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When to Plant Cucumber in Logan County, ND

Logan County, North Dakota Zone 4a May

Top priorities for Logan County, North Dakota gardeners in May

Here's what deserves your attention in Logan County, North Dakota this month. Everything below is tailored to Zone 4a and timed around your local frost dates.

Avg. last frost May 13
Avg. first frost September 28
Soil temp (4") 54°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.8 hrs
  1. Seed cucumber outdoors

    Thin ruthlessly once seedlings are up. Crowded roots mean smaller crops from every plant.

To set up a strong June, finish these tasks
  • Transplants going out: cucumber
  • Starting indoors: cucumber

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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.

Logan County, North Dakota is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost is September 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 138 days.

At an elevation of 1,073 feet, Logan County receives approximately 25.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 82°F, so choose short-season varieties of Cucumber to ensure they mature before fall.

Logan County, ND (Zone 4a) Short season
138 days
Last Spring Frost May 13
138 growing days
First Fall Frost September 28
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Logan County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (4 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 26 Transplant: May 28 🍅 Harvest: Jul 23 – Sep 17
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (5 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 1 Transplant: Jun 3 🍅 Harvest: Jul 29 – Sep 23
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (2 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 14 Transplant: Jun 16 🍅 Harvest: Aug 11 – Oct 6

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Logan County

How your county's soil matches Cucumber's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.7) is more alkaline than Cucumber prefers (6.0–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Logan County is excellent for Cucumber — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.1%) — Cucumber will thrive.

How to Plant Cucumber

0.5"
Planting Depth
24"
Between Plants
48"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Cucumber

3
successive plantings in your 138-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 20 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.9″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,080 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Cucumber

Cucumber needs approximately 1.5 inches of water per week (6.5" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Cucumber Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 6.5" 3.8" 2.7" 💧 Light watering
Jun 6.5" 3.9" 2.6" 💧 Light watering
Jul 6.5" 3.3" 3.2" 💧 Light watering
Aug 6.5" 2.9" 3.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 6.5" 2.5" 4" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Logan County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Cucumber Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Cucumber needs ~690 GDD — county provides 1,587 GDD Excellent fit

Cucumber Planting Timeline — Logan County, ND

Cucumber Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 1 Apr 1 – Apr 15
Transplant Outdoors June 3 Jun 3 – Jun 17
Direct Sow May 27 May 27 – Jun 17
Harvest July 29 Jul 29 – Sep 23

Plant 0.5" deep · 24" apart · Rows 48" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April Start Indoors
May Direct Sow
June Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
July Harvest
August Harvest
September Harvest
October
November
December
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1.5"/week · 2-3 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

50–70 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4a

📆 Growing Season

138 days in Logan County

Growing Tips for Cucumber in Logan County

Direct sow Cucumber outdoors after May 13 in Logan County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Cucumber in this region include squash vine borer and cucumber beetles. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

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.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Potatoes
  • Sage

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Cucumber in Logan County, ND?

Logan County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 13. Plan your Cucumber planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Logan County, ND?

Logan County, North Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 13 and first fall frost is September 28.

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Your Logan County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Logan County (Zone 4a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Logan County, ND. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.