What to do if cucumber seedlings turn yellow: we eliminate the problem and prevent its occurrence

Beginner gardeners often have a question: what to do if the cucumber seedlings turn yellow? Leaves can dry out and turn yellow for several reasons, the main ones being improper care and disease.

Further in the article we will look at all the possible factors influencing this, learn how to grow cucumbers without loss and what to do if the leaves have already turned yellow.

Reasons for yellowing of cucumber seedlings

The history of this vegetable crop goes back more than 6000 years. The tropical and subtropical regions of India are called the homeland of cucumber. When growing it in your gardens, you should create similar conditions - cucumber is very demanding to care for.

Yellowing of plant leaves may be associated with improper agricultural practices, diseases and pests.

Let's look at the seven most common reasons:

1. The planting is very dense.
2. Lack or excess of moisture.
3. Fungal diseases and pests.
4. Lack of nutrition.
5. Temperature fluctuations.
6. Root damage.
7. Reaction to the sun.

To find out how to grow cucumbers on the balcony, read here.

What to do

The first step is to find out the exact cause of leaf damage, and then take appropriate measures. If the plant lacks nutrients, feed it; if pests bother it, treat it with special products, etc.

Top dressing

The cause of yellowing leaves is often a lack of nutrients.For better growth and increased yield, cucumbers are fed throughout the entire period of development and fruiting.

A lack of potassium and magnesium causes the roots to dry out. Dark green veins on a yellow background indicate iron and manganese deficiency. The upper leaves turn yellow due to a lack of copper.

Cucumbers are fed 3-4 times per season. At the beginning of summer - nitrogen fertilizers, and at the end - potassium fertilizers. Organic and inorganic fertilizers are used.

Organic fertilizers

This is a type of fertilizer of organic, that is, natural, origin (manure, bird droppings, peat, sawdust, compost).

Here are a few recipes for organic fertilizers:

1. Herbal infusion with ash. Infuse the herb in water for 2-3 days until a strong odor appears. Dilute a liter of tincture in a bucket of water, add a glass of wood ash.
2. Compost, humus. Apply into the ground during planting or dilute 1 kg of compost in a bucket of water and water.
3. Hydrogen peroxide solution: 2 tbsp. Dilute spoons of peroxide in a liter jar of water.
4. Ammonium nitrate solution: 1 tbsp. add a spoonful of saltpeter to a bucket of water.

Important! Fertilizing is done only after watering.

Inorganic fertilizers

It is useful to feed the seedlings with a mixture of 2 tbsp. spoons of superphosphate, 1 tbsp. spoons of urea, 1 cup of ash, which are diluted in a bucket of water (use fertilizer per 1 sq. m).

Watering

Cucumbers cannot tolerate drought: the fruits turn yellow, the bush does not grow and disappears. Rainy weather also negatively affects the plant.

At the beginning of growth, young shoots are very vulnerable. The roots are poorly developed; the plant receives nutrition only through watering.

Main rules during this period:

• ensure that the soil does not dry out;
• watering should be moderate, do not over-water;
• It is better to water three times a week;
• water at the root;
• Do not pour on leaves;
• water between rows;
• mulch the ground with straw, pine needles, grass between the rows.

A pest such as gray rot often appears on cucumbers. read more.

The influence of light and heat on young seedlings

When planting, it should be taken into account that cucumbers do not tolerate cramped conditions and love sunny places. When planting seedlings, you need to correctly calculate the distance between the bushes and in the rows. Closely planted plants shade each other, which leads to the death of the lower parts.

Rare plantings burn out and die. Unhardened seedlings suffer especially. In hot weather, sunburn is visible on the leaves. Evenly planted bushes create “scenes” that preserve young shoots.

Landing rules:

• plant in rows 40-60 cm apart;
• make rows 1 m wide.

With this planting, the bushes receive light and are ventilated.

A sharp change in temperature negatively affects cucumbers, which love humid and warm weather. When the temperature drops sharply, the roots are damaged and, not receiving adequate nutrition, die.

Seedlings are planted in the ground when the air temperature at night remains stable at least 12°C. Cucumbers cannot tolerate frost; if the temperature drops slightly, they stop growing and may die.

