Combating Cucumber Troubles

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30289, 15 November 1963, Page 10

Combating Cucumber Troubles

Cucumbers are often regarded as difficult to grow and failures are by no means u n c o m in o n. Troubles seem to fall into a number of groups which are caused by pests, diseases and cultural troubles.

Germination is sometimes troublesome, especially when old seed is used, or when the seed is sown in soil that is cold. Fresh seed should be used and sown when the ground was warmed up. The ground should be well prepared and copious quantities of organic matter incorporated so as to ensure retention of moisture. Provided the ground is well drained planting on hills is unnecessary. Sow two or three seeds at 2—2jft intervals and if the soil is moist when sowing no further watering should be necessary until after germination. Then the seedlings can be thinned to one or two. Drying out should be guarded against at all times and a mulch of straw or polythene will prove beneficial on soils that tend to dry out. On the other hand cucumbers do not need paddy field conditions. Male Flowers First As the young plant grows it will be found that the male flowers appear first and in the early stages there seems to be a complete absence of female flowers (these are the flowers with a miniature cucumber behind). These will develop later on the lateral shoots. They can be encouraged by stopping the leading shoot and by repeated stopping of the laterals. The variety “crystal apple" which is a yellow round fruit, is a prolific bearer which responds well to this type of treatment. Spring-tail A Pest Soon after the seedlings have appeared above ground.

the seed leaves and the first true leaves then become riddled with holes and there never seems to be any signs of a culprit. This trouble is almost certain to be caused by the colembola or spring-tail, and when unchecked this pest can cause the complete loss of the young plants. If a careful watch is kept when approaching the plants it is possible to observe there tiny insects springing high into the air; it is because of their small size that they often escape notice. Judicious applications of DD.T. or lindane dusts will give contrbl A pest which becomes prevalent later in the season, especially during long hot and dry spells, is red spider. The plant assumes a greyish or silvery appearance and the leaves become hard and brittle. On the under-side of the leaves the red spider can just be observed. If allowed to go unchecked the plant becomes stunted, growth stops and the plant gradually shrivels. Regular watering during the dry periods will reduce the chances of infestation but once the pests appear immediate applications of malathion should be made; two should give control if applied at 10 to 14 day intervals Many Diseases There are many diseases which can attack cucumbers but the most common is mildew. The cucumber grows untroubled by pests, producing

flowers and perhaps even fruit, when quite suddenly it takes on a sickly appearance, the leaves lose their green colouration and become spotted and gradually shrivel and die. This deterioration is accompanied by white or greyish mould growth on the undersurface of the leaves. Copper

or salicylanilide sprays applied at 10 or 14-day intervals will give control Root rots and stem rots do occasionally prove troublesome but this is most usual in badly drained soils or in heavy soils where water does not drain quickly. In these instances raised beds could be considered.