Growing Cucumber

cucumis sativis : Cucurbitaceae / the gourd family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
                S      
                  T    
                  P P P

(Best months for growing Cucumber in South Africa - Summer rainfall regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 61°F and 95°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 16 - 24 inches apart
  • Harvest in 8-10 weeks. Cut fruit off with scissors or sharp knife.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Nasturtiums, Beans, Celery, Lettuce, Sweet Corn, Cabbages, Sunflowers, Coriander, Fennel, Dill, Sunflowers
  • Avoid growing close to: Potato, Tomatoes

Your comments and tips

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for South Africa | for all countries
08 Oct 20, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Google seed selling companies in your country.
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25 Apr 20, Mr salam al imran (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
I need a English cucumber seeds bt how I get plz let me know
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27 Apr 20, Anon (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Try the internet for seed selling websites.
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02 Aug 19, Theodoris Nayler (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
Seeds for Africa, [email protected] I get all my seeds from them, sometimes I even order only a few at a time, they courier to you
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22 Sep 18, KathyCandiotes (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Hi where can we purchase seeds to grow English cucumber We are In Gauteng region in Benoni Should we grow them in tunnels? Is it complicated to grow them
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25 Oct 18, Rianca (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Hi Kathy I’m also in Benoni and wondering if you have been successful in growing your cucumber???
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09 Oct 17, Udo Krause (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
In which province they are growing English cucumbers
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25 Feb 17, Nicola (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Hi, we have been gifted 3 cucumber plants. The day our friend brought them to us her chooks sat on them. They were then in her boot the entire day on a 40 degree day. I had them in a morning to mid afternoon sunny spot and they were starting to liven up. The tops started dying off, then they fell over on themselves and cracked the stems. So we moved them to there permanent spot in the evening and in the morning we woke up and the dogs had toppled the 2 over. I picked them up and put the soil back in but now the stems are saggy, broken and the tops are all dried and brown. Please can you help me with advice on how to save these poor plants? I feel so terrible as this is the second set of plants our friend has given us and they are dying again :'(
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26 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Sounds like you've had a traumatic time! Under the circumstances you would be better to sow some fresh seed. It will germinate in a few days. Once plants are battered past a certain point they take a while to recover, if at all. You will need 3-4 months to harvest. All the best.
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29 Jan 17, Len Olley (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
When my cucumbers are young fruit the get stung in the middle and then start to bend. Those that are not stung grow well. I have tried researching to what is causing this but to no avail. What can I spray?
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Showing 11 - 20 of 36 comments
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If you have TRUE high humidity: humidex above 95% consistently -- then you have a real issue. If you have a "created" high humidity situation: like a poorly ventilated greenhouse; then correcting the ventilation will fix things. You can create an updraft by placing a screened window/door very close to ground level (or the lowest level that opens to fresh air) and then furthest and highest away from this point another screened window (on the ceiling/roof, or very high on the wall). So if you have a door on the North/East Bottom. the window goes on the South/West Top. When both of the windows are open, you should get a nice updraft that will whisk away all your humidity. It is best to situate the ground level door/window in a shady spot -- because this will be cooler air, and as this comes in it will force the hot/humid air up and out. There are also green house fans that can be installed (but if you do your updraft correctly you will probably not need one) ; and if you are fully indoors even a dehumidifier might work. If you are in a garden setting like the situation above; I think perhaps the cucumber created a roof that was helping hold in the moisture. In this case prune the cucumber to increase airflow. Things like fences can hold moisture; for example if you have a garden between two houses and there is a wood picket fence; this could impede the flow of air, and cause humidity to build up. The answer will ALMOST always be to increase air flow. If this is a true climate issue then you should select what you are growing with care, choosing plants that can tolerate high humidity; and still trying to situate your plants/garden in such a way that air flows freely. I have an allotment, that has "dense" fencing on two sides (I am in the back corner) and I can feel that I have an extra humid situation. I have found that runner beans do well; once they climb higher than fence level, they get a lot of air flow and do nicely. As far a hydroponics; I am not well versed enough to even begin guessing at the issues that may exist in these environments. Just remember that even when the humidex is NOT high, plants still need the airflow to move what they have transpired away from their leaves.

- Celeste Archer

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