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Cucumber plant problem... Can someone identify!

matt.jefferies8LlEuot6Gmatt.jefferies8LlEuot6G Posts: 3
in Fruit & veg
Hello! 

I'm growing cucumbers for the first time this year in a container. They are located in a sunny utility room (essentially a greenhouse on the side of the house) It gets rather warm in there as you would expect so the plants have been growing very quickly! 

Unfortunately there are yellow / pale spots appearing across the leaves and spreading up the plant. (see photo for details) After a few google attempts there are a few potential things this could be; mildew or CMV seem to be the most common? However these are Marketmore 76 cucumbers which I thought would have been fairly resistant to these problems? 

There is also no sign of bugs! 

Any help / advice would be greatly appreciated! Ta in advance. 

Matt 

Posts

  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    It could be a fungus, but not powdery mildew, or it could be iron deficiency. It doesn't look like mosaic virus. If it gets very hot in there do you provide ventilation? Could you put them outside on sunny days? Do you water from below to keep the leaves dry? Are they getting enough water? You could try a suitable fungicide (look at the information on the box) and you could try a fertiliser with iron in it.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Another possibility is spider mites.
    They are invisible unless you use a magnifying glass on the underside of the leaves.
    The two spot spider mite is the most common.
    If you have a magnifying glass, check on the underside of the leaves near the viens.
    They also produce tiny webs here and there on the plant - see if you can notice any.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • matt.jefferies8LlEuot6Gmatt.jefferies8LlEuot6G Posts: 3
    Busy-Lizzie said:
    It could be a fungus, but not powdery mildew, or it could be iron deficiency. It doesn't look like mosaic virus. If it gets very hot in there do you provide ventilation? Could you put them outside on sunny days? Do you water from below to keep the leaves dry? Are they getting enough water? You could try a suitable fungicide (look at the information on the box) and you could try a fertiliser with iron in it.

    There isn't ventilation as such but windows into two other rooms and I often keep the back door open on really hot days. I can't move them because they are strung up and it would be a bit of a faff. I do water below the leaves yes. I try to keep the soil moist? 

    I will look into those two other suggestions thanks! 
  • matt.jefferies8LlEuot6Gmatt.jefferies8LlEuot6G Posts: 3
    Pete.8 said:
    Another possibility is spider mites.
    They are invisible unless you use a magnifying glass on the underside of the leaves.
    The two spot spider mite is the most common.
    If you have a magnifying glass, check on the underside of the leaves near the viens.
    They also produce tiny webs here and there on the plant - see if you can notice any.

    Okay interesting.. I had a look yesterday and there is a spiders web at the bottom of the plant but home to a larger spider? Is this different to the ones that spider mites produce. The spots also are visible on the higher leaves. (see photo) with more spots on the lower / older leaves. Which makes me think perhaps it is more of a nutritional issue? 


  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Spider mite webs are tiny and almost look like a small bit of cotton wool and usually toward the top of the plants where growth is freshest.
    They only thrive in hot dry conditions.
    Checking with a magnifier on the underside of the leaves is the best way to confirm or otherwise.
    I use ordinary Miracle Grow soluble plant food for my cucumber.
    From the photos, your plants look as if they're doing very well


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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