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Vegetable Gardening

Cucumbers Suddenly Dying

rebeccageddings

8 years ago

I'm growing Lemon Cucumbers in pots on my deck. They were doing great- flowering and I'd seend a few tiny cucumbers starting. One morning they looked fine and by the afternoon they were droopy and a handful of leaves were totally withered and brown. They are still flowering, but look obviously stressed and on the brink of death. Any ideas? I have seen no bugs- we had a slight start of powdery mildew, but neem oil fixed it asap. Thoughts?

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Comments (5)

Jason Byrne
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago

I am a first season garden rookie, so not saying this as an expert. But I have had similar problems with one of my cucumbers this summer. It was going great and climbing like crazy and then all the sudden it started dying off.. and hasn't stopped.

Around the time it started to go downhill, I happened to see what I thought was a form of a ladybug. But turns out it was a 12 spotted cucumber beetle. I haven't seen any more after that day or two. But ever since then the cucumber has never recovered. My current going theory is bacterial wilt from that guy.

You see how healthy and green it was then in the photo. Now... not so much.
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digdirt2
8 years ago
What size pots are you trying to grow them in? Using the leaf size for a sense of scale those containers appear far too small, too quick to dry out. And the soil in the pics sure looks very dry.

Cukes are very dependent on good moisture, consistent soil moisture levels, to survive and they won't tolerate overly dry conditions for any length of time.. So are you sure they aren't just dying because they are root bound in the containers and so not getting enough water?

Dave
0
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that is why i gave up on them.. decades ago ... since i dont pickle them.. there is simply no use for too many.. and when they are done.. they are done .. so be it.. eventually.. i just quit planting them... who needs the irritation ... too many newbs to gardening.. think its all a disney-esque .. perfect little world.. it isnt.;.. short seasons... long seasons.. most everything produces.. not much looks perfect ... cukes are short season .... get ugly.. and die ... so it is said.. so it is written ... lol .. whether it is a disease.. or a bug.. what difference does it make.. the cure costs more than a bushel basket of cukes at the farmers market this time of year .... ken
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jean001a
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
First, I'd like to echo dig's comment. The pots look small for the plants

Further, it's difficult to judge from a photo. But the growing media appears to be dry.

Also, a question for you: What did you use in the pots? If any garden soil, that's a problem.

Oh, yes. What are you doing about fertilizer? The plants look pale and the lower leaves are already over the hill.
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shelma1
8 years ago
Just a guess, but can cukes be attacked by squash borers? I lost all my squash to them last summer. Look for "sawdust" near the base of the plants. The borers eat the stems from the inside and cut off water and nutrients, killing the plant. It will start to wilt and no amount of watering will help.
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digdirt2
8 years ago
<ust a guess, but can cukes be attacked by squash borers? >

Yes they can according to some sources but it is reported to be rare. And the symptoms would be different than that shown in the pics - plant collapse clear up the stem rather than just a few leaves at the base.

Dave
0

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