How far apart to plant cucumbers
Virginia Cooperative Extension and Colorado State University Extension space cucumbers 12 to 18 inches apart in the row, with rows 4 to 6 feet apart for vines left to run on the ground. In a raised bed the typical spacing is 24 to 36 inches each way, and the square foot method in the UC Master Gardeners' guide sets 1 cucumber per square foot. Sow 1 inch deep, 4 to 6 seeds per hole, and thin to the strongest plants.
The row spacing is the number that changes most, and it depends on whether the vines climb or sprawl.
How many cucumbers fit a raised bed
| Bed | 30 in each way (square) | Square foot method (1 per sq ft) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 × 4 ft | 1 | 16 |
| 4 × 8 ft | 3 | 32 |
| 3 × 6 ft | 2 | 18 |
| 4 × 12 ft | 4 | 48 |
The first column is what the calculator shows by default: the middle of the 24 to 36 inch bed range, with half a spacing kept clear at the edges. That suits vines sprawling across the bed. The square foot count packs one plant into every square to the edge, so treat it as the most you could fit, not a target for a sprawling vine.
Trellised, on the ground, or bush
- Vining, trellised. Clemson Extension thins trellised cucumbers to 9 to 12 inches in rows 3 feet apart, so a trellis saves about 2 feet per row compared with vines on the ground. An 8 ft trellis along the long side of a 4 × 8 bed holds 9 plants at 10.5 inches; a 10 ft trellis holds 11.
- Vining, on the ground. Clemson sets these 8 to 10 inches apart in rows 5 feet apart, because the vines fill the space between rows.
- Bush. Compact types suit hanging baskets or a small trellis. Colorado State's container guide gives each bush plant at least 3 gallons of soil.
Pick the variety in the calculator to switch spacing. For a trellis, choose Row or hedge and the Rows pattern, which counts along the line at the in-row spacing instead of filling the bed both ways.
How many cucumbers per 5 gallon bucket
Plan on one plant per 5 gallon bucket. Virginia Tech and Colorado State both list 5 gallons and 8 inches of depth as the smallest container for cucumber, and Colorado State's 3 gallons per bush plant means two plants would need at least 6. Sources differ on pot size: Texas A&M AgriLife's container guide (E-545) grows one cucumber in a 1 gallon pot, while University of Maryland Extension puts cucumber with the large crops at 8 to 10 gallons. A 5 gallon bucket sits in the middle; give it a trellis and drainage holes.
When and how deep to sow
Cucumbers are sown after the last frost once the soil reaches 65 to 70°F; the seed will not germinate below 50°F, and Colorado State counts about 55 days from seeding to harvest. See the dates for your ZIP code on the cucumber seed starting page, and work out how many plants your household needs with cucumbers per person. To fill a container, use the potting soil calculator.