Why can't I grow cucumbers? Frustrated.

[cajuntec]

I like having my own garden. I grow tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, squash, strawberry's and various other varieties. What I HAVEN'T been able to grow though, is cucumbers. Three years ago, I built my box garden. I used a mix of quality bulk garden soil and some stuff called "Jungle Growth" garden soil. I installed a Mist Sprinkler system that works really well, and put it on a timer.

The plants took off - all except my cucumbers. Those just wilted away, turned brown and died. I must have picked hundreds of tomatoes, lots of squash, potatoes, etc...

Year two - same crop. Mixed in some new Jungle Growth. Everything took off again, including the cucumbers. But before we picked any of them, they turned yellow and nasty. The plants dried up and withered away, even with extra hand watering. Most of the year, we had to hand water. The tomato crop was overwhelming. We couldn't eat enough of them, and we gave a lot away. But the cucumbers - "0".

Year three - this year. My garden is off to a good start. Fertilized, mixed in new soil, improved the sprinkler system, etc... Same crop. Tomatoes are taking off again. Peppers doing well. Squash looking good. Cucumbers are almost completely dead. In two and a half weeks time, the plants went from about 6 inches tall to withered and brown, shrinking in size to about 3 -4 inches.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. What am I doing wrong???

All the best,
Glenn

[Martin]

This always works for me, I plant cucumbers on the 100th day of the year. I take a cattle panel, put a T post on each end and put three seed mounds on either side. The plants will grow up the panels, and picking is much easier. Good luck.
Oh yeah, and check for cutworms.

[miket]

I wish I could help you, but I have had the same issue with watermelons.

[RealTreeHunter]

Well how about Miket makes twice the cucumbers and Cajuntec makes twice the watermelons. Problem solved!!

[18ncs]

Well how about Miket makes twice the cucumbers and Cajuntec makes twice the watermelons. Problem solved!!

There you go

My guess is too wet or one of those borers or other insects Try another area of the garden and treat by hand

[Captrix]

I'll be following this. I haven't gotten any okra or cucumbers the past 2 years but my squash
, tomatoes, and beans have gone crazy.

[Atfulldraw]

too wet
too early
or both.

we used to grow them on the back side of the berm for the swimming pool, they basically got ignored and just got a little water. Mine seemed to thrive on neglect

[Billybird]

Sounds like an insect issue, since your other plants are thriving. Cukes are normally quite easy to grow. Try another spot for your cukes and see how they do. C'ya

[Jaspro]

Cucumbers, watermelons, cantaloupe love well drained soils. A sandy Loam is best. Space plants out in a raised bed and NEVER plant cucumbers and cantaloupe or cucumbers and watermelons close to each other or you'll wind up with one that tastes like the other.

[Draco]

You may have squash borers. They will kill cukes as well. Have you tried growing squah?

[cajuntec]

Thanks for the responses everyone. I had read about sandy loam soil. But when I looked into it, it said soil, sand, and clay mixture. How do I make that??? In Virginia, I grew them in the same type of setup I have here, and they thrived. I actually was giving them away because we grew so many.

I was thinking that I was underwatering them - thus the brown. After reading the replies here, I think I'm probably overwatering them. The downpour we are getting right now in San Antonio definitely won't help that out! I just hope I still have anything left after this storm blows through. Man! It's pouring out there! Glad I cut my grass yesterday!

All the best,
Glenn

[SCREAMINREELS]

Don't water too much. Bow often are your timers set?

[cajuntec]

3 times a week for 5 minutes with misting heads.
All the best,
Glenn

[Jaspro]

Just go buy you several bags of play sand and incorporate it with existing soil where you plan to plant the cucumbers. A well drained soil is the main thing with them

[SpringerDIVA]

Which variety were you trying to grow? Just curious.