Cucumbers

[gally110807]

Hi,

I have got about 10 cucumber plants in pots outside all of which have got split brown stems at the base of the plant. Other than this they are thriving and are now flowering. Any idea what this could be or how to save the plant. As the plant is doing well should I just leave them?? It has been like this for a few weeks so doesn't seem to be affecting their growth.

This is out first crop of cucumbers so I'm not really sure what to do.

Thanks
Gally

[sarraceniac]

It is probably verticillium wilt which is a soilborne fungus. Light brown streaks can be seen in stem split lengthwise. Avoid soil previously planted in cucumbers and family members, potatoes, peppers, eggplant, and tomatoes.

Nothing you can do this year. The plants may die off before they get to fruiting.

Did you use fresh compost in the pots? If you did then don't buy the same type again. If you recycled some then don't again, it is false economy. Old compost should be dug into a safe areas of the borders or disposed of.

[BarleySugar]

I would carefully heap a little damp compost at a time up the stems. Cucumbers will root from the stems, but you have to be careful they don't get too wet or they will rot anyway. If the plants are thriving so far, and manage to produce new roots, then you may well keep them going. This is a first aid suggestion, not necessarily a cure.

[Jax]

I noticed I had abit of this on one of mine last night and am abit worried that my second plant is also in the same pot should I remove it and plant it somewhere else? Is it contagious for the other plant?

[sarraceniac]

I noticed I had abit of this on one of mine last night and am abit worried that my second plant is also in the same pot should I remove it and plant it somewhere else? Is it contagious for the other plant?

Afraid it is Jax. I would have thought that you will be too late moving it now but, although it may not help, you may have just a slight chance of being lucky.