How to Grow Cucumbers

I love to grow cucumbers to use for snacking, in salads, and for making relish. They’re easy to grow as long as you keep them warm and well-watered.

Latin Name: Cucumis sativus
Plant Family: Cucurbit (Cucurbitaceae)
Warm-season crop

Did You Know?

Cucumbers originated in Egypt and have been in cultivation for at least 3,000 years. They are packed with nutrients and very popular for making pickles and relish. There are many types available, from slicing to pickling to the long Armenian and Japanese cultivars.

Plant Seeds or Seedlings? To grow cucumbers, you can direct-sow in garden or start indoors 2 weeks before planting outdoors.

When: After all danger of frost has passed.

Days to Germination: 5 to 10 days

Depth to Sow: 1 inch. For the best germination, plant the pointed end of the seed downward.

Spacing: 18 inches apart

Days to Maturity: 50 to 70

Cultural Information:

Prior to planting seeds, prepare the soil in the bed by working bonemeal into the top 3 inches. If possible, cover the plants with floating row cover at planting time to create a warm, greenhouse-like environment. Leave it in place for two to three weeks, then remove it to allow pollinators access to the blossoms. Provide a vertical support for plants to climb, such as a trellis, arbor or cattle panel. Since cucumbers are 90 percent water, it’s vital to water them on a regular basis so they won’t become bitter.

Susan’s Picks: ‘Mini-Me’, ‘Lemon’, ‘Lunchbox’, ‘Spacemaster’ (bush-type), ‘Straight Eight’

Potential Insect Problems: Pillbugs, cucumber beetles, cutworms

When to Harvest:

Pick cucumbers while they are young as they will be tender, flavorful and have smaller seeds inside.

How to Cook & Preserve:

Use fresh cucumbers for salads, sandwiches and snacking. Wrap them individually in paper towels to store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. Preserve them as relish or pickles in a vinegar solution, using the water-bath canning method.

Back to Vegetable Grow Guide Chart

Copyright: Susan Mulvihill, Susan’s in the Garden, SusansintheGarden.com.