Cucumbers are unusually sensitive to inconsistency — get the watering right and they reward you generously.
Cucumbers need warmth and consistency — irregular watering is the main cause of bitter fruit, so keeping the compost evenly moist matters more than for most crops. Greenhouse types generally crop earlier and more heavily than those grown outdoors in a UK summer.
Sowing & growing calendar
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow | Sow in April | Sow in May | ||||||||||
| Plant | Plant in June | |||||||||||
| Feed | Feed in July | Feed in August | Feed in September | |||||||||
| Harvest | Harvest in July | Harvest in August | Harvest in September |
Care details
- Sow April – May
Sow indoors on a warm sill or in a propagator.
- Plant In June
Plant out or into the greenhouse once nights are reliably warm.
- Feed July – September
Feed weekly once fruiting and keep the compost evenly moist — irregular watering makes fruit bitter.
- Harvest July – September
Cut regularly while young and glossy — left too long they turn bitter and seedy.
Growing tips & common problems
- Keep compost evenly moist at all times; irregular watering is the main cause of bitter-tasting fruit.
- Grow greenhouse types up a support to keep fruit straight and off the ground.
- Pick while young and glossy — left too long, fruit turns bitter, seedy, and tough-skinned.
Grows well with
Personalise your own weekend list →Become a better gardener in just 12 emails
Get one email per month with gardening tips on what to plant and do that month.
100% free • No spam • Unsubscribe any time