Vegetable · Cucurbitaceae family
cucumber
Cucumis sativus
In short a 10-second read
Cucumber (vegetable) grows to 0.2–0.45 m tall and 0.9–2.4 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun, in average to moist soil. Sow in May–June. Harvest in July–September.
× spread 0.9–2.4 m
Where to plant
Sun and soil.
It grows best in full sun, in average to moist soil.
Sun
Elsewhere it will grow less well.
Soil and water
average to moist · watering: a lot
Soil: humus-rich, loamy
Soil pH 6–7.5
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Pruning
pinch out the tips (June–July)
Sowing
direct sowing: May–June
Harvest
July–September
Winter protection
does not overwinter
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
When do I sow cucumber?
In May–June (direct sowing).
When is cucumber harvested?
In July–September.
Does cucumber tolerate shade?
No, it needs full sun.
How much space does cucumber need?
At maturity 0.9–2.4 m wide and 0.2–0.45 m tall; recommended spacing 40 cm.
Where the data comes from
We compared the data in 4 expert sources. Last checked 2 September 2026.
Show sources (4)
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- RHS — How to grow cucumbers
- Wikidata (CC0) — Cucumis sativus
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: EU
