Cucumber seedling wilting! How to revive???

[Aorourke]

Hi, I think I may have done the hardening process soo fast for my cucumbers seedlings. They are a out a month and a week old and have been outside for 1 week. Now they look as if they are dying on me, they look really wilted and a couple have leaves which are a little crispy and wilted.
I only hardened them over a couple of days and our nights this past week were about 5 degrees centigrade. day time has fluctuated between 10 and 15 degrees, today was really warm about 20.
What can I do to get them back to health? Should I bring them back inside and start hardening off again but slowly?
The snow peas, tomatoes, broccoli and pumpkin seem to be fine so far, but they maybe more hardy.
Its my first year growing from seed so learning the hard way! Lol

[SPierce]

Hi, I think I may have done the hardening process soo fast for my cucumbers seedlings. They are a out a month and a week old and have been outside for 1 week. Now they look as if they are dying on me, they look really wilted and a couple have leaves which are a little crispy and wilted.
I only hardened them over a couple of days and our nights this past week were about 5 degrees centigrade. day time has fluctuated between 10 and 15 degrees, today was really warm about 20.
What can I do to get them back to health? Should I bring them back inside and start hardening off again but slowly?
The snow peas, tomatoes, broccoli and pumpkin seem to be fine so far, but they maybe more hardy.
Its my first year growing from seed so learning the hard way! Lol

I would always say, harden off slow. I'm in the process of doing mine, and I only left them out for an hour the first day, 3 hours the second, etetc. What do they look like? Are they drooping ? if they are, I'd say bring them inside. If it gets too cold- you'll loose all your cucs.

I've got mine worked up to being outside from 7am to 11pm, but bring them back in in the middle of the night since they aren't strong enough to take the night temps yet. If they're starting to look iffy, I would say bring them inside and let them recover. Do you have them in a semi-sheltered place?

I also started mine out by putting them by a window, and opening the window, so it helps. Did you start them under lights, or by a window? Could be sunburn, too.

[Aorourke]

I started them inside infront of a window, the sun shines there first thing in the morning and goes about mid afternoon. So where they are now they have sun from about early afternoon to late evening. so Could be sunburn as well.
I took a photo of them but not sure how to upload them on here. I'll find out and post a photo or two of them.

[Aorourke]

First time posting photos so here goes. These photos were taken about 1/2hr ago. I am in Ontario, just north east of Ottawa.

[img]https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g428/a_orourke/DSCF7365.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g428/a_orourke/DSCF7364.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g428/a_orourke/DSCF7363.jpg[/img]

[jal_ut]

May I suggest planting cucumber seed directly in the garden where it will grow for the season, after danger of frost is past?

Cukes come on so quickly that I could never see any advantage in starting them in pots. They suffer so much with hardening off and transplanting that cukes started from seed the same day you plant out the starts will be ready just as soon.

[Aorourke]

This is my first year starting for seeds and last year was first year starting from seedlings from a nursery. So any suggestions are more than welcome.

I have taken all veggies inside for a few days to recover. Then start hardening off again but very slowly.

It's all trial and error! My peppers never took off at all so going to wait until I can plant seeds outside and try from seedlings.

[SPierce]

This is my first year starting for seeds and last year was first year starting from seedlings from a nursery. So any suggestions are more than welcome.

I have taken all veggies inside for a few days to recover. Then start hardening off again but very slowly.

It's all trial and error! My peppers never took off at all so going to wait until I can plant seeds outside and try from seedlings.

you arent the only one- I had pepper troubles too! ended up with only 1 pepper seedling that I started from seed. I'm spoiling the heck out of it!~ hope your plants recover a bit

[TWC015]

I notice you are using peat pots. Those could be causing problems. The peat pot tends to draw the moisture from the outer edge of the soil and the soil becomes really difficult to re-moisten. If you water the pots from the surface, the water could be just running off and not soaking in. I would loosen the soil and remove a few of the wilting plants and see if the soil is dry.

I've tried peat pots before and this happened to me. I threw those pots out and I use plastic trays and flats. I also water the trays from the bottom so that the soil becomes thoroughly moist.

[rainbowgardener]

Agree with all of the above - peat pots are seedling killers, hardening needs to be done a bit more gradually. And those temps are TOO cold!

5 C = 41 F = not a temp cucumbers ever want to be in. You don't want to put them out until night time temps are staying above 10 C = 50 F.

Also, they look small to me to put out. I don't put mine out until they have at least a couple pair of true leaves. So you just needed to be more patient.

And as jal said you can just plant them in the ground, once the soil is well warmed up.

I have a secret about hardening off, to avoid a lot of the carrying plants in and out, as long as temps are warm enough outside. (Early in the season I do some in and out, when it is getting too cold at night). But if temps are warm and you are just trying to get plants used to the sun and breeze etc., I just bring mine out and leave them. But to start with I put them under a bench where they get only some indirect light and very protected from breezes. Then I gradually move them to less and less protected areas.

[jcas004]

hi,
I'm new at this planting and gardening, I've done cukes before in a big pot and they grew just fine, but the plant was already started and brought home from school by my son. This time I decided to start from scratch. I have been learning so many things about growing.
I was having a prob with my cuke seedlings. I started them in the peet pots, and they have been outside soaking up the sun, and growing beautifully, but our weather changed to a bit colder and we will be getting a late morning frost tomorrow, needless to say they began to wilt. and its been a couple days. I thought it was because they were too big and needed to be put into the ground. I thought for sure they will die. I was completely freaked out and I've been up all not worrying about them, they have been growing for a few weeks now and they are beautiful and healthy, so I wanted to do everything I could to save them if possible. I mean it's so exciting and fulfilling watching them grow. After doing some searching, I came across this site where I found some helpful tips. And I like to say this helped tremendously. DON'T GIVE UP!!!!
First: I brought them inside, Second: I watered them with very warm water, they started to perk right up within 10mins. Third: I decided to thin them, so I poked some holes in the bottom of little dixie cups and cut the cups down about a quarter-half of the top. Forth: I mixed up some fresh veggie soil in a large bowl with very warm water until the soil was pretty evenly wet but not muddy. Fifth: I replanted my little guys in the dixie cups (I only put one plant in a cup) and placed them on a window sill. when the weather warms up again I will place them in the ground that I have already prepared. Tip: If u have seedling's growing indoors now would be a great time to prepare your growing area if u plan on transplanting outside in the ground. I just wanna say thank you for all the tips and reply's , now my lil' guys are very happy and can grow healthy (Fingers Crossed ) hopefully I can come back and give a positive update!

[Tarsetmarmalade]

I had the same problem with wilting and dying cucumber seedlings. The local nursery supplier advised me to keep them at 60 degrees F and not to water until they are dry, in order to encourage root growth.
He said that this method of watering applies to other seedlings too. It encourages the roots to reach down to find water.

[Meatburner]

I am with jal_ut, direct seed them in the garden. Not everything needs or benefits being started indoors.

[kayjay]

Never mind, the OP posted years ago. Necro-thread alert.

[GardenThrive]

I've always planted my cukes, squash, melons, etc. direct seeded into the garden. Extremely long growing season here in Alabama, and they're always fast to germinate and grow anyway. I've always heard that they hate being transplanted. Never even tried starting them indoors, because as others have said there is not much benefit.

[kayjay]

...unless you live further North and face a vastly abbreviated growing season. We can't just wait for it to get hot.