When to plant cucumbers
Cucumbers are frost-tender, so start seeds indoors 2–3 weeks before your last frost; transplant 2–3 weeks after it; for a fall crop, sow 10–12 weeks before the first fall frost. Plant when the soil is at least 65°F.
Cucumbers dates for Columbus, Ohio (example)
Example dates. Enter your ZIP above for your own.
| Start indoors | Mar 30 – Apr 6 |
|---|---|
| Transplant outside | May 4–11 |
| Sow outdoors | Apr 27 – May 11 |
| Sow for fall harvest | Aug 1–15 |
| Last planting for a harvest before frost | Aug 15 |
| Soil temperature | 65°F or warmer |
| Days to harvest | 50–70 |
| Spacing | 12 in apart on a trellis |
Your cucumber year
- Start indoors
- Transplant outside
- Sow outdoors
- Sow for fall harvest
Average last frost Apr 20, first frost Oct 24.
Growing tips for cucumbers
- Cucumbers resent root disturbance; if you start them indoors, use pots you can plant whole.
- Trellising saves space and keeps fruit straight and clean.
- A second sowing a month after the first replaces tired, beetle-damaged vines.
Work out indoor sowing for everything at once with the seed starting calculator.
For a steady harvest, sow every 3 weeks: see the succession planting calculator.
When to plant cucumbers in major cities
Calculated from each city's NOAA 1991–2020 average frost dates.
| City | Zone | Transplant | Fall crop |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | 7b | Apr 13–20 | Aug 28 – Sep 11 |
| Chicago, IL | 6b | Apr 24 – May 1 | Aug 13–27 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 10b | Feb 8–15 | Sep 22 – Oct 6 |
| Houston, TX | 9b | Feb 16–23 | Oct 2–16 |
| Phoenix, AZ | 10a | Jan 19–26 | Oct 11–25 |
| Philadelphia, PA | 7b | Apr 13–20 | Aug 25 – Sep 8 |
| Dallas, TX | 8b | Mar 16–23 | Sep 6–20 |
| Atlanta, GA | 8a | Apr 7–14 | Aug 16–30 |
| Seattle, WA | 9a | Mar 27 – Apr 3 | Aug 25 – Sep 8 |
| Denver, CO | 6a | May 14–21 | Jul 20 – Aug 3 |
| Boston, MA | 7a | Apr 18–25 | Aug 17–31 |
| Minneapolis, MN | 5a | May 7–14 | Jul 24 – Aug 7 |
| Kansas City, MO | 6b | Apr 18–25 | Aug 10–24 |
| Nashville, TN | 7b | Apr 15–22 | Aug 8–22 |
| Portland, OR | 9a | Mar 11–18 | Sep 8–22 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 7b | Apr 14–21 | Aug 16–30 |
| Columbus, OH | 6b | May 4–11 | Aug 1–15 |
| Charlotte, NC | 8a | Apr 13–20 | Aug 11–25 |
| Detroit, MI | 6b | May 5–12 | Aug 8–22 |
| Raleigh, NC | 8a | Apr 11–18 | Aug 16–30 |
Cucumbers planting FAQ
When should I plant cucumbers?
Cucumbers are frost-tender, so start seeds indoors 2–3 weeks before your last frost; transplant 2–3 weeks after it; for a fall crop, sow 10–12 weeks before the first fall frost. Plant when the soil is at least 65°F.
How many days until cucumbers are ready to harvest?
Most cucumber varieties take about 50–70 days from sowing. Check the seed packet: early varieties are at the low end.
Can cucumbers survive frost?
No. Cucumbers are damaged or killed by a 32°F frost, so wait until after your last frost and cover plants if a late frost is forecast.
How far apart should I plant cucumbers?
Space cucumbers 12 in apart on a trellis.
What is the last date I can plant cucumbers?
Count the variety's days to maturity back from your first fall frost. Enter your ZIP code on this page and Seasonwise calculates the date for you.
Ask about growing cucumbers
Enter your ZIP above first and answers will use your local frost dates. Written by an AI model; double-check anything important.