Cucumber Problems *Update* Good News!

[so lucky]

I have something going on with my cuke vines that I have not experienced before. In one day's time, they have acquired tiny tan spots all over the leaves. Pencil point size spots on every leaf, except the very new ones that have not unfolded quite yet. The ones that get the full sun seem to be the most loaded, so I wonder if the sun could have blasted the capillaries or something? It was very hot and humid today. The plants looked marvelous yesterday; no bugs, no damage. This morning I am 99% sure they were fine. This evening they are not. I don't see any typical evidence of insect damage. Wish I could post a photo but I can't. Any ideas?

 

[MontyJ]

Sounds remarkably like flea beetles to me. Check very early in the morning for tiny black dots that jump. It doesn't sound like any disease I have heard of.

 

[so lucky]

I have seen a few flea beetles on the mustard and on the eggplant, but none on the cucumbers yet. I will check early AM. It looks a little like some of the diseases, but I can't believe it would come on that suddenly.

 

[NwMtGardener]

Any possibility they got sun scalded...like if there were drops of water on the leaves when the sun was shining on them? I doubt thats the problem, i would think it would be large burned spots if that was the case, it just crossed my mind. More likely flea beetles.

 

[vfem]

I have tiny tan spots the size of pencil eraser ends on mine, I'm sure downy mildew is starting. I get it when it rains a lot on my first planting.

My little eaten spots I have on them, my sunflowers, my melons, my beans.... all leaf hoppers. They suck terribly this time of year. I don't know your area well enough to say the same for you.

 

[digitS']

Cornell should do a little better with their photographs. I usually turn to the Vegetable MD Online.

These pictures aren't much larger but a little clearer. Here is a link to Diseases of Cucurbits, University of Minnesota

There is also the possibility that some of these diseases are the result of bug bites .

Steve

 

[catjac1975]

I think I would yank it and remove it from the property. It is not too late here for a 2nd crop of cukes, in a different location.

 

[so lucky]

OK, now the spots are on the squash leaves, tomato leaves, fruit and stems, zinnia, marigold, sunflower, watermelon, and even on some crabgrass under the cucumber plants. I checked this morning early for flea beetles; none. All these plants except the cukes were fine this morning. Whatever it is, it is rampant. Spots are turning yellow and new growth on the tomatoes seems pale and stunted. The only things not affected so far are the cole crops, egg plant, onions and beans.
I will go out tonite after it gets good and dark, and check again for bugs, but it appears to be a disease or physiological issue. I'm stumped. Steve, that is a good website you linked to, but I really didn't see anything that seemed to fit, at least not yet.

 

[catjac1975]

Any way everything got a dose of a a nasty spray of some sort?

 

[MontyJ]

OK, now the spots are on the squash leaves, tomato leaves, fruit and stems, zinnia, marigold, sunflower, watermelon, and even on some crabgrass under the cucumber plants. I checked this morning early for flea beetles; none. All these plants except the cukes were fine this morning. Whatever it is, it is rampant. Spots are turning yellow and new growth on the tomatoes seems pale and stunted. The only things not affected so far are the cole crops, egg plant, onions and beans.
I will go out tonite after it gets good and dark, and check again for bugs, but it appears to be a disease or physiological issue. I'm stumped. Steve, that is a good website you linked to, but I really didn't see anything that seemed to fit, at least not yet.

Hmmm, any pictures? That's a pretty wide host variety, so we should be able to nail down which fungus it is. I would spray Daconil or Immunox as soon as possible. Both are wide spectrum fungicides and should slow it down until you can find a more targeted approach.