When to Plant Cucumber in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide

Sow October to January. Right now in September it is out of season. The next sowing month is October.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Cucumber guide is written for the Cold / Highland zone, which takes in Canberra, Cooma and Bright. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Alice Springs Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Cucumber

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Cucumbers are warm-season cucurbits that produce prolifically in Australian summers. Three main types are grown: Lebanese (short, smooth, seedless), Continental (long, thin-skinned) and pickling/gherkin varieties. Monoecious plants with separate male and female flowers on the same vine. Cross-pollinate readily with other cucumber varieties but NOT with melons, pumpkins or zucchini.

Planting Calendar for Cold / Highland

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
T - - - - - - - - S/T S/T/D S/T/D

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

Want a nudge when it is Cucumber sowing time in Canberra?

One email a week with what is worth planting in the Cold / Highland zone right now, Cucumber included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.

Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 11.2°C (optimal range: 18–35°C) ✗ Outside optimal range

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Canberra), not a live sensor.

How to Grow Cucumber in Cold / Highland Australia

When to Plant

Greenhouse or polytunnel recommended. Outdoor growing is marginal. Sow indoors November, transplant December into protected structure.

Soil
Rich, well-drained soil with generous compost and well-rotted manure. Cucumbers are heavy feeders and need fertile, moisture-retentive soil.
pH Range
6.0-7.0
Sunlight
Full sun (minimum 6 hours). In hot climates (tropics, arid), light afternoon shade reduces heat stress.
Spacing
50cm apart, 120cm between rows
Watering
Heavy water demands. Deep, consistent watering at base is critical. Irregular watering causes bitter, misshapen fruit. Drip irrigation ideal. Water in morning to allow foliage to dry (reduces mildew).

Companion plants: Corn, Beans, Peas, Sunflower, Radish, Dill

Avoid planting near: Potato, Aromatic herbs (sage, mint), Melon (same family rotation issues)

Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Cucumber

Recommended Varieties

  • Lebanese (fastest maturing)
  • Marketmore

Key Challenges

  • Insufficient heat outdoors
  • Frost risk
  • Very short season

Pro Tips

  • Greenhouse growing is the only reliable method in highland areas
  • If growing outdoors, use every warmth trick available
  • Focus on fast-maturing varieties

Harvesting Cucumber

When ready: Lebanese: 12-15cm, firm, dark green. Continental: 30-40cm, firm. Gherkins: 5-8cm for pickling. All types: harvest BEFORE seeds inside become large and hard. Overripe cucumbers are seedy, bitter and watery.

How to harvest: Cut with scissors or secateurs leaving short stem. Do not pull (damages vine). Harvest early morning when fruit is cool and firm.

Where to next

What cucumber costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the cold and highland zone this September: Sweet Corn, Beetroot, Chilli Peppers and Snow Peas.

The pest most likely to find your cucumber: Botrytis / Grey Mould.

Supermarket Price

Current average retail: $10.06/kg (12-month range: $4.79–$15.80)

Grow your own and save on grocery bills.

Get the Full Interactive Guide

Track your garden, get real-time pest alerts, and plan around your zone's weather.

Open the planting dashboard Join Garden Buddy

Common Questions About Cucumber

When do you plant cucumber in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Does cucumber grow all year round in Canberra?

No. In the Cold / Highland zone the planting months are Jan, Oct to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cold / Highland zone, Canberra is its reference city.