Trying a 2nd cuke crop...yes, now

lzalvis 6/30/2014, 4:01 pm

I haven't given up, so to speak, on my original cuke plants. But I seem to be losing the battle of controlling their powder mildew, despite baking soda sprays, milk sprays AND NEEM (not all at the same time, of course). Everyday it seems a little worse, very few flowers anymore, and just a few pitiful looking cukes.

I was just reading an old Rookie post on cucumbers. It was written on a July 1, and said that you may be able to plant around that time for a second/fall crop. I"m in zone 7b, so I'm going to give it a try. It's only seeds. Here's to experimentation!

Now, I NEED to do better mildew *prevention* this time around, rather than ignoring things until it's totally consumed. What's the best spray for prevention? Neem oil? Milk?

I will also be topping them off well with my homemade worm compost.

Any other thoughts? Ideas? is this crazy?

mollyhespra 6/30/2014, 4:17 pm

Well, considering that I'm in zone 4 and have just seeded my *first* (and only) crop of cukes, I imagine you should do fine in your much longer growing season. The only thing that I can think of is the extra heat as you move into August might be detrimental, but others in your area will have to chime in on that one.

As to prevention, you could try extra spacing, removing bottom leaves for good air circulation & I can't see where some precautionary milk spraying would hurt either.

yolos 6/30/2014, 6:44 pm

In 2012 I a planted a late crop of cucumbers (Muncher). Planted 7/20/12 and picked my first cucumber on 9/14/12. It should be do able. Really depends on the variety and DTM. Also, I don't remember what part of Atlanta you live in so you may get different climate than I have on the southside.

Marc Iverson 6/30/2014, 7:24 pm

You might try bush cukes, which can have a shorter time to maturity than regular vining ones, too.

lzalvis 6/30/2014, 8:27 pm

I"m on the northside of Atlanta. Bush cukes...good idea. Maybe I can make a seed run over the holiday.

Pollinator 6/30/2014, 10:34 pm

Watch out for pickleworm. If I plant a second crop - I'll grow under row covers. Since the bats died off, pickleworm has run rampant in the Southeast. Watch for a whitish moth flying around the cukes at dusk and later. They will destroy the plants just as squash borer does for squash.

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Trying a 2nd cuke crop...yes, now

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