bless578 Two years ago I raised 12 cucumbers in 12oz cups. They had grown great under the lights for three weeks. They were set out for three days for a few hours before planting. I planted them in the evening on a mid seventy degree day. The next day the temp hit high eighties with sun all day. I noticed that evening the leaves were losing their green color turning white. The sun burnt them all, almost all the leaves turned white, but four plants lived. I didn't make the same mistake the following year. This years I raised about 36, two in a cup, 18 cups. This year when the plants were about an inch tall, they were set out (it was cool at the time) each day where they got morning sun until about noon and left in the shade until evening when they were brought inside (our cold frame was full). The following week the plants were set out where they got sun all day and left out since the night temp stayed above 50* that week. These are the plants below. All doing well. Last years vine patch in the same location. Our 9 rows of Honey and Pearl corn in the background. It seems that some gardeners over water and over fertilize. Lightly moist potting soil is good, wet not good. We might give seedling (tomatoes, peppers) a 1/2 strength miracle grow watering a week or so before repoting to 2 quart pots. A week after we repot we give them another 1/2 strength drink of one cup each. The day before we plant to the garden (several weeks later) we give them one cup of full strength miracle grow mix and more water if needed. The cucumbers and watermelons in the pics did not receive any miracle grow. They were only in the 12oz cups for three weeks and were about three or four inches tall when planted (I looked through my pics folder but it seems I did not take any pics). Before planting I till the area. I then dig about a 12" wide buy 8" deep hole. We mix together about 1/3 well composted horse manure 2/3rds soil and a good sprinkling of 10-10-10 fertilizer, place the plants and water. A week later we dress all around the plants in a 12" circle with more 10-10-10 and cover the fertilizer with a little loose soil. Corn wants sun right from the git go. Last year in the pic above with the corn, I started the first three lower rows in three boxes with soil from the garden. I scratched in the soil (2" deep) a 1 1/4" grid and pressed a seed in each square with a unsharpened pencil about 1/2+" deep . Since I had soaked the seeds in warm wet potting soil (about 26 hours in a plastic container in a warm place ~80+*~ with a lid, one cup potting soil soggy wet, 340 seeds). I could actually see the tiny sprouts coming out of some of the seeds after the 26 hours. I planted the seeds and had plants nearly a 1/2" high under my grow lights in a week, all but about eight sprouted. A week later they were nearly 2" high and I planted them out. I took a table spoon and scooped out each plant and planted them, three 50' rows. Even at only 2" high the roots had started tangling with one another. I thought it would take me about an hour and a half to plant them, it took me over three hours. I even had to tarp cover them one night because of frost(not fun). Even though I had sweet corn three weeks before anyone else in the area I would never do it again. It was an experiment and it worked out well. Almost all the plants lived but I had deer that decided they wanted a sample so I had to replant some areas in the rows. I'm an experimenter and just a novice weekend gardener with little experience but I hope that info helps. I have no idea what I'm doing. Here is a link that might be useful: Mom's Garden Pics and Info

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/cornucop/gal062153163329.html?1 I am really sorry about the vagueness of where the other post is. I just assumed it would be understood it was in this forum's gallery section, but it is easy to know that if you already know that. :-) I posted a small clickable thumbnail when I read it is best to load small pics as they are easier to load, and then can be clicked on to be seen bigger. I thought the big ones were much nicer too, and maybe not everyone can click it and make it bigger. Sorry again. I am puzzled also by the shredding of the leaves after the white/silvery stuff appears, but in looking up possible causes which I have been doing every night, I found that angular water spot will shred the leaves just like it is an isect eating it. I don't think it looks exactly like it, but it is the closest thing I have found yet. I just went out to the garden in hopes of some pics this morning but I knew the dew would probably be too heavy and it was. it really washes out the white color making it hard to see. I have an appt before lunch, but will be getting pics the first minute I can when I get back. Thanks so much for taking the time to try to help me figure this out. If the cucs are lost, at least if I identify it soon, I can do prevention on the other vines before they get too bad to save. Julie

Hi Jessica, I like your trellis, but sorry I don't have a diagnosis. It sounds that the plant was producing delicious cucumbers for a while, right? I, too, was very frustrated with mine because they always produced well but never long enough. Through help from this forum I adapted some changes this year and so far I've been getting great cucumbers everyday since mid May. To extend the harvest I made the following changes: 1. Never use up all garden space at the first spring planting. I reserved some space for successive planting. 2. Pick cucumbers when they are young and pick daily so the plant doesn't "age" as fast. Aged plants are more vulnerable to diseases. 3. Repeat planting about every 4 weeks. My second planting is at it's peak right now, and the third planting is almost ready to fruit. I've found that 3 plants at each planting is more than enough to supply for a small family. We're blessed with a long season in southern California; maybe that's why the above changes worked well. I hope you'll continue to get delicious cucumbers.

Before spraying anything proper identification of the problem is necessary. Even though the product is supposed to be an "organic" pesticide it is very broad spectrum that should only be used as a last resort product. This disclaimer on the label should give every organic gardener pause, " Controls a wide range of mite and insect pests such as (but not limited to): " The "white fluffy looking bugs" that might be mealy bugs can be controlled as easily as the Aphids they are related to with sharp streams of water. The white spots on the leaves need better identification since that could be Powdery Mildew, or something else.