Very Light Green Cucumbers on a Dying Vine

Season

• Cucumbers are summertime plants and fail in temperatures under 60 degrees F. Yellowing leaves, vine death and suffering fruit in fall means that temperatures are falling below the plant's tolerance level. Harvest all cucumbers and take them indoors to finish ripening. The plant is at the end of its lifespan at this time.

Sunshine and Support

• Cucumbers need at least 6 hours of sun every day and adequate access to air. Shaded growing leads to sickly, yellow leaves and fruit. Growing along the ground also leads to pale foliage and fruit, and can lead to rotting foliage. Move the cucumber vine to a sunnier location and provide an arbor or trellis for growing.

Nutrition and Water

• Cucumbers thrive in a range of soils, but do best in loose, fertile soil with adequate nutrition. Lack of nutrition, on the other hand, means lack of resources for foliage and fruit growth. Mix organic compost into the soil and give the cucumber vine 5-10-5, 27-3-3 or 46-0-0 fertilizer for recovery. Water the cucumber with 2 inches of water every week to keep soil moist and supportive.

Maturity

• Cucumber plants grow their fruit on given timelines and produce many fruit flushes. Cucumbers themselves ripen to deep green and require immediate harvest; the fruit does not improve when left on the vine. Yellowed cucumbers are past their prime and overmature. If your cucumbers yellow with age, throw them out and harvest future cucumbers in a more timely manner.