When to plant cucumbers in zone 2a
In zone 2a, where the last spring frost typically comes around May 19, start cucumbers indoors May 20 to June 3 and plant out June 17 to July 1.
The zone 2a schedule for cucumbers
- Start seeds indoors
- May 20 to June 3
- Plant out
- June 17 to July 1
- Sow outdoors
- June 17 to July 1
- Soil warm enough (60°F), about
- June 17
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 10 ZIP codes in zone 2a, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for cucumbers.
Frost risk in zone 2a
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 2a, the typical last frost ranges from about May 13 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 25 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from September 1 to September 13. For a typical place in the zone:
- May 8Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- May 19Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- June 1Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
Cucumbers are killed by frost, so if you want to be safe, plant out after the safe date rather than the typical one, or be ready to cover plants on a cold night.
Your dates for cucumbers
Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant cucumbers where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.
How to grow cucumbersAll zonesCucumbers in zone 3aAbout zone 2a
Sources
- Cucumber (HGIC factsheet) · Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center
- How to Grow Cucumber in Your Garden · Utah State University Extension
- When can I plant cucumbers in the garden? · Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
- Growing Cucumbers in the Home Garden · N.C. Cooperative Extension, Franklin County Center
- Vegetable Planting Guide (CMG GardenNotes #720) · Colorado State University Extension
- Cucumbers, Pumpkins, Squash, and Melons (Fact Sheet 7.609) · Colorado State University Extension
- Fall Vegetable Gardening (G1343) · University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension
- Vegetable Gardening in Containers · Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
- Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (VH021), Table 1 · University of Florida IFAS Extension (EDIS)
- Vegetable Planting Calendar for Maricopa County (AZ1005) · University of Arizona Cooperative Extension