Diseases are an important source of postharvest loss, particularly in combination with chilling stress. A number of bacterial and fungal pathogens cause postharvest losses in transit and storage, and with the consumer.Cucumbers are an easy to grow and prolific crop. Ensure the reservoir is kept full, otherwise they may end up being bitter if they don't receive enough moisture. Always wait to plant your cucumber plants until the weather is consistently warm, since they are highly sensitive to cold. You can use frost covers to speed warming and protect plants from pests at the same time. Remove the covers before temperatures get too hot in midsummer, and to allow for pollination. Cucumber beetles are the largest problem with this crop. Cucumbers are best when they are picked at a small to moderate size, otherwise larger ones become woody and tasteless. Consume your harvest within a few days, or pickle them to enjoy at a later time.

COMMON PESTS: Cucumber Beetle, Whiteflies

SUSCEPTIBLE TO: Lack of Pollination, Bacterial Wilt, Anthracnose, Mosaic Virus