When to Plant Cucumber in Brisbane, Subtropical Guide

Sow August to March. Right now in September you can sow.

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 Subtropical zone, which takes in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Sydney Melbourne Canberra 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 Subtropical

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

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

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Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 20.4°C (optimal range: 18–35°C) ✓ Ready to plant

That figure is read off my own weather station here at Dayboro in South East Queensland at 18:55 yesterday, not a model. The radar, the rain gauge and the forecasts behind it sit on Dayboro.au.

How to Grow Cucumber in Subtropical Australia

When to Plant

Sow August-March. Peak season September-February. Can succession plant every 3-4 weeks. Autumn sowings (February-March) produce well as mildew pressure drops.

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)

Subtropical Growing Tips for Cucumber

Recommended Varieties

  • Lebanese
  • Burpless
  • Continental (Telegraph)
  • Crystal Apple (heirloom)
  • Gherkin/pickling types

Key Challenges

  • Powdery mildew from November
  • Downy mildew in wet summers
  • Pumpkin beetle on young plants

Pro Tips

  • Lebanese varieties are the most reliable and productive for SEQ
  • Succession sow every 3-4 weeks as older plants succumb to mildew
  • Trellis growing is strongly recommended for air circulation

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.

Common Cucumber Pests in Subtropical Zones

Powdery Mildew, risk: MODERATE (score: 51/100)

Organic prevention: Row covers over young plants until flowering starts. Crop rotation. Remove cucurbit crop debris promptly after harvest.

View all pest alerts →

Where to next

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

Also worth sowing in the subtropical zone this September: Lemongrass, Ginger, Beetroot and Chilli Peppers.

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.

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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 Brisbane?

No. In the Subtropical zone the planting months are Jan to Mar, Aug 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 Subtropical zone, Brisbane is its reference city.