Can you save my cucumber please

[Sheikh Yerboutti]

Ive been growing 3 mini cues (Beth Alpha) in unheated greenhouse ,from seed. Theyve been doing fine , now about 6 weeks old and 9" high, just about to flower. In 10" pots with mix of soil & compost and a few chicken manure pellets. Last few days theyve gone downhill.Rate of growth has stopped and The leaves are limp like theyre made of linen. Ive not let them get dry. All my other crops are fine including other tender stuff like aubergine, chilli, toms, courgetes etc etc. Can they be saved??????

[Sheikh Yerboutti]

Can you save my cucumber please???

Ive been growing 3 mini cues (Beth Alpha) in unheated greenhouse ,from seed. Theyve been doing fine , now about 6 weeks old and 9" high, just about to flower. In 10" pots with mix of soil & compost and a few chicken manure pellets. Last few days theyve gone downhill.Rate of growth has stopped and The leaves are limp like theyre made of linen. Ive not let them get dry. All my other crops are fine including other tender stuff like aubergine, chilli, toms, courgetes etc etc. Can they be saved??????

[Tomatoking]

Hi Sheikh

Cucumbers are very sensitive to over watering, so could be root rot. I have saved plants by bulking up compost in a mound above the normal level around the stem.

It also could be the cold, as it has been chilly lately.

Pictures do help, but I have seen plenty limp cucumbers in the past, plants that is !!!! LOL

Mr TK

(awaits comment from Mrs TK!)

[Sheikh Yerboutti]

Thanks for reply TK. Ill try you sugestion and pray, Cheers.

[Capsid]

Yes, cucumbers are very prone to stem rot. Don't let the compost get too wet.

[Sheikh Yerboutti]

Yes, cucumbers are very prone to stem rot. Don't let the compost get too wet.

The stem is wobbly where it exits soil. Is it doomed or can I spray summat on it???

[Two_Sheds]

Spray what?

[taff]

No,youcan't spray them with anything, but you could sow some more.

[Tomatoking]

The stem is wobbly where it exits soil. Is it doomed or can I spray summat on it???

I have been racking my brain as to what we used to use commercially to prevent root rot on seedlings.
Here is a link http://www.fargro.co.uk/prodmanl/pro...13359-0508.pdf that I found for a product, but I think for a small number of plants it is not worth it, and as most amateur growers like to be as organic as possible, we do try to find alternative soloutions to chemicals.

As I mentioned before, mound up fresh compost to encourage new root growth or as Taff said, just plant some more seeds.


Mr TK

[Sheikh Yerboutti]

I did as you said and pulled soil up around stem yesterday and theyre looking better today. Leaves are pumping up again. Flowers are a little further towards opening. I witheld watering them. Im excited. Thanks yall.

[jackie1955]

I am glad I read this thread, I have the same problem and it's the second lot of cucumber plants it's happened to, so I shall pull up the soil around the stems and start praying that I don't lose these two as well, fingers crossed.

[Tomatoking]

Well, you can try Jackie, it has worked quite a few times for me in the past, but don't ask for your money back if it doesn't work

Mr TK

[Sheikh Yerboutti]

Its suffering again today. Some leaves are limp and yellowing.The flowers are still progressing though. It was hot here, 28c in gh. Do I need to shade it in this weather?

[Tomatoking]

Sheikh.

In normal circumstances they would be fine. I would cool them down a few times a day with a hose, and keep them as cool as possible.
Dont worry about scorch, they cant get any worse.
Cool, slightly humid conditions are best . The less stress on them the better.

Mr TK

[Sheikh Yerboutti]

OK, many thanks TK.