What's eating my telegraph cucumber?

Telegraph cucumber, typically grown under glass or in polytunnels, is most troubled by glasshouse whitefly and two-spotted spider mite in the warm, sheltered environment. Glasshouse aphids colonise shoot tips. Slugs attack transplants. Outdoors, cucumber mosaic virus spread by aphids is a serious threat. Biological controls work well under cover.

Clouds of tiny white-winged insects rise when plant is disturbed; nymphs feed on undersides, producing honeydew; sooty mould blackens leaves; plants weaken and yield drops Introduce Encarsia formosa parasitic wasp as soon as plants are established (ideal 18–25°C); yellow sticky traps to monitor; insecticidal soap spray for heavy populations

Pale speckling and bronzing on upper leaf surface; fine silk webbing on undersides; leaves drop prematurely; thrives in hot, dry greenhouse conditions Maintain high humidity; introduce Phytoseiulus persimilis predatory mite; avoid water stress; neem oil spray at early infestation; remove and bag heavily infested leaves

Colonies on shoot tips and leaf undersides; curled, stunted growing points; aphids vector cucumber mosaic virus under glass Introduce Aphidius colemani parasitic wasp; insecticidal soap; neem oil; remove winged aphids on sticky traps before they establish colonies

Young transplants eaten at stem base; leaves holed, especially at night in humid glasshouse conditions Ferric phosphate pellets in the glasshouse border or grow bags; check under pots and along heating pipes where slugs shelter; use copper tape around staging