How to grow cucumber
Grow up a trellis to fit two per square and keep fruit straight and clean.
Your cucumber dates
Companions
Bush beanDillLettuceMarigoldNasturtiumOkraPeaPole beanRadishSunflowerSweet corn
Keep apart from
Rotation and family
Cucumber belongs to the cucurbits (Cucurbitaceae). Sprawling, thirsty and prone to powdery mildew and cucumber beetles.
In a four-bed crop rotation it goes in the fruiting-crop bed. Avoid growing it where any cucurbits grew in the last three years.
Sow a fresh batch every 28 days for a steady supply. The succession planting calculator lists the dates.
When to plant cucumber by zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow / plant out |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Apr 29 – May 13 | Jun 3 – Jul 28 |
| 4 | Apr 21 – May 5 | May 26 – Aug 4 |
| 5 | Apr 9 – Apr 23 | May 14 – Jul 23 |
| 6 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 | May 4 – Jul 13 |
| 7 | Mar 18 – Apr 1 | Apr 22 – Jul 1 |
| 8 | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | Apr 9 – Jun 18 |
| 9 | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Mar 8 – May 17 |
| 10 | Jan 11 – Jan 25 | Feb 15 – Apr 26 |
Based on typical frost dates for each zone; b half-zones run about a week earlier in spring. Zones 11–13 are frost-free in most years.
Cucumber questions
When should I plant cucumber?
Plant cucumber outdoors 2 weeks after your last spring frost. Start seeds indoors about 3 weeks before your last frost.
How far apart should I plant cucumber?
About 12 inches apart, or 2 per square foot in a square foot garden.
What grows well with cucumber?
Traditional companions include bush bean, dill, lettuce, marigold, nasturtium, okra, pea, pole bean, radish, sunflower, sweet corn. Keep it away from potato, sage.
How long does cucumber take to grow?
Typically 50–70 days from sowing to first harvest, depending on variety and weather.