One of the vegetables I really wanted to grow this summer was cucumbers. I love cucumbers. This cucumber plant I started by seed. It’s done well so far but in the last two weeks it’s started to develop some problems.

The edges of some of the leaves were turning yellow. Then these white spots started showing up on the leaves and stems. It was bad enough that some of the leaves were dying. After some research it appears that the yellow edges are from a lack of nitrogen. That is an easy fix with fertilizer but the white spots seem more serious. It appears that the plant possibly has powdery mold that can spread to the other leaves on the plant. From what I read online, cucumbers, squash, melons, and pumpkins can get it.  We’ve had a lot of rain this summer (almost ready day), so the rain and the lack of adequate sun could be my problem. I moved my plant to an area were it’ll get more sun and pulled off the leaves that were the most infected.

Because this summer is more about learning, I left some leaves on at the risk of this spreading. This picture was taken a few days after finding the mold. It didn’t seem to be getting worse. I went online to find something that I could do to help the plant.

I found a website that recommended a homemade milk and baking soda spray to help reduce the mold. You can read more about it here. The article said to run the solution through one of those water sprayers that you connect to your hose. I don’t have one nor did I want to go buy one. So I just put the stuff in a spray bottle and used half a qt of the milk and water instead of a full quart. I didn’t change the amount of baking soda and dish soap though.

I sprayed the milk solution on the leaves, front and back, along with the stems. I don’t know if this is going to work, I’m just going to have to wait and see I guess.

I’m really hoping so cause this cute little plant is dropping fruit. It’s so exciting.

I’ll be watching the progress and will let you know how well the milk solution worked. If anyone has a method that you have tried and worked feel free to let me know.

Till next Sunday,