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Vegetable Gardening

cucumber leaves starting to curl with yellowing and papery feel

Newbie-gardener

10 years ago

hello there gardening newbie here. My cucumber seedlings we're doing great for a while but now the leaves have become curled, yellow ish, and papery. On the underside of the leaves are some black spots and I am unsure if they are aphids. If anyone could lend some insight in saving my seedlings that would be highly appreciated. I planted them in pro mix seed starter.

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Comments (8)

Newbie-gardener
Original Author
10 years ago
Its underside.
digdirt2
10 years ago
Would need a much closer picture to ID aphids or the black spots.for sure but my best guess based on the pic is mold spores and over-watering.

The edges of the leaves and the yellowing color indicates root rot from soil kept too wet and it sure appears wet in the pic. Overly wet soil without adequate air circulation in the area generates mold growths. Peat pots are notorious for causing over-water issues.

But knowing your location would also help - that's why a space is provided for that info. :) If that is snow outside the window then not only is it too early for cukes to be seeded but it is too cool by far and it could easily be too cool by that window.

Dave
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Thanks for your hints, MD. Yup, I think this is merely insect damage. However, I find those spots too large to be only from aphids. I am guessing it is a combination of aphids, striped beetles and maybe other critters as well. I have Bug B Gon insecticide from EcoSense. I am trying to keep things organic (although I do think that chemicals are no big deal as long as you really want to care for a plant and they don't damage anything you don't mean to, like the neighbour's crop). It says here that it will control all stages of aphids, spider mites and whitefly, spittle bugs, adult and nymph stages of thrips, flea beetles, caterpillars, mealybugs, scale insects and sugar ants. It contains 0.5% pyrethrin and is lebeled as a skin irritant. Here's the deal. I don't like that it is organic AND pretends to take care of all these bugs. If it were true, then nobody would have harmful bugs anymore, so I am suspicious. Somehow, I am thinking it may be damageable to the plants and may also kill beneficials (I am very lucky to have swarms of ladybugs). Do you think the benefits of using it would outweigh the risks? If I indeed have striped beetle damage, this product wouldn't work. Can I do something against those that can be made at home or that is easily purchased? Also, I have Bug B Gon insecticide soap (supposedly controls aphids, earwigs, mealybugs, spider mites, psyllids, pear and rose slugs [sawfly larvae], soft brown scale and whitefly--the soap 47% potassium salts of fatty acids and is lebeled as a skin and eye irritant), but I still don't understand the difference between insecticide and insecticidal soap. Both are used in the same concentration, applied the same way and at the same frequency, so what is the difference? Which one should I use? Should I use one this week and the other next week and alternate? Also, I think right now would be a good time to spray. It is a bit windy, but otherwise, we have nice cloud cover. There is a risk of rain later on and all through the week. Would spraying these products during a cloudy day (daylight but cool and no sunshine) be a problem? I don't want to miss my chance. Please, help as this is about my first bug challenge and I am pretty much a noob.
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Ok. That definitely helps to understand for the first set of plants. Thank you very much. I can get larger containers, at least to try some squash again, maybe not the climbers. I also do have a drip irrigation system in place (previous tenant), though I didn't use it because I was trying the sub-irrigated system. Will the drip irrigation improve my water management in this case, using containers with standard drainage? However, the second set of plants never reached more than about six inches high, including squash, and including those in new soil with lots of compost. Even at 3 inches high they were already yellow (after an initial week of green following germination). They only made small leaves, and they failed to grow further than 3-6 inches. In that case I don't believe it was space (yet). Most outer leaves beginning to die within days.
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geosankie
10 years ago
I agree with Dave. Those darn peat pots kill more plants.
noreen32
10 years ago
According to your profile info, you are in Canada, which means it would be too early and too cold to have cucumbers growing. And I also agree that the peat pots are a terrible invention.
Newbie-gardener
Original Author
10 years ago
I'm in Vancouver, Canada so (thankfully) that is not snow, just my patio siding. It has been sunny and close to 20 degrees celcius as of late.

They are indeed in peat pots - and here I thought they were a great idea! "No transplant shock" they said.. Oy vey.

I'll take another picture when I get home later but I think they are mold spots and not bugs, comparing to some pictures on google. If it is indeed mold, am I screwed? Can you save a plant from mold? I read cucumbers can be direct-sown when the weather is warmer, so should I try that?
digdirt2
10 years ago
Plants can be saved from molds if it doesn't progress too far. Molds only grow in damp stagnant air conditions. So you need to dry the soil and pot out substantially and cut way back on the watering. Most important improve the air circulation. Use a small fan to increase the air circulation all around them. You may lose those leaves but the new growth should be ok.

Some also suggest lightly misting the undersides of the leaves with a 1:10 diluted of hydrogen peroxide in water. I have no personal experience with that.

But bottom line, yes, cucumbers will always do better when direct seeded out doors at the proper time.

As for the peat pots, if you keep using them then despite what the manufacturer says, be sure to strip them off the root ball prior to transplanting.

Dave
Newbie-gardener
Original Author
10 years ago
Here's an update. They look a bit better now now that they have more air circulation and less watering. The peat pots actually got a chance to dry lately. Here's a closer look at the possible mold. Probably mold, yes?
Newbie-gardener
Original Author
10 years ago
A look at the curl and yellowing. The new leaf looks green and happy at least.

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