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Cucumber

Cucumis sativus

Vegetables📅 50–70 days to harvest☀️ Full sun (6–8 hours)

Overview

Cucumbers are one of the fastest crops from seed to harvest in Florida gardens, with some varieties producing fruit in as little as 50 days. They thrive in Florida's warm conditions but need consistent moisture and good pollination to produce straight, well-formed fruit. Bush varieties work well in containers and small gardens, while vining types can be trellised to save space and keep fruit clean.

Florida's main challenge with cucumbers is downy mildew, a devastating foliar disease that sweeps through the state annually. Planting resistant varieties and timing plantings to avoid peak disease pressure are the most effective strategies. Successive plantings every 3–4 weeks extend the harvest season.

Growing in Florida

Florida is a major U.S. cucumber producer, with significant commercial operations in the central and southern parts of the state. Home gardeners benefit from the same UF/IFAS disease-resistance breeding that serves commercial growers. The key challenge in Florida is timing — plant early enough to harvest before summer disease and pest pressure peaks, or wait for the fall window when conditions improve. Downy mildew spores blow into Florida annually from tropical sources, and the UF/IFAS Downy Mildew Forecast system helps gardeners anticipate and prepare.

Planting Calendar

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Central FL
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South FL
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Growing Guide

🌱Soil Type
Rich, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter
⚗️Soil pH
6.0–6.8
☀️Sun Requirement
Full sun (6–8 hours)
💧Water Needs
1–2 inches per week, consistent moisture essential for fruit quality
📏Spacing
12–18 inches apart (trellised), hills 4–6 feet apart (ground)
📅Days to Harvest
50–70
🧪Fertilizer
6-6-6 or 10-10-10 at planting. Side-dress when vines begin to run.
🌿Propagation
Direct seed into warm soil (65°F+) or transplant carefully (sensitive roots)

Companion Planting

🌱 Corn
Provides afternoon shade and wind protection for cucumber vines
🌱 Bean
Fixes nitrogen and can share a trellis with cucumber vines
🌱 Radish
Fast-maturing radishes mark rows and deter cucumber beetles
🌱 Sunflower
Attracts pollinators needed for fruit set and provides light shade

Pests & Diseases

pestPickle Worm
The most damaging cucumber pest in Florida. Row cover during early growth. Bt for young larvae. Plant early to harvest before peak populations.
pestAphids
Insecticidal soap spray. Encourage beneficial insects. Reflective mulch deters winged aphids.
diseaseDowny Mildew
Plant resistant varieties. Apply fungicides preventatively when disease forecasts indicate risk. Avoid late-season plantings.
diseasePowdery Mildew
Choose resistant varieties. Improve air circulation. Apply potassium bicarbonate or neem oil at first signs.

Florida Varieties

Poinsett 76
UF/IFAS recommended slicer with downy mildew resistance. Reliable performer across Florida.
Straight Eight
Classic slicing cucumber. Dark green, 8-inch fruit. Good flavor and widely adapted.
Boston Pickling
Prolific small-fruited variety ideal for pickles. Fast-growing and productive.
Marketmore 76
Disease-resistant slicer with excellent flavor. Dark green skin and crisp flesh.

Flavor Profile

Texture
Crisp, crunchy, and juicy with small edible seeds
Best Eaten
Raw

Nutrition Highlights

Health note: Cucumbers are over 95% water, making them one of the most hydrating vegetables available. Their silica content supports connective tissue health, and their low calorie density makes them an excellent high-volume snack.

Culinary Uses

Sliced fresh in salads, sandwiches, and grain bowls. Pickled in vinegar brine (dill pickles, bread-and-butter pickles). Spiralized as noodle substitutes. Blended into cold soups (gazpacho). Infused in water for a refreshing drink. Quick-pickled with rice vinegar, sesame, and chili for Asian-style preparations common in Florida's diverse food scene.

Storage Tips

Wrap individual cucumbers in paper towels and store in a loose plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Avoid storing near ethylene-producing fruits (tomatoes, bananas) which accelerate deterioration. Pickling is the best long-term preservation method — properly canned pickles keep for 1–2 years.

💡 Fun Fact

The phrase "cool as a cucumber" isn't just an expression — the interior of a cucumber can be up to 20°F cooler than the outside air temperature on a hot day, thanks to its extremely high water content.