Cucumber Vine Scale - Ask Extension
All my cucumber vines developed a scale on the vine, then split and died. The scale and split occur right above the soil line. I thought squash borer...
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Cucumber Vine Scale #877713
Asked July 17, 2024, 8:40 PM EDT
All my cucumber vines developed a scale on the vine, then split and died. The scale and split occur right above the soil line. I thought squash borers, but I find no larvae inside the vine. In fact the vine above the scale/split appears to be normal when I pulled the plants and cut it open. The plants have roots, but I do not know what 'normal' is for the roots. The sequence of events, is the scale appears, then over a 2 week period, the leaves brown and the vine withers. Any idea what the problem is?
Summit County Ohio
Expert Response
Hi William,
I apologize for the delayed response.
I tend to agree that squash vine borer is not the culprit here.
Based on that and what I can observe in your photo, the only information I've found that seems to address your situation refers simply to stem splitting as a response to growing conditions. Specifically, cold temperatures, rapid growth, excessive fertility, and increased irrigation. See this link:
https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/crop-production/stem-splitting-in-watermelon-squash-and-other-cucurbit-crops/
However, that doesn't seem to account for the dying leaves, particularly if the stem above the split remains unaffected. The split in the stem can be an entry point for disease, so that may be a second issue.
Here's a link to a University of Maryland article about issues affecting cucumbers. None of these seem to apply to your situation, but you can use them in a process of elimination.
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/key-common-problems-cucumbers/
To get a truly accurate diagnosis of your problem, I am going to suggest that you contact your local OSU Extension Office to see what assistance they can offer. They may be able to inspect a plant that you take to them or, perhaps, make a site visit. Here's a link to their site: https://summit.osu.edu/
I hope I've given you some information that helps you solve this problem.
I apologize for the delayed response.
I tend to agree that squash vine borer is not the culprit here.
Based on that and what I can observe in your photo, the only information I've found that seems to address your situation refers simply to stem splitting as a response to growing conditions. Specifically, cold temperatures, rapid growth, excessive fertility, and increased irrigation. See this link:
https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/crop-production/stem-splitting-in-watermelon-squash-and-other-cucurbit-crops/
However, that doesn't seem to account for the dying leaves, particularly if the stem above the split remains unaffected. The split in the stem can be an entry point for disease, so that may be a second issue.
Here's a link to a University of Maryland article about issues affecting cucumbers. None of these seem to apply to your situation, but you can use them in a process of elimination.
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/key-common-problems-cucumbers/
To get a truly accurate diagnosis of your problem, I am going to suggest that you contact your local OSU Extension Office to see what assistance they can offer. They may be able to inspect a plant that you take to them or, perhaps, make a site visit. Here's a link to their site: https://summit.osu.edu/
I hope I've given you some information that helps you solve this problem.
