skip to main content

Vegetable Gardening

Why are my cucumber plants turning yellow? (pics)

16 years ago

OK, so here's the deal. My garden did decent this year. I just finished a raised bed with cinderblocks this spring. I filled the bed with about 16 inches of my own 'soil-less' mix which consisted of evenly mixed peat, nutra-mulch, soil pep and compost from the landfill.

So I think the nitrogen was too high this first year because I had a lot of tomato blossoms falling off at the stem just above the flower. I also had a lot of pepper steams falling off just above the flower as well.

However, my neighbor was watering his lawn like crazy which ended up soaking my yard. So for 2/3 of the summer, my garden area had soo much water that all the walk ways between my raised beds were full of mud.

That's a touch of background info. So my cucumber plants did real well at first and then started to turn a light green into almost a yellow color. Then in the last week, the ends started to grow again which is why you can see some good colored leaves on the vine ends. They stopped producing fruit. I'm trying to decide why.

I figure it could be soil composition (N too high??)

Or it could also be too much water? Would my compost/organic mix suck up too much water from below?

Also, my tomatoes were doing pretty good (other than the blossoms falling off) until about 1-2 weeks ago. Then the bottom leaves started drying up. Now the bottom half of all the plants are dried up.

Anyways, any ifno on what is the problem would be greatly appreciated. I'd like to have even better luck next year...

Thanks for any help!

{{gwi:109209}}
{{gwi:109210}}
{{gwi:109211}}
{{gwi:109212}}
{{gwi:109213}}

Comments (4)

fishymamas
16 years ago
I vote overwatering, as that's dead on what happened the my melons next to the neighbor that rinses off her concrete patio daily. Hubby suggested sand bags along the fence so she can deal with her own run-off.
livvyliv10
16 years ago
Hey there. Those UT mountains in the background are killing me! Don't get a view like that in NC, but it's lush and green here. Usually yellowing is due to nitrogen deficiency or overwatering. Since it seems like you had plenty of nitrogen, I'm going to guess overwatering as well. Also plants dropping flowers can be due to overheating, and I heard it got pretty hot in your area this year. My parents live in UT, and they only water 2 to 3 times a week during ave summer weather -- more when it's over 95. I have the overwatering disease so I finally bought a cheap moisture meter at Lowes and my garden is doing great, whereas before everything was yellow. Best of luck to you!
Related Discussions
Why are my chile plants turning yellow?
Q
Comments (0)
Courtesy of Byron Spider Mites - Usually pin point yellowing Insects Nematodes Root Rot Diseasses Viral Disease Overwatering Nutrient deficiencies - lack of nitrogen or magnesium Soil Chemistry Excessive salt, pH Old Age. Remedies: Check for insects. This part by Dwalls If there is no insect damage, give a small quantity of nitrogen - low N value fertilizer. You can also give epsom salt for magnesium. 1-2 tbsp. per gallon of water or sprinkle epsom salt on ground around base of plant. This part by Byron Yellowing of leaves could also be caused by excessive nitrogen. Bottom leaves turn light yellow, veins are dark green/brown. Odds are the leaf tip and or margins will turn brown and become very brittle. Fix is to over water for several occassions. If the roots are not salt burned (brown areas), the plants have a chance to recover.
...See More
Why are my bamboo and tropical plant turning yellow?
Q
Comments (6)
Tiffany is correct--the lucky bamboo especially is sensitive to tap water chemicals. What do the roots look like on the bamboo? Do they smell? I had a stalk go yellow very quickly and it was the result of root rot. I ordered a bad one from ebay where the roots were already starting to rot. It happens sometimes. Check the other stalk roots for any sign of mushiness. Though this doesn't guarantee your bamboo will live forever, I try to change out the water pretty often (once a week or more)--it also allows me to inspect the plant and to rinse off any debri or goo (algae) that can build up in the clumped roots. A lot of internet guides will advise every two weeks, but I feel as though the water is pretty gross long before that.
...See More
Why are the leaves on my roses turning yellow? (pic)
Q
Comments (12)
You can buy iron in a bag at a plant store or as a liquid, but if the soil is not acid enough iron won't help. If you ph is above 7 you need to take the ph down to 6.5 or lower. If you drink coffee just add unused coffee to mixed with water or add some white vinegar to the water you use to water. Peat can create a more acid soil, if you mix an acid loving plant mix or peat into the soil. Once the ph is at a good level, then the plants can actually uptake the iron. I forgot to mention sometimes yellow leaves are the sign of over watering in which you may not be over watering, but have poor drainage. They don't sell Killex. I only use round up which has to hit the plant to create a kill, but I don't know about Killex. It is possible that it leaked from the soil into the rose? There are too many possibilities. I might dig it up and put it in a pot, if I really cared about it and I could not get a replacement. That would solve the ph problem or the weed killer problem. Use a rose potting mix and it should be already and later you can replant it.
...See More
my Hindu Rope plant leaves are turning yellow and i cant find out why
Q
Comments (1)
Overwatered maybe? With to cold temperatures or too much wind?
...See More
bobn4burton
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for the input, I think it was probably overwatering as well. I think my compost/peat/soil pep/nutra-mulch soil mix holds water way more than I ever expected it to...

