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Container Gardening

What's Wrong With My Japanese Cucumber? (Photos)

12 years ago

Please see photos of my deformed Japanese cucumber. It measures 12.5" long, the circumference at the widest part is 5" and thinnest part is 3". And it has a very strange (almost right-angle) bend. I'm not sure what variety it is. Bought it as a seedling from a local nursery.

If you have any idea, please let me know what I did wrong?

There's at least a dozen of other baby cucumbers on this plant and I don't want them all to look like this. It just dawned to me that this is the only cucumber on this plant that is this size. The rest are only 2 inches long.

Do you think this cucumber is still edible? This is my first season gardening so all this is new to me. Thank you!

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Comments (5)

yellowthumb
12 years ago
This plant is crying for some fertilizer and water. You may not water it enough.
yodiana
Original Author
12 years ago
Hey YellowThumb, do you think that's what it is? Its really hard for me not to over-water so I usually water my plants twice a week but this cucumber always seems to be on the drier side (even though my moisture meter reads "moist"). I'll try to water this plant at least every other day to see if that helps.

Thanks for the response!
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whats wrong with my cucumbers
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Comments (4)
Is every leaf on the plant showing brown patches or just the lower ones? I usually don't worry about lower leaves browning. When the plant is producing cucumbers it needs even more water, so could be water stress. Try mulching after your next watering.
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Whats wrong with my cucumber seedling?
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Well the brutal answer is 'It's dead'. As to why it's dead it's impossible to tell from the picture. It could be underwaterd, overwatered, overheated, frozen, attacked by a fungus or a combination of several factors. What is the mix it is in and has that pot got any holes for drainage? What do the roots look like? (It won't hurt it to pull it up - it's past any suffering.) October seems a strange time to be starting cucumbers in Canada so my suggestion, harsh though it might appear, is to give up for now. Do some reading over the winter and start again at a more appropriate time.
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what is wrong with my cucumbers
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Comments (6)
well, I ended up cutting off all leaves that had lots of dots and drying on the edges - and the fake leaves had them a lot - since I would rather eliminate the spread of whatever this may be. these cucumbers are VERY VERY close to all other plantings - everything is on one table under light so I am not willing to risk all other plants. But, still I would appreciate if anyone can tell me what this is. the plants are very strong, no other signs to worry about, they grow and have new leaves coming out.
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What is wrong with my cucumber leaves? Is it a disease?
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Comments (2)
i can't tell you, but mine look the same, so hope we can both get an answer...
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yodiana
Original Author
12 years ago
Yellowthumb, I think this plant is over-watered. I've seen gnats around the soil which makes me think there is something wrong with soil and possibly roots. The leaves are getting paler yellow by the day. I cut off the cucumber and wilted leaves. May try to get it some iron or something to turn it back green but if its root rot, may just have to dump the entire plant. :(
yellowthumb
12 years ago
How warm is your weather? If it's hot. Cucumber can drink lots of water.

The plants lost all their lower leaves. That's the reason I am thinking underwatering, or the pot is just too small. Have you fertilized it recently?
yodiana
Original Author
12 years ago
I'm in San Diego, CA (coastal) so its usually always in the mid-70's. Although last week it did get in "scorching" 80's. Not sure if that's too hot for it. Today its 73 degrees F.

Most of the lower leaves are gone because I cut them off as soon as they start to yellow, wilt then die. It started with the lower leaves and have moved up the entire plant. Its a lot more pale yellow now than it was a week ago (when I took the photos). Maybe another sign of root issues?

It's in one of the larger clay pots. Maybe 12 gallons? I don't know for sure but I don't think the pot is too small. I have larger plants that are in smaller pots that seem to be thriving.

I fertilized again about 2 weeks ago (with one of those slow release fertilizer sticks).

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