How Early to Put Out Cucumbers?

Frost Dates

• Cucumber plants are easily killed by unexpected spring frosts, so it is important to know your plant hardiness zone as well as the average date of last frost in your area. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's plant hardiness zone maps can help you determine your zone. Gardening centers and the cooperative extension service can tell you the average date of last frost in your area. Learn 2 Grow, a gardening website, has a convenient chart of average frost dates by USDA zone. Utah State University's Climate Center maintains an interactive database on its website. Users can select any state and see a listing of first and last frosts in different areas of the state.

Starting Seeds Indoors

• Cucumbers take anywhere from 50 to 75 days from planting to harvest. For an earlier harvest, sow the seeds indoors two to four weeks before the average date of last frost in your area. Plant as many as three cucumber seeds 1/2 to 1 inch deep in individual peat pots or seed flats. Thin out the weakest seedlings, leaving only one. Wait until the seedlings have two to four true leaves and transplant them to the garden.

Starting Seeds Outdoors

• Cucumber seeds need warmth to germinate. Plant cucumber seeds directly into the garden after all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed to 60 degrees F. Plant four to five seeds in hills. Space the hills 4 to 5 feet apart or plant the cucumber seeds singly in rows. Space the seeds 2 to 3 feet apart and the rows 5 to 6 feet apart. Cucumbers prefer full sun and well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil. Mix organic matter into clay soils before planting to improve drainage.

Planting Seedlings Outdoors

• Like seeds, seedlings may be planted directly into the garden as soon as the soil temperature is at least 60 degrees F and all danger of frost has passed. Plant the seedlings 2 to 3 feet apart in rows 5 to 6 feet apart or plant on small hills for best drainage, spacing each hill 4 to 5 feet apart.

Cucumbers in Containers

• Bushy cucumber varieties such as midget bush pickler, bush champion, picklebush and hybrid bush crop thrive in containers. Sow seeds directly into the container and thin out the weakest seedlings. Place the pot in full sun and water regularly. Use a pot with plenty of drainage holes and monitor the growing medium to be sure the cucumber has moist, but not wet, soil. Provide stakes to support vine-type cucumbers.