Is it possible for my all-organic soil mix to "wick" up a bunch of moisture from below? I was hoping to get rid of all my moisture problems by having raised beds. I gotta get my neighbor to stop watering so much! (He waters his lawn 3 times every day, complete waste and his grass looks like crap from too much water).

I guess I should probably have my soil mix tested for N. I guess I assumed it was high because of the make-up and newness of my mix.
bb
16 years ago
some other things to think about:

cucumber beetles love cucmber plants, they feast and infect the plants with a bacteria that kills the cucmbers, known as bacertial wilt.

it's getting late in the season, this is the time when late blight hits tomatos, spreads from the bottom going up the plant, certainly a fatal disease, but can be managed by spraying fungicide, the fungal disease is spread by water, overhead watering is a main culprit to the spread of the disease.

Sign Up to Comment

Related Stories

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: Turning a Netherlands Barn Into a Country Home

By Louise de Miranda

Once a place for chilling milk, this Dutch home now lets the owners chill out in easygoing comfort

GARDENING GUIDES Great Garden Combo: 3 Wonderful Plants for a Deer-Resistant Screen

Protect your privacy and keep deer at bay with a planting trio that turns a problem garden area into a highlight

BATHROOM COLOR 7 Tips for a Sensational Yellow Bathroom

By Jennifer Ott Design

Counter the late-winter blahs with a blast of sunny yellow in the bathroom

COLOR New Reasons to Love and Decorate With Yellow

By Liz Miller Interiors

Learn some of this controversial color’s history and associations — you might just see it in a different light

EXTERIOR COLOR When to Paint Your Home Yellow

By Bud Dietrich, AIA

Be a cheer leader with this color that captures the sun and radiates a warm welcome

COLOR Color of the Week: Spring Blossom Yellow

By Jennifer Ott Design

Tired of winter yet? Bring on spring with our featured color of the week

COLOR 11 Ways to Add a Splash of Yellow to Your Interior

By Tom Flanagan

See how a dab of this sunshiny color can bring warmth and cheer to a room

GARDENING GUIDES 5 Unsung Wildflowers That Thrive in Dry Shade

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Turn shady problem spots into garden idylls with with these prolific, easy-care bloomers

GARDENING GUIDES 6 Plants That Beat Butterfly Bush for the Wildlife Draw

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

It's invasive, a nonnative and a poor insect magnet. Check out these better alternatives to butterfly bush in the garden

RED FOLIAGE Great Design Plant: Chinese Pistache

Versatile and easygoing, this tree puts on a guaranteed fall spectacle in the landscape

Sponsored

More Discussions

Best Way to Enclose Existing Raised Beds?

11

gave my garlic a haircut today

8

I'm completely devastated

28

Garden slug tip

3

Hardening seeding temperatures

16