Bottom half of cucumber plant dying

15 years ago

I posted a week or so ago about trellising an established cucumber plant. We went ahead and used a slanted type trellis because I was afraid of handling the plant too much, so we basically secured netting to poles at about a 45 degree angle and just lifted the plant and arranged it onto the netting. It has been growing up the trellis fine until a few days later.

Even before putting the plant up on the trellis, I noticed that some of the leaves towards the bottom of the plant were yellowing and dying off. I figured it was because they were sort of buried underneath the top leaves and were getting no sun. Now, it seems like the entire bottom half of the plant is trying to die on me. Some of the leaves are dead, some are spotted yellowish, and some of the blossoms are wilted, dying, or dead. I have also noted a few leaves that have little holes in them toward the base of the stem. I have looked and looked for a culprit bug, but I can't find anything. The top half of the plant is doing beautifully, but I am afraid that whatever is going on towards the bottom of the plant is going to move upward.

I started them from seed and planted them in the ground when they were big enough at the end of March. It's been warm/hot here. I haven't used any fertilizer and was watering almost every day. The plants were doing so well, and I wonder if I shocked them by moving them around onto the trellis. Or is it over watering? If over watering were the problem, what do I need to do to save the plant (other than obviously stop watering so much?)

I will try to take pictures when it's light out, but in the meantime, if anyone has any advice, I would greatly appreciate hearing it. :)

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jennyd_72
Original Author

15 years ago

Bump. Anyone else care to take a look at my pics and give an opinion? I fertilized as suggested but am seeing no difference. It actually looks worse.

The plant dies more and more every day, and the top most green leaves are showing yellow spots now. I wish I could identify the bug. I have searched and searched and found nothing remotely similar. It's like a tight cluster of bugs, and if I moved them, they hurried back into their little huddle. I've also noticed tiny little black beetle looking things that I wonder if they're the flea beetle.

This is my first time growing anything, so I guess I will live and learn, but I am so disappointed. :( I wish one of you experts could come look at it and diagnose for me. I want to learn how to do this right!

Here is a link that might be useful: Pictures

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Comments (13)

Belgianpup
15 years ago
If plants stressed that much because their vines were moved around, all mine would be dead every year.

It sounds like either a nitrogen or potassium deficiency. The quickest fix for either/both would probably be fish emulsion. Dilute it as the jug directs (usually one tablespoon to one gallon of water), then spray the leaves with some, and put the rest around the roots. Make sure the soil around the roots is damp before applying it. Never apply a fertilizer to dry soil.

Fish emulsion is a good, all-around fertilizer for most plants, veggies and ornamentals.

Sue
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jennyd_72
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you, Sue. :) Should I snap off the leaves that have died, or will they fall off on their own?
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Why would you want to? Even muddy, I think those leaves are helping the plant. That said, from time to time in the past I've had the need to snip off a squash leaf and it never seemed to hurt the plant too much. I suppose it diminishes the plant's resources and thus its fruit, but it was a trade off I was willing to make. I've also removed leaves that had squash vine borers in them and the plant didn't die from the damage. I prefer to slit the leaf stalk and get the borer out that way, but it doesn't always work. I know leaves aren't supposed to get mud on them lest they get disease, but before you cut them off, is there something else you can do like apply a clean mulch? Even a piece of cardboard under them would do the trick, getting the plant out of the mud. Some nice wood chips or a hay block would work too. Then rinse the leaves a bit and you're good to go. Mulch will help in a lot of other ways too.
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The cause is related to the plant's inability to move water to its most distal parts due to compromised root health/function. The most common cause of root issues is over-watering. Start monitoring soil moisture levels using a 1/4 or 5/16" wooden dowel rot (any hardware or big box store). Cut it in half (yields 2 - 24" pieces) and sharpen ends in a pencil sharpener. Stick deep into the soil, as in all the way to the bottom of the pot. If it comes out wet and stained dark from the soil, withhold water until it comes out almost completely dry. When you DO water, water to beyond the point of saturation - so the soil is completely saturated and at least 15-20% of the water you applied exits the drain hole. This is important because it flushes accumulating salts from the soil, salts that inhibit the plants ability to take up water and nutrients and skew the ratio of nutrients in the soil. If you can't water this way for fear your soil will remain soggy so long root health and function are negatively affected, you should address the problem or be prepared to do battle with your soil interminably for control over your plants' vitality (health). Of all factors you have complete control over, soil choice is most important. Getting it right is the largest single step forward you're likely to make as a container gardener. Al
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Belgianpup
15 years ago
I would take them off. I've always suspected that dying leaves might attract insects, and I'm sure leaving them on is of no real benefit. I have no actual knowledge of that, just a suspicion. Also, it will help air movement among the plants, which reduces the chance of mildew and mold. I deliberately remove all the lower branches of my tomatoes just for that reason.

