Growing cucumbers

Types

Clemson HGIC 1309 (South Carolina): cucumbers are typically divided into pickling and slicing. Pickling types produce shorter, blockier fruit with bumpy skin. Slicing types have softer flesh, thicker skin, and are long and slender. Bush varieties are a limited-space option when trellising is not possible. Type notes on their sheet — not a cultivar mill.

Timing

Clemson HGIC 1309 (South Carolina): cucumber is a warm-season vegetable. Plants are very tender and can be killed by light frosts. Plant seed or transplants after the fear of frost has passed and the soil temperature has reached 70 °F. Seeds will not germinate at soil temperatures below 50 °F. Seeds may be started indoors two to three weeks prior to planting outdoors. Timing on their sheet — not a national plant date.

Spacing

Clemson HGIC 1309 (South Carolina): for non-trellised cucumbers, space plants 8 to 10 inches apart in rows that are 5 feet apart. If cucumbers are trellised, plant four to five seeds per foot in rows spaced 3 feet apart. When plants are 4 to 5 inches high, thin so they are 9 to 12 inches apart. Spacing on their sheet — not a BioArva average and not a trellis SKU.

Limit

South Carolina HGIC 1309. Timing and spacing stay on this sheet. Not fertilizer and not a cultivar mill.

Timing

Maryland Extension (Maryland): seed directly after danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed, or use plants grown indoors 3 weeks prior to planting time. Handle transplants gently. If direct sowing, thin seedlings by cutting excess plants with scissors rather than by pulling. Full sun at least 6 hours/day; prefers 8–10 hours/day. Timing and light on their sheet — not a national plant date.

Spacing

Maryland Extension (Maryland): spacing 12 inches in-row by 48–72 inches between rows; or plant in a hill (two to three plants per hill). Spacing on their sheet — not a BioArva average.

Types

Maryland Extension (Maryland): cultivars are available for slicing and pickle types, dwarf-vined or bush types, Armenian, and Asian types. Burpless cucumbers are long and slender with tender skin. Type notes on their sheet — not a cultivar mill.

Limit

Maryland cucumber garden page. Timing, spacing, and types stay on this sheet. Not fertilizer.

Timing

UMN Extension (Minnesota): start cucumbers by direct seeding. Sow after the last frost date, once the soil is at least 70 °F at the one-inch depth. In most of Minnesota, this will be sometime in late May. Sow seeds about one-half inch deep. Timing on their sheet — not a national plant date.

Spacing

UMN Extension (Minnesota): for vining types that will spread, sow seeds two inches apart; allow about two or three feet on either side of the row. A hill of three or four seeds sown close together, five to six feet between hills. Bush types with very short vines: two to three feet between rows or hills. After emergence, thin seedlings to stand 8 to 12 inches apart. You may train vines on a three- to four-foot trellis. Spacing on their sheet — not a BioArva average and not a trellis SKU.

Limit

Minnesota cucumber sheet. Spacing as cited. Not fertilizer and not a cultivar mill.

Timing

Illinois Extension (Illinois): plant after the danger of frost has passed, and the soil has warmed in the spring. Warm soil is necessary for germination. A second planting for fall harvest may be made in mid- to late summer. Transplants: sow two or three seeds in containers 3 to 4 weeks before the frost-free date; thin to one plant; set when they have two to four true leaves, 1 to 2 feet apart in rows 5 to 6 feet apart. Like other vine crops, cucumbers do not transplant successfully as bare-root plants. Timing on their sheet — not a national plant date.

Spacing

Illinois Extension (Illinois): plant seeds 1/2 to 1 inch deep. Thin the seedlings to one plant every 12 inches in the row or to three plants every 36 inches in the hill system. If you use transplants, plant them carefully in warm soil 12 inches apart in the row. Spacing on their sheet — not a BioArva average.

Limit

Illinois cucumber page. Timing and spacing stay on this sheet. Not fertilizer.