Cucumber in Zone 5a & 5b
Cucumis sativus
Yes, cucumber grows in zones 5a and 5b. Start seeds indoors Apr 19–Apr 26 and plant out May 17–May 24.
When to plant cucumber in zone 5b
Zones 5a and 5b 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.
| Start indoors | Apr 19–Apr 26 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 17–May 24 |
| Estimated harvest | Jul 11–Jul 18 (~55 days after planting) |
Spacing: 2 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 5-6 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 5b
These go outside within two weeks of cucumber in zone 5b, so one planting day can cover them.
- TomatoMay 24–May 31
- Sweet CornMay 17–May 24
- ZucchiniMay 17–May 24
- Winter SquashMay 17–May 24
- BroccoliniMay 10–May 17
- Napa Cabbage (Chinese Cabbage)May 10–May 17
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 5's season
Zone 5b's frost-free window runs about 148 days, from May 10 to October 5. Cucumber needs about 55 days from sowing to first harvest.
Cucumber planting windows in every zone
Zone 5b 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 (your zone) | 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 | 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.
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 5b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Cucumber in USDA zone 5b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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