Errors during landing

It often happens that after planting in the ground, seedlings begin to die. The leaves wither and turn yellow, the plantation has to be replanted. This happens for the following reasons:

1. Incorrect landing site chosen.
2. Cucumbers are planted in dark places that are not ventilated.
3. The beds are located east to west, so light does not fall along the length of the bed.
4. Young plants do not receive nutrition from the first days.
5. No fertilizers have been applied to the soil.
6. Damaged roots (the work was carried out carelessly during planting).
7. The planting holes are of the wrong size (the depth of the hole should be 8-10 cm).
8. The cucumbers were planted in the morning (they are better accepted if done in the evening).
9. The soil was not dug up before planting and was not enriched with oxygen, which affects the growth and fruiting of the plant.

Protection from diseases and pests

Cucumbers can be affected by a variety of pests. The most dangerous of them are spider mites and whiteflies. They suck out the sap, which leads to the death of the plant. To combat them, they use pesticides (Vermitek, Akarin, Fitoverm, Aktara, Aktellik) and folk remedies.

With a sharp change in temperature, the beds are affected by fungal diseases: fusarium and pythiosis. The lashes become lethargic, rusty spots appear on them, and the plant dies.

Folk remedies

Growing organic vegetables is the main task of a gardener. To achieve this goal, it is better to use herbal infusions and decoctions:

1. Garlic tincture. Infuse garlic leaves or cloves in water for three days. Spray in the evening in calm weather.
2. Wormwood decoction. Brew wormwood tops, cool, and treat the plant.
3. Tincture of bitter pepper. Boil the pepper for ten minutes. When it cools down, spray the plantation.

If you notice signs of illness, immediately begin to fight it. Stems, leaves and soil can be sprayed with the following solutions:

• brilliant green: for 1 liter of water 10 drops of brilliant green;
• milk: mix 1 liter of milk, 5 drops of iodine, laundry soap for the solution to stick;
• baking soda: dilute 1 teaspoon of baking soda and liquid soap in 1 liter of water;
• yeast or bread: Soak the loaf in water, add a small bottle of iodine.Let it sit and dilute it in a bucket of water.

Important! Cucumbers should be treated against diseases once every two weeks throughout the summer season.

Methods for restoring seedlings with yellowing

If you find yellow leaves on seedlings, immediately proceed to the following steps:

1. Feed.
2. Spray against fungal diseases.
3. Check the watering schedule.
4. Start pest control.
5. When planting densely, thin out the beds.

Prevention

Following agricultural practices will help avoid problems when growing cucumbers.

Basic Rules:

1. Seeds need to be prepared for planting: first hardened (exposed to cold and warm temperatures in turn), and then disinfected in a solution of potassium permanganate. This will give future plants disease resistance.
2. Sow in special peat soil. Grow seedlings on a windowsill or in a greenhouse. To plant in the garden, you need to prepare the soil in advance: dig it up, fertilize it with humus or compost at the rate of 5 kg of humus per 1 linear meter.
3. Do not plant diseased seedlings.
4. Feed and water at the right time.
5. When the first shoots appear, treat with a light solution of potassium permanganate.

Advice from experienced summer residents

When growing cucumbers, as in any business, the advice and experience of those who have already done this are very valuable. What do experienced summer residents recommend?

Irina: “I want to share my tricks for growing cucumbers. Immediately after planting, I mulch the soil well around the bushes and between the rows - this helps maintain moisture and the plants feel better. And I also feed them every two weeks: first with nitrogen fertilizers so that they grow, then with potassium fertilizers so that they bear fruit. I always have a good harvest until late autumn.”

Sergey: “I am familiar with the problem of yellowing leaves of cucumbers firsthand.I have been growing this vegetable for many years. I use only folk remedies: I fertilize with humus, yeast and ash, and spray with a yeast solution with soda. My cucumbers rarely get sick, but my neighbors’ cucumbers get sick all the time. A solution of soda with iodine helps fight pests.”

Faith: “I love cucumbers, I grow them all the time. And during all this time, I realized: so that they don’t get sick, I need to plant them in different places every year. It is also important to fertilize the soil when planting. My harvest has increased, and my cucumbers are getting sick less often. To prevent illness, I spray it with 1% Bordeaux mixture twice at the beginning of the season. My cucumbers don’t turn yellow.”

Here's how to pickle cucumbers with basil: find out here.

Conclusion

Improper care, the appearance of diseases and pests are the main reasons for yellowing and drying of cucumber leaves. Having studied and applied in practice the secrets and methods of combating plant damage, you will receive a rich and high-quality harvest.

Follow a certain growing technology and take preventive measures - and such a problem as yellow and dry leaves on seedlings will not arise, and fresh cucumbers will be on your table until late autumn.