Why have my cucumbers quit growing ?

Question

Yesterday, I asked about why there was a leathery bottom on my tomatoes. Angel had the best answer, lack of calcium, although I said it was someone else. SORRY

Answer 1

Thanks Ralph!
Any type of stress can affect plant growth. It can be too high temperatures, a lack of CONSISTENT watering, plant disease, pests etc. that can cause blossom abortion, non blooming, & slowing of growth.

You might like this site with questions & answers about why cucumbers slow down or stop growing:
http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extnews/hortiscope/fruitveg/cucumbr.htm
Here's an answer from Ron Smith, Horticulturist, NDSU Extension Service to a similar question:
"Q: I have a cucumber problem.I have straight 8's that are growing fine but the fruits are only about 2 inches long and about as thick as a pencil. They have been fertilized numerous times. Could over-fertilizing be the problem? (Bismarck, N.D.)

A: Back off on the fertilization. They should thicken up as they mature...The bees might not have properly pollinated them this season because of our fickle weather."

He also states that "Fruit production will slow and stop if it is not picked on a regular basis. The plant will read that as completing it's life cycle, having set the fruit with the seed within and allowing it to mature. So if you want your garden to continue productivity, keep picking the young tender fruits as they develop and you will be able to extend the harvest beyond just a single picking."

Don't water overhead before 10A.M. or you'll wash off the pollen before it can get the job done. Pollination needs to be made to all segments of the female flower. This has to be done before 10 a.m. because pollination carried out at the end of the morning during warm weather has very little chance of success because the pollen will have heated up and fermented and will no longer be viable.

Too much shade or not enough light is another cause of poor fruit set. Maybe the plants are getting crowded or overshadowed & don't have at least the 6 to 8 hours of sunlight they need. Other factors such as too much nitrogen or insecticide application can delay the setting of fruit on the vine.
Good luck! Hope this was helpful.

Answer 2

Hi -

First I'm not sure of your question - so I'll answer it two ways --

1. Why have my Cucumbers quit growing in length?

Cucumbers have internal hormones that tell them that the seeds are getting close to maturity. At that point, the fruit - the cucumber will stop growing and the plant will begin to ripen the seeds. The seeds will harden - become woody, the flesh will become sweeeter - more sugars, and finally the outside of the cucumber will turn frrom a dark green to yellow.

2. Why have my cucumbers (plants) quit growing?

Your plants will quit growing once they get the signal that there is enough fruit (cucumbers) that need ripening - at that point, the plant will quit production of female flowers, and concentrate of the ripening of the cucumbers - see my answer to 1 above - ripening of the seeds - sugar production of the fruit, etc.

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In order to keep your Cucumber Plants growing and producting Cucumbers for as long as possible - KEEP PICKING THOSE CUCUMBERS!

Don't let them get near the ripening stage on the vine. If you let them - if you let too many get near ripening, the plant will shut down production. So be careful.
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Also - I saw your note about bottom brown spot in tomatoes. I was always told it came from fluctuations in ground moisture. So in years you had little or no rain, you had more brown rot in your tomatoes. Like we have this year. A sure way to help beat it was to put down black plastic between your rows of tomato plants - this kept the ground moisture more uniform.

Ken

Answer 3

There is a plethora of information about cucumbers in this link.
http://www.green-seeds.com/veg_garden_qa.html
The exact cause I really don't know I can tell you that the extreme heat in my state is part of the problem not the water though because we get lots of rain. We also have some problems with cucumber beetles.
Drought conditions, hot weather, bacterial wilt or cucumber mosaic may also lead to deformed fruit.
Myth: Although it is a common belief that cucumbers taint the flavor of muskmelons (cantaloupe) by crossing with them, they are not able to cross with each other. Neither can cucumber pollinate any of the other vine crops mentioned.
Not sure I believe that one..........I just picked a straight 8 cucumber that is 10" long and the color is creamy colored. I'm 68 and have NEVER seen this before. across from the cucumbers is planted butternut squash????
PS it is hard as a brick not mushy.
History of the cucumber/interesting
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/firstgarden/planning/dictionary/veggies/cucumbers.html

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Why have my cucumbers quit growing ?
Yesterday, I asked about why there was a leathery bottom on my tomatoes. Angel had the best answer, lack of calcium, although I said it was someone else. SORRY

Answer 5

What USDA Zone do you live in? Are the plants rated for your zone ? Are the plants that you are growing annuals? is the pot size you are using enough for the root zone ? IE a perinnal tomato grows a 3ft di and 3ft deep root If you are trying to grow in a 12" by 12" pot it will die

Answer 6

I think that Ken has the right answer. Keep picking or the plant thinks it has fulfilled its duty in reproduction and stops producing more fruit.

Answer 7

not enough water,too much water, what the first person said, they could be fully grown, not enough nutrients. stuff like that.

Answer 8

they probably got too hot, and the blossoms fell off. Too dry.