How and what to feed cucumbers for their record yield

The beds with cucumbers look pale, the leaves have turned yellow, and the fruits are bitter? The most likely reason for these signs is a lack of fertilizer. When growing cucumbers in your summer cottage, you must remember that the plant needs regular care. Fertilizing will help you get a bountiful harvest.

In this article we will look in detail at how to feed cucumbers and describe the timing of events. You will find recipes for organic fertilizers that will help you grow an environmentally friendly product, learn the timing and methods of fertilizing, and learn how to properly process plants.

What is the best way to feed cucumbers?

When growing cucumbers, the question often arises: which fertilizers should be used in a greenhouse and which ones in open ground? Experts answer this question in detail.

In the greenhouse

The feeding procedure in the greenhouse is carried out every two weeks 4-6 times a season. Fertilizing work in the greenhouse can be done at any time, regardless of weather conditions.

Important! When starting to feed cucumbers, it is important to remember that they cannot tolerate an excess of nutrients.

Terms for applying fertilizing:

1. The first time is before planting seeds. Place compost and humus in the ground for planting.
2. The second time - during the period of growing seedlings. Fertilize with ammonium nitrate (2 tablespoons of nitrate per 8 liters of water).
3. The third time - a month after planting the seedlings in the ground. For this purpose, organic means are used: yeast, herbal infusion, ash.Chemicals are used in the form of a mixture: 2 tbsp. spoons of superphosphate, 1 tbsp. a spoon of ammonium nitrate, a glass of wood ash, a bucket of water. This will help increase the green mass and lay a larger number of ovaries.

During flowering and fruiting, fertilize every two weeks.

In the open ground

Cucumbers growing in open ground require more careful care. Fertilizers are applied 6-8 times per season. In the intervals between root dressings, foliar irrigation is carried out. The product is distributed evenly onto the leaves and stem.

Work begins after the second leaf appears. Immediately apply the following nitrogen fertilizers:

1. Ammonia is diluted in water in the following proportion: 1 tbsp. spoon of alcohol, 8 liters of water. Water 0.5 liters of solution under the bush.
2. After a week, use a solution of brilliant green. Add 10 drops of brilliant green to a bucket of water. Spray the stem and leaves from all sides. Fertilizing can be done every week until flowering begins.
3. For the regrowth of green mass, yeast tincture is used. Yeast is diluted in warm water, left for a day and watered at the root. Proportions: 0.5 kg of yeast, 3 liters of water, 0.5 liters of jam. The resulting mixture is diluted in water (1:8).

Then they switch to phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. A mixture of superphosphate, urea, ash, tincture of mullein or chicken droppings is used.

The best mineral supplements

During growth, flowering and fruiting, cucumbers need phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen. All these substances are included in mineral fertilizers, such as superphosphate, potassium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, urea and others.

Fertilizers are applied at the rate per square meter:

• nitrogen – up to 10 g;
• phosphorus and potassium – 10-15 g.

For greater effect, use mineral mixtures:

1. For root feeding, prepare according to the recipe: 10 liters of water, 15 g of urea, 50 g of potassium sulfate.
2. When fertilizing by foliar method, use a mixture: 10 liters of water, 5 g of ammonium nitrate, 10 g of superphosphate, 8 g of potassium sulfate.

Attention! Superphosphate is dissolved in hot water. The mixture is cooled before use.

Organic

Experienced gardeners prefer organic fertilizers. We offer recipes from simple products that are on hand:

1. Decoction of onion peels. Brew a glass of raw materials in a bucket of water, leave for 3-4 hours, spray the plants. The product repels pests and replenishes the lack of nutrients.
2. Wood ash Suitable for root feeding. The product is useful for acidic soils. It contains a set of microelements and accumulates nitrogen in the soil. Preparation of the solution: a glass of ash is diluted in a bucket of water. Water at the roots up to six times per season.
3. Hay tincture It is prepared like this: put hay in a bucket, fill it with water, leave for 5-7 days. The solution is filtered and sprayed on cucumbers three times a season at intervals of a week. The product protects cucumbers from powdery mildew.
4. Yeast feeding use 2-3 times per season: before flowering, at the beginning of flowering, after harvesting the first harvest. The solution is prepared at the rate of: 10-12 g of yeast, 5 liters of warm water, add 0.5 cups of sugar (or 0.5 liters of jam). Everything is mixed and left to ferment in a warm place for 3-5 days. The resulting “chatterbox” is diluted in water in the proportion: 0.5 liters per bucket of water. A liter of solution is poured under the bush. Instead of sugar, add ascorbic acid (2 g per 5 liters of water), yeast can be replaced with a loaf of bread.
5. Feeding with iodine stimulates growth, increases productivity, improves the taste of cucumbers, accumulating vitamin C in the fruits.When using iodine, it is important to maintain proportions so as not to harm the plants. 30 drops of iodine per bucket of water is enough. For root feeding, use a liter of solution per bush, and also spray the tops and leaves (15 drops, 8 liters of water). Treatment is carried out once every 10 days. Gardeners often combine iodine with milk or serum.

