Do you have stripped cucumber beetles? They can inject a bacterial wilt that can kill cucumber plants overnight. What did you spray the aphids with? Many times you can spray them off the plant with just a hose.

Lots of possibilities come to mind - non-container type varieties grown in a container, too small a container leading to root bound plants that shut down after a couple of months growth, insufficient nutrients or inconsistent nutrients, excess high nitrogen fertilizers (attract aphids), poorly draining or compacted soil in containers leading root rot, inconsistent soil moisture levels, whatever spray you are using for the aphids applied too often or too heavily, disease ("black spots" can be lots of things), etc.

So would need answers to all those questions - size of container, variety used, potting mix used, type of nutrients used and how often, what spray, etc. etc.

Dave

Hi D...I really doubt if it is container related. I have been learning and improving my skills with container growing for 3 years now. I understand most of the pitfalls there. It does resemble some of those beetle symptoms (bacterial wilt)...with the plant shutting down and drying up. thanks to all for the ideas

Please humor us.

Tell us the size of the pots, your watering habits, and more.

And also post a picture of the plant in its pot.

The only variety I grow is Little Leaf because it is resistant to bacterial wilt, so it always keeps going until it's finished.

That is great info! thanks. I wondered if there were resistant varieties.

The odds of any problems with growing cucumbers being caused by the growing conditions provided vs. caused by bacterial wilt are something like 8 to 2. First because BW is largely a regional issue, a climatic issue, not a nation-wide issue and with cukes the many mildew diseases are far more common than BW. Second because not all cuke beetles carry the bacteria. Third, and most relevant to your info of "the plant stops growing...gets crinkled and dry looking...shows black spots" are not the symptoms of BW. With BW the plant remains green but collapses, wilts dramatically. Your description is more likely to be caused by growing conditions or even by mildew than by BW.

So don't make the mistake of latching on to only one of the many possible causes while ignoring all the others.

Dave

D...I do appreciate your help. You might want to check your sources in regard to your info: "Third, and most relevant to your info of "the plant stops growing...gets crinkled and dry looking...shows black spots" are not the symptoms of BW". Here is one of many quotes from university agricultural researchers. "Unfortunately, the disease doesn't take much time to progress, and soon the whole plant is wilted. After wilting, the entire plant, including fruit, leaves and vines, shrivels before dying." As I stated earlier...the black spots sure appear to be dead aphids (a separate issue). As you say...BW can be somewhat regional...and California is named specifically in many articles. As for NOT being common: Talking about cucurbits: "Unfortunately, these varied plants are prone to several pests and diseases. Bacterial wilt, a common cucurbit disease, is caused by a detrimental pest."

I will take your advice however, and not ignore other possibilities.

Cucumbers love humidity

<You might want to check your sources in regard to your info: "Third, and most relevant to your info of "the plant stops growing...gets crinkled and dry looking...shows black spots" are not the symptoms of BW". Here is one of many quotes from university agricultural researchers. "Unfortunately, the disease doesn't take much time to progress, and soon the whole plant is wilted. After wilting, the entire plant, including fruit, leaves and vines, shrivels before dying." >

I don't understand as that is almost word for word what I said only you left off the last part of my comment. "With BW the plant remains green but collapses, wilts dramatically." That is the definitive symptom - collapse of the plant, usually while still green - not that it "stops growing..gets crinkled and dry looking".

Dave