Planting Cucumbers

Cucumbers do well planted outdoors in hardiness zones four through twelve. Cucumbers can be grown indoors or in green houses in any zone.

Cucumbers are commonly planted by placing three to four seeds directly in the garden soil one-half to one inch deep in small hills placed three to four feet apart, or rows spaced five to six feet apart. When planting in rows space each plant one to two feet apart, thinning as needed. These spacing guidelines depend on the variety of cucumber used, so be sure to follow the instructions for your particular variety and climate.

Directly sow cucumber seeds after the danger of frost has passed for your area, and the soil is consistently warm. Cucumber seeds will not germinate properly in soil that is not consistently warm.

For early cucumber harvests, seeds can be started indoors up to four weeks before the last frost and then transplanted outdoors when the weather and soil temperature is right. Sow three to four cucumber seeds in a small peat pot, thinning to one plant with two to four leaves before transplanting. Do not remove the cucumber from the peat pot, just directly insert the potted plant into the soil spaced normally as with direct seeding.

In many parts of North America two plantings and harvests of cucumbers can be had every year with an early spring planting and early summer harvest, and then another planting in late summer for a harvest before the first frost in fall.

Cucumber Companion Planting