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submitted 1 week ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

Planted this in early June. Not from seed, got it at home depot. It has grown a few more stalks and leaves, but it isn't spreading out like usual. This is a new spot for it. Other stuff has had trouble growing in this dirt, so I dug out a bigger hole and put some soil from my main garden in it.

The sunflower stalks you can see in the image are to it's east. So it should be getting plenty of sun. Watered every morning, same as my main garden, Soil moisture meter says its moist in the evening.

Last week I sprinkled some 4-6-5 on the soil around it and watered that in. Ph meter says 6. No change.

My other boston pickle cucumber in the main garden has taken over it's space and will need trimming soon. So I feel like this one should be spreading more. It also doesn't look as green as I think it should. Is there some kind of fertilizer I should be adding to help it out?

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[-] [email protected] 5 points 1 week ago

It's very hard to determine what's going on with the plant. The yellow leaves indicate some nutrient deficiency which could come from lack of nutrients in the soil, but also from other stuff like overwatering/ waterloggin or pest pressure.

I'd try to give it a little bit more nitrogen, but very carefully as not to burn it.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 6 days ago

Yeah those yellow leaves scream nitrogen deficiency - it always hits the older leaves first becuase the plant moves nitrogen from old to new growth when it's lacking.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 6 days ago

Fish fertilizer every two-three weeks is a godsend for me in poor soil. The risk of nitrogen burning is so low with this fertilizer.

It stinks a bit when applied, but only for a few hours.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago

Seems fine? Maybe just a little shy. A nitrogen hit won't hurt since these guys are mostly leaves and water, but maybe it's been a bit cool? Usually curcurbita don't really take off till the high heat comes in.

What's the weather been like?

[-] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago

Just finished a heat wave. And the other type of cucumber has taken off, so the weather seems good.

[-] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago

My diagnosis, then, is that it's shy. Try not to look directly at it. It's probably nervous from all the attention.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

if you piss standing, it's easy to fix. Just "visit" that spot twice a week.

this post was submitted on 19 Jul 2025
26 points (100.0% liked)

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