How to Grow Cucumbers in Pots

Staff Reviewed

Cucumbers can be tricky to grow in pots since they require a lot of vertical space. It can be done, however, if you select a bush variety instead of a climbing variety or you provide room for the cucumber to spread out by adding a stake or trellis. Use well-draining, nutritional soil and keep it moist throughout the growing season to help your potted cucumber plant grow.

1 Choose a bush variety of cucumber for containers. In general, bush varieties are easier to grow in pots than vine varieties, which need a trellis to climb and spread out on. Picking a variety suited to a container will give you a higher chance of success.^[1]
- Varieties that are well-suited for container growing include the Salad Bush Hybrid, Bush Champion, Spacemaster, Hybrid Bush Crop, Baby Bush, Bush Pickle, and Potluck.
2 Select a pot that is 10 in (25 cm) wide for your cucumbers. Your pot should be at least this wide in diameter, as well as that deep, too. If you want to grow more than 1 plant in a single pot, try a container that is at least 20 inches (51 cm) in diameter and holds 5 gallons (19 L).^[2]
- When using a container outdoors, go for a larger container if you can. It will retain moisture more effectively.^[3]
- You can even use a rectangular planter box if you add a trellis for the cucumbers to grow on.
3 Add holes if your container doesn’t have them. While cucumbers love water, standing water can cause root damage. Look for a pot that already has drainage holes, if possible. Just flip it over to see if it has holes in the bottom.^[4]
- If your pot doesn’t have drainage holes, use a drill to make holes.
  Choose a masonry drill bit for soft, unfinished terra cotta or a tile and glass drill bit for glazed surfaces. Pick a ¹⁄₄ to ¹⁄₂ in (6.4 to 12.7 mm) bit.
- Place painter’s tape over the bottom of the pot where you want to drill holes. Painter’s tape helps steady the bit. Press the bit lightly into the…