🥒
Cucumber
Cucumis sativus
Cool, crisp, and thirsty — climbing vines that pump out fruit for months.
Sun
Full sun
Water
Daily in hot weather
Soil
Rich, well-drained, pH 6.0–7.0
Spacing
45 cm apart
Days to harvest
55–65 days
Hardiness
Zones 4–11 (annual)
Seasonal Calendar
S
S
S
H
H
H
JFMAMJJASOND
Sow Harvest
The method
- 1
Sow warm
Start indoors 3 weeks before last frost or direct sow once soil is 20°C.
- 2
Train up a support
A trellis keeps fruit clean, straight, and easy to spot.
- 3
Water and feed
Water deeply every day in heat. Feed weekly once flowering.
- 4
Harvest daily
Pick young — 15–20 cm — to keep the vine producing.
Common problems
Bitter fruit
Water stress. Mulch and water consistently.
Powdery mildew
Airflow and water at the base only.
Good neighbors
BeanCornRadishDill
Field tips
- “Grow seedless varieties in a greenhouse for the crispest fruit.”
- “One missed cucumber turns into a marrow — check the vines daily.”