Such a universal remedy as cucumber ash will become a good friend and helper in a greenhouse. After all, the ashes of plants are not only a wonderful natural fertilizer, but also a good tool for combating diseases of vegetable crops.
Why Ash is Better
Greenhouse cucumbers need to be fed, especially they love nitrogenous compounds. The fastest and easiest way to fertilize the soil in a greenhouse is to apply mineral fertilizers of chemical origin. But this option is not harmless: chemical trace elements accumulate in the ground, which kills microorganisms that fluff the soil, thereby providing plants with the necessary root respiration. The thoughtless use of non-natural substances can adversely affect the taste of vegetables. In addition, such chemistry cannot be used during the flowering and fruiting of the cucumber, otherwise the fruits will be poisoned.
It is better to use natural fertilizers. Organics will not cause any harm to either cucumbers, or the earth, or humans. It can be safely used even at the time of flowering and fruiting of a vegetable. Natural ingredients completely heal the soil in 3 years. Natural top dressing attracts earthworms and various beneficial microorganisms that process the remains of dead organic matter, making the soil more fertile and loose.
A special place among natural fertilizers is occupied by ash – a product of burning plant residues. It is a natural and harmless source of such minerals:
- potassium;
- phosphorus;
- magnesium;
- zinc;
- calcium;
- copper;
- sulfur.
Due to the high content of potassium in its composition, vegetable ash is recognized as a good natural potassium mineral fertilizer. And potassium has a beneficial effect on the growth and proper formation of the cucumber stem.
Top dressing is made from various types of vegetation that is at hand. The feedstock will affect the quality of the fertilizer:
- Wood ash contains a lot of phosphorus.
- Peat ash is rich in calcium.
- The product of burning grass is the richest source of potassium.
But, despite such a rich chemical composition, there is absolutely no nitrogen in the ash, which cucumbers love so much. Therefore, when fertilizing these vegetables with ash, it is better to compact the beds with legumes. They, thanks to the unique nodules on their roots, are able to saturate the earth with nitrogen.
Ash as fertilizer
Plant ash is a good and completely harmless natural mineral fertilizer. It won’t do any harm. It is possible to use ash as a fertilizer at all stages of the life of a cucumber: in a solution of ash, seeds can be soaked for planting; seedlings are fed with it; it has a beneficial effect on the formation of the stem of a growing crop; it is harmless at the stage of flowering and fruiting of a vegetable.
For feeding cucumbers, ash is used in the form of a mash. To do this, 10 glass of ash should be diluted in 1 liters of water. The resulting volume is used for 2 m² area for planting cucumbers. Chatterbox is poured under the root of vegetables. Apply it no more than once a week.
As a fertilizer, ash can be applied under the root of cucumbers and in a dry sifted form. But in this case, it must be watered from above so that it soaks deep into the soil, and does not dissipate on the surface. It is also necessary to use this option of top dressing no more than 1 time per week.
But, despite all its positive properties, ash should not be mixed with other types of fertilizer, otherwise it may enter into an unexpected chemical reaction. Therefore, for a complete feeding of vegetables, fertilizers should not be mixed, but alternated after a certain period of time.
Ash as medicine
Due to its unique chemical composition, ash is able to effectively combat soil acidification.
In an acidic environment, the microflora develops poorly, which accumulates the accumulation of useful substances in the soil. Therefore, the soil becomes poorer, and the plants turn out to be lethargic and weak. The use of ash will help in the fight against the formation of hard crusts of insoluble salts on the soil, which prevent plant roots from breathing.
Also, the combustion product of plants perfectly destroys mold fungi on the ground, which often occur due to the greenhouse effect. Such a fungus is especially harmful for young immature seedlings. Mold does not tolerate alkaline environments. Therefore, to combat it, the soil is sprinkled with ash or mulched with a mixture of sifted ash and crushed charcoal.
The burnout product of plant residues can be used as a safe medicine for plants from various pests: spotting, aphids, fleas. To do this, plant ash is mixed with water, but for greater efficiency it is better to use a decoction of fragrant or bitter herbs, the taste and smell of which are so disliked by parasites. You can use infusions and decoctions of: St. John’s wort, cloves, cinnamon, mint, dill, wormwood, bird cherry, tomato leaves, parsley, garlic, anise, sour lemon.
Healing aerosol is prepared from 1 cup of ash and 10 liters of warm liquid (the temperature should not be less than 20 ° C). The infusion is filtered and sprayed on the affected areas or healthy plants in order to prevent the appearance of diseases and parasites. You can spray in the morning and evening.
