Growing cucumbers: timing, spacing and costs by zone
When to plant cucumbers in Zones 6–9, spacing, and what to know before you commit ground.
Not yet expert-reviewed. Written by BAU Farm Intelligence from public extension and agency sources. Check dates and program details with your local extension office.
When to plant
Cucumbers: warm-season, will not take a frost. Plant when soil reaches 70–90°F. Dates below are averages worked out from each zone's frost dates — check your own field.
- Zone 6b (Boone NC): set out May 1 – May 22; fall planting July 23 – August 13. First picking around July 2 – July 30.
- Zone 7b (Raleigh): set out April 15 – May 6; fall planting August 6 – August 27. First picking around June 16 – July 14.
- Zone 8b (Charleston SC): set out March 22 – April 12; fall planting August 30 – September 20. First picking around May 23 – June 20.
- Zone 9a (Gainesville FL): set out March 4 – March 25; fall planting September 15 – October 6. First picking around May 5 – June 2.
Setting it up
Direct-seed or transplant (start transplants about 3 weeks ahead). Space plants 12 inches apart in rows 48 inches apart, about 1 inch deep. Expect roughly 55 days to first harvest.
Field notes
Trellis for cleaner fruit and lower disease pressure. Successive plantings every 3 weeks keep harvest steady.
How it fits each zone
- Zone 6b: good — Cucumbers is frost-tender, so timing the outdoor transplant to the last frost matters more here than in warmer zones. Row cover buys 2 weeks of head start.
- Zone 7b: excellent — Cucumbers is well suited to Zone 7b. Standard planting dates work with minor adjustments for microclimates.
- Zone 8b: excellent — Cucumbers is well suited to Zone 8b. Standard planting dates work with minor adjustments for microclimates.
- Zone 9a: excellent — Cucumbers is well suited to Zone 9a. Standard planting dates work with minor adjustments for microclimates.
What it costs per acre
- 2026 Spring Cucumber on Plastic Budget (University of Georgia CAES — Agricultural & Applied Economics, 2026): about $4,298 per acre in transcribed costs.
These are published budgets, not your costs. Plug your own numbers into the breakeven calculator before you commit ground.
Before you plant
Line up who will buy it and at what price before seed goes in the ground. See the planting calendar for your exact zone.