How Far Apart Do Cucumber Plants Need To Be From Each Other?

How much space a cucumber needs when planting depends on the variety and the type of culture. With a few tricks, the distance between plants can be reduced and the cultivation area can be used optimally.

To the point

• Pickled cucumbers require the least planting distance
• outdoor cucumbers need a lot of distance
• space can be saved by using a climbing aid
• when growing in a greenhouse, the planting distance should be increased

Snake cucumbers

Snake cucumbers necessarily need a climbing support and should be planted only in sheltered locations. Although a culture in the greenhouse is not absolutely necessary, as there are also varieties that develop well in the open ground. A planting distance for snake cucumbers of 40×40 centimeters should be strictly observed.

Tip: Sting snake cucumbers in time and grow them on a maximum of three shoots. This will also allow you to take up less space.

Outdoor cucumbers

Outdoor cucumbers grow along the ground and thus require a correspondingly large distance. In order for them to spread out well, there should be at least a 100×40 centimeter area.

Tip: Both fruits and flowers get very dirty after a heavy rain. Use a mulch sheet for outdoor cucumbers to grow along, the plants will stay cleaner.

Mini cucumbers

It is often believed that mini-cucumbers require less space than other types of cucumbers. Mini cucumbers do not grow as high as snake cucumbers, but have a rather broader growth at a lower height. As a result, even more spacing should be used. For mini cucumbers, a spacing of 50×50 centimeters is ideal.

Pickling cucumbers

Pickling cucumbers are a special type of outdoor cucumber. The pickling cucumbers have a stocky growth, but produce a lot of fruits. They have the advantage that they do not take up much space in the open field. Young plants are usually planted in a group of three with a distance of 30×30 centimeters from the next group.

Special crops

There are now many different types of cucumbers and exotics are becoming increasingly popular. Some species can be cultivated very well in the greenhouse, but are also suitable for protected cultivation or cultivation in the open field. The distance varies greatly among the cultures.

Choice of species:

• Horned cucumber (Cucumis metuliferus): 120×40 cm.
• Inca cucumber (Cyclanthera pedata): 50×50 cm
• Mexican mini cucumber (Melothria trilobata): 50×30 cm
• Snake hair cucumber (Trichosanthes cucumerina): 60×60 cm
• Sponge cucumber (Luffa cylindrica): 100×80 cm

Greenhouse cultivation

Almost every species is also suitable for cultivation in a greenhouse. The only exception is outdoor and pickling cucumbers. Although the culture is possible in the greenhouse, due to high temperatures, the fruits tend to grow very quickly, so the cucumber is overripe within a few days.

When growing in a greenhouse, be sure to maintain the planting distance, because the cucumber is a heat-loving plant and tends to grow strongly there. Optimally, you should increase the distance between the plants by 10-20 cm. Indispensable in the greenhouse is a climbing aid, which allows you to use the space optimally. You should also prune out side shoots and allow a maximum of three to four shoots to grow.

Pot cultivation

Mini cucumbers, for example, are suitable for cultivation in pots. If they are grown individually in a pot, it should have a capacity of at least 20 liters. A pot size of 40 liters would be better. When choosing a pot, it is important that it has both a sufficient width and depth. Ideal is a pot with a depth of at least 30 centimeters.

Climbing aids

Climbing aids are a good way to plant cucumbers in a space-saving manner. In principle, every type of cucumber can be raised with a climbing aid, but not every type forms tendrils equally well. Therefore, some species need to be helped by tying them to the climbing aids.

Suitable climbing aids for cucumbers are:

• twisted metal rods
• lattice
• wooden sticks
• nets
• branched branches

For species that form tendrils well, such as the Inca cucumber or Mexican mini cucumber, it is sufficient if you provide the plants with a rope to grow up. Surfaces with a rough texture such as wood are better accepted by the cucumbers.

Frequently asked questions

How deep are cucumbers planted?

Cucumbers develop what are called adventitious roots on the stem. It is advantageous to plant pre-grafted cucumber plants slightly deeper than they have grown before, so that they develop more roots with which to take up nutrients. This does not apply to grafted varieties. They may only be planted up to the grafting point at the most, as root formation above the grafting will no longer provide the positive effects of the rootstock.

Do densely planted cucumbers require more care?

The more densely the plants are planted, the greater the competition for water and nutrients. If space constraints make it impossible to avoid planting cucumbers densely, you should water and fertilize more frequently. Some varieties may still have lower yields because of the stiff competition.

What can be planted between cucumbers?

It takes time for cucumber plants to produce their first yields and take up all the space. As an intercrop, it is a good idea to sow dill or lettuce between the cucumber plants. Preferably choose fast-growing varieties such as pick or cut lettuce, so that the cucumbers have enough space later.