Your Cucumbers Probably Aren't Growing Because You're Overlooking These 3 Essential Steps
Last night, my 13-year-old son walked sadly into my office and announced that our cucumbers had died. He has taken ownership of the garden this year, deciding what plants to plant, building raised beds with his father, planting all the vegetables, and diligently watering and weeding them.
We had high hopes for our cucumbers this year, as our family absolutely lives for homemade pickles (that's not weird, right?), so the news was devastating to all of us. My son did a little research online and surmised that the cucumbers may have perished due to overwatering or a lack of nitrogen in the soil.
We aren't 100% sure what the issue is, but while we try to figure it out-and hopefully replant in hopes of making our pickle dreams come true-we are taking advice from one experienced cuke gardener on TikTok who says she has the answers.
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Gardener @ocean.oasis.farm shared a TikTok explaining that since moving to a new farm, she has had "nothing but trouble" with her cucumbers. As a result, she's been on a personal mission to wrangle them and succeed. In a video, she gave three crucial reasons why your cucumbers may not be growing, so I'm watching and taking notes.
@ocean.oasis.farm Gardening 101: top mid season tips for growing cucumbers in your vegetable garden
original sound - Ocean Oasis Farm and Homestead
1. You Planted Too Early
The gardener noted that cucumbers love warm soil and warm night air, so if you planted too early, when your plants were susceptible to cooler nights, you may have unknowingly thwarted your efforts at growth.
"They're probably just waiting for the soil to warm up," she quipped.
2. You Planted Them Too Close Together
@ocean.oasis.farm also explained that cucumbers are heavy "feeders," meaning they suck up a lot of nutrients, so if you planted them too closely together, they may not have enough nutrients to fully grow. If you did accidentally plant them too close together, she suggested simply giving them more fertilizer so they have plenty of food to fuel their growth.
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3. You Need to Check for Disease and Pests
Later in the growing season, she suggested checking diligently for diseases and pests that may interfere with growth. "Cucumbers are notorious for getting that powdery mildew," she noted, as well as squash borers and squash vine borers, so keep an eye out. She recommended checking all the leaves for pests and under the leaves for any eggs said pests may have laid, and treating accordingly.
And that's it! May we all take these cucumber tips to heart and have the pickles of our dreams this summer. What, just me?
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This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 1:18 PM.