Cucumber Bacterial Wilt
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 8:20 pm
After a gangbuster start to growing cucumbers this year, I went out to find my slicing cucumbers totally wilted and about 1/2 of the growth destroyed. The pickling cucumbers were hit to a lesser degree. Slight evidence of insect damage, but most of the leaves just appeared to wilt and/or rot. After googling for images and researching, it seems pretty clear that I have cucumber bacterial wilt which is spread by cucumber beetles. The websites seem to indicate there isn't much you can do to stop it once its taken hold other than pull the plants. I researched my seeds and the pickling cucumbers are wilt resistant/tolerant while the slicing cucumbers were not which validated my observation of the plants. My problem is that the two types of cucumbers have somewhat grown together and intermingled. I'm not sure I can pull the harder hit slicing cucumbers out with out severely damaging the pickling cucumbers.
So, the question is . . . do I pull everything up, replant, and consistently treat with insecticide to stop the infection from starting (spread by cucumber beetles), or leave everything in and accept that the plants will struggle through the season and I will likely get a low yield.
When is too late to restart the cucumbers and them established before the hot, dry weather hits?
So, the question is . . . do I pull everything up, replant, and consistently treat with insecticide to stop the infection from starting (spread by cucumber beetles), or leave everything in and accept that the plants will struggle through the season and I will likely get a low yield.
When is too late to restart the cucumbers and them established before the hot, dry weather hits?