Mullein – fertilizer for cucumbers

Every gardener dreams of a rich harvest. It pleases not only fresh, but also as a preparation for the winter. If you want to grow a lot of good, large and healthy cucumbers, then it is important to think about feeding them. Everyone knows that without fertilizer it is impossible to achieve the best result. Therefore, a logical question arises: how should cucumbers be fed so that they give good fruits? Often, many resort to the use of store-bought minerals. It is quite easy to work with them, however, these substances remain “chemistry”. If you are one of those who think and care about a good harvest, then it is better to resort to organic fertilizers. With them, your cucumbers will be environmentally friendly and safe.

One of the options for ecological fertilizer for cucumbers is mullein. Let’s take a closer look at this type of fertilizer and find out exactly how to feed cucumbers with mullein.

Mullein – concept and composition

Some don’t know what a mullein is. This is a very effective fertilizer of natural origin. They feed plants in the garden and in the garden to increase productivity. To put it bluntly, it’s cow dung. It not only increases the yield of plants in the garden, but also strengthens their immunity and protects against diseases.

What is included in its composition? You can name all the useful substances that a plant needs for development, growth and fertility. Here is a list of these substances:

• sulfur;
• potassium;
• nitrogen;
• magnesium;
• phosphorus;
• calcium.

You may be surprised, but if you add one ton of manure to the ground, it will enrich it with 5 kg of nitrogen, 2,5 kg of phosphorus and 6 kg of potassium. This has a very positive effect on both the growth of your plants and their ability to bear fruit.

The most important thing is that the nitrogen in mullein is in an organic state. When decomposing, 1/3 of the nitrogen is released very quickly, but the rest of the substance is very stable and has a positive effect on the plant. The same applies to phosphorus. And if we talk about potassium, then it is 100% soluble in water and absorbed by the plant immediately after being added to the soil. Why is mullein so useful for cucumbers and other plants?

Mullein for cucumbers – useful properties

Fertilizer of this type has a lot of useful substances. If you use mullein as a fertilizer for your cucumbers, then the first positive thing is the intensive reproduction of beneficial microorganisms in the soil. The thing is that in this organic matter there is a source of energy and food for all microorganisms. The second point is that thanks to cow manure, the physical and physico-chemical characteristics of the soil are significantly improved. This makes it possible to make insoluble compounds in the soil easily digestible.

In addition to everything, we want to note the property of fertilizer to help create soil in the form of small lumps. It is this soil structure that is considered ideal for growing all kinds of plants. Why? Such lumps of soil are saturated with humus, and when you water the soil or it rains, it is difficult to wash them away with water, they become strong. If you introduce mullein into difficult soil, which has a lot of clay, then mullein will make it loose. After adding fertilizer, it will be easier to process, and it will warm up better and faster. This has a positive effect on both the development of cucumbers and its yield.

However, before we start feeding cucumbers with mullein, let’s look at the varieties of this fertilizer and how to prepare it. Thanks to this, you will not have any problems with the feeding process itself.

Varieties of mullein

It is logical that in order to produce mullein, you need to have a cow. It is she who is the source of this useful fertilizer for cucumbers and other plants. There are two varieties of mullein depending on how you keep your cow in the stall. Some make straw or sawdust bedding in the shed, others do not. In this regard, the mullein can be:

1. Podstylochnogo type.

   

2. liquid type.

In the first case, you will get solid manure with the inclusion of straw. If you store it, then over time it begins to overheat and turns into humus. If we talk about the liquid form of mullein, then it is used to create humus in the compost pit. There it is mixed with soil, weeds, sawdust, straw, fallen leaves and vegetable tops. In this case, the ratio of auxiliary components and manure is reduced to 2/5 (2 parts of the components, 5 parts of mullein). Lime or wood ash can be added to this healthy compost, at a ratio of 2-4% of the total compost.

The cooking process is as follows:

1. Straw, leaves and sawdust are poured into the pit (or plastic barrel) at the bottom.
2. The contents are filled with liquid manure.
3. The third layer is the same straw, foliage and sawdust.
4. Then a layer of mullein to cover the previous layer. The process is carried out until the contents reach the edges of your pit (plastic container).

Mullein can be used both fresh and half-rotted and rotted. It is only important to consider that fresh fertilizer damages the roots and stems of some crops. In the process, a burn is caused, after which the root dies. Therefore, the use of fresh mullein is limited to being introduced into the soil in the autumn for digging the soil. Then, before the beginning of spring, the fertilizer will burn out or rot, and will not damage the roots of cucumbers or other crops. But in summer and spring, mullein is used rotten or semi-rotten. But the question arises: how is the feeding of cucumbers with mullein? What needs to be considered in order to create ideal conditions for cucumbers?

Features of feeding cucumbers with mullein

We have already found out the importance of feeding. With it, you will significantly increase the yield, strengthen the plant and make the fruits perfect. The process of fertilization itself is simple. It is only important to take into account some points on the application of fertilizer, as well as the method of preparing manure.

Cucumbers need to be fertilized several times throughout the season. On average, this is once every 10-12 days. This will be enough for the cucumbers to feel comfortable and bear fruit. It is especially effective to use this fertilizer when the cucumber is not very attractive and weak: it is characterized by thin stems and fading leaves. The recommended period of feeding with mullein is after the cucumbers have risen and they have leaves. The first time feeding should be carried out no earlier than 14 days after germination.

It is important to note that the mullein must be prepared in advance. You can use the method that was mentioned above, or you can use another. For the second method, a week of time is needed. The preparation is quite simple: you just need to dilute the mullein with water at a ratio of 1: 2. It remains to wait 7 days, during which the fertilizer will infuse and be ready for use. As for fertilizing, the solution is added only during irrigation. The concentrated solution you have made can damage the cucumbers. Therefore, dilute half a liter of compost in 1 bucket of water. So, you will make it safe for watering cucumbers.

Planting begins in May, so in the autumn after harvesting the previous crop, you need to add fresh mullein and dig up the ground. Until May, the soil will be ideal for planting cucumbers in it.

There is one caveat regarding watering cucumbers with fertilizer. This should not be done on top of the plant. The thing is that cucumbers do not like excess moisture. Ideally, carefully add the mixture into the furrows and grooves where the crop is planted. So, the fertilizer will fall directly on the root and will nourish the soil. If we talk about quantity, then per 1 m² you will need one 10 l bucket of non-concentrated mullein. When you do everything right, cucumbers will very quickly delight you with a rich, healthy and tasty harvest.

It is worth noting that one should not be limited to only one fertilizer. You can alternate between a healthy organic mullein based fertilizer and a mineral fertilizer. We also love variety in our diet. The same goes for cucumbers. Thus, they will receive absolutely all the useful substances that contribute to rapid growth and excellent fruiting. Indeed, at the growth stage, cucumbers need nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium, and during the period when the first fruits appeared, magnesium, potassium and nitrogen are important. What else can you feed cucumbers?

1. Ash.
2. Urea.
3. Yeast.
4. Bird droppings.

It is not recommended to use all fertilizers at once, but you can choose 1-2 and alternate them. Do not overdo it, but do not forget about the timely introduction.

To summarize

From this article, you learned the beneficial properties of mullein. This is an excellent organic fertilizer that combines a lot of useful substances for your crops. With it, you can achieve a rich harvest that can be obtained in a short time. Cucumbers are tasty, fragrant, healthy and suitable both for fresh consumption and for conservation. And thanks to the tips and instructions, you will be able to independently feed the cucumbers in your area.