What To Do When Cucumber Plants Yellow

by Mike Lieberman on October 14, 2009 · 20 comments

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I’m still figuring out what to do with my cucumber plants because the leaves are yellowing.

It’s just over a month since I moved my cucumber plant across the yard. The plant was moved for a few reasons. First being that it was outgrowing the trellis that I built for it and needed more support, so I moved it close to the fence to train it up. The second being that the leaves were yellowing, which I thought was due to sun exposure.

The plant is growing along the fence, still bearing fruit and blooming. That’s nice, but the leaves are still yellowing. My next guess is that it’s due to the lack of nutrients, so I threw some left over compost that I had in the container.

The important part is that the plant is still producing because I’m about functionality first and aesthetics second. My guess is that the yellow leaves can’t be good for the long term health of the plant though, so I’d like to remedy that.

What’s your thoughts on what to do when cucumber plants yellow?


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  • http://michellereneesgardening.blogspot.com/ Michelle

    http://michellereneesgardening.blogspot.com/ <– you are now on my blog! Thanks, Michelle

  • Mike Lieberman

    Sweet. Thanks for the mention!

  • http://earthmother-intheraw.blogspot.com/ EarthMother – In The Raw

    My experience has been that yellowing leaves mean an over-watered plant. I know you're using self-watering containers. Check the drainage situation.

  • Mike Lieberman

    They are draining. Maybe I have too large of a water reservoir? Thanks.

  • http://blog.wewantraw.com/ Damon

    Hi Mike! Great work…keep it up! You have officially inspired me to get back out there and get my beds ready for some winter greens! THANK YOU!
    How's your aeration? I found my big viney's like cuke, zucc and pumpkin like a big pile of sticks and dirt that add air and hold in warmth for me to get a good yield. So maybe temperature as well? I did have good luck with zucchini in pots on the roof to keep the roots warm last year.
    It's also time for me to restart my indoor hydroponic greens garden with new design enhancements….cross your fingers everyone, should it rival the last one I'll post my plans. Grow on Mike!

  • Mike Lieberman

    Awesome Damon. Glad to hear that. It's interesting, everyone has their own thoughts as to what it could be. As long as the cukes are growing, I'm happy.

    Definitely keep me updated on your projects. Fingers are crossed.

  • RawDamon

    Hi Mike! Great work…keep it up! You have officially inspired me to get back out there and get my beds ready for some winter greens! THANK YOU!
    How's your aeration? I found my big viney's like cuke, zucc and pumpkin like a big pile of sticks and dirt that add air and hold in warmth for me to get a good yield. So maybe temperature as well? I did have good luck with zucchini in pots on the roof to keep the roots warm last year.
    It's also time for me to restart my indoor hydroponic greens garden with new design enhancements….cross your fingers everyone, should it rival the last one I'll post my plans. Grow on Mike!

  • Mike Lieberman

    Awesome Damon. Glad to hear that. It's interesting, everyone has their own thoughts as to what it could be. As long as the cukes are growing, I'm happy.

    Definitely keep me updated on your projects. Fingers are crossed.

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  • Smartie

    Try some epsom salts. I use it when my tomato leaves go yellowy.  The e.s. works to increase chlorophyll production and helps the plant suck up and use soil nutrients such as nitrogen.

  • http://www.UrbanOrganicGardener.com Mike Lieberman

    Word. Thanks for the tip.

  • Anonymous

    Well, this one is really the best informative post about Cucumber cultivating. And the existing content of this post really drives me on the crazy way about it. Well, I have really the best of experience regarding cucumber gardening with the use of hydroponic. And you really don’t believe  it, that I have really found the best quality cucumber from this method. And this one is really one of the extreme way for getting quality cucumber. Thanks for sharing some magnificent information about it.
     

  • http://www.UrbanOrganicGardener.com Mike Lieberman

    Thanks for the comment Martin. There really has to be a better way for you to get a link back to your site then to squeeze links into your comments. It has been edited.

  • Gretchen Morgan

    One year I used chicken manure from my neighbor’s farm in the garden ; was terrible for all the plants except the the cukes which flourished!

  • http://www.UrbanOrganicGardener.com Mike Lieberman

    Was the chicken manured composted and completely dried out. Heard chicken manure is supposed to be great.

  • http://landcare.blogspot.com Kirsty@Bowerbird Blue

    Seaweed solution is always a good tonic when things look unwell, I’d try epsom salts too.

  • http://www.UrbanOrganicGardener.com Mike Lieberman

    Good call. Thanks!

  • Anitaburns1

    We grow lots of circubits including cucumbers using only fish emulsion and compost tea for fertilozer.

  • http://www.UrbanOrganicGardener.com Mike Lieberman

    Nice!