Extending the fruiting period of cucumbers: effective recipes for feeding in August
Many people associate cucumbers with spring and early summer. Before them, only garden radishes appeared on the tables. At the same time, many gardeners notice that in mid-summer the yield decreases, and in mid-August the crop stops bearing fruit altogether.
Meanwhile, fruiting of cucumbers is possible even in September. This plant is capable of producing a harvest before the first frost not only in a greenhouse, but also in open ground. To achieve this effect, summer residents use several tricks. And fertilizing plays a major role in prolonging fruiting.
Why are cucumbers fed during flowering and fruiting?
The root system of cucumbers is poorly developed. It absorbs useful substances found in the surface layer of the earth. The crop is demanding on the composition of the soil. In poor soils it stops bearing fruit or produces tasteless small cucumbers.
Cucumbers are fed more often than other crops. For tomatoes and eggplants, three feedings per season are enough, and cucumber beds are fertilized up to five times.
Fertilizers are applied even during the flowering and fruiting period. In order not to get a crop saturated with harmful substances, it is important to use safe products that do not contain components hazardous to health.
Late feeding performs several functions:
- Increased yield and prolongation of fruiting.By August, the reserves of nutrients in the soil are depleted, and cucumbers are able to produce rich harvests only in fertile soil. Late feeding will help normalize the balance.
- Increased resistance to negative factors environment. This property is especially valuable at the end of August and September.
- Boosting immunity. It is at the end of summer that epidemics of most diseases begin, which is associated with increased humidity and temperature changes. When there is a lack of nutrients, plants are more susceptible to infections. In rich soil, the risk that cucumbers will be affected by fungi and viruses is significantly reduced.
- Correct formation of fruits. In poor soil, cucumbers will turn out uneven, limp and ugly.
Rules for applying fertilizing
When applying fertilizers, follow a number of basic rules, otherwise the procedure will cause harm to the plantings, not benefit:
- The day before fertilizing At the root, the cucumber beds are watered abundantly. This minimizes the risk of burns on the roots.
- Important follow recommended dosages. Failure to comply with this rule is fraught with burns on plant roots and an increase in green mass and crushing of fruits.
- Dry (granular) fertilizers will give maximum results at a depth of 10 cm. They are buried in two ways. The first option is to scatter the granules on the ground and loosen the beds. The second (more correct) way is to carefully remove the top layer of soil, sprinkle fertilizers, then cover them with an even layer of soil.
- Liquid preparations are poured so that they did not fall on the leaves and stems. In dry weather, even with preliminary watering, nutrient compositions are poured into the grooves dug between plantings. In wet weather, fertilizers are poured directly to the roots.
- After fertilizing The ground part of the bush is sprayed with water. This is necessary to wash away drops of the drug that have fallen on the ground part of the bush.
- Fertilizing is applied when the sun is inactive. It is advisable that the weather be warm on this day. Then the procedure will be as effective as possible and will not harm the culture.
Types of fertilizers and recipes
Fertilizer for cucumbers to increase fruiting is applied in August and September. At the same time, it is important to choose the most harmless compositions - then the harvest will be not only abundant, but also safe.
There are several types of fertilizers. Some of them are easy to prepare yourself, others will have to be purchased.
Organic
Organic fertilizers contain large amounts of nitrogen. They will prevent the plant from withering and strengthen the immune system. Such compositions also contain mineral components, they promote the development of fruits and the formation of ovaries.
Attention! Organic compounds are applied only at the root. They should not get on the leaves. It is important not to apply such fertilizers in excess, otherwise a lot of greenery will form on the bush, and the fruits will become small.
Which organic compounds help prolong fruiting period:
- Bird droppings. For 9 liters of water take 1 kg of litter. The mixture is infused for three days. 1 liter of the composition is poured under each plant. To increase effectiveness of the product, add 1 cup of ash to it.
- Cow dung. Take 0.5 kg of product per bucket of water. It is allowed to brew for three days, after which 0.5 liters are poured under each plant.
- Horse dung. For 10 liters of water take 2 kg of manure and 1 kg of withered leaves or sawdust. The mixture is allowed to brew for two weeks. After this, each plant is fed with 0.5 liters of fertilizer.
- Ash. This the remedy will help not only lengthen the fruiting period, but also improve the quality of the fruit due to the presence of potassium and phosphorus in the composition. To prepare the product, fill the bucket 1/3 with ash, the rest of the volume is filled with warm water. The mixture is infused for three days, stirring occasionally. Then it is filtered and used for irrigation. Apply 0.5 kg of product to each bush.
- Banana peel. Three banana peels are poured into 3 liters of warm water. The mixture is infused for a week, after which the peel is removed and the infusion is diluted with water in a 1:1 ratio. 1 liter of fertilizer is poured under each bush.
