Growing notes
Cucumbers grow best in warm weather and are heavy water feeders, needing about one inch of water from rainfall or irrigation each week during the growing season.
Harvest signs
Pick cucumbers when they reach the size you prefer. Harvest slicers or salad cucumbers at any size before they are over-large, with large seeds and yellowish skins. Pickling varieties should be harvested when the fruits are 2 to 4 inches long. Slicing cucumbers should be 6 to 8 inches long and 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter but still dark green and firm.
▶Planting reference— Depth, spacing, pH, light
▶Pests & diseases— striped cucumber beetles, spotted cucumber beetles, spider mites, bacterial wilt, +4 more
Companions & antagonists
Common questions
How much water does cucumber need?
Cucumber is water-sensitive — shallow roots and a steady thirst. Keep soil moisture in roughly the 45–65% range and don't let it dry out fully, or growth stalls and leafy crops turn bitter.
Can I grow cucumber in a raised bed or container?
Yes — cucumber does well in raised beds and is happy in a decent-sized container too, as long as drainage is good.
Does cucumber come back every year?
No — cucumber is an annual. It completes its life in one season, so you replant it each year.