Cucumber
Cucumis sativus
Train it up a trellis and the fruit grows straight and clean.
Hardiness: zones 2 to 11
Light: full sun
Size: about 6 ft tall, 2 ft wide
Harvest: July to August
From: S. Asia
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: food.
Native to: South & Southeast Asian tropics. Hardy in zones 2 to 11.
The story
Cucumbers were domesticated in the Himalayan foothills of India 3,000 years ago and reached Greece and Rome, where the emperor Tiberius had them grown under glass. Pickling in brine kept them through winter from Poland to Korea.
Planting
Full sun, rich, warm, drained soil; sow seed directly after frost in hills or along a trellis, which saves space and keeps fruit straight.
Growing
Water deeply and often; bitterness comes from drought. Mulch, feed lightly, and pick constantly to keep the vine producing.
Harvest and use
Pick slicing types at 6 to 8 inches, picklers at 3 to 4, every other day in summer. Overripe yellow fruit stops the plant.
What to watch for
Cucumber beetles and the bacterial wilt they carry, powdery mildew, and cold soil.
See if Cucumber fits your yard
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General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home