It takes a lot of work to get a stable result. Gardeners, engaged in the seedling method of growing cucumbers, face various difficulties. One of the common problems is pulling cucumber seedlings. She becomes tall, looks unattractive, grows weakened. With such a state of planting material, it is unlikely that it will be possible to count on a good harvest of cucumbers. When transplanted, many plants break. The rest require additional care and investment. Naturally, the questions arise: “Why is this happening? What reasons lead to the fact that the cucumber seedlings are pulled out? Why has she outgrown? "
Biologists explain this by the fact that the cells change their placement at the moment the plant is pulled. They move from horizontal to vertical. At the same time, their number remains unchanged.
Therefore, the cucumber seedlings become much thinner, paler and weaker. It is more often affected by diseases and pests, and absorbs nutrients worse. There are not very many factors that lead to the elongation of seedlings. All of them are associated with the impact of the external environment. Therefore, this does not depend on the variety of cucumbers and the quality of the seeds. The difficulty lies in the fact that it is not always possible to determine at once for what reason the seedlings have stretched out.
Healthy and high quality seedlings always look strong and stocky. As soon as the outside growing conditions change, the delicate plants respond instantly.
Therefore, proper and competent care will not lead to the appearance of elongated and weak shoots. Pulling cucumber seedlings is not a disease. If the process has not gone too far, then everything can be fixed. You need to find out the reason, and then take measures to remedy the situation.
We identify unfavorable factors
The main reasons for pulling cucumber seedlings are considered:
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Insufficient lighting... A banal reason. Usually, it is associated with the fact that cucumbers begin to grow even in the cold season. Natural lighting is not enough, and installing additional ones requires knowledge. Conventional incandescent bulbs cannot provide the desired effect. Worst of all, cucumber leaves and stems can get burned by the heat generated by the lamps. To prevent the seedlings from overgrowing and stretching out, it is better to purchase special phytolamps. The option is not very economical, but the only replacement can be light bulbs - "housekeepers". Home inventors set timers on them to keep the plants from overheating.
- Temperature violation... Under the influence of heat, the growth of cucumber seedlings increases. At a temperature below the required one, a strong development of the root system occurs - we get the same result. If the time for transplanting cucumbers has not yet come, then the sprouts will stretch. The optimum temperature for growing cucumber seedlings is 16 ° C above zero. If a violation of the thermal balance is combined with insufficient light, then it stretches very strongly.
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Sowing too dense... With good germination of seeds, plants lack light, space for growth, nutrients for development. The sprouts interfere with each other, the cucumber seedlings are pulled out. Without correcting the situation, saving the crop will not work. When the seedlings are in cups, it is necessary to position the containers so that the cucumber leaves do not come into contact with each other. Otherwise, the innate competitiveness of plants will lead to stretching of the stems.
- Frequent watering... Cucumber seedlings do not tolerate much moisture. Watering is recommended no earlier than the leaves begin to drop slightly.They signal a lack of moisture. The vital forces of the plant are stimulated.
- Incorrectly calculated amount of nutrients for dressing. A lack or excess of certain components is often the reason that the seedlings stretch out. Young seedlings require precise adherence to the proportions of potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus.
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Tight containers and poor soil... In such conditions, the seedlings are stretched no less. Before sowing, you should choose the right pot size and prepare a nutrient mixture.
Many gardeners are faced with pulling cucumber seedlings. Therefore, you should know in advance what to do when such a symptom appears. Better yet, avoid it.
We apply the rules of prevention
Experienced vegetable growers know some of the nuances that help avoid pulling the stems or quickly correct the situation.
- Digging in... This method can be used when the cucumber seedlings are already stretched out. How to do? A small depression is dug next to the stem. A long stem is laid in it, carefully sprinkled with earth, tamped and watered. The upper part will rise to the light, and new roots will appear on the stem under the ground. With a little pulling of the cucumber seedlings, you can simply add a little soil. It should be dry and warm. This will help prevent excess moisture from retaining.
- Air temperature stabilization... Home-grown cucumber seedlings can suffer from heating appliances or nearby windows. We'll have to find a place so as not to reduce the amount of light, but to optimize the heat performance.
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Increasing the distance between shoots... It is better to do this immediately when sowing seeds. And with the increased density of the grown seedlings, you will have to very carefully thin out the plants. Special care is needed here so as not to damage the surrounding roots. This technique is carried out only by experienced gardeners. For beginners, it is better to change the growing conditions without touching the seedlings.
- Providing enough light... A very important factor. We'll have to try to create comfortable conditions for the cucumbers. And it is better to do this before sowing the seeds. Supplementary lighting helps a lot. It can only be used in the greenhouse in the morning and in the evening. There will be plenty of natural light during the day. It should be borne in mind that daylight hours for cucumber seedlings should last at least 18 hours. Even with good lighting, but with a short "daylight", it stretches out.
- Competent hydration... Abundant watering will lead to lush plant growth. If there is still a long time before planting, then the stems become thinner and stretched. The second negative factor of too much drinking of plants is the development of diseases. An optimal balance is required. Overdrying and waterlogging are equally unacceptable.
- Meals according to the rules... Top dressing is always carried out to obtain good planting material. There are complex fertilizers for seedlings. The main thing is that it dissolves well in water. This will ensure that all plants receive the same amount of nutrients. Organic fertilizers are often used - bird droppings, humus. Naturally, you will have to make an infusion. In its pure form, such plant food is not suitable. In the absence of complex or organic fertilizers, a mixture of ammonium nitrate, potassium sulfate, superphosphate (1: 3: 4) is used. Enough two tablespoons of the mixture in a bucket of water.
- Topping... This method is very effective for short-fruited cucumber seedlings.
Each of these methods will give its own result. A set of measures will save the seedlings from stretching. The main thing is to do it on time. But, first try to find out why this happened.
Good luck and good harvests, dear gardeners!
