GrowLog
Failed

Tasty Jade Cucumber with Fruit Abortion and Root Problems in an AeroGarden

Grow log by MaryL · Original thread

2 visual updates4 photos4 replies
View recap
CropCucumber
VarietyTasty Jade
MethodAeroGarden hydroponics
EquipmentAeroGarden system
Plants1
AudienceAdvanced

What you can learnA failure case documenting fruit abortion, root-zone concerns, dead-leaf removal, reservoir maintenance, root cleaning, and vine repositioning.

Actions:1 Pruning1 Solution1 Roots1 Training
Useful practices
  • using a reduced nutrient dose for cucumbers
  • considering periodic dry-docking for cucumber roots
  • performing a rinse and refill
  • gently removing loose dead roots
  • rewinding vines without snapping them
Problems encountered
  • tiny cucumbers constricted at the stem and died
  • many leaves died
  • large root mass occupied the basin
  • plant declined further after maintenance

*The days were calculated automatically and approximately.

Day 4
UPDATE#2
Grower update

Update #2

Actions taken

SolutionPerformed a rinse and refill on the cucumber system.
RootsGently pulled away roots that detached easily from the large root mass.
TrainingRepositioned and wound the vine back without snapping it.

M By MaryL

Well I did already forget to dry dock this for an hour, but I did give it a Rinse & Refill. I also tugged gently at the roots to remove any that gave way easily, because the root ball was huge in the basin. Now it looks more pitiful than ever. But, the vine placement is different than before. I just wound it back how it seemed to want to go so that I wouldn't snap anything. IMG_1020 by Mary Kribs, on Flickr IMG_1018 by Mary Kribs, on Flickr
Day 1
UPDATE#1
Grower update

Update #1

Actions taken

PruningCut off leaves that had died during the cucumber's decline.

M By MaryL

This is a continuation of my cucumber garden. Unfortunately, what started out promising has become an unhappy plant, somewhat. I had gotten a lot of flowers and most of them formed tiny cukes, but they all died off. They each looked like they had become strangled at the junction of the stem. What survived is this doomed creature. Maybe I should just cut him off to allow the energy to go to the new baby that is coming up. I should add that many leaves died and I had cut them off too.IMG_0986 by Mary Kribs, on FlickrEven on this one, you can see the narrowing, underdeveloped top/neck. I think that's where the other babies bought the farm. IMG_0988 by Mary Kribs, on Flickr
Conversation
D
drbanks

I think I would have eaten it by now.I've read that Cucumbers don't like their roots to soak in water all the time, which is why growing them in an AG can be so challenging.

U
Unknown

I dunno...I have had some terrific success with some Jades..I have also had some failures too, but if I grow cukes in the AG, I would fall back on the Jades. They don't like a lot of nutrients..I think I fed them under 4ml. and turned out they hated the Mooch too. Touch and Go. My best was in December.

M
MaryL

I did remember Corinne's advice to not feed much over 4 ml if at all, but I forgot what Dawn said about the roots. When I read that, back during this garden's germination phase, I had meant to give it a dry dock once in a while, maybe an hour at a time, but, alas, I did forget. Well, I'll try to remember to do that, starting with an hour today. :

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