Arizona · zones 5b10a

When to plant cucumbers in Arizona.

Sow between Feb 12 to May 14 in a typical year, keyed to Arizona's median last frost around Feb 5. A second, fall sowing fits Jul 15 to Aug 15. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.

The 2026 windows

Cucumbers dates for a typical Arizona season.

Direct sow

Feb 12 to May 14

Keyed to the ~Feb 5 last frost. Sow 1" deep, 12" apart.

Fall round

Jul 15 to Aug 15

Counted back from the ~Nov 15 first frost.

Harvest

~60 days later

~5 lb per plant over ~5 weeks.

Arizona spans more than one climate: Zone 9 is the most common zone, but the state runs 5b to 10a. That's why the planner works from your ZIP code's frost dates, not your zone: mountain and coastal gardens in the same state can be three weeks apart.

In Arizona: watch for

The pests that find cucumbers here.

With about 283 frost-free days, cucumber, slicing spends longer in the ground here than in most of the country, which widens the window in which squash bugs can find it. Scout weekly from midseason and act on the first signs.

Squash bugs

Gray shield bugs; leaves wilt and get crispy patches.

Organic fix: Crush the copper egg rows under leaves; diatomaceous earth at the base.

Cucumber beetles

Yellow striped or spotted beetles that spread bacterial wilt.

Organic fix: Row cover until the first female flowers open; neem for heavy runs.

Downy mildew

Angular yellow patches bounded by the leaf veins, after wet foliage.

Organic fix: Water in the morning, space for airflow, pull badly infected vines.

Powdery mildew

White powder coating the leaves late in the season.

Organic fix: Space for airflow, water at the base, spray neem.

Your season math: Arizona gives cucumbers about 283 frost-free days, and it needs roughly 60 days to a first harvest. That fits about 11 re-sown rounds across the season, so you can keep it coming instead of picking once.

Planting cucumbers in Arizona: questions

When should I plant cucumbers in Arizona?+

In a typical Arizona year, sow cucumbers between Feb 12 to May 14, keyed to the state's median last frost around Feb 5. There's also a fall window: Jul 15 to Aug 15. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.

What USDA zone is Arizona?+

Arizona spans zones 5b–10a, mostly zone 9. But frost dates, not zones, set planting time. The free planner uses your ZIP code's actual frost dates.

How many cucumbers plants do I need?+

Depends who you're feeding. The crop page has exact counts per household size, or the free planner does the math for your family in about 60 seconds.