Heirloom Grown

  • Home
  • About Me
    • Contact Me
    • Privacy policy
  • Chickens
    • Breeds
    • Coop
    • Chicks
  • Gardening
    • Growing Guides
    • Seed Saving
    • Seed Starting
    • Soil Health
    • Greenhouse
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • About Me
    • Contact Me
    • Privacy policy
  • Chickens
    • Breeds
    • Coop
    • Chicks
  • Gardening
    • Growing Guides
    • Seed Saving
    • Seed Starting
    • Soil Health
    • Greenhouse
  • Subscribe
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About Me
    • Contact Me
    • Privacy policy
  • Chickens
    • Breeds
    • Coop
    • Chicks
  • Gardening
    • Growing Guides
    • Seed Saving
    • Seed Starting
    • Soil Health
    • Greenhouse
  • Subscribe
×
Home

How to get rid of cucumber beetles naturally

Published: May 19, 2023 · Modified: May 5, 2025 by Josiah · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

Share!

42 shares
  • Facebook
  • X

Have you ever come out to your cucumber plants and they are covered in yellow beetles? If the cucumber beetle population around your plants gets too large they can destroy your plants. But you don't want to use synthetic pesticides to kill these insects. Well, you don't have to use nasty chemicals to have healthy cucumbers. Read on to learn how to get rid of cucumber beetles naturally.

Striped cucumber beetle on a cucumber plant stem

What are cucumber beetles

Before we get into how to get rid of them let's first figure out what they are. Cucumber beetles are a little bigger than lady bugs and are bright yellow.

There are two different types of cucumber beetles ones with black stripes and ones with black spots. Both will eat your cucumber plants.

Yellow cucumber beetle on a watermelon blossom

While cucumber beetles usually prefer cucumbers, they do like other members of the cucurbit family like zucchini and pumpkins.

Do I have too many beetles

While having too many cucumber beetles is a big problem sometimes a small population is not going to harm your plants. In fact, they can eat up to 30% of your plants without much harm and you will still get a good harvest.

I know when you start seeing holes in your plants you think they are going to die soon, but that is not always the case.

If you do not kill all of the cucumber beetles and encourage beneficial insects into your garden they will keep the population in check. Remember you have to have prey to have predators.

You should only use the following techniques if the population gets out of hand or they attack your plants when they are very young.

Picking cucumber beetles

One of the best methods (yet most labor intensive) is picking the beetles. Go out in midday when the beetles are the most active and pick them off the plant. Then plop them into a bucket of soapy water which kills them quickly.

While this is the most labor intensive way to get rid of cucumber beetles it has many benefits. First, you only kill the cucumber beetles. With other methods you can kill beneficial insects like bees but not when you are picking each bug.

It is also very effective at keeping the population in check. If you have chickens you could throw the beetles in a bucket of water instead of soapy water and feed the beetles to them.

Wood ashes

While this may sound absurd, wood ashes deter cucumber beetles and kill them. The wood ashes have to be dry to work.

To use this method make a small ring of wood ashes around the base of the plant or sprinkle it onto the plant.

wood ashes around a cucumber plant

The ashes draw the moisture away from the insect killing it. Just be mindful that wood ashes have a high PH (are basic) and if you add too many they can make your soil basic, so use them sparingly.

Diatomaceous earth (DE)

One of my favorite natural pesticides is DE. DE is made from crustaceans that are ground into a fine powder. You can buy the same diatomaceous earth I use here.

While the powder feels like flour it is very abrasive to small insects. If an insect gets the DE dust on them it will kill them by cutting them open (under a microscope it looks like knives).

DE on a collard plant

This physical pesticide is much safer than chemical pesticides because it is totally harmless to humans. It is so safe that it is even used in some food products!

A few things to keep in mind when using DE is that it is super effective and will kill other beneficial insects as well (try to use it when it is only needed).

Do not breath in the dust as it is abrasive to the air ways. DE only works when dry; to "deactivate" it simple wet down your plants and it no longer has the ability to kill insects.

Preventative measures

To prevent cucumber beetles from eating your plants, here are some things you can do. Healthy plants can resist pests and diseases better than sick plants so focus on cucumber plant health.

Remember healthy plants start with healthy soil so use these methods to improve your soil life. Read this complete growing guide for cucumbers to keep your plants in tip top shape.

Companion planting has worked for my cucumber plants. Here are a few of my favorite companion plants for cucumbers.

  • Nasturtiums are great at deterring cucumber beetles. This plant is also great to grow because it is edible and has beautiful flowers.
Red nasturtiums
  • Marigolds are another plant that deters pests from my cucumbers. Plant them close to your cucumbers for the full effect. Saving your marigold seeds is a great way to save money on seeds
Orange marigold flower
  • Radishes also keep your cucumber plants healthy. Great to plant around the base and leave to flower or harvest some.

Pin This!

How to get rid of cucumber beetles naturally pin

Other posts you would enjoy

HOW TO GROW THE BEST CUCUMBERS EVER
HOW I BUILT MY GARDEN FENCE
ALL ABOUT SALMON FAVEROLLE CHICKENS

More Gardening

  • How to make a round hanging planter
    How To Make A Round Hanging Planter
  • How to keep a greenhouse cool in the summer
    How To Keep A Greenhouse Cool In Summer
  • lush cilantro plants in a pot
    How To Grow Cilantro From Seed
  • How To Grow Basil From Seed

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Welcome!

Josiah here, I'm a gardener and chicken keeper who's always trying to grow more food. I am here to help you grow!

About me

Popular Posts

  • How To Make Chickens Friendly

  • How to layout a greenhouse
    How To Layout A Greenhouse

  • 5 things every chicken coop needs
    5 Things Every Chicken Coop Needs

  • Free Printable Seed Packets

Seasonal Posts

  • Things To Know Before Getting Chickens

  • How to Grow the Best Heirloom Cucumbers
    How to Grow the Best Heirloom Cucumbers

  • Bedding for chicks: What is best to use
    Bedding for chicks: What is best to use

  • Best DIY Potting Soil Mix For Seedlings

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • About

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 HeirloomGrown