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When to Plant Cucumber in Yamhill County, OR

Yamhill County, Oregon Zone 8b May

May to-do list for Yamhill County, Oregon

Each item below is timed to Yamhill County, Oregon's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost April 15
Avg. first frost October 27
Soil temp (4") 69°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.7 hrs
  1. Indoor seed-starting week for cucumber

    A seed-starting mix and a sunny window (or a grow light) are all you need. Keep soil warm — around 70°F — for fast germination.

Coming up in June — start thinking about
  • First harvests: 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.

Yamhill County, Oregon is in USDA Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is April 15 and the first fall frost is October 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 195 days.

At an elevation of 476 feet, Yamhill County receives approximately 54.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 90°F, providing good warmth for Cucumber during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Cucumber root diseases.

Yamhill County, OR (Zone 8b) Moderate season
195 days
Last Spring Frost April 15
195 growing days
First Fall Frost October 27
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Yamhill County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.4-6.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (67 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 11 Transplant: Apr 22 🍅 Harvest: Jun 17 – Aug 12
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (69 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 18 Transplant: Apr 29 🍅 Harvest: Jun 24 – Aug 19
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (70 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 10 Transplant: May 22 🍅 Harvest: Jul 17 – Sep 11

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 Yamhill County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.4–6.2) is more acidic than Cucumber prefers (6.0–7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Cucumber is a heavy drinker but your soil drains very quickly. Mulch heavily and consider drip irrigation.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.3%) — Cucumber will thrive.

How to Plant Cucumber

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

Succession Planting Cucumber

4
successive plantings in your 195-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 18 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
1.2″/week
You supply
0.8″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,343 gal / 100 sq ft

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 7.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 6.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 5.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 6.5" 3.5" 3" 💧 Light watering
May 6.5" 2.8" 3.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 6.5" 2.1" 4.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 6.5" 0.9" 5.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 6.5" 1" 5.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 6.5" 2.4" 4.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 6.5" 4.8" 1.7" 💧 Light watering
Nov 9.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 8.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Yamhill 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 ~1,050 GDD — county provides 3,412 GDD Excellent fit

Cucumber Planting Timeline — Yamhill County, OR

Cucumber Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 18 Mar 18 – Apr 1
Transplant Outdoors April 29 Apr 29 – May 13
Direct Sow April 22 Apr 22 – May 13
Harvest June 24 Jun 24 – Aug 19

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors
April Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Harvest
September
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_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8b

📆 Growing Season

195 days in Yamhill County

Growing Tips for Cucumber in Yamhill County

Direct sow Cucumber outdoors after April 15 in Yamhill 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 Yamhill County, OR?

Yamhill County is in Zone 8b with an average last frost of April 15. Plan your Cucumber planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Yamhill County, OR?

Yamhill County, Oregon is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is April 15 and first fall frost is October 27.

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Your Yamhill County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Yamhill County (Zone 8b). 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 Yamhill County, OR. 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.