Greenfly (aphids) on my cucumber seedling

[MonkeyF1]

My first time trying to grow cucumbers this year, I have one cucumber (Cucino) seedling at the stage where it has its first two 'baby' leaves and first proper leaf fully developed. The second proper leaf has started to develop but is covered in greenfly (aphids), and seems to be taking a long time to grow.

I'm just wandering if greenfly are any problem to cucumber plants. Are they harmless and I should just be ignoring them, or can they damage the plant or stunt its growth at all?

[Shadylane]

Get them squished. Greenfly can be a problem to any plant if you let them multiply. Where is your cucumber? If it's in your house, the greenfly will breed even quicker. Squish them regularly with your fingers. Once big enough to plant out, hopefully some natural predators will take care of them for you.

[MonkeyF1]

Get them squished. Greenfly can be a problem to any plant if you let them multiply. Where is your cucumber? If it's in your house, the greenfly will breed even quicker. Squish them regularly with your fingers. Once big enough to plant out, hopefully some natural predators will take care of them for you.

Thanks Shady. It's planted out in it's final pot in the garden. The greenfly have mainly been hiding in the sharp fold of the new leaf probably to avoid predators, although they seem to have multiplied today and there are a couple underneath the leaf now as well. I'll start removing them.

[Two_Sheds]

It's planted out in it's final pot in the garden.

Where are you?

It's still too cold at night for a cuke to be outside (here, anyway)



Aphids will always go for the softest, juiciest greenery. If it wasn't your cuke it would be something else. You must keep on top of squishing them, until the predatory insects come along to help you

[MonkeyF1]

Where are you?

It's still too cold at night for a cuke to be outside (here, anyway)

I'm in surrey, and alas I realized this too late. I'll bring it indoors now but I think it may be too late for it, as all the leaves have now wilted.

Thanks for advice, I'll hopefully do better on my second attempt.

[Shadylane]

It may yet survive, but they can be pretty sucidal, even at the slightest hint of a chill. I only started mine the other day, you've time to start again.

[Paul Bromley]

My cukes have had to go outside too damn big for the house (started too soon), however at the moment they are looking OK night time is not dropping below 10 deg and I am covering them every night, don't know if I will get away with it but if not will take the advice and start some more being a beginner I hadn't realised they would grow so fast in a heated propagator.