Are cucumber leaves turning yellow in your garden? Yellow leaves show the poor health of a plant. It’s sad to see a plant go down as you planted them to grow. But there are precautions and cures!
There are specific reasons behind yellow leaves, such as water problems, sunlight shortages, insects, etc. You need to identify the right situation with the plant and solve them skillfully.
Without further ado, let’s explain why your cucumber leaves are turning yellow and how to recover them.
Why are my cucumber leaves turning yellow?
The cucumber leaves turn yellow process is referred to technically as “chlorosis.” When there is a lack of chlorophyll. Which is necessary for photosynthesis. Chlorosis occurs Since the plant’s capacity to photosynthesize is impacted. It battles to create sufficient sugar to take care of itself.
5 cause cucumber leaves to turn yellow is invalid here.
- The Water Problem
- Lack of Sunlight
- Improper Soil Nutrient
- Cucumber Plant Diseases
- Insects attack
all contribute to yellow leaves on cucumber plants. Which indicates stress and requires attention. So, how can you determine what is causing the issue?
Read also-why are my tomato plant leaves turning yellow?
1. The Water Problem
Cucumber plant leaves are turning yellow because of the water issue. The cucumber plant requires 1-2 inches of water weekly. But, if you over-water the plants, then it may harm them.
The logged soil hinders plants from getting nutrients. On the other hand, the plant will lack nutrients if it doesn’t get enough water. The plant eventually dies and the cucumber leaves turn yellow as a result.
Solution:
The drainage system should be in good condition. Otherwise, the water remains on the roots and makes the plant die. Stick your finger into the soil and test the moisture. If the 2-3 inches of ground seems moist, it doesn’t need water.
The lower soil level remains moist. So keep the upper level of soil dry between the time of watering your plants.
2. Lack of Sunlight
Which plant does not need sunlight? Cucumbers also need sunlight. It helps plants grow and absorb energy. So the lack of sunlight is responsible for the cucumber leaves turning yellow.
Plants deprived of sunlight lose their immune system and gain poor health. As a result, the leaves fade, no fruits, and eventually, the plant dies.
Solution:
At least 6 hours of sunlight are necessary for cucumber plants. If your cucumber plant is in a pot, move it to a sunnier spot. You can also cut down the branches of a big tree near your garden to give your plants proper sunlight.
Remember, sunlight is essential for plant life. It helps the plants to balance nutrition.
3. Improper Soil Nutrient
Do you know the nutrients in your garden’s soil? Soil containing proper nutrients is essential for plants to grow and thrive. Phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen are the most required nutrients for cucumber plants. Let’s discuss significant deficiencies in the soil and how to fill up the imperfections.
Lack of Nitrogen
Cucumber leaves turning yellow is natural if the soil lacks nitrogen. Eventually, the plant will die if you don’t solve the issue soon. Nitrogen is a nutrient in the ground for a healthy and green cucumber plant. But how can you add nitrogen to the soil?
Solution:
Adding a couple of tablespoons of fertilizer is the easiest way to add nitrogen. But be careful! Fertiliser excessive use can harm your cucumber plants.
So it’s crucial to put in fertilizer as required. Usually, a 5-10-10 ratio is acceptable to mix fertilizer (nitrogen, phosphorus & potassium) in soil.
When the cucumber plant blooms, you can add ammonium nitrate to the soil. A tablespoon is enough! Repeat this after 3 weeks regularly.
A thin layer of compost around the plant is another compelling idea to add nitrogen to the soil.
Lack of Potassium
The Cucumber plant requires lots of potassium. The cucumber leaves yellow if it does not get enough potassium. It begins with the tip of the leaves turning yellow.
Solution:
The only solution to potassium deficiency is using a well-balanced fertilizer. Besides, compost or well-rotted manure is also helpful in enhancing potassium.
Insufficient Iron
Iron deficiency is one of the most common reasons cucumber leaves turn yellow. You will notice some green veins on the yellow leaves in this area.
Solution:
The remedy is to spray liquid iron on the leaves. Plus, you can also scatter granular iron around the roots. Incorporating compost, well-rotted manure, or other organic materials is also helpful in enhancing iron in the soil.
4. Cucumber Plant Diseases
Many plant diseases are a threat to the plants. It’s hard to identify and treat them ideally to save your cucumber plant.
But once you find out what kind of disease affected your plant, you can take action to cure it. Some of the common but dangerous plant diseases are shown below.
Mosaic Virus
Is there any distinct pattern on the cucumber leaves? When the mosaic virus affects plants, the leaves turn yellow. The space between the leaf veins becomes yellow.
It seems like an art piece, but it’s a deadly disease! It hinders cucumber growth and gives you no or little cucumbers.
Usually, the aphids or other insect carriers carry the mosaic disease from plant to plant. Plus, affected weeds can also transmit the mosaic virus for years.
How to Treat:
What do you think of the solution? There are no insecticides to solve it! All you have to do is throw the affected plant in the trash.
