How to Grow Cucumbers

Planting Cucumbers

Since cucumber seeds do not like the cold, it is best to grow cucumbers by either starting them indoors or waiting to start them outdoors when soil temperatures have reached a minimum of 15°C.

I use this Sunblaster Grow Light Garden to start my seeds indoors in early spring. It’s nice and compact, and will provide full-spectrum light to your little seedlings so they grow up strong and healthy.

I also use it to grow lots of fresh herbs and greens indoors during the long winter months when it’s too cold to grow anything outside. It is definitely one of my favorite purchases!

If you have limited indoor space I recommend the Sunblaster Micro Grow Light Garden. It’s the small version of the one I use and linked to above and will do the job just as well.

In a large pot, plant 3-4 seeds together in each spot you want a cucumber to grow (This is done because cucumber seeds have a low germination rate). Cover with 1″ of soil.

I personally use this Pro Mix Organic Seed Starter Mix when starting my seeds. It’s top quality stuff that the pros use, so you really can’t go wrong with it!

You want to avoid using regular garden soil when starting seeds because it contains all sorts of large matter, bacteria, and bugs which can hinder your new seedlings from sprouting or growing properly. A good seed starting mix has a fine texture and is sterile — a perfect combination for baby plants to thrive in.

When the seedling have sprouted leave only the strongest, snipping the others at soil level. Space cucumber plants at least 9″ apart. Cucumbers are heavy feeders, so it is a good idea to add some all purpose fertilizer to the soil when plants have been established.

To eliminate the guesswork in selecting the right size containers for your plants, we’ve put together a list of commonly grown herbs, veggies, fruit and flowers along with the minimum pot sizes required by each.

Starting a container garden? Grab my free guide on choosing the best sized pots for each veggie, fruit, and herb in your container garden – Veggie Garden Potting Guide

 

Watering Cucumbers

Keep well watered. Water when the top 1″ is dry to the touch. Take care to water at the base of the plant, doing your best not to get the leave too wet.

Unless you have worked granular fertilizer into your soil upon planting, fertilize with an all purpose liquid fertilizer every 3 weeks.

 

Where Can I Grow It?

Grow cucumbers outdoors in a bright, sunny, and warm location. Cucumbers benefit greatly from being provided a trellis, which is especially essential in a small space! Cucumber vines can reach 7-8′ in length, so training them up a trellis will prevent your space from becoming overgrown.

 

Cucumber Growing Tips

Most cucumbers will produce constantly through the summer months. Keep harvesting to encourage the plant to keep producing.

Harvest while cucumbers are still immature, uniformly green and firm. If they have turned yellow, you’ve waited too long!

 

Companion Planting

Cucumbers do well when planted in combination with many common vegetables. You can plant cucumbers together with any of the following for beneficial effects: beans, carrots, green onions, radishes, peas, sunflowers, nasturtiums, marigolds, garlic, lettuce, and dill. Radishes are especially helpful as they repel the cucumber beetle.

Avoid planting to close to potatoes or aromatic herbs as they do not grow well together. Herbs with strong scents and flavors have a negative impact on the cucumber plant, and will alter the taste of the fruit by giving it an unpleasant flavor. For example, sage should never be planted near or with cucumbers in the same space.