How to Grow Cucumbers in Florida

Cucumbers are a quick warm-season vine for spring and fall in Florida. Trellis them, pick the right disease-resistant variety, and stay ahead of pickleworm.

Cucumbers love warmth but melt in peak summer disease pressure, so Florida grows them in spring and again in fall. They are fast (50-65 days) and heavy-bearing when happy.

When to plant in Florida

See your region's window on the cucumber page.

Varieties for Florida

• 'Poinsett 76' — a Florida-adapted, disease-resistant slicer.
• 'Marketmore 76' — reliable, downy-mildew-aware slicer.
• 'County Fair' or pickling types — for pickles and small-space growing.

How to grow them

• Trellis: growing up a trellis gives clean, straight fruit and the airflow that fights mildew.
• Sun and soil: full sun, rich, well-drained soil, steady water (uneven water makes bitter, misshapen fruit).
• Pollination: bees set the fruit, so avoid spraying open flowers; some varieties are parthenocarpic and self-set.

Pests and problems

Pickleworm bores into the fruit, and downy and powdery mildew thrive in humidity. Grow in the cooler shoulders, choose resistant varieties, cover young plants with row cover until flowering, and water at the roots in the morning.

Harvest

Pick young and often; oversized cucumbers turn bitter and seedy and slow the vine. Daily picking at peak keeps production high.

Source: UF/IFAS Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (SP 103); UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions.

When to plant in your region

Pick your region to see exactly when to plant cucumbers where you garden.

See also: Cucumbers in the plant library →

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