Cucumbers are easy to grow, and starting them indoors can give you a jump-start on your growing season. However, you need to be careful not to over-water them and make sure they have plenty of light.

When to start cucumber seeds indoors can buy biodegradable pots made from peat or paper, but I prefer to use plastic cups. They are cheap, easy to wash out, and have drainage holes in the bottom. You will need to fill each cup with nutrient-rich potting soil, and then plant your cucumber seeds a half inch deep in each hole. Then cover the seed with more potting soil, and press down firmly. Water them on a daily basis to keep the soil moist but not soaking wet. If the soil dries out completely, the seeds will not germinate.

Green Beginnings: A Guide to Starting Cucumber Seeds Indoors at the Right Time

Once the seeds sprout, move them to a sunny window or a bright artificial light fixture. They need a lot of light to thrive, but too much sun can burn their leaves. Make sure they get at least 8 hours of light a day, but don’t let them overheat.

In about two weeks, your cucumbers will start to outgrow their initial pots, and it is time to transplant them. But before you do that, it is important to harden them off to acclimate them to the outdoor climate. Check out our article on Hardening Off Cucumber Seedlings for all the details. If you wait too long, your cucumbers may not be able to survive the frost.