This is my first time planting vegetables and I planted a container garden.

There are white little bugs on the cucumber that is killing the vegetable. Can anyone tell me what they are and how to take care of it?
Thank you.
Theresa M. Campbell
  7 answers
  • Sow and Dipity Sow and Dipity on Jul 12, 2013
    The 'white bugs'... are they hanging out under the leaves and every time you disturb the plant they fly up and then back to the plant again? The leaves look like they have thrip damage. The fruit actually looks like it wasn't pollinated. Flowers that form on a bulging fruit are the females, the flowers that don't form a bulge are the males. Try pollinating the females by rubbing the anthers ( middle of male flower that looks like yellow sacks ) onto the stigma ( the female ). I successfully pollinated several of my squash and cuke's this way last year when I noticed they weren't getting pollinated.
  • Gail Salminen Gail Salminen on Jul 12, 2013
    @Theresa Campbell I am no expert in these things but you could try a dilute dish soap to spray it with. If you want a more definitive diagnosis, put the sample in a baggie and seal it. Take it to a nursery and ask them. The pic sort of reminds me of the mealy bugs we used to get. Here is some info I found on line http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/GARDEN/PLANTS/INVERT/mealybugs.html Do update us with what you find out.
  • Theresa Campbell Theresa Campbell on Jul 12, 2013
    thank you everyone.
  • Trish Austin Trish Austin on Jul 13, 2013
    I was thinking mealy bugs, they are quite sticky and look like white mold when clustered together. I get them on my orchids.
  • Bonnie Lewenza Bonnie Lewenza on Jul 13, 2013
    White fly or aphids. Either way you can take a teaspoon of dish soap and fill with water. spray tops and underneath of leaves with solution. Leave it on it should do the trick. Use lemon if you have it.
  • Maggievanfossan Maggievanfossan on Jul 14, 2013
    I am unable to see the damage on your photos. OSU extension lists the following pests for cucumbers: aphids, cucumber beetle, cabbage looper, thrips, slugs, spider mites, garden symphylan & wireworms. I haven't experienced any of these on cucumbers personally, but you might go onto the county extension site in your area to see if you can identify the damage. Personally, I would start with insecticidal soap. I would test it on a small area and see what happens. You should see results right away if it works. Be careful about doing so on a hot day. Read instructions carefully. You can google recipes for your own with water, olive oil & dish soap. Good luck.
  • Maggievanfossan Maggievanfossan on Jul 14, 2013
    PS Insecticidal soap is safe for food crops, but may damage other insects (bees, etc.).