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 – Jun 29 | — |
| Zone 4 | May 17 – Jul 9 | — |
| Zone 5 | May 7 – Jul 19 | — |
| Zone 6 | Apr 27 – Jul 27 | — |
| Zone 7 | Apr 12 – Jul 12 | — |
| 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 when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
6 to 8 inches, firm and dark green. Pick every 1 to 2 days once they start coming.
Don't wait: Yellowing at the blossom end means seedy and bitter, and it tells the vine to stop producing.
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 · Cucumber beetles · Downy mildew · 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, nasturtium, dill, radish. Keep away from potato, fennel. Which of these hold up, and what not to plant after
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
15 kcal · 0.5 g fiber · 2.8 mg vitamin C · 147 mg potassium
Related varieties
When to plant slicing cucumber in your state
Pick your state for exact sow windows.
Each page keys slicing cucumberto that state's typical frost dates, with spring and fall windows and the indoor-start date where it helps.
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.
Cucumber, slicing planting questions
How many slicing cucumber plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 1 plant per person. A family of 4 needs about 4 plants, which takes around 12 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does slicing cucumber need?+
Space plants 12" apart in the row with 36" between rows. Sow 1" deep. Direct sow in the bed.
When should I plant slicing cucumber?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. It also has a fall window keyed to your first fall frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing slicing cucumber worth it?+
At about $2.00/lb retail and ~5 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $40 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.