How to Grow Cucumbers Indoors

Last Updated: September 15, 2021 References Approved

Cucumbers are nutritious and can be prepared and eaten in a variety of ways. Growing cucumbers indoors means you can have this crunchy treat available year-round. The vines of cucumber plants spread out over a large area of the ground when planted outdoors, but you can plant varieties of cucumbers indoors that are well suited to flourish in containers, and that have been bred to grow and produce fruit without pollination.

Steps

1
Choose hybrid cucumber seeds that don’t require pollination. Be sure to buy a dwarf variety in order to conserve space.
2
Select a very large pot. Cucumbers even dwarf varieties, need lots of room to grow. You can also grow cucumbers in hanging pots.^{[1]
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3
Place some small stones, clay shards or gravel in the bottom of the pot to aid drainage and to keep the roots of the plant from getting soggy. You can also place a small pot (with drainage holes) upside down in the middle of the large pot if you don't have rocks or gravel.^{[2]
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4
Fill your planting pot with a mixture of potting soil and compost—50% soil and 50% compost. You can use dirt from your garden, but then you will run the risk of bringing unwanted pests indoors.^{[3]
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5
Plant 4 to 5 seeds about 1/2” (12 mm) deep. Space the seeds 1/2" apart or more, if possible. Planting them too close together will hinder growth.
6
Water the soil thoroughly so that it is saturated, but not soupy. Water several times until the water drains from the bottom of the pot.^{[4]
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7
Position your cucumber planter in a sunny window. For optimal growth, the plant should receive at least 6 hours of sunlight a day.^{[5]
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8
Allow the seedlings to grow to a height of 2 to 3” (50 to 75 mm). Don't thin them before they reach this minimum height.^{[6]
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9
Identify 2 plants that look the strongest and gently pull the other plants out of the soil. Be careful not to disturb the soil around the 2 plants you want to keep.
10
Let the remaining 2 plants grow to a height of about 10” (254 mm). Rotate the planter every few days if it looks like the plants are not receiving the same amount of sunlight.
11
Choose the strongest, healthiest of the two plants to keep and eliminate the other one by snipping it off at the base. This will leave you with 1 strong and healthy cucumber plant that will produce well and won’t be crowded.
12
Insert a stick or small trellis near the plant so that you can train the vine to climb. Don't wait too long to do this; the plant will start climbing as much as 1" every day, depending on the amount of sunlight it is receiving.
13
Water your plant frequently so that the soil stays moist. Make sure the water thoroughly drains out from the bottom of the planter, so you will know that the roots are getting wet.^{[7]
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Community Q&A

Question

Can I take the seeds out of a cucumber to plant?

Community Answer

Yes, they will readily sprout.
Question

How can I stop my cucumbers from turning yellow and shriveling up?

Community Answer

Try watering them with cold water, or try different soil with more minerals.
Question

Are cucumbers self-pollinating?

Community Answer

Yes, cucumbers are self-pollinating. They do not need to receive pollen from other plants.

Warnings

Your plant will produce flowers, which will form into cucumbers, so don’t pick or pinch off the flowers!

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Low temperatures and frost can kill cucumbers. If you plant in the winter, don’t let the cucumber vine get too close to the window; particularly if it’s drafty.

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Isolate your cucumber planter; as the vine grows, its tendrils will reach out and attach to any furniture or objects nearby. Using a stick or trellis in the planter and encouraging the vine to wrap itself around an item of your choosing will alleviate this problem.

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If you use a hanging pot for your plant, make sure the pot and the hook it hangs from are sturdy; an abundant crop of cucumbers can get heavy.

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