Contents
For the full development of cucumbers, the intake of nutrients is required. Foliar feeding of cucumbers allows you to provide them with minerals, protect them from diseases and pests. Processing is carried out by spraying the stems, leaves and inflorescences of cucumbers. Feeding should be carried out regularly, throughout the life cycle of plants. Such measures have a positive effect on the growth of cucumbers and contribute to their fruiting.
Rules for foliar feeding
To get the maximum effect from foliar top dressing, you need to follow a number of rules:
- When forming sprouts, concentrated fertilizers will not have a beneficial effect on cucumbers. With an excess of nutrients, the leaves turn yellow and the inflorescences fall off. Therefore, weak solutions are used first. Over time, their concentration gradually increases.
- Cucumbers should be sprayed in the morning or evening when there is no sun. When exposed to the sun, some substances cause a burn on the leaves of cucumbers. Another condition is the absence of rain and wind, which is especially important for plants growing in open spaces.
- It can be difficult to determine by the appearance of cucumbers what nutrients they lack. Therefore, it is better to use solutions on several plants. If their condition has improved, then proceed to the processing of the remaining cucumbers. Another option is the treatment with complex fertilizer.
- Spraying is more often used for preventive purposes. Processing is necessarily carried out in cold weather, when the root system of cucumbers cannot fully function.
- Organic fertilizers are not used in the heat.
- Foliar treatment is carried out in the morning or in the evening, always in cloudy weather.
Foliar processing of cucumbers is distinguished by its economy. All useful substances are stored on the leaves of plants for several days. At different stages of development, cucumbers require certain trace elements. Active growth is possible due to nitrogen, and potassium is required for the formation of fruits.
Time spending
Foliar top dressing of cucumbers is carried out at each stage of development of cucumbers:
- before flowering;
- before fruiting;
- at harvest time to extend its life.
At the same time, the leaves of plants turn yellow, the shape of the fruit changes, and the inflorescences fall off. Then top dressing will become a mandatory measure to support cucumbers.
Feeding methods
Foliar feeding of cucumbers in a greenhouse involves the use of special solutions containing water and minerals. Spraying is carried out using a special watering can or spray gun with a fine nozzle. In open ground, processing is carried out in the absence of rain and wind.
Urea use
Urea is a common fertilizer that comes in granular form. This substance serves as a source of nitrogen for cucumbers, which is necessary for the full growth and development of plants. This is a universal fertilizer that dissolves well in water.
The first feeding with urea is performed during the growing season. First, cucumber seedlings transferred to open ground or a greenhouse are sprayed. The next feeding is done before the formation of fruits.
Urea must be stored in a dry place where moisture is excluded. How much you need to take substances for spraying depends on the type of crops being processed.
When the leaves are treated with urea, cucumbers receive nitrogen, which is quickly absorbed and promotes the emergence of new shoots. Urea is used for pest control. An additional effect of its use will be the protection of cucumbers from weevil and aphids.
Boric acid
Due to boric acid, you can get a good harvest and protect cucumbers from diseases. After spraying with this substance, the plant is saturated with oxygen, and the fruits with calcium. As a result, the taste of cucumbers improves.
Treatment of seeds with boric acid increases their germination, normalizes metabolic processes, strengthens the immunity of seedlings.
It is not recommended to constantly use boric acid. The second top dressing is carried out during the formation of the ovary. To attract pollinating insects, honey or sugar is added to the solution. Boric acid is necessary for the following adverse symptoms:
- there are yellow spots on the leaves;
- a small number of ovaries formed;
- fruits fall.
The substance is soluble only in warm water. Therefore, first the solution is made in a small volume of water, then cool water is added for spraying.
Based on boric acid, various products are produced. For foliar feeding of cucumbers, the drug “Mag-Bor” is suitable. One package is diluted in water, and then the stems and leaves of cucumbers are sprayed.
Calcium nitrate
Calcium nitrate refers to alkaline fertilizers, highly soluble in water. The substance contains calcium, which is quickly absorbed by cucumbers. Calcium nitrate is effective even under adverse conditions: cold snaps, high humidity, lack of precipitation. The use of a substance has the following effects on cucumbers:
- cell walls and membranes are formed;
- metabolism and the work of enzymes are activated;
- the resistance of cucumbers to stress factors increases;
- the plant acquires immunity to diseases;
- the storage time of fruits increases;
- increases the yield, appearance and taste of cucumbers.
To saturate cucumbers with calcium, a solution is prepared containing 1 liter of water and calcium nitrate in an amount of 2 g. The first spraying is performed after the third leaf appears in the seedling. The procedure is repeated every 10 days until fruiting begins. Calcium nitrate protects cucumbers from diseases, mites and slugs. After treatment, the effect persists for a long time, and the plants acquire additional immunity to pathogenic bacteria.
Spraying with iodine
In the flowering stage, cucumbers are especially susceptible to diseases. For their prevention, cucumbers are sprayed with a solution containing iodine. The procedure begins after the appearance of the third and quarter leaves in cucumbers. The solution is prepared by mixing 30 drops of iodine, 1 liter of milk and 10 liters of water. Additionally, soap is added to it so that the liquid stays on the leaves longer.
