Can you even grow cucumbers in Florida? You can absolutely grow cucumbers in Central Florida as long as you pay careful attention to the appropriate planting season, the best varieties for your zone, enriching your soil, good drainage, and proper sun exposure. Cucumbers belong to the Cucurbitaceae family and share similar growing conditions to squash, melons, and pumpkins – which are just a few members of the same family.
| Cucumber | Cucumis sativus |
| Season (FL) | Fall, Spring |
| Soil type | Fertile, well draining soil, above elevation |
| Light | Full sun; 6-8 hours |
| Water | Regular, not saturated |
| Mature plant size | varies |
| Harvest in | 45-70 days |
Growing cucumbers in Florida
Your best seasons for successfully growing cucumbers in Florida are January to March and again in post-summer months when the air starts to cool in mid- to late-October. Be aware that Florida’s rainy season, June through September, will keep your plants well-watered, but too much rain can ruin your plants by creating overly wet soil or puddles. Prevent your vegetables from sitting in soggy soil by adding organic materials like compost or peat moss that allow water to drain. Poor drainage can also destroy your garden by encouraging disease such as downy mildew and visits from aphids and other unwelcome pests. Choose disease-resistant cucumber varieties recommended for Florida’s specific weather conditions:
- ‘Sweet Success’
- ‘Poinsett’
- ‘Ashley’
- ‘MarketMore 76’
- ‘Straight Eight’
- ‘Space Master’
- ‘Eureka’
- ‘Boston Pickling’
This is not a complete list, contact your local extension office or plant nursery for additional recommended varieties suited to your geographic area.
When to grow cucumbers in Florida
Cucumbers are a warm season crop sensitive to extreme temperatures and grow best between 80-85°F. Florida summers are too hot and humid for successful growth since fungal and bacterial infections thrive in the humidity. Planting early in the season will help avoid the dreaded downy mildew, common among cucurbit crops, since the disease proliferates during the summer and fall months. Florida isn’t immune to the occasional winter freeze so keep in mind that when planting November through January, freezing temperatures are a possibility. If starting your crop from seed, become familiar with your particular growing zone when deciding when to plant your seeds:
North Florida: February through April, July and August
Central Florida: January through March, September
South Florida: September through February
Getting started
If starting your cucumber garden from seed, choose among disease-resistant varieties listed above and recommended for your location. Buy seeds online or purchase from your local garden center. Ideal soil is slightly acidic, with pH between 6.0 and 6.5, and drains well while still maintaining moisture. Organic materials can be mixed into the garden to naturally acidify your soil, coffee grounds and compost among them.
Consider an alternative to planting seeds and get a head start on your crop by purchasing seedlings. When about one inch tall, transplant to a larger container or the garden bed. A sturdy garden trellis will support maturing plants, keeping them off the ground where they’re susceptible to pests and fungal disease.
How to plant cucumbers
Start off by enriching the planting site by adding composted manure to the soil. If growing in rows, plant your cucumber seeds one half inch deep and space 3 to 5 feet apart, depending on the variety and growth habit. Refer to the seed packet to figure this one out.
Cucumbers grow quite well when seeds are planted in raised “mounds” spaced 1 to 2 feet apart. Mounding allows water to drain away from the plant, helping prevent rot. Plant 2 to 3 seeds in each mound and then mulch around new plantings with organic material. Dried leaves or straw help to retain moisture and suppress weeds and pests. As your plants mature, thin to one plant per mound and keep them off the ground with a cage or trellis to minimize disease exposure.
Growing cucumbers in containers
Consider bush cucumbers if you’re planning a container garden. Bush varieties such as Spacemaster and Bush Champion are more compact than their vining counterparts, making them ideal for small spaces. Vining cucumbers can be grown in containers as well, be sure to include a trellis for support and maintain spreading vines by pruning.
4 care tips for your cucumber plants
- Frequent watering is necessary, although they’re sensitive to flooding. Mulching will help the plant stay consistently moist.
- Plant flowers nearby to attract pollinators. Pollinators are required for fruiting. If you see flowers but they fall off without producing fruit, you have a pollinator problem. Encourage pollinators by adding bee-friendly, heat-tolerant plants like nasturtiums, marigolds, and black-eyed susans near your cucumber patch.
- Monitor for pests daily and remove visible cabbage loopers or cutworms by hand. Detected early, they’re easier to control. A strong stream of water will wash aphids off leaves. Fortify your garden against the dreaded cucumber beetle by planting beetle-resistant plants like radish, nasturtium, or tansy near your crop.
- Prepare to cover or move your plants indoors if temperatures dip into freezing.
When to harvest cucumbers
Your seeds will take about 2 weeks to germinate, about 12 weeks to produce fruit and they’ll be ready to harvest in 45 to 70 days. You’ll know they’re ready when the flesh is dark green and firm. Cucumbers ripen at different rates, so when harvest time comes around, monitor your maturing plants and you’ll be picking fruit every couple of days. Harvest before they get too large or they’ll taste bitter!
Suggested recipes for cucumbers
Greek Salad
Chop up cucumbers with tomatoes, olives and feta. Drizzle with olive oil and vinegar and enjoy!
Sour Cream Cucumbers
Thinly slice four cucumbers and one small sweet onion, separate onion into rings. Whisk together ½ cup sour cream, 3 tablespoons white vinegar, 1 tablespoon sugar, and pepper to taste. Add cucumbers and onion to the mix, toss to coat. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Serve chilled. A refreshing salad for a hot summer day!
Sources
https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/cucumbers.html