Cucumber in Zone 11a & 11b
Cucumis sativus
Yes, cucumber grows in zones 11a and 11b. Plant it outside in Sep–Feb. For a fall crop, plant out in Sep–Feb.
When to plant cucumber in zone 11b
Zones 11a and 11b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Either works.
| Window | Fall window |
|---|---|
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Sep–Feb |
| Estimated harvest | ~55 days after planting |
Spacing: 2 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 5-6 ft.
Zone 11b dates sourced from edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
Fall window: the last sowing date is the average first frost minus days to maturity, the method in Purdue Extension's fall garden guide, which lists cucumber for late-summer planting.
Plant alongside it in zone 11b
These go outside within two weeks of cucumber in zone 11b, so one planting day can cover them.
- Napa Cabbage (Chinese Cabbage)Sep–Apr
- Collard GreensSep–Jan
- Escarole (Endive)Sep–Mar
- Lima BeanSep–Apr
- Mustard GreensSep–Jan
Cucumbers are vigorous vines, and the single best decision you can make for them is giving them something to climb. A trellised cucumber uses a fraction of the ground space of one left to sprawl, gets better airflow (which means fewer fungal problems), and tends to grow straighter fruit since it isn't resting on the ground.
How cucumber fits zone 11's season
Zone 11b is frost-free, so frost is not what limits the calendar here. What you can plant, and when, comes down to summer heat and daylength instead.
Cucumber planting windows in every zone
Zone 11b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3a & 3b | May 9–May 16 | Jun 6–Jun 13 | Jul 31–Aug 7 |
| 4a & 4b | Apr 24–May 1 | May 22–May 29 | Jul 16–Jul 23 |
| 5a & 5b | Apr 19–Apr 26 | May 17–May 24 | Jul 11–Jul 18 |
| 6a & 6b | Apr 4–Apr 11 | May 2–May 9 | Jun 26–Jul 3 |
| 7a & 7b | Mar 20–Mar 27 | Apr 17–Apr 24 | Jun 11–Jun 18 |
| 8a & 8b | Mar 4–Mar 11 | Apr 1–Apr 8 | May 26–Jun 2 |
| 9a & 9b | Jan 25–Feb 1 | Feb 22–Mar 1 | Apr 18–Apr 25 |
| 10a & 10bSpring window | Jan–Mar | Feb–Apr | ~55 days after transplanting |
| Summer window | Jul–Aug | Aug–Sep | ~55 days after transplanting |
| 11a & 11bFall window (your zone) | Not usually | Sep–Feb | ~55 days after planting |
Harvest dates are about 55 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.
Good companions
- Bush Beans: Beans fix nitrogen that heavy-feeding cucumbers use.
- Radish: Reputed as a trap crop for cucumber beetles, but the documented trap-crop research for cucumber beetles points to Blue Hubbard squash specifically, not radish. Radish IS a real, documented trap crop, but for flea beetles on brassica crops: a different pest and crop pairing than this one. Treat this specific pairing as garden tradition, not measured evidence. (usually zones 2-10, so not a pairing for zone 11b)
Where to buy cucumber seeds
Botanical Interests · True Leaf Market · Burpee · High Mowing Organic Seeds (each supplier's cucumber seeds)
Varieties we recommend, and where to get them:
- DMR 401 (best for downy mildew resistance): The standout in Cornell's 2017 downy mildew trial at the Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center: 75% control of the disease and more than twice the marketable fruit of the next-best variety, 2.79 fruits per plant against 1.01. Buy: High Mowing Organic Seeds Full notes
- Marketmore 76: Bred at Cornell in 1976 and still a standard slicing cucumber: open-pollinated, so you can save true-to-type seed, with resistance across powdery mildew, downy mildew, scab and cucumber mosaic virus. Buy: Burpee · High Mowing Organic Seeds Full notes
- 'Suyo Long' (best for hot climates, salads): Johnny's lists this Chinese type at up to 15 inches, ribbed, sweet-flavored and bitter-free by nature, widely adapted and reported to grow well and set fruit even in hot weather that stresses standard slicers. Buy: Burpee · High Mowing Organic Seeds Full notes
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing cucumber" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 11b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Cucumber in USDA zone 11b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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