The best cucumbers are those grown indoors under glass, and they can be easier to grow.

Different cultivars are needed depending on if they will be grown indoors or outdoors. For growing indoors always select F1 cultivars as these don’t produce male flowers – just the cucumber-producing females. If male flowers are produced they should be removed otherwise the fruit will taste bitter

Sowing

Sow at 24-27C (75-80F). Then maintain a temperature of 18-21C (65-70F) after germination and when growing.
For greenhouse cultivation: sow from mid-February to mid-March (heated greenhouse) or April (unheated greenhouse).
For outdoor cultivation: sow in late April. Alternatively, sow directly outside in late May or early June and cover the soil above the seeds with a cloche or glass jar; this method isn’t always successful.
Sow the seeds on their side, 13mm (0.5in) deep when indoors or 2.5cm (1in) deep if outside.
Young plants are available from garden centres in spring and are a good when you can’t maintain the right conditions for germination and growing.

Growing

Transfer young plants to 25cm (10in) pots of good compost in late March (heated greenhouse), late May (unheated greenhouse) or early June if growing outdoors.
For outdoor growing: make planting pockets 45cm (18in) apart two weeks before seed sowing that are 30cm (12in) square and deep. Then fill with a mixture of compost or well-rotted manure and soil.
Feed plants every two weeks once planted out with a balanced liquid fertilizer, switching to a high potash one when the first fruits start to set.
Be sure to keep the soil moist by watering around the plants – not over them.

Harvesting

Cut the fruits when they are around 15-20cm (6-8in) long.