Many pests and illnesses affect cucumbers, which can result in the loss of the entire crop. Worms can create tiny holes.
Pickle worms, which tend to burrow into the fruit and leave holes in their wake, are the primary cause of holes in cucumbers. After entrance, bacterial or fungal infections frequently appear. The larval stage of the pickleworm moth is known as a pickleworm. The larvae can fully consume the fruit once inside before moving on to assault the vines.
This article will inform you of the potential causes of cucumber holes as well as the steps you can take to safeguard your cucumber plant from harmful pests.
Table of Contents
What Causes Holes in Cucumbers?
Drought Conditions (Lack of watering)
Inadequate pollination, pests, insects, and poor irrigation can all result in holes.
A shortage of water can also result in cucumbers developing holes. The University of Illinois Extension claims that a lack of water results in holes in cucumbers, which also alters its flavor.
When there is a drought, the cucumber plant grows slowly; but, when water is supplied later, as when it rains, the cucumber plant absorbs a lot of water and grows quickly.
This is also common among home gardeners who for whatever reason neglect to water their plants for a while. When water is finally applied, the plants are so thirsty that it takes a long time for them to absorb it, which causes a growth surge.
BONUS TIP:
If the plant has gone without water for a while, do not apply a lot of water. Apply little quantities every time you water until you are using the normal quantity of water again.
These development spurts are what create the gaps or empty areas inside the fruit.
If you’re interested in the inexpensive and effective pest control methods I employ to keep my cucumbers safe and healthy. Clicking here will take you there.
Pollination deficiencies
There are various causes of insufficient pollination. Some of them include the lack of sufficient pollinators, such as bees and insects, which leads to poor seed production.
Cucumber holes can also be caused by insect-caused blossom damage and unfavorable weather.Different kinds of insects assault the plant, causing tiny holes to appear in the cucumber’s flesh.
Furthermore, a poor transmission of pollen grains can result in cucumbers having holes.
Bugs That Eat Cucumbers
The cucumber plant is targeted by a variety of insects, such as pickle worms, cucumber beetles, squash beetles, and squash vine borer. Cucumbers are a favored food of all of these bugs and worms, which is why they eat them.
The most frequent pests that have a significant impact on cucumber development, form, and flavor are listed below.
Pickle Worms
The pickleworm, Diaphania nitidalis, is a dangerous agricultural pest insect belonging to the Crambidae family. Despite being a frequent pest of other cucurbits like cucumbers and melons, it predominantly harms squash. The southern United States is home to this tropical species. Wikipedia
These worms and the wireworms, which also produce holes in potatoes, are somewhat similar. Both of them are still in the larval stage.
Cucumber Beetles
The research of the late professor George Edwin Gould said that striped cucumber beetles were the most deadly worms ever discovered. In Indiana, this bug causes $650,000 in damage. And as of right now, this flaw represents a significant issue for cucumber production.
Three things striped cucumber insects do to the plant.
- Typically, it eats plants. particularly the little seedlings.
- The cucumber plant’s roots are consumed by the larvae.
- and the widespread proliferation of harmful microbes.
Aphids
Because they like to eat the young, vulnerable sections of cucumbers, these tiny, soft-bodied insects sometimes cause the plant to seem wrinkled or malformed. The aphids that mostly harm cucumbers are green and black in hue.
The color of some aphids, however, can also be red, yellow, lavender, pink, or gray. Since all aphid species are visible to the unaided eye, identification is simple.
Spider Mites
Spider mites are the next most frequent pests that attack cucumbers. They pose a serious threat to cucumbers that are grown in hot, dry circumstances.
Spider mites are suckers, therefore they can seriously harm your cucumber plant.
Spider mites might kill your cucumber plant or cause it to grow shuntly. Spider mites can go undetected because of their small size until your cucumber leaves start to turn a pale yellow color.
By employing trap crops, row covers, organic or inorganic pesticides, or any combination of these, these insects can be easily controlled.
Try a different highly effective pest control product.
Lizards are another well-known pest that can completely destroy a cucumber crop by devouring both the leaves and the blooms. See our in-depth post for more information on how to manage lizards in the garden.
Mechanical Methods of Pest Control
You can use a variety of strategies to keep the bugs away from your plant. We have included a couple of them down below.
Yellow Sticky Traps
Yellow sticky traps can be set up close to the plant to assist you catch insects and beetles that eat holes in cucumbers.
Diatomaceous earth should be used liberally to the plant to kill the silt once the beetle has been properly captured.
Bug Netting
A method known as “oeBug Netting” has been shown to be successful in defending the plant against dangerous insects or pests. A protective barrier is created by bug netting.
Cucumber beetles and aphids are only two examples of the harmful insects and worms that this mesh fabric effectively repels from plants.
Young plants typically suffer attacks from bugs because their delicate roots and stems. Therefore, bugs’ primary goal is to invade the bodies of weaker predators.
Sacrificial Crop Method
Utilizing trap crops is yet another excellent approach to keep insects away from your plant ( sacrificial crops). It only serves as bait.
You can grow a plant in your garden called a “trap crop” to draw pests away from the actual crop you are producing.
Row Covers
Row coverings have also demonstrated to be a reliable form of defense against venomous insects.
Row covers are used in gardens and yards and are constructed of a transparent, gossamer-like, or translucent cloth. They are used as a covering to shield plants from unfavorable conditions caused by dangerous pests and vermin.
Row covers come in a variety of varieties on the market. You can get a row cover that is appropriate for your plant.
See our article to learn if crops benefit more from raised or flat rows.
Chemical Pesticides
To get rid of dangerous cucumber pests, a wide range of organic and inorganic pesticides are frequently utilized.
These insecticides and pesticides have no negative effects on plants and do not harm anything else. These can be easily purchased from any internet retailer, including Amazon, eBay, Ali Baba, and others.
Organic Chemical Pesticide
Below are a few of the top organic insecticides that can be utilized properly.
- Spinosad
- Rotenone ( also occur naturally in seed and stems of some plants)
- Pyrethrin
- Hemp oil
- such as diatomaceous earth
Inorganic Chemical Pesticides
Inorganic pesticides are also helpful to the cucumber plant and aid in the destruction of several insects, in addition to organic ones. Several inorganic insecticides include:
- Sulfate of copper
- Cu and ferrous sulfate.
DIY Organic Insecticide Soap To Get Rid of Bugs
Squash bug infestations can easily be handled using organic pesticide soap. You may prepare this treatment at home.
Simply combine your homemade spray with a mild liquid soap and mist dirty insects with it. You’ll discover them dead in only a few short seconds.
Scan Mask To Get Rid of Bugs
A Scan mask is another excellent tool to use in conjunction to the aforementioned organic DIY pesticide soap to get rid of all kinds of worms. The product is organic and contains useful nematodes.
These nematodes not only assist you in eliminating worms but also more than 200 pests and nettles from your plant.
Your plants and garden are essentially pest-free if you use this organic product.
FAQ
How do I get rid of cucumber worms?
Spray on dirty insects after combining your own spray with light liquid soap. You’ll discover them dead in a matter of seconds.
What do you spray Pickleworms with?
A Scan mask is an ideal tool to get rid of all types of worms in addition to the aforementioned organic DIY pesticide soap. It’s an organic product with useful nematodes.