Cucumber and Zucchinis not growing

by Amy
(Michigan)

I've been growing zucchini, squash, and cucumber for years and have NEVER had a good harvest. I'm not sure if it's pests getting in or not. It seems like every year my plants start off beautiful and healthy, but by mid-summer my zuke stalks are limp and laying on the ground, same with my cukes and squash. They resemble a squid or something, all splayed out on the ground with no firm stalks anymore. They eventually dry up near the spot where they were planted and die.

I've tried slicing the stalks open to look for pests but I've found nothing. When I see eggs I use insecticidal soap immediately. I've tried recovering my dry stalks and tried to get them going again to no avail. I think they get sufficient water, but I do acknowledge they probably don't get quite as much sun as they should.

Any advice? I'm tired of being disappointed and having little yield.

Comments for Cucumber and Zucchinis not growing

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Jul 21, 2015
 Why vine vegetables don't grow well
by: ~ Megan

You don't say whether you have been growing these plants in the same spot each year. If you have, TIME TO CHANGE. You'd be crazy to keep having failures year after year!
Vines grow fast so need lots of sun, food and water. Miss out on any of these, and there are bound to be problems… like flat squids as you put it, sorry hard not to smile.
Can you build a raised bed to get more sun; can you train your vines up a fence? 6 hrs sun is good, more is better, but 4 hrs is probably not enough for vines, so check those sun hours.
Watering is important for vines and the big leaves can droop in hot weather but they should perk up in the cooler hours. If not, more water needed, and a good thick mulch to help keep that moisture in.
Compost each year will build up your soil for each new crop, don't forget that, as like us plants need food and like us they can't grow if the cupboard is bare!

If you think you have a pest or fungal problem, inspect closely, take a sample of the plant to the nearest garden center or advisory service, or post some photos (in a new post) on this site and we can all have a look and advise.
Oct 03, 2016
 Stunted are growth in squash
by: Anonymous

I have a luffa vine growing in a container it is having several tender crop , they are drying out before they.grow mature size. We are watering , adding fertilizer and it has getting plenty of sunlight.all most all of them had stunted growth. Please let me know what I am doing wrong.
Oct 05, 2016
 re: Megan
by: Amy

Nope, we're definitely moving them around. This year I tried using upside down tomato cages to give them some support with the exact same results. They go like gangbusters until about late July. Then within a week or two the leaves wilt, the stalks wilt, dry up, and rot off. I water with a soaker hose 3-4 times a week, ensuring the garden gets at least an inch of water per week. We add new compost yearly, and the rest of my garden does beautifully! I've tried getting resistant varieties of zukes with the same result.
Oct 06, 2016
 Stunted vines
by: ~ Megan

Might be best to re-post your question in a new post so you can add a photo or 2. It's too hard to speculate on your problem. I know luffa sponge gourds are cold tender, so maybe your nights are cold? Maybe being in a container, they are simply not getting enough water. Containers can dry out very quickly. Is it in a windy spot? Where did you get the soil from to go into the container and can you try and grow some other seedling in the same soil but in a different spot? Go through a check list and eliminate all possibilities, such as too much or too little water, nutrients, light, temp etc. Good luck.

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