Brown Russian Cucumber - well, well, well

lakelady · August 2, 2013

Every single year I lose cukes to wilt. I battle cucumber beetles and am lucky to get a few small ones before the plant dies.

This year, I am growing this, and I cannot believe it. I am getting loads of cucumbers, have NO cucumber beetles at all. No idea why, or if it is a fluke, but I'm just thrilled. Actually, I did find 2 beetles, but they were inside the winter squash flowers and have not touched the cukes at all. The vines are huge and prolific and absolutely loaded with yellow flowers, but there must be something else (scent?) that attracts those beetles they don't seem attracted to my cukes AT ALL.

Top it off, the Poona Kheera cucumber is the crispiest cucumber I've ever eaten. Have to peel it, but well worth it. I'll try to take pics before we eat them again lol

RebelRidin · August 2, 2013

Antoinette,

Don'y say such things too loudly They might hear you.

Last year I grew Poona Kheera and only got two before wilt took out the vines.

Again, Congrats on your success

but be careful! Bugs have ears or antennae or something that can sense spoken optmism... or something

bitterwort · August 2, 2013

Try enclosing them in tents made of row cover from the time you plant them until the first female flowers open. This has worked well for us for the past three or four years, following times when we failed to get any fruits at all thanks to cucumber beetles and wilt.

JamesL · August 3, 2013

Antoinette,
I have PK cukes going for the first time too. Awesome cuke! I thought they were slightly better if you pick them a little young. In their case, yellow. Did lose 3 plants to bacterial wilt, no doubt courtesy of the beetles. They only came around in one wave though at the end of June.

lakelady · August 3, 2013

I also have white pickling growing, but they are not as prolific as PK is, and I just love the juicy crispiness of the PK better. Last year I had so many cucumber beetles even with several traps and me catching and killing I could not keep up at all. I was sure I wouldn't get any cukes this year, so I am thrilled. Definately growing the PK again it's delicious. I do agree, a little young are better but I let a few get really big for seeds.

August 2, 2013	#1
lakelady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: northern NJ zone 6b Posts: 1,862	Poona Kheera - well, well, well Every single year I lose cukes to wilt. I battle cucumber beetles and am lucky to get a few small ones before the plant dies. This year, I am growing this, and I cannot believe it. I am getting loads of cucumbers, have NO cucumber beetles at all. No idea why, or if it is a fluke, but I'm just thrilled. Actually, I did find 2 beetles, but they were inside the winter squash flowers and have not touched the cukes at all. The vines are huge and prolific and absolutely loaded with yellow flowers, but there must be something else (scent?) that attracts those beetles they don't seem attracted to my cukes AT ALL. Top it off, the Poona Kheera cucumber is the crispiest cucumber I've ever eaten. Have to peel it, but well worth it. I'll try to take pics before we eat them again lol Last edited by lakelady; August 2, 2013 at 07:44 PM. Reason: tried to change title!

August 2, 2013	#2
RebelRidin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Maryland's Eastern Shore Posts: 993	Shhhhhhh Antoinette, Don'y say such things too loudly They might hear you. Last year I grew Poona Kheera and only got two before wilt took out the vines. Again, Congrats on your success but be careful! Bugs have ears or antennae or something that can sense spoken optmism... or something __________________ George _____________________________ "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is it’s natural manure." Thomas Jefferson, 1787

August 2, 2013	#3
bitterwort Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MN Zone4b Posts: 289	Try enclosing them in tents made of row cover from the time you plant them until the first female flowers open. This has worked well for us for the past three or four years, following times when we failed to get any fruits at all thanks to cucumber beetles and wilt. __________________ Bitterwort

August 3, 2013	#5
lakelady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: northern NJ zone 6b Posts: 1,862	I also have white pickling growing, but they are not as prolific as PK is, and I just love the juicy crispiness of the PK better. Last year I had so many cucumber beetles even with several traps and me catching and killing I could not keep up at all. I was sure I wouldn't get any cukes this year, so I am thrilled. Definately growing the PK again it's delicious. I do agree, a little young are better but I let a few get really big for seeds. __________________ Antoniette

August 3, 2013	#4
JamesL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 1,992	Antoinette, I have PK cukes going for the first time too. Awesome cuke! I thought they were slightly better if you pick them a little young. In their case, yellow. Did lose 3 plants to bacterial wilt, no doubt courtesy of the beetles. They only came around in one wave though at the end of June.