I am growing cucumbers in containers, as I have for years, but this year they are inside a screened enclosure around my pool. Plenty of sun, no exposure to pool chemicals. Vines are growing like crazy and dozens of blossoms, but cucumbers grow to about 2 cm long (very thin) and then turn yellow and shrivel to a brown thread. The watering is even with no episodes of over or under watering. What is happening? I had one cucumber actually mature, but no others! Thanks.
It is a pollination problem. When the flowers are not pollinated, the plant "aborts" the fruit because it will not make seeds. This article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/teak/insect-pollination-process.htm
You will need to hand pollinate. Cucumbers are identical to melons on how they pollinate, so this article will also apply to cucumbers: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/cucumber/hand-pollinating-melons.htm
Someone was jealous of my garden and sprayed weed killer on my plants.
I'm so sorry this has happened.
Herbicides will kill your plant.
My cucumbers grow to about an inch and then seem to dry up. The vine is lush and lots of flowers. Have had one huge cuke so far.
It is a pollination problem. When the flowers are not pollinated, the plant "aborts" the fruit because it will not make seeds. This article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/beneficial/insect-pollination-process.htm
You will need to hand pollinate, so this article will also help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/cucumber/hand-pollinating-cucumbers.htm
How do you successfully eliminate white fly on greenhouse cucumbers? Thanks.
This article should help with that: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/control-whiteflies-on-houseplants.htm
My cucumbers grow to about 8 inches or more but don't turn the green you see in stores. They remain very light in color or remain sort of a very light yellow. Am I doing something wrong? They are planted in a very sunny spot.
Do you know the characteristics of the variety you are growing? Check the back of the seed packet if you started them from seed. It will have estimated harvest size and the color characteristics listed on it.
Did the cucumbers start out green, then lighten as the go larger?
You may be waiting to long to harvest your cucumbers.
If the cucumbers are just growing and are yellow from the start, this is most likely a soil nutrient issue.
A soil test could identify the issue, but you need some help quickly.
I like to use Epsom Salt for feeding my vegetable plants. I would give this a try.
I like to spread about 1/8 cup of Epsom Salt around the base of the plant once a week. Water it in.
Here are some links for you.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/cucumber/when-to-pick-a-cucumber-how-to-prevent-yellow-cucumbers.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/cucumber/how-to-harvest-cucumbers.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/epsom-salt-gardening.htm
Is it ok to transfer my cucumbers to a trellis during growing season? They are currently growing vertically using bamboo stakes but I'm wondering if I should move them to a trellis. I've got squash and peppers in the same bed and I'm afraid of overcrowding. BTW, this is my first veggie garden.
Rather than move them, I would simply place the trellis at the base of the cucumbers and gently take some of the vines and place them along the trellis to direct their growth onto the support.
It's rained hard in the afternoon for a couple days and my cucumber leaves are curling. What's the cause? My dirt is mostly clay, I did not amend the soil before I planted the cucumbers. They looked pretty good until we started getting hard rains in the afternoons. It has been in the 90's most days.
Heavy rain in poor draining soil can be a deadly combination for garden plants.
I would just wait and see if the plants will live.
Watch for signs of fungus or insects and treat with Neem Oil.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/excessive-rain-on-plants.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/neem-oil-uses.htm