I just planted a brand new garden with fresh soil this year, but I've started noticing cucumber beetles appearing. It's frustrating because I haven't even managed to grow a single cucumber yet! I see a few beetles here and there and I've been killing them, but my neighbor, who has zucchini and cucumber plants only about 6 or 7 feet away from mine, seems to be completely fine. His garden has no signs of damage. What could explain why I'm having this issue with my new garden while my neighbor's plants are thriving?
1 Answer
One possibility could be that your plants are a bit more tender or younger compared to your neighbor's. They might have some companion plants nearby that deter the beetles, while yours might be more appealing to them. I've dealt with cucumber beetles before, and as long as the plants are established, they generally don’t cause much damage. They tend to hang around the flowers more than anything.
My plants don't seem to be younger than his, but they do have yellow spots on the leaves, which I think might indicate disease. I'm also not sure about companion plants; I'd have a hard time identifying them.