Cucumbers are a delight to grow and eat but it’s important to plant them at the right time for the best results. As the summer progresses you may find yourself wondering – is it too late to plant cucumber seeds? With some planning and care, late planting can still lead to a successful cucumber harvest.
When is the Best Time to Plant Cucumbers?
Ideally, cucumbers should be planted after any danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures reach 60-70°F This window falls approximately in late May to early June in most regions You can get a head start by sowing seeds indoors 3-4 weeks before your last expected frost date, then transplanting the seedlings outside after hardening them off for 7-10 days.
If planting directly outside, sow cucumber seeds when soil temperatures have sufficiently warmed, generally in mid to late June at the latest Cucumbers require 50-70 days to reach maturity and bear fruit, so that harvest window needs to be accounted for
Is It Too Late to Plant in July or August?
It is possible to plant cucumber seeds successfully in July or even August, but the timeline is tight. Here are a few key factors to consider:
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Maturity Rate – Opt for quick-maturing cucumber varieties that can form fruit within 50 days to maximize your chances.
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Season Length – Assess if there is enough warm growing time left in your area for the cucumbers to reasonably mature and produce.
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Seedlings vs Seeds – You can plant seeds directly in July, but using transplants gives plants a developmental head start.
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Sunlight—Place cucumbers in a spot that will get at least six hours of direct sunlight every day.
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Pest Protection – Monitor closely for pests which may proliferate mid-summer. Be ready to manage issues.
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Cold Protection – Shield tender cucumber plants from dropping temperatures which could damage them.
Tips for Maximizing Late-Planted Cucumbers
If sowing cucumber seeds in July or August, follow these tips to boost your odds of success:
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Start seeds indoors. Give plants three to four weeks of extra time indoors before moving them outside.
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Warm the soil – Use black plastic mulch to warm the soil before planting.
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Provide support – Trellising improves air flow and protects fruits from pests.
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Water consistently – Cucumbers need 1-1.5″ of water per week for best growth and fruiting.
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Monitor for pests – Be vigilant about controlling cucumber beetles, aphids and other pests.
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Scout for disease – Powdery mildew thrives in mid-late summer. Treat promptly if found.
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Use row covers – Row covers protect tender plants from insect pests and cold weather.
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Harvest promptly – Pick cucumbers young and often to encourage ongoing production.
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Fertilize – Fertilizing every 2-3 weeks provides nutrition for plants and fruits.
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** Choose disease-resistant varieties** – Seek out mildew-resistant cultivars for better disease resilience.
Key Factors Affecting Late Planted Cucumbers
A few critical factors play a role in the success of cucumbers planted late in the summer. Here are some key considerations:
Number of Days to Maturity: For late planting, the fewer the “days to maturity,” the better. Early maturing cucumbers (50 days or less) are best.
Season Length – Assess if your growing season has enough warm weather left for cucumbers to reasonably mature and fruit before the first fall frost.
Sunlight – Cucumbers require at least 6 hours of direct sun daily. Site them appropriately.
Temp of the Soil: Cucumbers do best when the soil is between 60°F and 70°F. Use plastic mulch to help heat soils if needed.
Watering – Consistent moisture is vital, especially as plants start fruiting. Aim to provide 1-1.5″ of water weekly.
Pests & Disease – Scout regularly and be prepared to promptly manage pests like cucumber beetles and diseases like powdery mildew.
Cold Protection – Shield plants from cold snaps which could damage growth. Use cloches, row covers etc.
Late summer planting of cucumber seeds can result in a harvest before fall frost, but timing is critical and care is required. With smart variety selection, protection from pests and cold, attentive watering and nutrition, even August-sown cucumbers can thrive. Just be sure to monitor carefully and maintain vigilance over plants! Adjusting our approach, late season cucumber success is certainly within reach.
Improved airflow and less disease
With fewer leaves, pruned plants are less dense, allowing more air to move through the plants. The leaves dry faster after a rain, so they are less susceptible to the diseases that need prolonged moisture to develop — something that can be very helpful in wet climates. Plus, fewer leaves make it easier to spot insect pests that might otherwise be hidden by a thick canopy.
Pruning at the right time directs energy toward creating and ripening fruit instead of making more leaves. Overall, you will probably have fewer fruit on a pruned plant, but it will be bigger. Because pruned plants grow so vertically, you can put them a little closer together in the ground. This means you can add more plants to make up for the low harvest numbers.
When a plants leaves and physiology have fewer fruit to take care of, that fruit ripens faster. This can really help in short season climates, where getting a tomato harvest is often a race against time, thanks to early fall frosts.
How to prune tomatoes (indeterminate varieties only!)
Youll want to prune tomatoes throughout the season. Heres what to do and when:
- When you plant, cut off the lower leaves so that you can bury the plants deeply. Follow the directions on the Bonnie plant’s wrapper to plant it.
- When you plant the plant, take off any flowers that are already there, even if they were there when you bought it. This way, the plant’s energy goes into leaf growth instead of fruiting at this early stage.
- Take off the flowers until the plants are 12 to 18 inches tall. This way, the plants can put more energy into their roots.
- Leaves that grow under the first cluster of fruit should be cut off so that they don’t slow the fruit’s growth. Suckers are the small shoots that grow where the leaf stem meets the main growing stem. This is called an axil. Many gardeners in the north go even further and cut off all suckers as they appear. Missouri pruning, on the other hand, is what experts say you should do in warmer areas. This is when you pinch off the leaflets on the end of each sucker, leaving only the two base leaflets in place. As these leaves get bigger, they help shade the fruit and keep it from getting too hot in the sun. Take off suckers when they are still small enough to pinch with your fingers. This way, you won’t leave a big hole in the stem. Do not damage the stem tissue when you cut them. Instead, make a clean cut as close to the main stem as possible with a sharp knife or pruner blade.
- As the growing season ends, tomato plants often still have a lot of fruit on them. About four weeks before the first expected fall frost, cut off the growing tip of each main stem. This will help the fruit ripen faster. This kind of pruning, called “topping,” stops the plant from flowering and making new fruit. Instead, it sends all the sugars to the fruit that is already there. With this method, the fruit will ripen faster, and green tomatoes you pick before frost are more likely to ripen when you bring them inside. Even though it might be hard, you should do this if you want your tomatoes to be ripe. If you’d rather your tomatoes stay green for frying or making jelly, you can skip this step.
Your Cucumber Plants Will DIE Every Time You Make This Mistake!
FAQ
What happens if you plant seeds in July?
If your summer is flying by and you haven’t gotten to everything on your to do list, it is not too late to plant seeds. July is actually an optimal time as the ground is warm and the daytime and nightime temperatures are warm so your seeds will germinate faster and your plants will grow very well.
Can I start cucumbers in June?
May and June are the best months for planting cucumbers in the U. S. (late May through mid-July in colder zones). May 4, 2024.
Do I need to soak my cucumber seeds before planting?
Do I need to soak cucumber seeds before planting? Soaking cucumber seeds before planting is not necessary for germination, but it can give them a head start. Jan 28, 2025.
Can you plant cucumber plants in July?
Both pickling and slicing cucumbers are dependable summer crops. They can be sown in July and tolerate the heat well as long as they’re watered consistently.