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

Yes, direct seeding cucumbers, squash and beans are definitely the way to go! I've never planted a succession planting of cucumbers, but I've done it with green beans and zucchini and it's worked pretty well. I'd normally be putting those second plantings in right around now, so if you're thinking about it, go for it! There's a great book called "Golden Gate Gardening" by Pam Pierce. It's got several planting calendars depending on your microclimate here in the Bay Area, and I find them really helpful. It's the best gardening book I have. The first few years I had my garden in this house, I experimented with planting a bunch of different things at different times of the year. For example, I learned my spring broccoli and cabbage did really well, the fall ones were fails--too many bugs. I logged what I did and how well it worked (rather obsessively, I confess). I also tried planting lots of different vegetables. It took me 3 years of playing year-round before I came up with a pretty solid calendar and list of veggies that worked for me. Granted, you never stop experimenting when it comes to gardening. But those first years were really a free-for-all. Especially if you grow from seed, you have control over what you plant and when. And if you buy quality seeds (Johnny's is my favorite), a packet will last you several years. So that long-winded response was all to say go for it! That's the fun of gardening IMO, playing around with things. There is no failure, because you learn as much from the dead plants as you do the ones that thrive. Your cucumbers look good to me, so you're definitely doing something right!

Probably army worms or cut worms. If so there will be lots more, and you can usually find their black poop around. They will attack with a vengeance and destroy stuff quickly.... Often they will eat away the leaf but leave the co ering, making it look clear or greasy. The best thing for them is BT spray. (bacillus thurengensis). You can get it at home depot. Follow th directions and get it on there ASAP or they will eat everything, The beetle might be unrelated.

Probably aphids. Aphids come in many different varieties and colors, so don't be fooled by them. Aphids suck out juices of plants and and introduce several different diseases. And, to make matters worse, if ants find them, they will farm raise them on your plants and keep them where they are. The ants eat the nectar the aphids produce, and the aphids get food from the ants. I would recommend planting garlic around your plants that have aphids. The garlic may keep the ants away. To make a non-toxic insecticide, go to http://smurl.name/p69x . To make a non-toxic fungicide, Google search "Non-toxic plant fungicide" or something similar.