How to Direct Sow Cucumbers in the Garden
Cucumber plants’ rapid growth and root sensitivity make them a great candidate for direct sowing. Join vegetable farmer Briana Yablonski to learn when and how to direct sow cucumber seeds in your garden.
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Dreaming of the crunch of a freshly picked cucumber on a hot summer day? Hope to grow enough gherkins to fill a dozen jars with homemade dill pickles? If so, it’s time to plant cucumbers!
When it comes to growing veggies in your garden, you have two main planting options. You can directly sow the seeds in your garden or transplant seedlings. While both growing methods can work well for cucumbers, direct sowing is the easier and often preferred option.
Although planting cucumber seeds is easy, it’s essential to get a few details right. I’ll cover when and how to direct sow cucumber seeds so you can enjoy healthy plants and bountiful harvests.
Benefits of Direct Sowing Cucumbers
While root crops like carrots and radishes are prime candidates for direct sowing, and tomatoes are usually transplanted, cucumbers can be successfully grown either by transplanting seedlings or sowing seeds directly in your garden. However, direct sowing is often the preferred method, unless you’re trying to harvest cucumbers as early in the year as possible.
Here are a few reasons why you may want to direct sow instead of transplanting.
Simple
If you want to produce seedlings at home, you’ll need seed-starting trays and a suitable soil mix, at the bare minimum. You may also need a grow light, heat mat, and other supplies. While there’s nothing wrong with wanting to start your own seedlings, sometimes it’s nice to simplify the process.
Direct sowing removes the need for these supplies and the knowledge required for growing transplants. You don’t have to worry about keeping your seedlings well-watered or hardening off when it’s time to plant outdoors. Instead, you can just pop your seeds in the ground and keep them healthy with garden tools you probably already have on hand.
Limits Root Disturbance
Direct sowing also limits root disturbance and transplant shock. Cucumber roots are extremely sensitive, so they often become stressed during the transplant process. Even if you harden them off and handle them as gently as possible, the plants may still be stunted in the week or two following planting.
Since direct sowing means the plants’ roots are never moved or touched, you don’t have to worry about the plants becoming stressed. That means healthy plants that are better equipped to withstand pests, diseases, and temperature fluctuations.
When to Direct Sow Cucumber Seeds
Cucumbers are warm-weather crops that grow best when temperatures remain above 60°F (16°C). Furthermore, the seeds germinate best when the soil temperature is between 75°F and 90°F (24-32°C). That means you should wait until well after your last spring frost before planting the seeds in your garden.
The best time to plant will depend on your growing zone as well as the weather in your area. However, growers everywhere can use their last spring frost date and nighttime temperatures as guides.
In most locations, you should wait until three to four weeks after your last spring frost to direct sow cucumbers. By this point, nighttime temperatures should remain above 50°F (10°C), and the daytime temperatures should be in the 70s and 80s (roughly 21-29°C). These air temperatures are safe for cucumber plants and typically warm the soil enough for good germination rates.
You can continue to direct sow cucumbers throughout the summer. Planting a new round of seeds every month will help the new plants take over if older ones succumb to cucumber beetles, downy mildew, or other issues. Just make sure to plant the seeds at least three months before your first fall frost.
How to Direct Sow Cucumber Seeds
Cucumber seeds are easy to plant, especially when you sow them directly into your garden. As with all seeds, numerous factors impact germination. Paying attention to these factors will help your seeds germinate well.
Choose the Right Location
Cucumbers grow best in areas with full sun and well-draining soil. Whether you’re growing in the ground, in a raised bed, or in a container, look for a spot with at least eight hours of light. The soil should hold water for a few days while allowing excess moisture to escape.
Moist soil and full sun will also encourage good germination, since these seeds germinate best in moist, warm areas.
Keep Spacing in Mind
Most cucumbers are vining plants that take up a good amount of space as they grow. If you don’t account for their sometimes wild growth habit, you’ll end up with a garden overrun by cucumber vines! Therefore, it’s crucial to keep plant spacing in mind when sowing your seeds.
If you plan to trellis your cucumbers, you can plant the seeds one foot apart. Training the vines to grow up a trellis will limit the amount of horizontal space they take up in your garden. Therefore, this planting method is a great option for small gardens.
If you plan to let your vining cucumbers sprawl wild across the soil surface, the plants will need more space. Allow at least three feet of space between plants.
Bush cucumbers have a compact growth habit, so they don’t require a ton of space…even if you leave them untrellised. One to two feet of space between plants is sufficient.
Bury at the Right Depth
Once you’ve figured out the ideal spacing and ensured it’s the proper time of year to sow, it’s time to plant your seeds. Dig a shallow hole about one-half to one inch deep, then place one to two cucumber seeds per hole. Cover the seeds with soil.
It’s important not to plant your seeds too deep, since this can lead to poor germination rates and rotten seedlings. A good rule of thumb is to plant your seeds twice as deep as they are long. That means if your cucumber seed is one-quarter of an inch long, you should plant it half an inch deep.
Keep Moist
Once you sow your seeds, keep the soil moderately moist. You don’t want the soil to be soaking wet, but it should never dry out. Watering once every day is generally sufficient, although very hot, dry, or sandy conditions may require more frequent watering.
If you’re planting cucumber seeds in the heat of summer, the soil will dry quicker. Covering the seeds with a piece of row cover or a plastic tray can help seal in moisture and decrease the amount you need to water.
Thin as Necessary
As long as the soil remains moist and warm, the seeds should emerge within a week. The plant’s oblong cotyledons will appear first, followed by the first true leaf. If you planted more than one seed per hole, you should thin after the first true leaves appear.
Pulling the unwanted seedling can disturb the other plant’s roots, so clip the seedling’s stem at the soil surface. Thinning will allow the remaining plants to obtain the necessary water and nutrients without competing for space.
