[alwayshopeful]

 I have never grown my own cucumbers before, so this year was passing the vegetable section of my local garden centre and saw they had cucumber plants to by, so I thought I'd give it a go, as you do!!  Unfortunately my poor little plant (about 15 cm high) is looking a little worse for wear - droopy and sad looking.  What can I do to rescue it!!! 

[mumofstig]

keep your fingers crossed is all....there is a saying that each day that they wake up looking for an excuse to die 

With the best will in the world a lot of them do just that, sorry, nothing personal...

Keep it inside, don't water unless it is really dry (they tend to rot easily at the bottom of the stalk) and see what happens............

[prakash_mib]

sorry to hear that! people here say cues are very hard to keep them happy. but all i can say is give it a good potting with potting compost and keep them indoors on sunny window sill for couple of days. I wonder you changed its sorrounding from the shop to home differently. Try to keep in the same sorrounding as it was in the shop (indoors/outdoors etc) and all the best.

[grinling]

If it is outside, it needs to be cloched as it is cold at night. Water around and not over the plant. You could put some well rotted manure around it.
If indoors it prob needs watering. Make sure that water sinks into soil because water left around the stem can cause it to rot.

[JayG]

I'm sure there's somewhere in the world (probably very small!) where cucumbers or at least the forerunners of our cultivated varieties grow like triffids, but as Mum says they are very "picky" in our British climate, especially when young.

In my experience even a healthy cucumber plant is, as Mum says, looking for an excuse to die; it may do better indoors because they definitely don't like cool or widely fluctuating temperatures. If it is already indoors then it has probably already gone through too much to survive but don't try to bring it back to life by excessive watering and feeding.

[Kristen]

my poor little plant (about 15 cm high) is looking a little worse for wear - droopy and sad looking

Sadly I think its had it ... hopefully I'm wrong, but I've never recovered one from that state.

Strange, the last 3 years all of mine have survived, and been abused. This year I've lost more than half of them and had to re-sow twice just to get a reasonable number. Similar with my Melons.

[alwayshopeful]

Thank you all for your advice - unfortunately the poor little blighter has gone to that great allotment in the sky   Will have to try again - its like a crusade now - I will have home grown cucumbers!!

[blackbob]

I have never grown my own cucumbers before, so this year was passing the vegetable section of my local garden centre and saw they had cucumber plants to by, so I thought I'd give it a go, as you do!!  Unfortunately my poor little plant (about 15 cm high) is looking a little worse for wear - droopy and sad looking.  What can I do to rescue it!!! 

cucs are a soft as anything.once they start to look sad it's time for the compost bin i'm afraid,they rarely recover from any kind of check.
create a mound of compost around the stem,almost moat like and only water the outer ring of compost.make sure you dont get water anywhere near the stem,botton watering is always the best option for cucs.

[Digger Tom]

 My three little cucps seem to of wandered off toward the light. Think I may try somthing else 

[blackbob]

My three little cucps seem to of wandered off toward the light. Think I may try somthing else 

plenty time for them yet.i dont bother growing from seed anymore,easier to buy a few F1 females in 3" pots from your local nursery.

[m1ckz]

i have a few CU plants i can post you,,not sure how they will travel though ,, but worth a try,,there around 4 inches

[Pompey Spud]

I'm growing Burpless TG for the 1st time. Must be beginners luck.

Didn't realise that cucs are a bit woosie.

Germinated mine in the coldframe and have been hardening them off quite harshly...so far so good. 10 healthy plants so far. I'll keep an eye on them.

[paintedlady]

I grow Marketmore outdoors and they are very hardy & incredibly productive.  However, usually I don't sow until quite late (mid/end of May - early July) and I think that's half the problem solved with cukes - they need lots of warmth and long sunny days to drive them on after germination