Quote:
Originally Posted by stormymater
No one seem to bother with a second crop even though the pickleworms seem to fade away after about 3 weeks. My second crop attempt succumbed to powdery mildew - must be the combined goodness of heat & humidity plus the occasional tropical storm just to tear things up a bit.
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stormymater,
Try to make 4 successive plantings of the crops; in increments of every 2 weeks in different places; this may help you to obtain a better crop load. I don't know of your space limitations, or how many plants of each variety you planted.
As you plant each batch of seedlings; start another batch to put into the ground 2 weeks later. This is so the bugs that are eating them will by-pass others and the other ones will flourish.
I stake my cukes upwards on old light weight Tomato cage; this makes them healthier. 6 of them can climb the cage at the same time, in the same "hill." Remember any vining plant wants to climb upwards counter-clock-wise. (Even tomato plants.) Watch their branches as they're growing upwards and you'll see what I mean.
Also try the
Molasses Method too. It may make them stronger. I'm going to try it this year too.
~* Robin