Growing cucumbers in Florida can be easy when conditions are ideal. Cucumbers come from the Cucurbitaceae family and are a relative to squashes.
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 | 40-65 days |
Growing cucumbers in Florida
Cucumbers can be grown in Florida in the fall and spring when it’s not too warm or too cold. They like warm temperatures, but not Florida-summer warm, as excessive warmth and humidity leave them susceptible to many diseases.
Recommended varieties for Florida
- ‘Sweet Success’
- ‘Poinsett’
- ‘Ashley’
- ‘MarketMore 76’
- ‘Straight Eight’
- ‘Space Master’
- ‘Eureka’
- ‘Boston Pickling’
When to grow cucumbers in Florida
Cucumbers grow best at temperatures between 80-85°F and are very sensitive to freezing temperatures. When to plant your cucumbers:
North Florida: February-April and July-August
Central Florida: January-March and in September
South Florida: September to February
What you’ll need
You can buy seeds online or from local garden centers. Alternatively, seedlings can be purchased and transplanted to get a head start on planting.
A trellis will be helpful for supporting plants, so they’re not growing along the ground where they’re susceptible to pests and fungal disease.
How to plant cucumbers
Plant cucumber seeds a half inch deep and add composted manure to the planting site.
Space plants 12 inches to 5 feet apart, depending on the variety and growth habit. Read the seed packet to figure this one out.
Cucumbers are best planted on “mounds” or rows that are raised.
Mulch around new plantings with organic material to retain water and suppress weeds and pests. Plan to keep plants off the ground using a cage or trellis, to minimize disease exposure.
Growing cucumbers in containers
Growing cucumbers in containers is possible, but a trellis and some pruning will be necessary to keep them contained due to their vining tendencies. Alternatively, seek out bush varieties specifically.
Some tips on caring for your cucumber plants
- Frequent watering is required, although they’re sensitive to flooding
- 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.
- Monitor for pests – detected early they’re easier to control
- Prepare for protection if temperatures dip into freezing
When to harvest cucumbers
Cucumbers are ready to harvest 50-70 days after planting. When harvest time comes around, there should be cucumbers to pick every couple days. Harvest before they get too large or they’ll taste bitter!
Suggested recipe for…
Greek salad. Chop up cucumbers with tomatoes, olives and feta. Drizzle olive oil and vinegar over and enjoy!
Sources
https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/cucumbers.html