vine · direct sow
Slicing Cucumber: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating slicing cucumber a few times a week needs about 4 plants in ~12 sq ft, worth about $40 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$2.00/lb retail — an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 1 | ~3 sq ft | ~2 | ~$10 |
| 2 people | 2 | ~6 sq ft | ~4 | ~$20 |
| 4 people | 4 | ~12 sq ft | ~7 | ~$40 |
| 6 people | 5 | ~15 sq ft | ~9 | ~$50 |
Spacing
12" in row · 36" between rows
Sow depth
1"
Days to harvest
60 from seed
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 22 – Aug 21 | May 15 – Jun 15 |
| Zone 4 | May 17 – Aug 16 | May 25 – Jun 25 |
| Zone 5 | May 7 – Aug 6 | Jun 4 – Jul 5 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 27 – Jul 27 | Jun 14 – Jul 15 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 12 – Jul 12 | Jun 24 – Jul 25 |
| Zone 8 | Apr 1 – Jul 1 | Jul 15 – Aug 15 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 27 – May 29 | Aug 4 – Sep 4 |
| Zone 10 | Feb 7 – May 9 | Aug 14 – Sep 14 |
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Yield
About 5 lbs per plant over ~5 productive weeks (~5 lb). Fair warning: this is a famous over-producer — pick every 2-3 days or it buries you. Re-sow every ~21 days for a steady supply instead of one glut.
Watch for
Squash bugs · Squash vine borer · Cucumber beetles · Powdery mildew — the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
Neighbors
Plays well with bush-bean. Keep away from potato.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
15 kcal · 0.5 g fiber · 2.8 mg vitamin C · 147 mg potassium
Related varieties
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code — not just your zone — in about 60 seconds.