Lemon Cucumber

Family: Cucurbitaceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Lemon Cucumber to a garden.

Sun-bright and delightfully fragrant, Lemon Cucumber delivers a crisp, cool bite with a flavor that feels clean and gently sweet—like summer light captured in a pale yellow skin.

At maturity, the fruit turns a warm butter-yellow and holds a firm, juicy texture that stays snappy even when sliced thin for fresh use. A vigorous vining grower for 65 days, it shines in fresh salads and bright, tangy pickles, and it also makes a charming centerpiece for quick summer platters.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 65 DaysHabit: Vine

Botanical illustration of Lemon Cucumber

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Lemon Cucumber Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	Jun 8th	Aug 12th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 29th	Aug 2nd – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 29th	Aug 2nd – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	Jun 2nd	Aug 6th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 29th	Aug 2nd – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 27th	Jul 31st – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 22nd	Jul 26th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 18th	Jul 22nd – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 19th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	May 9th	Jul 13th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jul 8th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 24th	Jun 28th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 15th	Jun 19th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Apr 6th	Jun 10th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 20th	May 24th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 23rd	Apr 29th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	Continuous Production
Zone 10b	Continuous Production
Zone 11a	Continuous Production
Zone 11b	Continuous Production
Zone 12a	Continuous Production
Zone 12b	Continuous Production
Zone 13a	Continuous Production
Zone 13b	Continuous Production

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	65
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Vine
Support Needed	Trellis
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	75
Min Soil Temp (°F)	65
Min Night Temp (°F)	55
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

This lemon-shaped cucumber is all about that firm, juicy snap—thin slices should crunch, not collapse, even under a quick dressing. When pickled, its mild sweetness plays beautifully with dill-and-garlic tang, keeping every bite crisp and clean.

Best Uses

thin-sliced salad with minimal dressing so the snappy crunch stays intact
quick refrigerator pickles (brine + vinegar) for a crisp, bright tang
crudités platter slices with flaky salt and yogurt-based dips
lightly dressed summer grain bowls where the fruit stays juicy but not watery

Flavor Profile

clean, cool cucumber bite gentle sweetness high-juice snap with thin-slice crispness sunny, slightly perfumed aroma

Kitchen Pairings

kosher salt white vinegar dill garlic Greek yogurt feta

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest most commonly attacks Cucumis sativus (lemon cucumber), and how do I control it?

In cucumbers, aphids and cucumber beetles are frequent problems, but cucumber beetles are especially damaging because they can spread bacterial wilt. Check leaves and stems twice a week; if you see beetles, use row cover until flowering and apply an insecticidal soap early in the day for aphid outbreaks. Remove heavily infested leaves and keep the bed weeded to reduce hiding spots.

How often should I water lemon cucumber (Cucumis sativus) during the main growing phase?

During active vine growth and fruit set, keep soil consistently evenly moist—about 1–2 inches of water per week total, adjusted for heat and rain. Water at the base in the morning and aim for moisture at the root zone (not wet leaves), because irregular watering can trigger bitter fruit and encourage fungal leaf diseases. If the top 1 inch of soil dries out, water deeply rather than frequent light sprinkling.

How can I tell when my lemon cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is ready to harvest?

Harvest at about 65 days when fruits are fully yellow to lemon color but still firm and about the size you planned for (commonly roughly 2–3 inches for smaller types). If the fruit starts to turn dull/soft or the seeds feel hard inside when you cut one open, it’s past peak and will taste less crisp. Pick regularly—fruit left to over-ripen can slow new production.