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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's important to think about feeding them. Everyone knows that it’s impossible to achieve the best result without fertilization. Therefore, a logical question arises: what is needed feed cucumbersso that they bear good fruit? Often, many resort to using store-bought minerals. It is quite easy to work with them, however, these substances remain "chemistry". If you are one of those who thinks and cares 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 mullein cucumbers.
Mullein - concept and composition
Some people don't know what a mullein is. It is a very effective natural fertilizer. They are fed plants in the vegetable garden and in the garden to increase yields. To put it bluntly, it is cow dung. It not only increases the productivity of plants in the garden, but also strengthens their immunity and protects against diseases.
What is included in it? You can name all the nutrients 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 soil, it will enrich it with nitrogen by 5 kg, phosphorus by 2.5 kg and potassium by 6 kg. This has a very positive effect on both the growth of your plants and their ability to bear fruit.
Most importantly, the nitrogen in the mullein is in an organic state. When decomposed, 1/3 of nitrogen is released very quickly, but the rest of the substance is very stable and has a positive effect on the plant. The same goes for 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 fertilizer for your cucumbers, then the first positive point is the intensive reproduction of beneficial microorganisms in the soil. The thing is that this organic substance has a source of energy and food for all microorganisms. The second point is that thanks to cow dung, the physical and physicochemical characteristics of the soil are significantly improved. This makes it easy to digest insoluble compounds in the soil.
In addition to everything, we want to note the property of the 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 become saturated with humus, and when you water the soil or it rains, it is difficult to wash them out with water, they become durable. If you apply mullein to tough soil that has a lot of clay, the 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 the cucumber and its harvest.
However, before we start feeding cucumbers with a 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.
Mullein species
It is logical that in order to produce a 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 are keeping the cow in the stall. Some make straw or sawdust bedding in the barn, while others do not. In this regard, mullein can be:
- Litter type.
- Liquid type.
In the first case, you will receive solid manure with the inclusion of straw. If you store it, then over time it begins to overheat and transforms into humus. If we talk about the liquid form of the mullein, then it is used to create humus in the compost pit. There it is mixed with soil, weeds, sawdust, straw, fallen leaves and tops from vegetables. In this case, the ratio of auxiliary components and manure is reduced to 2/5 (2 parts of components, 5 parts of mullein). Lime or wood ash can be added to this useful compost, in a ratio of 2-4% of the total compost volume.
The cooking process is as follows:
- Straw, leaves and sawdust are poured into the pit (or plastic barrel) at the bottom.
- The contents are poured with liquid manure.
- The third layer is the same straw, foliage and sawdust.
- Then a layer of mullein to cover the previous layer. The process continues 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 off. Therefore, the use of fresh mullein is limited to its introduction into the soil in the autumn period 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 rotted or semi-rotten. But the question arises: how is the feeding of cucumbers with a mullein? What needs to be considered in order to create ideal conditions for cucumbers?
Features of feeding cucumbers with a mullein
We have already figured out the importance of feeding. With it, you will multiply the yield, strengthen the plant and make the fruits perfect. The fertilization process itself is simple. It is only important to take into account some points on fertilization, as well as the method of preparing manure.
Feeding cucumbers should be done 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 wilting leaves. The recommended period for feeding the 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 needs to be prepared in advance. You can use the method that was indicated above, or you can use another. The second method takes a week. The preparation is quite simple: you just need to dilute the mullein with water in a 1: 2 ratio. It remains to wait 7 days, during which the fertilizer will infuse and be ready for use. As for fertilization, the solution is added only during watering. The concentrated solution you get can damage the cucumbers. Therefore, dilute half a liter of compost in 1 bucket of water. This will make it safe for watering cucumbers.
Planting begins in May, so in the autumn after the previous harvest, you need to add a 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. Do not do this on top of the plant. The thing is that cucumbers do not like excess moisture. Ideally, carefully add the mixture to the furrows and grooves where the crop is planted. So, the fertilizer will go directly to the root and will nourish the soil. If we talk about the quantity, then for 1 m2 you need one 10 L bucket of unconcentrated mullein. When you do everything right, cucumbers will very quickly delight you with a rich, healthy and tasty harvest.
It should be noted that one should not be limited to only one fertilization. You can alternate between the beneficial organic mullein fertilizer and mineral fertilizer. We also love variety in the diet. The same goes for cucumbers. Thus, they will receive absolutely all the nutrients that contribute to rapid growth and excellent fruiting. Indeed, at the growth stage, cucumbers need nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium, and in the period when the first fruits appear, magnesium, potassium and nitrogen are important. What else can you feed cucumbers?
- Ash.
- Urea.
- Yeast.
- 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.
Let's summarize
In this article, you learned the beneficial properties of the mullein. This is an excellent organic fertilizer that combines a lot of nutrients for your crops. With it, you can achieve a rich harvest that can be obtained in a short time. Cucumbers are tasty, aromatic, healthy and suitable both for fresh consumption and for preservation. And thanks to tips and instructions, you can independently feed cucumbers on your site.