Attention! Horse manure cannot be used to fertilize cucumbers, as it contains a large amount of ammonia. When decomposed, horse manure releases dangerous nitrates that cause poisoning.

Root and foliar feeding

For full development, cucumbers need nutrition from the roots to the top. Foliar and root feeding will help solve the problem.

In warm summers, it is recommended to carry out root feeding. Foliar feeding is used in cold summers, when the weather is cloudy and it often rains. At this time, plants do not absorb nutrients from the soil well.

Important. It is better to treat plants using a spray bottle.

Selection of fertilizers depending on the growth phase

At each stage of growth and development, cucumbers need certain fertilizers. Improper distribution of nutrition can lead to an increase in green mass and a decrease in fruiting. Plants begin to get sick and disappear. The periods of fertilizing depend on the stage of growth.

Seedling

To strengthen the immune system, seedlings in the greenhouse are fed with nitrogen fertilizers according to the following scheme:

1. The first time after the appearance of the second leaf, ammonia is added, diluted in water in a ratio of 1:10. This mixture is poured into a glass under the root.
2. The second time is fertilized two weeks later with mullein diluted in water in a ratio of 1:10.

After landing

Planting seedlings in open ground is always stressful.A good dose of fertilizer will help the plants adapt to their new location. Feeding is carried out according to the following scheme:

1. Before planting, compost, rotted manure, and rotted sawdust are added to the beds. If the above materials are not available, use ash and superphosphate. The earth is dug up and moistened.
2. If the beds were not fertilized before planting, a week after planting, use the preparations “Universal” or “Aquarin” (a teaspoon per bucket of water). An excellent solution is: a tablespoon of nitrophoska per 8 liters of water.
3. After 5-7 days, the beds are watered with a light pink solution of potassium permanganate.
4. Two weeks after planting the seedlings, add a solution of mullein (1:10) with the addition of 2 cups of ash per bucket of water.

During flowering

When cucumbers enter the flowering phase, they need phosphorus-potassium nutrition. During this period, the formation of ovaries occurs. To increase them, the following activities are carried out:

• foliar feeding by spraying with a whey solution (1 liter per bucket of water);
• treatment with brilliant green (10 drops per 8 liters of water);
• to attract pollinating insects, honey is added to the solution of brilliant green and whey;
• root feeding with a mixture of superphosphate and potassium phosphate (a teaspoon per 8 liters of water).

During fruiting

After the first harvest, plants need feeding to restore their strength. During this period, it is useful to use organic fertilizers: humus, grass infusion, mullein, ash. Mineral fertilizers include potassium nitrate and urea. Fertilizers are applied at intervals of two weeks.

Feeding by month

To help beginning gardeners, we have compiled a fertilizer schedule by month:

1. May June – application of nitrogen fertilizers every two weeks.
2. July August September – use phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.
3. In August and September the number of feedings is reduced, increasing the interval between them to three weeks.

How to feed cucumbers to grow well

If you notice that your cucumbers are slowly growing green mass, fertilize them with nitrogen fertilizers.

Fertilizer options:

1. Boric acid will compensate for the lack of boron. Add a small bottle of acid to a bucket of water. A glass of fertilizer is poured onto the plants.
2. Hydrogen peroxide has a positive effect on the growth and development of the bush. It fills the earth with oxygen, delivering nutrition to the roots. Use 2 tbsp per liter of water. spoons of peroxide.
3. A mixture of superphosphate (40 g), potassium sulfate (10 g), mullein (10 l), 10 l of water. Fertilize a glass of the mixture at the root.

For a bountiful harvest

How to feed cucumber beds for a large harvest? The easiest way is to use ready-made growth stimulants “Azogran” and “Agricola”.

Fans of traditional methods prefer bird droppings with the addition of phosphate and potassium.

So as not to be bitter

The reasons for the bitterness of cucumbers are different:

• insufficient watering;
• long standing hot weather;
• lack of nitrogen.

Urea will help saturate plants with nitrogen. Prepare a solution: 1 tbsp. l. urea, a bucket of water. Three liters are poured onto each plant. Additional solutions bitterness problems — timely watering and darkening the beds with curtains made of corn, branches or fabric.

