Cucumbers: Spacing, Yield & Planting Dates
Plant count & yield calculator
Pre-filled for this crop — adjust bed size or pick a different vegetable.
Enter bed size to count plants.
Your result
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Show the math & assumptions
Assumptions and formulas will appear here once you calculate.
Seed starting dates
Pre-filled last frost — change the date to rebuild the full crop schedule. For Cucumbers with this frost date : start indoors ~Mar 25, transplant ~Apr 29, direct sow ~Apr 22 .
Pick a last frost date for the schedule.
Your result
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Show the math & assumptions
Assumptions and formulas will appear here once you calculate.
About cucumbers
Cucumbers produce abundantly with minimal effort, delivering fresh slicers, picklers, and snacking cukes from a fast-growing warm-season vine.
Spacing & yield
Cucumbers wants 12×48 inches and about 8 lb per plant at ~60 days to maturity.
Growing tips
- Trellis vining types to save ground space and improve airflow around developing fruit.
- Pick every 1-2 days once production starts to keep vines flowering.
- Water at the base to keep foliage dry and prevent powdery mildew.
- Succession-sow every 3 weeks for continuous harvest into fall.
Common mistakes
- Letting fruits grow too large on the vine, which signals the plant to stop producing.
- Direct sowing too early into cold soil below 60 F, causing seed rot.
Harvest & storage
Harvest slicers at 6-8 inches and picklers at 2-4 inches, roughly 60 days from sowing.
Wrap individual cukes loosely and refrigerate for up to one week; avoid temperatures below 50 F.
Companion planting
Good neighbors for cucumbers: beans, corn, peas, radish, sunflower. Avoid planting beside: potatoes, aromatic herbs like sage.
Planting calendar
Start indoors about 3 weeks before last frost, then transplant 2 weeks after frost. Direct sow is also an option around 1 weeks after frost. Use the seed-starting calculator above with your real county frost date — the April 15 default is only a worked example (zone 6 style).
Estimates only — consult your local extension office for advice specific to your land and animals.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best spacing for cucumbers?
- Plant 12 inches apart in-row with 48 inches between rows; trellised vines can be slightly closer.
- How much will one cucumber plant produce?
- A healthy vine yields about 8 lb of fruit, or 15-20 slicing cucumbers, over a 4-6 week harvest window.
- When can I direct sow cucumbers?
- Sow directly about 1 week after last frost when soil is at least 60 F, or start indoors 3 weeks before last frost.