Cucumbers are one of the most popular vegetables grown, and rank in second place behind tomatoes.
Anyone who has ever grown this long salad veggie has had the experience of finding distorted cucumbers. They can be strongly bent into a C-shape, pinched at one end or show other kinds of distortions.
There are several reasons for crooked cukes, the most common being incomplete or inadequate pollination.
Pollen particles produced by cucumber flowers are somewhat sticky and tend to clump together rather than being dry and powdery like corn pollen. As a result, cucumber pollen cannot be carried by the wind, as is the case with corn, so must be moved by insects, mostly honeybees and other bee species.
Around 15 bee visits are required to each single cucumber flower before pollination is complete. During those bee visits, the pollen is picked up from a male cucumber flower and moved to the female flower’s stigma. There each pollen grain sends down a tube to the ovary where it fertilizes an egg forming the beginnings of a seed.
There are dozens of eggs present in each flower which is why we see so many seeds in a cucumber fruit.
The fertilized eggs stimulate the release of plant hormones. The hormones in turn, stimulate the growth of fruit cells, which form a fleshy protective capsule surrounding each developing seed. It is these fleshy structures that eventually grow into a cucumber fruit.
If a group of eggs are not pollinated, then no seeds are present to stimulate the hormones that cause fruit cells to grow. The absence of the fleshy, protective capsules causes the distortion we see in the fruit as the fertilized portions continue to grow normally.
Cucumbers distorted by poor pollination are perfectly fine to eat.
Stressful growing conditions such as a drought can also result in misshapen fruit. Lack of water will also produce bitter-tasting cucumbers.
Low soil fertility is another cause of distortion, which can sometimes be corrected as the plants are growing by side dressing with a complete fertilizer such as 12-12-12 or other similar formulation.
Diseases and insect damage can be responsible for distorted cucumbers, but those have different looking kinds of damage, such as holes in the fruit or lesions on the skin. Minor fungal lesions can be cut away and the rest of the cucumber can be eaten. Cucumbers with large areas of infection are basically rotting on the vine and of course must be thrown out.
Poor pollination - If your cucumber is funny shaped, you might have a problem with pollination. If there is a lack of insects in your garden area because you have been so diligent in removing or destroying them, you might find that there is nothing to pollinate your cucumbers.
Poor pollination - If your cucumber is funny shaped, you might have a problem with pollination. If there is a lack of insects in your garden area because you have been so diligent in removing or destroying them, you might find that there is nothing to pollinate your cucumbers.
Aphids, whiteflies, mites, thrips, and mealybugs are sap feeders that cause cucumbers to be deformed. Plants require honeybees, however low insect activity interrupts the pollination process, causing deformed fruits.
Physical Interference: If you discover newly-forming cucumbers not straight when they're sprawling on the ground, try training them up a trellis or fence. As the ovaries of cucumber flowers are elongating, young fruits can easily deform when they catch on flower petals, vines, or leaves.
Wilting and yellowing leaves are red flags for overwatering. If your Creeping Cucumber's leaves are more limp than a forgotten birthday balloon, it's time to reassess your watering habits. A soil that feels like a wet sponge and a musty odor are your plant's way of saying, "Ease up on the H2O!"
They can be finicky about water, pruning, and pollination. They also are susceptible to a range of pests and diseases that commonly afflict the Cucurbit family (cukes, zukes, squash, melons, and the like). If you're struggling with your cucumber plants, there are lots of easy fixes to help them bounce back.
Symptoms: Yellow or tan angular spots between the leaf veins are visible on the upper surface of older leaves in early-late summer. The undersides of the leaves have fuzzy gray spots. Downy mildew is caused by a water mold (fungus-like) pathogen, Pseudoperonospora cubensis.
Anthracnose is a fungal disease that not only affects cucumbers but also other cucurbits and beans (Phaseolus). Caused by Colletotrichum fungi, symptoms include small brown spots and marks on the foliage, which rapidly grow in size and develop a yellow edge, as well as pink mould developing on the stems and stalks.
Cucumber plants like sun, but are prone to scorching, so some shade is preferable. Encourage greenhouse varieties to climb to boost yields. Harvest fruits early in the day while it's cool. Harvest frequently to get more fruits during the season.
Poor Pollination. There's no doubt in my mind that this is what caused my cucumbers to do this. Like squash, cucumbers have female and male flowers and growth of the fruit is reliant on the males pollinating the females.
Yes. Using a tomato cage to train cucumbers to grow vertically gives the plants plenty of room to breathe, helps form perfectly straight fruits, and helps prevent pests and soil diseases.
🥒 Why Are My Cucumber Leaves Falling Over? Adjust watering and soil moisture to prevent cucumber leaf droop. Nutrient balance is key; ensure potassium and magnesium levels. Support and protect leaves with stakes and environmental adjustments.
The elongated glass funnel was placed over the cucumber at an early stage to encourage the fruit to grow straight. Technological innovations in the 19th century had a great impact on food production in Britain.
A simple three-year crop rotation divides crops into their harvest groups: Leafy crops—lettuce, spinach, and members of the cabbage family such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower. Root crops: carrots, turnips, parsnips, potatoes. Fruiting crops (flowering crops): tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, squash.
Cucumbers begin to curve for a number of reasons, from humidity and temperature shifts to poor pollination. Some varieties of cucumbers curl easier than others, too.
Introduction: My name is Rev. Leonie Wyman, I am a colorful, tasty, splendid, fair, witty, gorgeous, splendid person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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