Cucumber
Cucumis sativus
Crisp, cool, and refreshing, cucumbers are one of summer's great pleasures. Modern outdoor and ridge varieties mean greenhouse space is no longer essential, though greenhouse cucumbers will always be more productive in the British climate.
SowingStart indoors
Sunlight☀️ Full sun
Water💧💧💧 High
Days to harvest50–70
Soil pH5.5–6.8
Spacing60cm × 90cm
Planting Calendar
🌏 Adjusted for southern hemisphere seasons.
Sow indoorsSow outdoorsTransplantHarvest
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Sowing
Sow 2–3 seeds per pot in early spring, remove the weaker seedlings and grow on at 18–24°C. Cucumbers hate root disturbance, so transplant carefully.Greenhouse Varieties
Greenhouse cucumbers are all-female (parthenocarpic) varieties that do not require pollination. Pinch out the growing tip when it reaches the greenhouse roof.Outdoor Varieties
Outdoor (ridge) varieties are more tolerant of cool, wet conditions. Mulch the base heavily with straw to prevent the developing fruit from rotting on the soil.Soil: Rich, free-draining, moisture-retentive soil with generous organic matter.