Rainline Garden

When to plant cucumbers in Oregon and Washington

In Portland: Plant cucumbers in the garden May 10 – Jun 7, either as seeds or as young plants started indoors Apr 12–19. In Bend: Jun 9 – Jul 7. Find your city below.

Difficulty
Moderate
Sun
Full sun
Spacing
12 inches apart on a trellis
Planting depth
1 inch deep
Frost
Killed by frost
First harvest
About 60 days after planting

Need warm soil and warm nights. Floating row cover helps in cool springs.

Cucumbers planting dates by city

CityStart seeds indoorsPlant in the garden
Astoria, ORApr 22–29May 20 – Jun 17
Baker City, ORApr 27 – May 4May 25 – Jun 22
Bend and Redmond, ORMay 12–19Jun 9 – Jul 7
Burns, ORMay 14–21Jun 11 – Jul 9
Coos Bay and North Bend, ORApr 22–29May 20 – Jun 17
Eugene, ORApr 12–19May 10 – Jun 7
Gresham, ORApr 12–19May 10 – Jun 7
Klamath Falls, ORMay 12–19Jun 9 – Jul 7
Medford, ORApr 12–19May 10 – Jun 7
Pendleton, ORApr 3–10May 1–29
Portland, ORApr 12–19May 10 – Jun 7
Roseburg, ORApr 12–19May 10 – Jun 7
Salem, ORApr 12–19May 10 – Jun 7
The Dalles, ORApr 3–10May 1–29
Wilsonville and Canby, ORApr 12–19May 10 – Jun 7
Aberdeen and Hoquiam, WAApr 22–29May 20 – Jun 17
Bellingham, WAApr 12–19May 10 – Jun 7
Ellensburg, WAApr 22–29May 20 – Jun 17
Everett, WAApr 12–19May 10 – Jun 7
Forks, WAApr 22–29May 20 – Jun 17
Moses Lake, WAApr 3–10May 1–29
Olympia, WAApr 12–19May 10 – Jun 7
Omak and Okanogan, WAApr 22–29May 20 – Jun 17
Seattle and Tacoma, WAApr 12–19May 10 – Jun 7
Spokane, WAApr 22–29May 20 – Jun 17
Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick, Richland), WAApr 3–10May 1–29
Vancouver, WAApr 12–19May 10 – Jun 7
Walla Walla, WAApr 3–10May 1–29
Wenatchee, WAApr 3–10May 1–29
Yakima, WAApr 10–17May 8 – Jun 5

How to grow cucumbers

  1. Start seeds indoors on your city's dates in trays or small pots under a grow light or in your sunniest window. Or skip this step and buy young plants (starts) at a garden center.
  2. Harden off the young plants: about a week before planting, set them outside for a few hours a day, a little longer each day.
  3. Plant them in the garden on your city's dates, 12 inches apart on a trellis. If you plant seeds instead, sow them 1 inch deep.
  4. Water deeply once or twice a week rather than a little every day, and mulch once the soil is warm.
  5. Harvest: Pick slicers at 6 to 8 inches, before they yellow. Check plants every day or two in midsummer.

Varieties that do well in the Northwest

Watch out for

Powdery mildew in late summer. Grow them up a trellis for airflow and water at the base.

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