Gardening and Horticulture - Dying cucumber plants

I have planted ~24 cucumber plants about 2 weeks ago and only 4 or so have survived. Last year, all of a sudden (one by one) the entire plant would wither and die. They were 4-5 feet tall with cucumbers growing on the plant. One day, the entire vine would just be withered. I would dig around the base of the plant to check if anything was eating the plant, but never found anything.

This year, they are dying just like last year, but they are no more than 2-3 inches tall. I have other vegetables growing in the same area and they do very well (ie tomatoes, zucchini, beans, carrots, peppers, onions, etc...)

Any thoughts as to why the cucumber plants will not survive?

I live in the Northeast.

Evil lurks within.

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/selectnewpest.cucurbits.html

http://www.uky.edu/Agriculture/Entomology/entfacts/veg/ef311.htm

There are some common problems discussed in these two articles that may point you to a solution.

Hope this helps.

I know it sounds extreme to call your County Agent, but hear me out.

Four years ago, I read a warning to Farmers in the South East, not to grow Cucurbits, due to a blight. We could offer no, Cucumbers for sale for 2 years, & it was a non summer Squash that could be used like a summer Squash, that we could sell.

Unless you get the Farm publications, I suggest you call your agent who may turn you over to a Master Gardener, who can help you.

Find out if this or any other cucurbit blights are in your area. Before I knew, we had planted & replanted 4 times with 3 types of seed all new. Each time they would start to grow & wilt then die, after they were put into the garden soil.

I heard from friends that even a 2 year old could grow cukes LOL. Not for this two years they can't, were wern't able to start growing again until. Third season & the all clear is given, & it was like nothing happened.

I have been growing for 3 decades & never had I seen, anything like this. On the third year the warning was lifted & it was Cukes again as uasual. Downy Mildew (Cool Damp) & vine borers (Holes in first 6" of stem) both easy to identify, are all I have had to deal with, until this Blight came along.

Good luck I hope it's not blight, I am a sour cream & Cucumber man myself, & I went nuts for those two years LOL. :)

Thanks chfite and marturo. This gives me a good start at trying to identify the problem.

Thanks chfite and marturo. This gives me a good start at trying to identify the problem.