Content
For the full development of cucumbers, the intake of nutrients is required. Foliar feeding 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 entire life cycle of plants. Such measures have a positive effect on growing cucumbers and contribute to their fruiting.
Foliar feeding rules
To get the maximum effect from foliar feeding, you need to follow a number of rules:
- When sprouts are formed, 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 sunlight. When exposed to the sun, certain substances cause burns on the leaves of cucumbers. Another condition is the absence of rain and wind, which is especially true for plants growing in open space.
- It can be difficult to determine by the appearance of cucumbers what nutrients they lack. Therefore, it is better to use solutions on multiple plants. If their condition has improved, then they begin to process the rest of the cucumbers. Another option is complex fertilization.
- 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 hot weather.
- Foliar processing is carried out in the morning or in the evening, always in cloudy weather.
Foliar processing of cucumbers is distinguished by its economy. All nutrients remain on the leaves of plants for several days. Cucumbers require certain micronutrients at different stages of development. Active growth is possible due to nitrogen, and during the formation of fruits, it is required potassium.
Time spending
Foliar feeding of cucumbers is carried out at each stage of cucumber development:
- before flowering;
- before fruiting;
- at harvest time to to extend its term.
At the same time, the leaves of plants turn yellow, the shape of the fruits changes, the inflorescences fall off. Then feeding will become a mandatory measure to support cucumbers.
Feeding methods
Foliar feeding cucumbers in the greenhouse involves the use of special solutions containing water and minerals. Spraying is carried out using a special watering can or a spray bottle with a fine nozzle. In the open field, 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. It is a versatile fertilizer that dissolves well in water.
The first urea feeding performed during the growing season. First, cucumber seedlings transferred in open ground or a greenhouse. The next feeding is done before the fruit is formed.
Store urea in a dry place where moisture is excluded. How much you need to take substances for spraying depends on the type of crops being treated.
When treating the leaves with urea, cucumbers receive nitrogen, which is quickly absorbed and promotes the appearance of new shoots. Urea is used for pest control. An additional effect of its use will be the protection of cucumbers from weevils and aphids.
Boric acid
At the expense of 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 palatability of cucumbers is improved.
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 feeding is done 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 off.
The substance dissolves only in warm water. Therefore, first the solution is made in a small volume of water, then cool water is added for spraying.
Various products are produced on the basis of boric acid. 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 an alkaline fertilizer that is highly soluble in water. The substance contains calcium, which is quickly absorbed by cucumbers. Calcium nitrate is effective even under unfavorable conditions: cold snap, high humidity, lack of precipitation. The use of the substance has the following effect on cucumbers:
- cell walls and membranes are formed;
- metabolism and enzyme work are activated;
- increases the resistance of cucumbers to stress factors;
- the plant acquires immunity to diseases;
- the storage time of fruits increases;
- increases the yield, appearance and taste of cucumbers.
To saturate the 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 the beginning of fruiting. Calcium saltpeter protects cucumbers from diseases, ticks and slugs. After treatment, the effect persists for a long time, and the plants acquire additional immunity to pathogenic bacteria.
Spraying with iodine
During the flowering stage, cucumbers are especially susceptible to disease. 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 remains 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 pest-resistant film on the leaf surface.
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 1: 2 ratio. The solution is sprayed on the stems and leaves of cucumbers. The affected plant parts must be removed and burned to avoid spreading the disease.
Complex feeding
Cucumbers benefit from complex feeding that includes several types of nutrients. This requires two types of solutions, consisting of macro- and microelements. A solution of macronutrients 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
10 ml of solution with macronutrients requires 10 ml of liquid containing microelements. For a square meter of cucumber beds, 300 ml of ready-made solution is required.
Traditional methods
Traditional 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, and minerals. When they are dissolved in water, compounds are formed that have a positive effect on the growth of cucumbers.
Yeast fungus is highly resistant. It remains viable under mechanical stress, high and low temperatures. However, the fungus cannot withstand the aggressive effects of other microorganisms.
First, a solution is prepared containing fresh yeast and warm water in a 1: 5 ratio. For spraying cucumbers, 5 more parts of water are added to it. Another solution option is to use dry yeast. First, 3 liters of water is heated to a temperature of 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 it in the evening.
The final solution contains 3 liters of starter culture and 7 liters of water. You can use the product every week. 1 liter of solution is enough for one plant. Yeast feed is used for both spraying and watering cucumbers. After spraying cucumbers yeast feeding after a few days, the leaves turn bright green, more inflorescences are formed.
Bread infusion
An alternative to the yeast-based remedy is a bread infusion. Part of bread also includes yeast that has beneficial effects on plants. For processing 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 treatment
Ash serves as a universal fertilizer for cucumbers, which is applied to the soil and used for spraying. Ash is formed after 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 fertilization. Ash contains useful components necessary for the growth of cucumbers: calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus.
The tool is infused for a week, after which cucumbers are sprayed with it. To make the solution stay on the foliage longer, add 50 g of soap to it. Processing is performed every 10 days.
Foliar feeding of cucumbers with a solution containing ash protects plants from aphids and other harmful insects. Ash is also used for preventive purposes to protect cucumbers from powdery mildew.
Infusion on onion peel
Onion husks have 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 dressing, 20 g of husk 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 mulching the soil.
Onion solution is indispensable in the fight against aphids, spider mites, as well as diseases of cucumbers. When signs appear indicating the presence of diseases or pests, the treatment is carried out every 5 days.
"Herbal tea"
The so-called herbal tea for sprinkling cucumbers is prepared on the basis of any weeds (nettle, woodlice, sow 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 the finished fertilizer. "Herbal tea" is used for watering or spraying cucumbers. With its help, cucumbers are saturated with nitrogen.
The infusion on broken hay is prepared for 2 days. They are sprayed with cucumbers at the fruiting stage to extend the life of the plants. An additional action of the infusion is protection against powdery mildew and other diseases.
Conclusion
Foliar dressing supplies cucumbers with nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium and other trace elements. To obtain solutions, minerals are used that 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 the cucumbers with additional nutrition.
