Recreational gardeners need to act quickly when they spot the first signs of cucumber diseases or pests. Effective countermeasures that are as chemical-free as possible are required to save the diseased plants. What to do if cucumber plants suffer How do you identify diseases and pests at an early stage?

Cucumber diseases and their causes

Mistakes in care cause most cucumber diseases and can often be avoided. The optimal location for each cucumber variety and the right cucumber care is the best prerequisite for plants and fruits to grow and thrive healthily. The best protection against greenhouse cucumber diseases is a constant, warm, humid climate in the greenhouse. Both day and night.

  • Verticillium wilt is a fungal disease that occurs in the soil and affects plants from below. New shoots and leaves wither and die.
  • Powdery mildew and downy mildew attack different garden plants with similar damage patterns. They cover the entire cucumber plant with their mealy coating and penetrate through the surface of the leaves. In summer, the powdery mildew develops spores that are carried to other plants by the wind. Mildew fungi overwinter in small spore receptacles on plant debris.
  • In contrast to powdery mildew, downy mildew attacks the underside of the leaves via natural leaf openings. Downy mildew on cucumbers spreads via spores in damp weather, rain and, depending on the type of fungus, at temperatures of 10° to 18° degrees.
  • In the case of the cucumber mosaic virus, the cucumber plants first react with wilted, lightened leaf edges. They turn light green or yellow. Aphids usually transmit the virus and should therefore be combated as a preventive measure. Dispose of infested plants immediately before the virus spreads.

Prevent and effectively treat cucumber diseases

Bacterial, viral and fungal infection of cucumber plant diseases occurs through infected insects, droplet infection or soil particles deposited on leaves and fruits. This can happen due to high humidity or when watering and watering. Leaves and fruits turn yellow and wilt. Effective, preventive measures:

  • airy location without drafts
  • ideal soil conditions and germ-free soil
  • sufficient planting distance
  • no waterlogging
  • virus-resistant F1 hybrid cucumber varieties

In addition to these measures, herbal showers made from stinging nettle, horsetail and horsetail also have an excellent effect and give the cucumber plants more resistance. If the infestation is too severe, the plants must be disposed of and the soil renewed. For foods such as cucumbers, this is a healthier alternative than using chemical agents.

Cucumber pests lurk everywhere

In every gardening year, sooner or later, unwanted pests appear on the cucumber plants. With these annoying cucumber pests, immediate countermeasures are important to save the plants in time.

  • aphids
  • white fly
  • thrips
  • spider mites

tips and tricks

Effective help with low infestations: Beneficial insects such as ladybugs, lacewings, parasitic wasps (€22.99) predatory mites and yellow boards.

Category:

Vegetable garden