-growing, cucumbers are a summer garden essential. These vining plants produce smooth or bumpy-skinned fruits that range from 6 to 10 inches long, depending on variety. They thrive in warm weather and benefit from trellising to keep fruit off the ground and promote airflow.

Ideal for slicing, pickling, or snacking straight from the garden, cucumbers reward regular harvesting with continuous production.

Quick Facts

  • Sunlight: Full Sun
  • Days to Sprout: 5–10 days
  • Days to Harvest: 50–70 days
  • Plant Spacing: 18–24 inches apart (or 12” if trellised)
  • Seeds per Hole: 2–3; thin to 1 strongest seedling
  • Plant Type: Tender Annual
  • Planting Depth: ½ inch

Best Planting Locations

  • Garden Beds: Provide plenty of space to sprawl or grow vertically on a trellis to save room and increase yield.
  • Raised Beds: Offer warmth and drainage—ideal for early starts and healthier vines.
  • Containers: Use at least 5 gallons per plant and offer a support structure for climbing.

Getting Started

  1. Start Indoors: Start 2–3 weeks before last frost if you want a head start; transplant carefully to avoid root disturbance.
  2. Direct Sow: Recommended for most zones once soil is 70°F+. Sow after all frost danger has passed.
  3. Soil Needs: Fertile, well-drained soil with plenty of compost. pH 6.0–6.8 is ideal.

Companion / Enemy Plants

Good Companions: Beans, peas, dill, sunflowers, and radishes.

Avoid Planting Near: Potatoes and aromatic herbs like sage, which may hinder growth.

Attractants / Repellents

Attracts: Bees and pollinators are essential for fruit set—encourage them by planting nearby flowers.

Repels: Nasturtiums nearby can help deter aphids and squash bugs.

When to Plant

  • Spring: Plant after soil warms to 70°F and danger of frost has passed.
  • Summer: Sow again mid-summer for a late-season harvest in warm zones.

Maintenance

  • Watering: Keep soil consistently moist; avoid letting it dry out or stay soggy. Water at the base.
  • Fertilizing: Feed with a balanced fertilizer every few weeks or side-dress with compost.
  • Trellising: Train vines vertically to prevent disease, improve airflow, and ease harvesting.

Harvest

  • Pick cucumbers young and often—before seeds fully develop—for best flavor and texture.
  • Check daily during peak growth; cucumbers can grow fast and turn bitter if overripe.
  • Use scissors or pruners to harvest; avoid twisting or pulling the vine.

Uses

  • Fresh: Slice into salads, make cucumber sandwiches, or enjoy with dips.
  • Pickled: Turn into crunchy pickles using vinegar brine or fermentation methods.
  • Beverages: Infuse in water for a cooling summer drink.

How to Store

  • Short Term: Store unwashed in the fridge for up to a week.
  • Long Term: Pickling is the best method for preserving cucumbers beyond the season.