Cucumbers go outside one to two weeks after your last spring frost, once the soil has warmed to about 65 °F. Find your zone below, or enter your ZIP code for dates based on the weather station closest to you.
Cucumber dates for your ZIP code
Planting times based on university extension guidance (UNH, Cornell, Purdue, Minnesota, Nebraska and UMass Extension). Frost dates from NOAA 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, nearest weather station. Zones derived from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map data (PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University). This is not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
Cucumber planting dates by zone
| USDA zone | When to plant |
|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 30 – June 6 |
| Zone 4 | May 23 – May 30 |
| Zone 5 | May 15 – May 22 |
| Zone 6 | May 8 – May 15 |
| Zone 7 | April 24 – May 1 |
| Zone 8 | April 7 – April 14 |
| Zone 9 | March 10 – March 17 |
Not sure of your zone? Look it up by ZIP code.
Why cucumbers wait for warm soil
Cucumbers are tender, warm-season plants. Frost kills them, and their seeds germinate poorly in cold soil. They thrive at 75–85 °F, so they go into the garden one to two weeks after the last spring frost, once the soil has reached about 65 °F.
How to plant cucumbers
- Sow directly in low hills, 4–6 seeds per hill about 1 inch deep, with hills 4–5 feet apart. Or sow in rows along a trellis.
- Or start transplants indoors two to four weeks before planting out, and avoid leggy or root-bound plants.
- Thin seedlings to about 12 inches apart when they are 5 inches tall.
- Add a trellis for vining types, sturdy enough to hold the fruit.
- Water often and at the base of the plants.
Harvesting cucumbers
Pick slicing cucumbers at 6–10 inches long and pickling cucumbers at 2½–6 inches, while they are dark green and firm. Most varieties are ready 50–70 days after sowing. Cut the stem about ¼ inch above the fruit, pick every other day, and remove any oversized or yellowing cucumbers so the vines keep producing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I plant cucumbers before the last frost?
No. Frost kills cucumber plants and their seeds germinate poorly in cold soil. Wait one to two weeks after your last frost, until the soil is about 65 °F.
How far apart should cucumbers be planted?
Thin to about 12 inches apart in rows or along a trellis. In hills, leave 4–5 feet between hills.
Should I start cucumbers indoors?
It is optional. Sowing indoors two to four weeks before transplanting gives an earlier crop, but direct-sown cucumbers catch up quickly in warm soil.
Sources. Planting dates use the median frost dates of each USDA zone, calculated from NOAA climate data for every ZIP code in the zone.