Crops › Cucumber
How to grow Cucumber
in the US
Sow April to July, plant out August, harvest June to October. About 55 days from seed to plate.
Shown for zone 6. Zone table further down.
Cucumbers are cracking to grow, proper easy and give you loads of fresh, crunchy ones from your own backyard. There’s nothing quite like picking your own for a salad on a warm day. You'll be chuffed, to be honest, with how much you can get from just a few plants.
Sowing
You want to get your cucumber seeds started when the soil is properly warm, 70°F (21°C) or more, and after all danger of frost is gone. For folks in colder zones like 3, that's June or July, but down in zone 10, you can be sowing from February. Check the GrowMore CookMore app for your exact zone, it’s all there. Pop them about an inch deep, either direct in the ground or in pots indoors a few weeks earlier if you fancy a head start. Give them 12 to 18 inches between plants.
Growing on
If you've started your seeds indoors, get them hardened off over a week or so before planting them out after your last frost. These plants love their space, so make sure they've got room to spread or give them a good sturdy trellis to climb. Cucumbers do proper well in big containers too, as long as they get enough water and a bit of support. Just make sure they're not too crowded, you know what I mean.
Looking after it
Cucumbers are thirsty plants, so water them deeply and consistently, especially when they're fruiting. A good mulch around the base will help keep that moisture in and stop the weeds taking over. A general-purpose feed now and then won't hurt either, particularly if your soil isn't rich. Just keep an eye on them, they grow quick once they get going.
What goes wrong
Like I say, cucumbers are generally easy, but you might see a few things pop up. Watch out for cucumber beetles and aphids; a strong jet of water can knock aphids off, or you can pick the beetles. Powdery mildew can show up on the leaves, especially if it's humid – try to keep good air circulation. Bacterial wilt is a bit trickier, but often starts with wilting leaves.
Harvest
You'll be picking your first cucumbers in about 55 days from sowing, usually from July right through to September. Don't leave them too long on the vine, they get bitter and stop producing more fruit. Pick them when they're a good size for the variety, firm and green. A proper twist or a sharp knife will do it. Store them in a cool, dry place, or pop them in the fridge when you're ready to use them.
I've found if you pick your cucumbers often, the plants keep on giving. It’s like they know you're chuffed with them, you know what I mean?
Dates for your plot
Type your zone and the plant-out advice shifts to your frost dates.
Varieties, and whether the club would grow them again
| Variety | Club verdict |
|---|---|
| Marketmore 76 Marketmore 76 is a classic slicing cucumber, a really reliable performer that gives you plenty of fruit. It's a great choice for beginners or if you just want a steady supply for salads. | No club votes yet |
| Straight Eight Straight Eight is another proper reliable slicing cucumber, known for its uniform, straight fruits. If you're after a good, all-around cucumber for your backyard, this one's a winner. | No club votes yet |
| Boston Pickling Boston Pickling is a cracking variety, perfect if you love making your own pickles. These are small, firm cucumbers that are just right for preserving. | No club votes yet |
| National Pickling National Pickling is another top choice for those wanting to put up some jars. It's a reliable performer that gives you plenty of crisp, firm cucumbers, ideal for pickling whole or sliced. | No club votes yet |
| Diva Diva is a seedless, burpless variety, so it’s extra easy on the stomach. It's a cracking cucumber that does well outdoors and gives you lovely sweet fruits. | No club votes yet |
| Lemon Lemon cucumber is a bit different, producing round, yellow fruits that look just like lemons. It's a fun one for kids to grow and has a mild, sweet flavor. | No club votes yet |
| Suyo Long Suyo Long is an interesting Chinese heirloom variety, producing very long, slender fruits. It’s a reliable performer with a sweet, mild taste, great for fresh eating. | No club votes yet |
| Burpless 26 Burpless 26 is, as the name suggests, a burpless type, meaning it's easier to digest. It's a reliable outdoor performer, giving you long, smooth cucumbers. | No club votes yet |
| Muncher Muncher is a dual-purpose cucumber, good for both slicing and pickling, a truly versatile and reliable performer. It’s disease resistant too, which is always a bonus. | No club votes yet |
| Sweet Success Sweet Success is a proper popular greenhouse or protected variety, producing long, sweet, seedless fruits. It's a reliable performer that does well when given a bit of shelter. | No club votes yet |
| Poinsett 76 Poinsett 76 is a sturdy, disease-resistant variety that's a reliable performer, especially in warmer climates. You'll get plenty of medium-sized, dark green cucumbers from this one. | No club votes yet |
| Bush Champion Bush Champion is a fantastic choice if you're a bit short on space, as it has a compact, bush-like growth habit. It's a reliable performer that still gives you full-sized cucumbers. | No club votes yet |
| Calypso Calypso is a great pickling type, known for its consistent yields and disease resistance, a really reliable performer. These smaller fruits are perfect for crunchy pickles. | No club votes yet |
| County Fair County Fair is another excellent pickling cucumber, very productive and known for being burpless too. It’s a reliable outdoor performer that gives you plenty of fruits for preserves. | No club votes yet |
| Tasty Green Tasty Green is a popular slicing cucumber, a reliable performer that gives you long, dark green fruits with a nice crisp texture. It's a good all-rounder for fresh eating. | No club votes yet |
Votes are members rating varieties in their Seed Tin, one vote per gardener. Tap a variety for the full page and where to buy.
Buy Cucumber seeds
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Sowing by USDA zone
| Zone | Sow / plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | June to July | July to September |
| Zone 4 | May to July | July to September |
| Zone 5 | May to July | June to September |
| Zone 6 | April to July | June to October |
| Zone 7 | April to August | June to October |
| Zone 8 | March to August | May to October |
| Zone 9 | February to September | April to November |
| Zone 10 | February to October | April to November |
Cook the harvest
Day-old bread soaks up a bright red wine vinegar dressing alongside juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumber, red onion, and fresh basil in this Tuscan-inspired bread salad that turns leftovers into something extraordinary. The bread is the secret star — it absorbs all the tomato juices and becomes wonderfully chewy and flavor-packed.
30 min · easyThis addictive Chinese-inspired cucumber salad uses the smashing technique to create craggy, irregular pieces that absorb dressing far better than sliced cucumber ever could. Tossed with a punchy combination of rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and chili oil, the result is a cool, crunchy, intensely flavored side dish that disappears fast. It is the ideal accompaniment to any grilled meat, and works beautifully as a standalone snack or summer starter.
15 min · easyCucumbers are smashed with the flat side of a knife to create jagged, craggy pieces that absorb the punchy dressing of chili oil, sesame, garlic, and rice vinegar far better than any neatly sliced cucumber could. This addictive Sichuan-inspired salad is ready in 10 minutes and impossible to stop eating.
10 min · easyA smooth, vibrantly green chilled soup built on fresh cucumber, green pepper, shallot, and a splash of sherry vinegar that is more refreshing than anything you can drink on a sweltering summer day. Served in chilled bowls with a drizzle of good olive oil, it is effortlessly elegant.
15 min · easyWatch for, and grow alongside
Companions: beans, corn, peas, radishes, sunflowers
Questions people ask
When do you sow Cucumber in the US?
Sow Cucumber from April to July in zone 6, earlier or later by zone. Plant out August, after the last frost.
How long does Cucumber take from sowing to harvest?
Roughly 55 days, with the harvest June to October.
Which Cucumber varieties do gardeners grow again?
Club members rate every variety they grow. This page shows the grow-again votes for Marketmore 76, Straight Eight, Boston Pickling, National Pickling and more.
Track your Cucumber from packet to plate
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 3 September 2026.