Is 50 degrees too cold for cucumbers?

Author: Garrison Daniel  |  Last update: Monday, December 8, 2025

Cucumbers are very sensitive to cold. They need warm soil and air, whether direct-seeded or transplanted. Don't rush to plant too early. Seed will not germinate if soil temperature is below 50 F, and germinates only slowly at 68 F.

Can cucumber survive 50 degrees?

Protecting Cucumbers from Cold

Even prolonged exposure to temperatures below 55 degrees F. (13 C.) can cause decay, pitting, and water-soaked areas on fruit. Sudden cold snaps can cause cucumber plant damage on leaves, stems, and fruit or even kill the plants.

What temperature can cucumbers tolerate at night?

Optimal Temperature Range for Cucumber Growth

Daytime temperatures should hover between 60-95°F (15-35°C), with the sweet spot around 70-82°F (21-28°C) for those juicy, crunchy fruits. Come nightfall, they need a bit of a chill, ideally dipping to 60-68°F (16-20°C).

What is the coldest temperature for cucumbers?

temperatures. Control: Do not store at temperatures lower than 50°F (10°C) unless cucumbers will be used immediately afterwards and storage period will be less than 5 days. Cucumber pickles may be packed from fresh cucumbers or from cucumbers fermented in a brine of salt.

Is 50 degrees too cold for vegetable plants?

Bring in warm weather plants. Most shouldn't spend much time under 50-60 F. Cold weather plants don't matter.

Your Cucumber Plants Will DIE Every Time You Make This Mistake!

Is 50 degrees at night too cold for plants?

Most houseplants are tropical plants that can safely grow in a heated home during the winter. They will never survive outdoors in winter unless you live where the temperature stays at least above 50 degrees. In northern zones 4 and 5, plants need to survive months of below freezing weather every winter.

Should I cover my plants at 50 degrees?

"The ground temperature is still pretty warm so when you do cover your plants the heat from the ground actually helps protect them as well," Ewing said. When it comes to what flowers or plants could be in jeopardy, it varies. "Your topicals, they're not going to like it below 50.

What happens if you plant cucumbers too early?

Cucumbers are on of the best garden vegetables. If you start them too early in the garden, the frost will kill them. Timing is critical to your cucumber success.

Will 45 degrees hurt plants?

So, yes, it's been cold at night around Southern California, but folks, 45 degrees is a still a long way from the freezing temps that can burn our tender tropicals and other plants, like a multiday cold snap in 2007 that severely damaged crops in Central and Southern California.

Do I need to cover my cucumber plants?

Cucumbers are sensitive to frost. Plant at least two weeks after all danger of frost has passed. You can use plastic sheeting on the ground to help retain the earth's heat. You can also cover plants with a row cover until they start blooming, if needed.

How cold can cucumber plants stand?

Cucumbers have zero frost tolerance. They thrive when the temps are between 65°F and 84°F.

Should I cover tomatoes at 40 degrees?

So when temperatures start dipping below 50º F, leave the tomatoes on the vine if warmer days and nights are forecast. But if temperatures have started on a steady downward slide, go ahead and pick the mature green tomatoes and bring them indoors.

What plants need to be covered at 40 degrees?

First, it's good to know which plants are sensitive to temps around 35 or 40 degrees F. These are common tender plants that will need some protection. Hanging baskets: begonias, calibrachoa, gerbera, impatiens, vinca, euphorbia, and scoparia.

Is 40 degrees at night too cold for cucumbers?

However, warm-season vegetables such as peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, melons and squash can be damaged if the temperature drops to 33 F. Consider these tips to help protect your plants as temperatures drop. * Cover plants at night.

How cold can tomato plants tolerate at night?

How Cold Can Tomatoes Tolerate? Tomato seeds won't germinate when the soil temperature is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Tomato seedlings suffer cold damage in temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Some tomato varieties are bred to be more cold-tolerant and can set fruit when it's below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

How to stop bugs from eating cucumber plants?

Planting borage, scarlet runner beans, and other flowers near your cucumbers attracts bumblebees, whose presence helps deter cucumber beetles. Grow repellent plants. Flowers like nasturtium and marigolds, an herb such as catnip, and veggies like radishes and corn help keep cucumber beetles away.

Is 55 degrees OK for plants?

In general, foliage plants grow best between 70 degrees and 80 degrees F. during the day and between 60 degrees to 68 degrees F. at night. Most flowering plants prefer the same daytime temperature range, but grow best when nighttime temperatures range from 55 degrees to 60 degrees F.

Can peppers survive 40 degree nights?

So will peppers survive 40 degrees? To sum it up, most peppers won't necessarily DIE from 40˚ F temperatures, but their growth can be stunted, and they may be slow to recover so it's best to keep them warm if possible.

At what temperature should you cover your plants at night?

Cover Plants – Protect plants from all but the hardest freeze (28°F for five hours) by covering them with sheets, towels, blankets, cardboard or a tarp. You can also invert baskets, coolers or any container with a solid bottom over plants. Cover plants before dark to trap warmer air.

What is the lowest temperature to grow cucumbers?

Below 63°F, cucumbers do not grow. In such conditions, plants sit in the soil and become susceptible to damages caused by pests in the soil. With that said, check soil temperatures and be sure they are above 63°F before planting cucumbers.

What should you not plant next to cucumbers?

Here are a few plants that do not grow well with cucumbers:
  • Pumpkin (Cucurbita)
  • Squash (Cucurbita)
  • Courgette (Cucurbita pepo)
  • Potato (Solanum tuberosum)
  • Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica)
  • Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)
  • Kale (Brassica oleracea)
  • Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Can seedlings survive 45 degrees?

Don't put tender seedlings outdoors on windy days or when temperatures are below 45° F. Even cold-hardy plants will be hurt if exposed to freezing temperatures before they are hardened. Reduce the frequency of watering to slow plant growth, but don't allow plants to wilt.

How cold is too cold for zucchini?

Summer squash can also be damaged by frost and temperatures below 50°F (10°C). Zucchini, like other summer squash, prefer warm temperatures between 70-95°F (21-35°C).

Can plants stay outside in 45 degree weather?

When do I know it's safe to bring my plant outside? It's safe to move your plants outside when the outdoor temperatures stay consistently above 50°F. Pay attention to the weather report. If nighttime temperatures are set to fall below 50°F, bring your plants in for the night.

Can I leave my plants covered for 2 days?

In fact, you can leave plants covered with blankets or sheets for several days without harming them if freezes are likely for several nights in a row. But eventually the covers must be removed so the plants can get light.

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