What's up with my 'cumber (again)

[DeeBee]

Hi

My cucumber has been growing happily (albeit with attacks of powdery mildew) in my plastic greenhouse. It's been producing cucumbers and has about 30 new ones on at various stages of growth.

It's watered regularly (has an upside down pop bottle in its base) and fed weekly and the greenhouse is opened first thing in the morning. Earlier this week I opened it up and everything was OK but when I came to close it up later, all of the leaves had gone limp. The only other time this happened was on one extremely hot day when the sun had been on it all day but it had been average temperature on this particular day. I thought it would have recovered by the next day but it seems to have given up. The leaves are turning yellow and it looks quite a sorry sight.

Any idea what caused it? And is it a 'gonna' or should I keep my fingers crossed that it's just playing possum?

Thank you for your help.

Dee

[Mrs Dobby]

Hi Dee,

Is it planted into the ground,or into a growbag? Although it looks wilted, it could be due to lack of nutrients, are you feeding it at all?

I'd probably try a feed of tomato feed in the water round the roots, and a foliar feed direct to the foliage, but only if its not too sunny (otherwise it could scorch it)

[DeeBee]

Hi and thanks for taking the time to get back to me.

The plant is in a large potato bag (one of those big green ones that you can buy to grow new pots in) and is fed weekly with Tomorite. I have a pop bottle inserted into the bag and keep that filled up with water and feed from above but away from the base of the plant. It's shown no signs of distress and has been producing 'cumbers ten to the dozen.

I've just had another look at it and the little 'cumbers that are on it have gone soft so I guess it's a 'gonna'.

[Mrs Dobby]

Hmm, strange, and its not been overwatered (causing the roots to rot)?

I'd take a look in Heyasson and see what he says, it sounds like theres something stopping the sap from rising to the leaves and fruit, so check for damage to the roots, stem or see if there's any bug infestation round the roots!

Sorry I cant offer any more concrete advice, its not a problem I've come across before!

[paulch]

Hi this happend to me 2 months ago and f1 cucumbers went limp i found out that it was due to temp differences or draght i found that suttons telegraph are much hardier althogh you have to watchb out for female flowers.

[DeeBee]

Thanks Paulch but guess what type of cucumber it is .... Telegraph!

I'm wondering whether I over-watered it but I thought as cucumbers are mainly water I should keep it well watered. Perhaps I was too enthusiastic or maybe it didn't enjoy me talking to it!

I haven't pulled it up as I'm the eternal optimist and keep expecting it to have got its second wind and begin growing again .... maybe tomorrow?

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Dee, have you been feeding the plant too much? Cucumber plants are sensitive to excess fertiliser. The symptoms are very similar.

[DeeBee]

Hi Lesley

I don't think so - just the weekly watering with Tomorite at the same time as I fed my tomatoes.

A couple of people have suggested over watering, which seems strange as the fruit are mainly water so I have been giving them plenty to drink, especially with the hot weather. Perhaps I over did it? Typical!

I guess if the roots have rotted when I eventually tip it out, that will confirm over watering?

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Dee, if it was over watering the leaves would have turned completely yellow which is the typical symptom of over watering. I reckon it's something else.