When is it necessary to fertilize cucumbers with urea and how to apply it correctly

Urea is a highly effective nitrogen fertilizer that is used for garden and vegetable crops. But to get good results, it is important to know the features of using this product. By following the technology of feeding cucumbers with urea, you can get a high-quality and rich harvest.

What is urea

Urea (carbamide) is a fertilizer of nitrogen origin, necessary for the full growing season of the plant. It looks like small colorless crystals or tablets that dissolve in water. The drug is used for basic feeding or in combination with other formulations.

Why do cucumbers need it?

Thanks to treatment with urea, the plant will be protected from temperature changes. The product also allows you to delay the moment of flowering until warm weather sets in. The use of urea for foliar feeding will preserve the formed ovaries and harvest.

Signs of nitrogen deficiency

When cucumbers lack nitrogen, the following occurs:

• slow growth;
• yellowing of leaves and stems;
• falling leaves during the growing season;
• lack of foliage formation and ovaries;
• decrease in yield;
• weak growth of side shoots.

If one or more of these symptoms are detected, urea must be added.

Feeding efficiency

The following are the benefits of urea for cucumbers:

• accelerated growth of the vegetative mass of plants;
• strengthened immunity;
• excellent prevention against pests;
• ease of use;
• with foliar treatment there are no burns on the leaves.

When controlling pests, urea is used if you do not want to use potent insecticides. During spring treatment with urea, it is possible to resist the harmful effects of aphids and weevils, honey beetles and apple flower beetles.

How to prepare a feeding solution

Urea is used in dry or diluted form. It has excellent solubility in many liquids, including water. To prepare a liquid solution, the drug is diluted with water - the proportions depend on the feeding method.

Reference. If the instructions indicate the dosage in grams, then you need to take into account that in 1 tbsp. l. contains 10 g, and in a regular glass – 130 g.

Feeding instructions

The dosage of the drug and the frequency of its application are determined taking into account the method of feeding and the method of growing cucumbers - in a greenhouse or open ground.

Foliar fertilizing with urea

Foliar processing of cucumbers occurs in several stages:

1. Preparing the soil before planting. It is carried out when digging an area - urea is added so that the granules penetrate 7-8 cm deep into the ground. The consumption of the drug should not exceed 5-10 g per square meter. m. Urea is applied in spring and autumn.
2. When sowing seeds. Fertilizer is thrown into the holes, but so that the granules do not come into contact with the seeds. Otherwise, the growth and development of plants will be delayed. 4 g of the drug will be enough for one well.
3. After the formation of the first leaves. At this stage, the fertilizer is applied at the root in the form of a solution prepared from 30 g of the drug per 10 liters of water. Cucumber seedlings are fed no earlier than two weeks after planting in open ground.
4. When the first fruits appear. Nitrogen fertilizer helps the plant grow fruit mass faster. For maximum effect, combine urea, superphosphate and viburnum nitrate in a ratio of 30:40:20 g.
5. During fruiting. Pour 13 g of urea and 30 g of potassium nitrate into 10 liters of water.

Nuances of fertilizing in the greenhouse and open ground

Diluted urea is applied before flowering begins. Feed a second time when nitrogen deficiency occurs. If the greenhouse has a favorable climate and frequent watering, then the foliage should have a bright green color throughout the entire fruiting period. In case of developmental disorders, for example, yellowing and curling of leaves, you can perform another feeding, during which the leaves and soil are treated.

The solution is prepared taking into account the type of fertilizing:

• root - dilute 50 g of the drug in 10 liters of water;
• foliage treatment - 15 g of fertilizer per 10 liters of water.

When watering, make sure that the solution gets into the soil a few centimeters from the root system of the cucumbers. It is best to treat plants in the evening to avoid burns.

Why is excess nitrogen dangerous?

Although urea is beneficial for cucumbers, if you overdo it with fertilizing, the drug can be harmful. This is manifested in the active growth of green mass. The leaves will become large and dark green. The fruits may also suffer - they will be crooked, or there will be none at all.

Tips and tricks

To get the maximum effect from using urea, you should adhere to the following recommendations:

1. You can use undiluted nitrogen fertilizer, but then dry granules are sprinkled at a distance of 1-2 cm from the stem. It is important to prevent close contact of the plant with the active substance. After applying the product, the seedlings must be watered.
2. When feeding cucumbers, maximum efficiency is achieved by alternating root feeding with foliar feeding at an interval of 14 days.
3. Do not exceed the dosage allowed by the instructions. It is better to add more water than to exceed the dose of the drug.

Conclusion

Urea is an inexpensive and effective remedy for feeding cucumbers, which must be used wisely. You can’t get carried away with it, otherwise, instead of a rich and high-quality harvest, you can ruin the plants.

Only the correct dosage and method of application will make cucumbers resistant to pests and saturate the soil with nutrients.