Due to iodine, pathogenic bacteria that cause the development of root rot, powdery mildew and other diseases are destroyed. Milk forms a film on the surface of the leaf that protects against pests.
If signs of the disease have already appeared, then a more concentrated solution is required. To obtain it, iodine and water are required in a ratio of 1: 2. The solution is sprayed with the stems and leaves of cucumbers. Affected plant parts should be removed and burned to avoid spreading the disease.
Complex top dressing
Cucumbers benefit from complex top dressing, including several types of nutrients. This requires two types of solutions, consisting of macro- and microelements. The macronutrient solution is prepared for 10 liters of water and contains:
- urea – 20 g;
- superphosphate – 10 g;
- potassium sulfate – 7 g.
Trace elements are diluted in 10 ml of water:
- ammonium – 0,01 g;
- copper sulfate – 0,008 g;
- magnesium sulfate – 0,18 g;
- boric acid – 0,2 g.
For 10 liters of a solution with macronutrients, 10 ml of a liquid containing microelements is needed. For a square meter of cucumber beds, 300 ml of the finished solution is required.
Folk methods
Folk methods of feeding cucumbers are no less effective than the use of chemical components. Such products contain safe substances that are affordable and available in stores.
yeast solution
Yeast contains carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals. When they are dissolved in water, compounds are formed that have a positive effect on the growth of cucumbers.
Yeast fungus is characterized by increased resistance. It remains viable under mechanical stress, high and low temperatures. However, the fungus does not withstand the aggressive effects of other microorganisms.
First, a solution is prepared containing fresh yeast and warm water in a ratio of 1:5. To spray cucumbers, another 5 parts of water is added to it. Another solution option is to use dry yeast. First, 3 liters of water are heated to a temperature of up to 38 degrees, where 10 tablespoons are added. sugar and 10 g of yeast.
After mixing the components, the solution is left for 5-10 hours. The mixture must be stirred periodically. To prepare the yeast solution, it is best to choose the morning time, and feed in the evening.
The final solution contains 3 liters of starter culture and 7 liters of water. You can use the tool every week. 1 liter of solution is enough for one plant. Yeast feed is used both for spraying and for watering cucumbers. After spraying cucumbers with yeast dressing, after a few days, the leaves become bright green in color, more inflorescences form.
Bread infusion
An alternative to a yeast remedy is a bread infusion. The composition of bread also includes yeast, which has a beneficial effect on plants. To process cucumbers, a loaf of bread is taken, which is infused in a bucket of water. After a day, you need to knead the bread and add 10 ml of iodine. 1 liter of bread infusion is diluted with 10 liters of water. The resulting product is used to spray cucumbers every 5 days.
Ash processing
Ash serves as a universal fertilizer for cucumbers, which is applied to the soil and used for spraying. Ash is formed after the complete combustion of organic matter. For spraying, a substance obtained after burning wood or plant residues is suitable. If the ash contains residues of plastic or debris, then it is not used for fertilizer. Ash contains useful components necessary for the growth of cucumbers: calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus.
The agent is infused for a week, after which they are sprayed with cucumbers. To keep the solution longer on the foliage, add 50 g of soap to it. Processing is done every 10 days.
Foliar feeding of cucumbers with a solution containing ash protects plants from aphids and other harmful insects. Ash is also used as a preventive measure to protect cucumbers from powdery mildew.
Infusion on onion peel
Onion peel has a complex effect on cucumbers, which receive the necessary nutrition and protection from harmful bacteria. Onion peel contains a complex of useful substances: vitamins, phytoncides, antioxidants, organic acids, potassium, manganese, iron, phosphorus. The husk stimulates the development of cucumbers, enhances their immune properties.
For the preparation of onion top dressing, 20 g of husks and warm water with a volume of 5 liters are required. The infusion is left for 4 days, after which it is filtered. The resulting husk is used for soil mulching.
Onion solution is indispensable in the fight against aphids, spider mites, as well as diseases of cucumbers. If signs appear that indicate the presence of diseases or pests, the treatment is carried out every 5 days.
“Herbal tea”
The so-called herbal tea for spraying cucumbers is prepared on the basis of any weeds (nettle, wood lice, thistle). The stems and leaves of plants are crushed, after which they are poured with water in an amount of 10 liters. A week later, he receives ready-made fertilizer. “Herbal tea” is used for watering or spraying cucumbers. With its help, cucumbers are saturated with nitrogen.
Infusion on broken hay is prepared within 2 days. They are sprayed with cucumbers at the fruiting stage to prolong the life of plants. An additional effect of the infusion is protection against powdery mildew and other diseases.
Conclusion
Foliar top dressing supplies cucumbers with nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium and other trace elements. To obtain solutions, mineral substances are used, which are diluted with water. Spraying is necessary at every stage of cucumber development. Folk remedies for spraying are no less popular with gardeners. They do not require large expenditures and at the same time provide cucumbers with additional nutrition.
