Cucumber Seeds planting

The seeds will grow any way you place them.  The root comes out of the pointy end, so I usually either lay the seed flat or pointy end down. 

Are you growing in a greenhouse? 

If you intend to grow outdoors, be mindful of when you truly expect to have your last frost.  Plant based on your own judgement; you could be lucky with the weather, but take a risk that you will need to plant again if it gets too cold.

Even in a greenhouse they are unlikely to germinate so early in the year unless they are in a heated propagator - also, cukes are notorious for lacking the will to live if conditions aren't to their liking, especially when the plants are very young.

Early April is plenty soon enough to sow them round these parts (I'm only just up the road from you!)

Thanks for your responses.  if you're nearby JayG then you will know we've just had a dusting of snow, so from your response and mumofstigs I don't think I'll be sowing the cukes till Early April then, say w/e 9th/10th.
Very grateful for you help.
 

Way to early to be growing cucumber seeds now in my view, despite what some packets say.

I sow my Cucumber and Gherkins end of March, early April in greenhouse.
I do though place the seed on its edge in a damp compost, about 1/4 inch below the surface.
Do not allow the compost to become too wet at this stage.
That has always worked for me. 
I always put one seed in a small pot and once it has made its second set of leaf, its time to plant outside or in the greenhouse final beds.

Cucumbers, melons and squash grow quickly, so it may not help to plant this soon.

Where I am, it goes from winter to warm very quickly. We had snow on January 16 and -6 C on January 30, and less than a month later, it was 27 C on February 24, with no frost in the forecast through April.  If the forecast holds, my last frost date will be February 20 this year, whereas the average last frost date for my agricultural zone is April 15. I am experimenting with growing courgettes early because I think I may be able to get away with it this year  (certainly not because I'd advise that to anyone else!  ).  I am not always this lucky with the weather, we have had frosts in April, including last year.

Other posters are much closer to you than I am, so if I were you, I would rely on their advice as to what is a reasonable planting time.

I will say that I will now be trying just a few cucumbers early, inspired by this post; starting indoors, moving outdoors sometime in March.  We'll see what happens!