To prevent leaves and ovaries from turning yellow

If you find that the leaves and ovaries on young bushes begin to turn yellow, you need to identify the cause of this phenomenon. The cause may be a lack of nutrients, pests or improper watering. The diagram will help you find out what microelements cucumbers lack:

1. Lack of potassium and magnesium - leaves turn yellow around the edges.
2. Lack of copper - the upper leaves turn yellow.
3. Iron deficiency - leaves turn yellow and green streaks appear.

Having identified the problem, you can begin fertilizing. We recommend using organic products in such cases:

• herbal tincture with ash;
• kefir diluted with water in a ratio of 1:5;
• iodine solution with serum (5 drops per 1 liter) in a bucket of water.

Signals of mineral deficiency

We want to see strong bushes with green leaves and abundant fruits in our garden. But cultivated plants do not always live up to our expectations.

How to notice in time that cucumbers lack minerals:

1. If the leaves are dark green, curved, and the fruits become smaller, it means there is excess nitrogen in the soil. The solution is to stop fertilizing and water daily for a week.
2. Pale, frail appearance of plants, thin stems indicate a lack of nitrogen. The green mass grows slowly, the fruits are small and there are few of them. The solution is to add mullein solution (1:10).
3. Dying of the root system is a sign of excess magnesium. The solution is to increase watering and stop fertilizing.
4. The leaves are thin and look burnt. This indicates a magnesium deficiency. The solution is fertilizing with magnesium nitrate (100 g per bucket of water).
5. If the leaves darken and curl, it means there is not enough calcium. Feed with superphosphate or urea.
6. Excess potassium causes the growth of the bush to slow down. The leaves turn white and mosaic spots appear.
7. Lack of potassium in the initial stage causes the formation of a light border on the leaves. Subsequently, the leaves darken, the fruits curl and become round. The solution is to use an ash solution (1 glass of ash, 10 liters of water).
8. Chlorosis appears on the lower leaves, they darken and fall off. These signs indicate excess copper.
9. Copper deficiency manifests itself in pale leaves. The shoots fade, the flowers fall off. The solution is to treat the leaves with a 1% solution of copper sulfate.
10. Dying of growth points and shedding of flowers indicate a lack of boron. The solution is to spray with a solution of boric acid. For this, 2 tbsp. spoons of acid are dissolved in 3 liters of hot water and cooled.

When to fertilize

Timely application of fertilizers will help to obtain a bountiful harvest and protect plants from diseases. Schemes for applying root fertilizers:

1. After the second leaf appears.
2. At the beginning of flowering.
3. After the first harvest.
4. Repeat two more times after two weeks.

Foliar spraying is carried out in the intervals between root feedings.

How often to do this

A lack of fertilizer has just as bad an effect on the growth of cucumbers as an excess of it. It is recommended to fertilize once every 2-3 weeks. Frequent procedures negatively affect the taste of fruits, accumulating nitrates in them. Particular care is taken with nitrogen fertilizers.

Useful tips from experienced summer residents

Experienced gardeners have a lot to share. Here are some useful tips:

1. It is advisable to spray plants in open ground in the morning or evening.
2. Try to use more organic products.
3. Please adhere to processing times.
4. Stick to proportions in recipes.
5. Perform root feeding after abundant watering.

Reviews

Summer residents share their experience in using fertilizers when growing cucumbers.

Elena: «I use organic fertilizers in the garden. I feed cucumbers only with mullein. It contains a complete set of all nutrients. I start processing immediately after the sixth leaf appears. I apply it on top of the tops and under the roots at the same time.”

Vika: “I like using chemicals. They are less of a hassle and last a long time. Cucumbers are growing by leaps and bounds. I add superphosphate, ash, and ammonium nitrate when digging the soil in the spring, when I prepare the beds. During flowering and fruiting, I fertilize with nitrophoska.”

Read also:

When and what kind of fertilizer to apply to garlic in the fall.

How and what to feed tomatoes during the flowering and setting period.

Amazingly productive cucumber “Hummingbird” for pickles and fresh consumption.

Conclusion

It is possible to get a record harvest of cucumbers using foliar and root fertilizers. The use of substances such as hydrogen peroxide, iodine, and whey will help to grow an environmentally friendly product. By maintaining a 15-20 day interval between treatments, you will maintain the balance of nutrients. Applying nitrogen fertilizer early in the season will help the bush grow. Phosphorus-potassium fertilizing will increase the number of ovaries and fruits.