Mottling on cucumber leaves

Citygirl

my cucumber seedlings have suddenly developed in the last 48 hrs a mottling if the leaves, and the most covered leaves have started to curl.  Any ideas?  They are indoors on a sunny windowsill. Water them every couple of days. Thanks!

BobTheGardener

Looks like powdery mildew to me.  It may be treatable using anti-fungal sprays but I would start again if I were you, especially given the late start afforded to us by the weather;  Your plants are really too advanced to do well unless they'll be grown in a heated greenhouse.   The cucurbit family do best with uninterrupted growing conditions so I won't be sowing mine (which will be grown in cold greenhouse) for at least another 4 weeks, depending on the weather.

Citygirl

Thanks Bob.  May I ask, do you live north or south?  I know I was a bit too keen on planting these but never thought I needed to wait until end of April to sow?  I’m in London.  Thanks!!

Pete.8

I very much agree with Bob - it's mildew and best to start again.
I sowed my greenhouse cue's 16 April last year in a heated propagator and started picking them early June

BobTheGardener

Hi Citygril, I'm in the East mids, just south of Leicester.  Which variety are you growing?  I'm trying 'Telepathy" F1 this year.
PS:  The RHS guide to growing cucumbers is excellent.

Citygirl

Thanks Pete!

Bob, I’m sticking with Marketmore this year. It’s only my 2nd year growing cucumber!  In fact I’ve only been growing anything for 3 years !

Pete.8

My first year growing cue's was last year and I grew just 1 Cucino in a 15L pot - very impressed. I picked 12 on a single day last year and most days there were at least 2-3 ready to pick

BobTheGardener

Those are prolific croppers and an outdoor type.  You can sow those outside directly in the ground in June and still get a good crop.  However, I'd start them end of April indoors - by the time they are ready it should be warm enough in London to plant out, I would think.