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Extend the life span of a cucumber plant
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Posted by
pennypond z9CA (
My Page) on
Mon, May 14, 12 at 17:53
| My vining cucumbers always seem to only live a few glorious weeks. When it produces there is always more than we need everyday, but a few weeks later the leaves would turn yellow and the production would stop. I only want one or two a day, but would like the picking last for a few months. Is there any way to spread out the production? Pinching? Pruning? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Extend the life span of a cucumber plant
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| Keep the fruits picked when they come on and are eating size, even if you have to give them away. The vine will stop producing if the cukes are allowed to sit and ripen. Be vigilent about cuke beetles, they spread a disease and cut the plant's life short. That should do it. |
RE: Extend the life span of a cucumber plant
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| calliope is right. From the plant's point of view it's lifespan is ended when it produces seeds. That is why gardeners deadhead flowers. If you keep a plant from producing seed it will keep on producing flowers to try to make seed. In your case it will make new flowers and new cucumbers. So pick those big ones and give them away or throw them in the compost and never let them start to turn yellow so the plant shuts down production |
RE: Extend the life span of a cucumber plant
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| Thank you both, so glad to learn the problems. This year I only have 3 plants so daily picking should be more manageable. And I'll make some yellow sticky traps. |
RE: Extend the life span of a cucumber plant
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| You can stagger the plantings. About the time the first plants are starting to produce, start new ones. If/when the old ones succumb to disease, you send in the subs. |
RE: Extend the life span of a cucumber plant
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| Good luck with the cucumber beetles. They are my nemesis when it comes to cucumbers and squashes. I grow my cukes and squashes under cover now until flowering to delay the inevitable demise by a few weeks. If you have a successful and organic method of controling these agents of satan, I have a sack of money waiting for you! |
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