How to grow cucumber
Cucumis sativus · Cucurbitaceae · Vegetable
When to plant cucumbers: the short answer
Start seeds indoors about 3 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out about 2 weeks after it; sow outdoors about 2 weeks after the last frost; for a fall crop, sow about 12 weeks before your first fall frost. Wait until the soil is at least 60°F; cucumbers sprout fastest near 85°F.
Zone 5: plant out May 7 – May 24. Zone 7: plant out Apr 12 – Apr 29. Zone 9: plant out Feb 27 – Mar 16. See every zone.
Cucumber is a warm-season vegetable in the Cucurbitaceae family, grown either from a direct sowing or from transplants. It wants full sun (six or more hours of direct light) and plenty of water, especially in hot weather. From sowing to first pick is about 50–70 days. It is killed by frost, so nothing goes outside until the danger has passed and the soil has warmed.
Grower’s note: Resents root disturbance - if starting indoors use peat/paper pots. Trellising doubles the plants per square foot and cuts disease. A second sowing in midsummer beats early beetle pressure.
Sowing
Sow about 1″ deep, into soil between 60–95°F — germination is quickest near 85°F. It comes up fast (3–10 days). For an early crop, start seed indoors about 3 weeks before your last spring frost and grow it under bright light.
Spacing & layout
Give each plant about 12″ along the row with roughly 48″ between rows. On a square-foot grid that is 2 per square foot. Allow at least 14″ of loose, workable soil for the roots. It grows well in containers at least 12″ deep.
Fitting it to your season
Cucumber needs roughly 50–70 frost-free days to crop. Where the season is shorter than that, start it indoors and choose the earliest-maturing varieties, or grow it in a container you can move under cover on cold nights. In long, hot-summer regions it can often be planted twice — once in spring and again in mid-to-late summer for a fall harvest.
Quick facts
Growth stages: how long cucumbers take to grow
From sowing to first harvest takes roughly 50-70 days (7-10 weeks), with seedlings appearing after 3-10 days in soil around 85°F.
When to plant cucumber
When to plant cucumbers by USDA zone
Dates worked out from each zone’s typical frost dates for 2026. Find your zone on the zone map, or pick your state below for dates from its own frost dates. Zones 11 and above are frost-free, so timing there depends on heat and rain instead.
| Zone | Last / first frost | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Fall or second sowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 15 / Sep 15 | Apr 17 – May 1 | May 22 – Jun 8 | Jun 13 – Jun 30 |
| Zone 4 | May 10 / Sep 25 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 | May 17 – Jun 3 | Jun 23 – Jul 10 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 30 / Oct 5 | Apr 2 – Apr 16 | May 7 – May 24 | Jul 3 – Jul 20 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 / Oct 15 | Mar 18 – Apr 1 | Apr 22 – May 9 | Jul 13 – Jul 30 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 / Oct 25 | Mar 8 – Mar 22 | Apr 12 – Apr 29 | Jul 23 – Aug 9 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 / Nov 5 | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | Mar 27 – Apr 13 | Aug 3 – Aug 20 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 / Nov 30 | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Feb 27 – Mar 16 | Aug 28 – Sep 14 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 30 / Dec 15 | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | Feb 6 – Feb 23 | Sep 12 – Sep 29 |
Or browse cucumber planting dates for every state as static pages.
Companions
Bush Bean, Pole Bean, Pea, Sweet Corn, Radish, Dill, Lettuce
Potato, Sage
Common problems
Pests: striped cucumber beetle, squash bug, aphids, spider mite.
Diseases & disorders: powdery mildew, downy mildew, bacterial wilt, angular leaf spot.
Same family (Cucurbitaceae)
Rotate these so they don’t follow each other in the same bed year to year.
Questions gardeners ask
When should I plant cucumbers?
Start seeds indoors about 3 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out about 2 weeks after it; sow outdoors about 2 weeks after the last frost; for a fall crop, sow about 12 weeks before your first fall frost. Wait until the soil is at least 60°F. The table on this page gives dates for each USDA zone, and the planting calendar gives dates for your own state or ZIP code.
How long do cucumbers take to grow?
About 50-70 days from sowing to the first harvest. Seeds germinate in 3-10 days, fastest in soil around 85°F.
How much sun do cucumbers need?
They need at least six to eight hours of direct sun a day.
What soil pH do cucumbers need?
A soil pH between 5.5 and 7.0. It tolerates fairly acidic soil better than most vegetables. Test before adding lime or sulfur - see the soil pH and testing guide.
How far apart should I plant cucumbers?
Space plants about 12 inches apart in rows 48 inches apart, or 2 per square foot in a square-foot bed. Sow seeds about 1 inch deep.
Can I grow cucumbers in a container?
Yes. Use a container at least 12 inches deep with drainage holes and a good potting mix, and water more often than you would in the ground.
Figures are typical home-garden ranges from Cooperative Extension planting guides, cross-checked against multiple state sources. Your variety and conditions will vary.