I planted my cucumbers out in the greenhouse border a fortnight ago. They were doing really well until yesterday when they wilted suddenly. I can see hordes of woodlice chewing at the stems and leaves, and presumably the roots too - I can see them crawling down into the soil. :o
This happened last year and I lost every plant - when I pulled up the remains they had no roots at all. :(
I have removed as woodlice as I can, and will keep doing this, but is there any organically approved way of killing the things?
Nessie
Been up to allotment today and 3 of my cucumbers have suddenly wilted and are looking doomed. I haven't got any woodlice and they are in pots--I need help too.
wood lice are often around damaged /dead tissue it sounds like snail damage to me but the sneaky blighters clear off when it comes light and let the woodlice carry the can!
;D
Very unlikely to be the woodlice causing the problem, somethings been at the roots I'd think :(
But what could it be eating the roots? and how do I get rid of it?
Could it be 'neck rot'?
I form a little mound of compost around the base of the plant and water round the base of the mound, this seems to work for me.
A lot of people have lost cucs this year, we believe on our allotments that it is down to the cold weather, cucumbers in the greenhouse (F1) need quite a high temprature and that is something we have had little of, night tempratures have been very low and still are. I would think there is still time to sow some seed and start again.
Try Crystal Apple, they are a bit cheaper to buy seeds and tougher than most, you don,t need to mess about with male flowers either!
;D
my one that was so kindly donated by weedbusta went all limp yesterday. i'd put it down to being overcooked in the g/h as the weather was scorching.
can't see any bugs.
I agree with AlanP,it's cold nights that have done for them,I've lost both mine,they were big and healthy when I put them in but they started to go limp after a few cold days and when I gave up and pulled them out the roots were rotten and brown with a yellow brown ring around the neck.There was no sign of any bugs eating anything.Woodlice tend to be opputunists who colonise on plants already damaged or dying rather that cause the problem.
I'm going to put some more seed in,better late than never.
Thinking about it the ones I lost were nearest the side of the greenhouse (i presume this is the coldest part) The others in the middle still look ok.
Quote; brown ring around the neck.
As I said 'neck rot' caused by differing temperatures i.e. soil relatively warm, air relatively cold, soil surface cold and wet ideal conditions for neck rot.
The reason for the hump I build round them is; this soil remains dry at all times because I do not water this area, I water around it.
What I find is; if the weather does get decidely cool I haven't created cold damp conditions around the stem to assist the formation of neck rot.
Probably what saw off one of my CApple cucs today... teach me to be so smug!
:-[