Cucumber Planting Guide
Planting cucumber in May
This page is about cucumber in general. For your zone's exact planting and harvest dates, pick your county below.
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How to water cucumber
Keep the root zone damp for cucumber. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses pay for themselves with this plant.
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Where to put cucumber
South-facing beds are ideal for cucumber. Shade from nearby trees or fences costs real production.
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Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant cucumber. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.
Cucumbers are a warm-season vine crop available in slicing and pickling varieties. They are prolific producers when given warmth, moisture, and a trellis to climb.
Cucumis sativus · Vegetable · Cucurbitaceae family · 50–70 days to maturity
Get Your Personalized Cucumber Planting Dates
Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.
Where Can You Grow Cucumber?
Cucumber Growing Regions
Click any state to see the Cucumber planting schedule for that location.
Planting Dates by Zone
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | Apr 3 | May 29 | Jun 5 | Jul 31 – Sep 25 |
| Zone 3b | Mar 29 | May 24 | May 31 | Jul 26 – Sep 20 |
| Zone 4a | Mar 25 | May 20 | May 27 | Jul 22 – Sep 16 |
| Zone 4b | Mar 20 | May 15 | May 22 | Jul 17 – Sep 11 |
| Zone 5a | Mar 21 | May 2 | May 9 | Jul 4 – Aug 29 |
| Zone 5b | Mar 14 | Apr 25 | May 2 | Jun 27 – Aug 22 |
| Zone 6a | Mar 6 | Apr 17 | Apr 24 | Jun 19 – Aug 14 |
| Zone 6b | Feb 27 | Apr 10 | Apr 17 | Jun 12 – Aug 7 |
| Zone 7a | Feb 25 | Apr 1 | Apr 8 | Jun 3 – Jul 29 |
| Zone 7b | Feb 18 | Mar 25 | Apr 1 | May 27 – Jul 22 |
| Zone 8a | Feb 8 | Mar 15 | Mar 22 | May 17 – Jul 12 |
| Zone 8b | Jan 28 | Mar 4 | Mar 11 | May 6 – Jul 1 |
| Zone 9a | Jan 13 | Feb 10 | Feb 17 | Apr 14 – Jun 9 |
| Zone 9b | Dec 28 | Jan 25 | Feb 1 | Mar 29 – May 24 |
| Zone 10a | Dec 4 | Jan 1 | Jan 8 | Mar 5 – Apr 30 |
| Zone 10b | Dec 4 | Jan 1 | Jan 8 | Mar 5 – Apr 30 |
| Zone 11a | Dec 4 | Jan 1 | Jan 8 | Mar 5 – Apr 30 |
| Zone 11b | Dec 4 | Jan 1 | Jan 8 | Mar 5 – Apr 30 |
How to Plant Cucumber
Growing Conditions
☀️ Sun
Full Sun (6-8+ hours)
💧 Water
1.3"/week
Keep soil consistently moist. Mulch heavily to retain moisture.
🧪 Soil pH
6 – 7
Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.
🗺️ Hardiness Zones
Zone 3a – 11b
📅 Days to Maturity
50–70 days
Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.
👪 Plant Family
Cucurbitaceae
Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Cucurbitaceae family crops grew last year.
Succession Planting Cucumber
Cucumber matures in just 50–70 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 4 successive plantings by sowing every 5.7 weeks.
Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.
Companion Planting for Cucumber
✅ Good Companions
❌ Keep Away From
Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →
Growing Tips for Cucumber
Direct sow after last frost or start indoors 3 weeks early. Provide a trellis for vining types to save space and improve air circulation. Harvest frequently to encourage production.
💧 Watering: Cucumber needs approximately 1.3 inches of water per week during active growth. Adjust based on your local rainfall — check your county page for a monthly watering guide specific to your area.
Saving Cucumber Seeds
Recommended for Your Garden
Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.
Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.
Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.
Seed Saving & Storage Guide
Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.
- 200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
- Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
- Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant
Cucumber by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to grow Cucumber?
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) takes 50 to 70 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.
What zones can Cucumber grow in?
Cucumber can be grown in USDA zones 3a through 11b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.
How much sun does Cucumber need?
Growing Cucumber requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), High — keep soil consistently moist, and soil pH of 6 to 7.