When to Plant Cucumber in Sydney, Warm Temperate Guide

Sow August to February. 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 Warm Temperate zone, which takes in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane 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 Warm Temperate

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
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: 17.0°C (optimal range: 18–35°C) ✗ Outside optimal range

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

How to Grow Cucumber in Warm Temperate Australia

When to Plant

Sow October-January after soil warms. Start indoors in September for earliest crop. Harvest December-March.

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)

Warm Temperate Growing Tips for Cucumber

Recommended Varieties

  • Lebanese
  • Burpless
  • Continental
  • Crystal Apple
  • Socrates (mildew resistant)

Key Challenges

  • Cool springs delaying growth
  • Powdery mildew mid-late season
  • Season too short for many succession plantings

Pro Tips

  • Start first sowing indoors in September for early crop
  • Mildew-resistant varieties (Socrates, Diva) extend the productive season
  • Trellis growing saves space and improves fruit quality

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 Warm Temperate Zones

Powdery Mildew, risk: MODERATE (score: 47/100)

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 warm temperate zone this September: Ginger, Beetroot, Chilli Peppers and Dwarf Beans (Bush).

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 Sydney?

No. In the Warm Temperate zone the planting months are Jan to Feb, 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 Warm Temperate zone, Sydney is its reference city.