Marianne's Response
Stunted cucumbers
Hi Marianne. I have a problem with my cucumbers. I use garden soil: 1/3 topsoil 2/3 mushroom compost. The plants grow great for a while then they turn yellow as though they are dying. The cukes are real small on one end, then the other end is round. They do not get long like a cuke should. What causes this and what is good soil to play the cukes in? Thank you for your help. Dan
Posted by dan kinney on August 16, 2015
Marianne's Response
Leaves turning yellow could be a sign of too much water or poor drainage. Mushroom compost tends to hole lots of moisture so my first guess is overwatering - especially if the cukes are in a container with poor drainage. The fact that they grew fine and then had a problem also suggests the soil became water logged over time. Dig into the soil down six inches and see if it is wet. The soil should be just barely moist, not wet. In the future most vegetables like a soil that drains quickly but can hold moisture so perhaps 3 parts soil and one part mushroom compost. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti
