Got Cucumber Questions?
Do have any burning questions about cucumber gardening that I haven’t answered here?
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I accidentally broke off both of the tops of my trellised cucumber plant (Boothby Blonde variety). I do not believe I damaged the plant root. Will the cucumber plant survive? The plant was otherwise healthy looking and thriving.
Kindly advise.
Thanks,
Alan
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It should survive if it was just the tops of the vine. I would at least give them a chance! The only concern is if the climate is still favorable for the plant to catch back up and produce more blooms. I would definitely fertilize the cucumber plant with a flower focused fertilizer like this one: http://www.cleanairgardening.com/flower-power-fertilizer.html.
Hi,
I have a friend whose cucumbers turn brown and fall off when they are just beginning. What should I tell him to do?
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It could be that the cucumber blossoms were not fertilized. Hand pollination may help. If the cucumbers are actually growing, check into these cucumber plant diseases that could cause browning cucumbers: http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci/hortcrop/pp656w.htm.
This is the first year that I have tried growing cucumbers and everything seemed to be going fine until I went to check on the few that were getting close to being ripe today and one of them had a huge split down one side like the fruit inside just got too big for the skin and it split. I haven’t been able to find any information about it. At first I thought that I just had guessed wrong about when to harvest it and let it get too ripe, but when I cut it open it didn’t look ripe at all. What did I do wrong??
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If it was just one cucumber that split, don’t worry too much about it. But, think back to and see if you had substantial rainfall after a dry period or you recently fertilized. It doesn’t sound like a problem that’s affecting the whole harvest, though.
This is my 5th year of growing cucumbers and for the 1st time the cukes are soft. I have never used a trellis, should I? This is also the first year I used mushroom compost would that have anything to do with it? Thanks
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If this is your fifth year growing cucumbers, it should not be a harvesting problem. Double check the top cucumber plant diseases to make sure that’s not causing soft cucumbers. Here’s a resource: http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci/hortcrop/pp656w.htm. And, here’s more information on mushroom compost: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/story.php?S_No=28&storyType=garden. Make sure the mushroom compost is from a supplier that can confirm the compost was heated up enough to kill any pathogens. This article above suggests to let mushroom compost cure another season after purchasing.
Why are my cucumbers a little bitter tasting?
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Cucumbers can be bitter if the plant has been stressed and becomes unhealthy. Some possibilities for a stressed cucumber plant can be: plant disease, not enough water, or low fertility. Once the plant starts producing bitter cucumbers, it is likely all the cucumbers from the unhealthy plant will be bitter. Also, cucumbers if harvested too late can be bitter. Try picking a little early and see if that helps produce a good tasting cucumber.
My “CUKES are doing well!!… Too well it seems! What is the best way(other than pickling) to store the excess harvest?!!
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That’s awesome you’re having a great cucumber harvest. Try refrigerator pickles. This is still pickling, but it’s an easy way to do it: http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/homemade-refrigerator-pickles/Detail.aspx. Also, you could try cucumber salsa. Here’s a recipe: http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/cool-cucumber-salsa/Detail.aspx.
Why have my cucumbers turned yeloow?
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Most of the time when cucumbers turn yellow it is because they are staying on the vine too long. Try harvesting a little earlier. Also, weather conditions, nutrient deficiencies or poor soil quality can lead to yellow cucumbers. Make sure they are getting enough water and fertilize them.
For two years in a row our cucumbers (english variety) have been normal in size but very pale green and have developed “melon like” skin. We have put them in a different spot, we don’t have melons in our garden nor does our neighbor. We do have nematoads (sp?) in our soil and i have read that can cause some problems. They have been planted next to carrots for the past 2 years and I am wondering if that is a problem at all. Any help would be appreciated!
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If nematodes were the problem, you would most likely see an unhealthy plant or damage signs on the foliage. And, surely it’s not the carrots, since carrots are companion plants for cucumbers. Did you grow from the same seeds? Could they be a different variety? Also, weather conditions could affect the skin. Cucumbers do not do well in a hot, dry climate.
I’m wondering the same as Courtney’s May 15, 2010, message: “My cucumbers are curling. Do you know why they do this and how i can fix it?”
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Misshapen cucumbers can be a result from several variables: poor pollination, low fertility, or weather extremes. Remove the misshapen cucumbers, and fertilize to see if that will help.
I am growing bush pickle tomatoes and they are not turning green. They seem to start off yellow and stay yellow. I kept waiting for them to turn green but a few have rotted in the meantime. I picked the rest of them and am hoping for a new start with the next batch. I wonder if they are missing some nutrients??
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Yellow cucumbers are most likely due to a nutrient deficiency or weather conditions. Pick off the yellow cucumbers, and fertilize to see if you can add nutrients to the soil. If they are rotting, check into some of the cucumber diseases that could cause this. Here’s a site that will help: http://cuke.hort.ncsu.edu/cucurbit/cuke/dscntnts.html.
are cucumbers a vegtable or a fruit?
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Technically and botanically speaking, a cucumber is a fruit because it was formed from the ovary of the plant. However, most consider it as a vegetable when it comes to gardening.
I have been told that you shouldn’t weed cucumbers, zuchini and strawberries when they have dew on them, is there something true about that or is it just a opinion?
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There is some truth in this. It’s easier to spread plant diseases when the foliage is wet. Just wait a bit until the foliage dries.
A few of my cucumber plants are producing round cukes…..why?
lars Reply:
July 28th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
@Robin M
Could be several things. It might be incomplete pollination or weather extremes. It might be a second generation from a hybrid cucumber which could cause a funny shape.
This is my first year planting cucumbers – when do I know that the fruit is ready to pick? Should they look like I see them in the grocery store? I have a large fruit, but it still seems very light so I’m not sure if it’s ready.
Thanks so much!
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The variety or use of the cucumber will depend on when to harvest. Slicing cucumbers grow longer than pickling cucumbers. Here’s a helpful website with when to pick cucumbers for common garden varieties: http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1608.html.
My cucumber plants are huge. Tons of flowers and not a cucumber in sight. Thoughts? Suggestions? (I live in Maine and planted Memorial Day weekend. )
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Try hand pollinating the cucumber plants. Here’s a site that tells you how: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs398. Also, weather conditions can affect pollination. The plants having plenty of flowers is a good sign that you will still be able to harvest some cucumbers this season. And, it sounds like the plants are healthy. Just make sure you do not over fertilize!
My leaves are turning yellow, and some are drying up. We are getting cucumbers. I water every day. this is our first time. Thanks
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Make sure your soil is rich in nutrients. The yellow leaves could be sign of a nutrient deficiency. Try a well rounded garden fertilizer like this one: http://www.cleanairgardening.com/8-2-4-organic-fertilizer.html. Also, make sure the plants have mulch around them to keep the soil from drying out. If you don’t see an improvement with the leaves, look into cucumber plant diseases.
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