Also, look for aphids. As soon as you see them in the garden, use insecticides to kill them! Clean the tools you used to touch the affected plants. If not, then your complete garden may get into trouble.
Weedy Fusarium
One of the most common plant diseases is fusarium wilt. It’s a fungal disease. The plant growth becomes slow, and the leaves turn yellow-brown. The affected plant will take approximately 3-5 days to die.
The cucumber beetle is an insect that carries fungus from one plant to another. The fungal remains in the soil for up to 2 years.
How to Treat :
Pull out the affected plants and remove your garden. On second thought, you can also burn them. But don’t let the fungus remain in the soil or compost.
Downy Mildew
Did you notice yellow spots on the cucumber plants? Downy Mildew is the reason behind its yellow appearance!
It hinders the growth of the plant and produces fruit. It is considered a fungus disease but belongs to the organism family. Oomycetes is the name of the orgasm family.
How to Treat :
Don’t over-water your plants! Water your plants when 1 inch of soil is dry, Avoid spreading water on the leaves. Wet leaves are ideal for fungi to grow and affect plants. So water the soil instead of the leaves. Let the leaves dry so they remain safe.
5. Insects attack
There are several types of insects that hunger for your plants. They are small and often go undetected. Let’s review some common insects that threaten your healthy plants.
Aphids
Are you noticing a trail of black wakes and a stunning yellow hue to the leaves? There’s a high chance of aphids attacking your plants. It’s an oval-shaped insect that lives underneath the leaves. They are green and easily hide on leaves.
How to Prevent:
Using insecticides can help you kill and save your plants. You can apply organic sprays and encourage some beneficial bugs like ladybugs, lacewings, and hoverflies to control aphids in your garden.
Spider Mites
The reddish insects that come in a large number are spider mites. They locate on the underside of the leaves and create three nests.
How to Prevent:
Use neem oil and non-chemical treatments to destroy spiders. The sooner you detect them and take action, the better the plant will be.
Whiteflies
They have wings and are white. The whiteflies can destroy leaves if they build a community on your plant.
How to Prevent:
Spray insecticides on the affected leaves and remove them from your garden. If you detect the white flies late, you may lose your plant. Reflective surfaces can prevent whiteflies from landing on your cucumber leaves and laying eggs. It can be aluminum foil or silver plastic mulch.
Cucumber Beetle
The cucumber beetle is a carrier of diseases. It creates several holes in the leaves, turns them yellow, and destroys leaves.
How to Prevent :
You should throw them away from plants once you notice them. You can also use sticky traps to catch them.
Fine mesh netting is another great idea to keep away cucumber beetles. Always clean the debris like fallen leaves or spent vines. In addition, apply a layer of kaolin clay to the leaves to give protection from beetles.
Leafhoppers
Do you know about the most dangerous insect for cucumbers? Potato leafhoppers! They feed on the watery fluid on the leaves and inject saturated saliva. It causes the cucumber plants to turn yellow and fall later.
How to Prevent :
Use recovered insecticides to prevent leafhoppers from destroying your plants. Plus, floating row covers can also give protection. Remove the weeds near your plants to decrease the potato leafhopper’s presence.
Can Other Plants Help Stop Cucumber Leaves Turning Yellow?
The simple answer is yes! Some particular plants may help you prevent insects. The companion plants are corn, beans, beets, onions, peas, carrots, and more.
You can also plant marigolds and sunflowers as companion plants. They deter insects and beetles from saving the cucumber plant.
Is it a good idea for me to Remove Yellow Leaves, Cucumber Plant?
Yes, it is preferable to remove any yellowed leaves because they may prevent light from reaching the fruit’s healthy parts. Additionally, it will encourage air circulation, which is good for the plant as a whole. However, it is essential to follow the aforementioned preventative measures after the leaves have been removed in order to allow healthier growth of other leaves for a tasty crop.
Conclusion:
Not only planting but caring is essential to make your cucumber plant grow well and give you healthy fruits. Monitor the leaves and soil. Then you can successfully detect the insects, diseases, and soil nutrient deficiencies to solve them.
Hopefully, now you know why your cucumber leaves are turning yellow and how to solve them successfully. So when are you taking steps to save cucumber plants in your garden?
FAQ’s
- Can a lack of water turn the cucumber yellow?
Ans. Yes! Cucumber leaves are affected both over and underwater. The plant can suffer if you don’t pour water according to its needs.
- How many hours of sunlight are necessary for cucumber leaves?
Ans. At least 6 hours are needed. But 8 hours can be great as cucumbers love sunlight.
- Can insecticides harm cucumber leaves?
Ans. Yes, it can harm cucumber leaves only if it is overused. You should use it with limitations to save plants from insects.
- Should I remove the yellow leaves?
Asn. If there are a few yellow leaves, then you can remove them. It will not hurt your plants.
- Is a sound drainage system mandatory?
Ans. Yes! Otherwise, the water-logged roots weaken the plant, turning the leaves yellow.
