Why do cucumber ovaries turn yellow and what to do to save the harvest?
If the ovaries of cucumbers turn yellow and fall off, this is an alarming signal for the gardener. You may not get a harvest if you don’t help the plant in a timely manner. Experienced gardeners have their own secrets for dealing with this nuisance. Why the ovaries of cucumbers turn yellow and how to prevent the bushes from drying out will be discussed in the article.
Why do the ovaries turn yellow, dry out and fall off?
Most often, problems during cultivation arise due to improper care. The ovary is capricious: it reacts sharply to mistakes and external factors. In addition, each variety has its own characteristics: strictly defined planting density, pinching requirements, and pollination intensity.
Agrotechnical errors
One of the most common causes of ovary wilting is violation of agrotechnical requirements. Inexperienced summer residents often plant bushes without shaping. Many varieties grow a large vegetative mass, so they must be pinched. The procedure is carried out for all stepsons that appear from the axils of young 3-4 leaves, and then for all shoots that grow after the second leaf. This is necessary so that the sun-loving plant receives a sufficient amount of sunlight and the ovary does not fall off.
Important! Thickened planting is also a gross agrotechnical violation. The optimal number of plants per 1 square meter is no more than 4, and when growing parthenocarpics (which do not require pollination) - only 2.Otherwise, the ovary will begin to wither and dry out due to lack of lighting.
Ovaries on a bush that is too young is also not a very favorable sign. A fragile plant with undeveloped leaves may well produce cucumbers, but without sufficient nutrition. Therefore, it is better to remove flowers on such weak plants.
External factors
Cucumbers are a very capricious and demanding crop. If you do not follow all the rules, it will be difficult to grow a good harvest. External factors can also negatively affect the development of the ovary:
- Wrong watering. Cucumbers are moisture-loving, but they need to be moistened in a special way - 3 times a week before flowering and during fruiting, and in dry and hot weather - daily.
- Unsuitable air temperature is the most difficult factor to regulate in open ground. It is optimal for the full development of the ovaries to maintain 22–26°C during the day and not lower than 18°C at night.
- Sharp temperature fluctuations keep plants stressed.
- Overheating the soil simply dries out the roots.
When growing vegetables in greenhouse conditions, it is necessary to regularly provide them with ventilation and an influx of fresh air. Otherwise, the ovaries may quickly turn yellow or be destroyed by diseases.
Diseases
Rapid drying and yellowing of the ovaries provoke various diseases. First of all, these are bacterioses that affect weakened or densely planted shrubs. The optimal environment for their development is temperature fluctuations.
Wilting is often observed due to root rot. The plant seems healthy, but is drying out at the top. Rot disrupts the flow of nutrients to all parts of the bush.
Pests
In addition to agrotechnical ones, there are also biological reasons that provoke wilting of cucumber ovaries.
The most famous pests that attack young plants:
- spider mite;
- nematode;
- aphid;
- black flea beetle;
- whitefly.
Insect activity peaks in mid-summer. Aphids, for example, overwinter in the basal part of the leaves of the weed, and in the spring they actively spread throughout the area. It is impossible to notice a spider mite right away; its presence is indicated by the cobwebs entangled in the plant. The pest quickly attacks crops, sucking the juice out of them and preventing them from developing. As a result, the plant dries out and dies.
Important! The black flea beetle is considered the most dangerous pest; it is capable of completely destroying a plot of cucumbers in a matter of days. The whitefly is no less dangerous: after its attack, the leaves and ovaries turn yellow and fruiting stops.
What to do to save the harvest
Before taking measures to save the crop, it is necessary to find out the true reason for the wilting of cucumbers. Experienced gardeners advise applying fertilizer first to prevent nutritional deficiencies. Use complex formulations “Diammofoska”, “Ammofoska”, “Potassium sulfate” and others.
Folk remedies are no less effective: 1 tbsp. l. urea, 3 tbsp. l. Dilute wood ash in a bucket of water. Spray the cucumbers with the solution after sunset so as not to cause burns on the foliage.
To save the harvest, ensure complete pollination of flowers. When grown in greenhouses, this is done manually - pollen is transferred with a soft brush from male to female specimens. In open ground, you need to attract bees by leaving containers of sweet water with sugar or honey on the site. You can also plant fennel, basil, chamomile, and calendula nearby.
Reference. If there are too many shoots on the bushes, they will have to be removed. All lower shoots are removed up to the fifth leaf.The vines that are actively stretching upward should be pinched, and the plant will then produce many side shoots with female flowers.
An obligatory stage of reanimation work is pest control. Cucumbers are treated against insects with the following compounds:
- infusion of onion peel;
- solution of ammonia (3 tablespoons diluted in a bucket of water);
- a solution of baking soda and laundry soap (1 tablespoon per 1 liter of water);
- chemicals - “Commander”, “Aktara”, “Alatar” - are used exclusively before fruiting.
Biological preparations “Fitoverm”, “Kleschevit”, “Biotlin” are considered less dangerous and harmful.
Prevention measures
Growing cucumbers on your own plot is not difficult, despite the demanding nature of the crop. To avoid possible problems, do some preliminary work before planting. First of all, decide on the varieties: which ones are suitable for an open area, and which ones are recommended for greenhouses.
Reference. It is better to plant self-pollinating hybrids in greenhouses, since there are significantly fewer natural pollinators in a closed space than in open ground.
It is important to consider a planting site - with sufficient lighting, well-fertilized soil and without drafts. Ideally, the planting site is changed every year. During periods of abnormal heat, it is advisable to install a canopy over the plants, which will also protect them from heavy rain or hail. In wet weather, drainage grooves will help remove excess moisture.
Water cucumbers only with water at room temperature, and ideally the same as the soil temperature.
Useful tips from experienced farmers
Experienced summer residents advise protecting the crop from possible temperature changes at night. The bushes are covered with agrofibre or film.
The root system of the plant grows 40 cm deep into the soil, so watering must be sufficient to allow moisture to penetrate to this depth. Otherwise, the roots will be drawn to the soil surface and are more likely to be damaged by the scorching sun or night cold.
One of the secrets of experienced farmers is the special preparation of seeds. Experts recommend pre-hardening and warming the seed for better germination. Treatment with potassium permanganate will increase resistance to diseases.
Read also:
Why do pumpkin ovaries turn yellow and fall off?
How and what to feed tomatoes during the period of flowering and fruit set.
What to do if tomatoes bloom in a greenhouse but there are no ovaries?
Conclusion
You may not be able to wait for the cucumber harvest if you do not take timely measures to save the plant from yellowing of the ovaries. The methods directly depend on the reasons: non-compliance with the rules of agricultural technology, the development of diseases or pest attacks.
It is necessary to pay attention to country crops constantly, and not occasionally. If you follow all the recommendations and take preventive measures, you will not have to save the harvest and dying ovaries.