Cucumbers

[Lugnut]

Last edited Mon Jun 3, 2013, 01:14 AM - Edit history (2)

For the second year in a row my pickle cucumber plants are just about dead. I bought three beautiful healthy seedlings that were thriving until they were planted. Following last year's progression these plants' leaves started yellowing then shriveled up. The plants are now just about dead. Three years ago we had a huge harvest so I don't think it's the soil.

The weather hasn't been helpful this year. Last Saturday and Sunday nights we had to cover all the plants due to possible frost. Last year it was very warm early and stayed warm all season so I don't think it's weather related. I'm baffled. Any thoughts on this problem?

UPDATE: DH went to the greenhouse this morning and got three new plants. He spoke to the man who does the planting about the first plants. He was told that he's watering them too much! The man told him not to water them every day even if we don't get rain. The same goes for the tomato plants. We'll see how the new plants work out. Thank you for adding your thoughts, Nutmeg Yankee.

[NutmegYankee]

1. They do not like cold snaps.

So the cold ground may have shocked them this year. Also, if you use the Bonnies seedlings from the big orange or blue store, I've had hit or miss luck with them.

I also had a fantastic run in 2011, but a blight throughout this part of Conn. just decimated them last year. Try seeding some new plants.

[Lugnut]

2. I'm going to pick up more plants today.

Maybe the cold got them.

[NutmegYankee]

3. Which brand did you use?

And where did you get them?

[Lugnut]

5. I don't know the brand.

I got them at a local greenhouse.

[NutmegYankee]

8. Got it.

I recommend avoiding the "bonnie" brand. They have never done well for me. You find them at Home Depot and Lowes.

[Lugnut]

9. I try to buy local as much as possible.

I order my tomatoes from Burpee's which is a PA company. I typically don't buy plants from Lowe's or Home Depot.

[Curmudgeoness]

4. My neighbor is on her third try this year with cukes.

The first one got hit by a late frost. The second one was protected from another late frost, but was subjected to temps that got too cold and just died then and there. She got the third one batch and the temps got so hot (90 degrees) and the sun was so strong that it burned some of the leaves. That third batch is still alive though, but I was surprised that the second batch, although protected from frost, did not survive the low temperature. They obviously are not cool weather plants. I would suspect that the cold snap you had did those ones in.

If you plant another batch, try to protect them from direct sun if it is really hot until you know that they are well established.

Weird weather.

[Lugnut]

6. It's been very hot here the past two days.

I'm pretty sure the weather hasn't helped. DH is going to get more plants tomorrow and we'll try again.

[NutmegYankee]

7. Oh yeah, they hate cold weather

They always die off in Late Aug once the lows start hitting the 40s.

[Lugnut]

10. It was in the 30s last weekend.

This weekend we're roasting in the 90s. Weather is usually crazy in the PA mountains but this is ridiculous!

[NutmegYankee]

11. It is nuts.

We had that same cold snap last weekend. Last Fri or Saturday dropped to a low of 37. Now it's 90 with a dew point of 71 and I don't have AC. The high last Sat: 49. I live in SE Connecticut (hilly terrain) about 10 miles inland from the sound.

And I figure it will get nothing but worse.

[NJCher]

12. protecting transplants

Wow, your neighbor is persistant! I am not so sure I could go three rounds. Fortunately I am a procrastinator and still have my cuke starts in my front entryway, which serves as a greenhouse.

"...try to protect them from direct sun if it is really hot until you know that they are well established. "

I can't emphasize the value of doing this. I have re-purposed window screens that I prop up around my transplants. I keep them over them for at least three days. I can actually tell when the screens are ready to come off. The plant looks like it's grown a bit and gives off this "thriving" air.


Cher

[Curmudgeoness]

13. That is a great idea to use screens.

We have been trying to figure out how to shade them when they are planted in the ground, and this is a good way to do it. I will have to tell her about this.

She loves little cukes, and finds that all she can find at the farmers markets are big ones. When she grows them herself, she gets smaller kinds and can pick them at just the right size for her. That was why she was so determined. She was really upset to lose the first ones, that she raised from seed. The second and third had to be bought. She did say this was the last try, and they are doing well so far. They did get sunburned, but the new growth is beautiful.