Sue
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jennyd_72
Original Author
15 years ago
I am going to try to post the pictures I took. I hope I do it right. If not, I'll try again later. Thanks everyone for your help and advice.

http://www.axcessmypics.com/photos/photo05/e0/2f/cafc3580c7c8.jpg
http://www.axcessmypics.com/photos/photo05/c7/54/20514fb3d6b8.jpg
http://www.axcessmypics.com/photos/photo05/a5/3f/5ffdbb0f390a.jpg
http://www.axcessmypics.com/photos/photo05/ed/b4/6d34b90591a7.jpg
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jennyd_72
Original Author
15 years ago
Trying again

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:47998}}
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jennyd_72
Original Author
15 years ago
Another picture

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:47999}}
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jennyd_72
Original Author
15 years ago
Another one. Sorry, I haven't figured out how to get them all in one post, yet.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:47998}}
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grandad_2003
15 years ago
Jenny, what cuke variety did you plant? Are they still alive?...Your plants look a bit similar to the cuke virus that nearly wiped out my crop about 4 years ago..
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thegardeningfool
15 years ago
Hi Jenny,

I planted a few cucumbers that I got at Lowes a few months ago and almost overnight they all looked like yours and died.

Instead of fighting it I just purchased seeds for cucumbers that do well in our Florida weather.

Here is a link to what/where I purchased the seeds from:
http://www.evergreenseeds.com/japcuctok.html

The only thing that is incorrect in that link literature is that they say that the cukes won't need support but they do.

If you want to try more of the stuff from Evergreen Seeds feel free to visit my blog where I have updates on taste, difficulty or ease to care for plant, pests, etc.

http://gardeningfool.blogspot.com

Also, feel free to email me directly thegardeningfool@hotmail.com if you have more questions (I am not on GW as often as I'd like).

Good luck!
pd
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jmorse33
15 years ago
Looks just like my cukes did last year and the year before when squash bug nymphs hatched out and started feeding on them. I tried to keep them off last year by hand picking the eggs I could find but eventually I missed a bunch.

Leaves start developing yellow spots, then wilting. You'll also spot them sucking the juices out of immature fruit where they attach to the vine. I've never had very good luck getting rid of them entirely once they show up, but I usually manage to still get some cukes by hand picking and squishing them when I can. I read somewhere that the smaller ones are vulnerable to soap spray while their bodies are still soft.

Nasty little bugs. They and the SVB's are my nemesis.
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tomncath
15 years ago
Where are you in Florida? Central or costal? I'm costal and I've had good success with the Bush Champion (compact vine but good production) trellised with cattle panel.

Tom
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tomncath
15 years ago
Point being that by getting the vines off the ground it's been very easy to control both the worms and powdery mildew (BT for the worms, Green Cure or milk for the mildew).
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Bottom half of cucumber plant dying

jennyd_72
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Belgianpup

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Bottom half of cucumber plant dying

jennyd_72Original Author

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Belgianpup

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jennyd_72
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