Limp Cu seedlings?

I planted 5 cucumber seeds and was really chuffed when all 5 germinated. Two were really strong, one a little deformed looking and 2 smaller ones.

A couple of days ago I checked on them in the greenhouse and one was doing really well the 2nd had one leaf munched off, the deformed one is still small and odd looking but the two smaller ones have just gone limp and floppy and look dead. All have had the same compost and wastering regime so what could it be any ideas? I don't want my others to go the same way.

I actually only wanted 2 plants as going on previous years I was giving them away to anyone who'd have them as I has sooo many (and OH doesn't eat them), but was so pleased that most of them seemed to be doing so well.

 

Hi Penny,
I'm growing cucumbers for the first time this year. Apparently young cucumber plants are very delicate. My plants are still on a windowsill indoors. I've been advised by our good friends here not to put them in the greenhouse until May.
Perhaps that is the problem, fetch them inside and see if they pick up.

 

They need a minimum temp of around 10 degrees, so they prob got a chill (overnight) in your greenhouse.

Steve...

 

As Steve and Sheal have mentioned cucs don't tolerate low temps and this is particularly true when young.
However since you've had a leaf munched you could also be experiencing an insect attack. It might be worth excavating one of your two really floppy ones to see if there insects muching at the roots.
I won't put ours out into the unheated GH until May.

 

Hi. My guess would be that the cold nights might be to blame. As already said, they like it nice and warm. I would aim for 15c, but not below 10c. I won't be sowing mine for a couple of weeks yet, and I will be keeping them in the propagator at night, until they are ready for planting into the g/h border, probably late May. Hope this helps.

Cheers...Freddy

 

Looks like I definately jumped the gun this year, though we haven't had any frost for ages and the nights have been mild and cloudy I am sure it hasn't been above 10C every night.

The odd thing is three plants look fine so I will investigate the roots as you suggested DaveW and see if anything has been munching them. I have had something attack my brussel sprout and cabbage seedlings as a few leaves are missing there too.

Thanks everyone for the advice, as long as I am left with at least 2 strong plants I will be happy

 

Had to chuckle at your post JWK , hope your other 3 plants are still fit and healthy

 

I don't think I can blame the cold for my Cucumbers going limp and dying. They are on a heated sand bed with a fan heater also on, but I have lost all 6 of them.

Trevor

 

It could well be the draught from the fan heater that's the problem Bluedun.

 

Cucumbers wake up each morning thinking of a new way to die :( I always sow twice as many as I need, have been doing it for years, and still some years I have to buy some plants from the Garden Centre to make up the numbers.

Only bottom water, they hate having their stems wet, and I keep mine a bit on the dry side - letting them get to the point of wilting before watering again.