- Herbal infusion. Weeds (preferably nettles) are cut and placed in a bucket. The grass should fill the container halfway. The rest of the volume is added with water. Cover the mixture with a lid and leave for a week. Then it is filtered and diluted with water. For 10 liters of water take 2 liters of herbal infusion. 1 liter of fertilizer is poured under each bush.
- Eggshell. The shells of 10 eggs are crushed and 2 liters of water are poured. The mixture is infused for 10 days. The resulting composition is diluted with 8 liters of water.
- Yeast. Add 2 tbsp to a three-liter jar. l. yeast and 2 tbsp. l. Sahara. Sugar with yeast pour water and let it brew for 24 hours. The resulting infusion is diluted with 7 liters of water. Use 1 liter of product per plant.
- Vegetable peelings. The peels of onions, potatoes, and eggplants are placed in a bucket. Cleanings should fill the container 1/3 full. The rest of the volume is added with water. The mixture is infused in a warm place for five days. Then add 2 liters of infusion to a bucket of water.
Manure for preparing fertilizers must be rotted. To enhance the effect of diluted manure, ash is added to it. In this case, a complex fertilizer containing nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus is obtained.
Mineral
To increase the duration of fruiting, use mineral fertilizers. They are responsible for the quality and quantity of fruits.
At the end of summer and autumn, the following compositions are used::
- Potassium nitrate. Means accelerates the formation of ovaries, enhances cellular respiration, activates the immune system, and improves the taste of fruits. Take 25 g of the drug per 10 liters of water. 1 liter of fertilizer is used for 1 bush.
- Urea. Means refers to nitrogen fertilizers, promotes the formation of new vines. Acts as a pest control agent. 50 g of the drug is diluted in a ten-liter bucket of water. Use 1 liter of fertilizer per plant.
- Magnesium sulfate. Strengthens the immune system, improves the taste of fruits, and increases resistance to negative environmental factors. To prepare the product, add 10 g of mania to a bucket of water. No more than 0.5 liters of product is used per cucumber bush.
- Superphosphate. Strengthens the root system, activates the immune system. Take 30 g of product per 10 liters of water. For one bush use 1 liter of composition.
Complex fertilizers are often used. In this case, several drugs are dissolved in water at once.
Important! Mineral fertilizing is applied not only at the root. They are also used as foliar fertilizers.
Biostimulants
Biostimulants are considered the safest purchased products. They are allowed and even recommended to feed cucumbers in August - they prolong and even renew the growing season of plants.
What biostimulants are used to feed cucumbers?:
- "Etamon". Improves the development of the root system, increases the absorption of other nutrients. To prepare the fertilizer, 1 g of the drug is diluted in a bucket of water. The resulting solution is sprayed on plants or fertilized at the root.For each bush use 200 ml of product.
- "Gumi-20". Contains all the substances necessary for the plant. Accelerates the formation of ovaries, improves the taste of fruits, increases immunity and resistance to adverse environmental factors. To prepare the product, dilute 300 ml of product in 10 liters of water.
- "Silk". Improves the quality of the crop and accelerates its ripening, helps plants better cope with stress factors. This drug is used for spraying plantings. To prepare a solution, dilute 0.5 sachets of the product in 2.5 liters of water. The resulting amount of product is enough to treat 7.5 m².
- "Azotovit". Increases productivity, fruit production, allows you to get an environmentally friendly harvest, and activates the development of the root system. The drug is used during the period of active flowering. To prepare the solution, add 10 liters of the drug to a bucket of water. Fertilizer is applied at the root.
- "Ferovit". Improves photosynthesis, increases resistance to negative environmental factors. To prepare a solution, take 7.5 ml of the drug per 10 liters of water.
Folk recipes
Folk remedies will help preserve plants during light frosts and extend their fruiting period.
The list contains several effective formulations:
- Soda. A product that helps with nitrogen deficiency and increases plant resistance to weather changes. Add 1 tbsp to a bucket of water. l. baking soda. The resulting solution is sprayed onto cucumber plantings.
- Iodine. Add water to a bucket 20 drops of iodine and 2 liters of milk, whey or kefir. The product is applied at the root or used to spray plants.
- Boric acid. Accelerates the formation of ovaries. The product is effective as a foliar feeding and when applied under the root. To prepare the product, add 1 g of the drug to a bucket of water.
- Ammonia. Helps with nitrogen deficiency (yellowing of leaves, loss of turgor). Add 5 ml of ammonia to a bucket of water.
- Aspirin. Suitable for alkaline soil only. For 10 liters of water take 10 crushed aspirin tablets. 1 liter of product is poured under each bush.
Such products are used as root and foliar feeding.. It is important to observe the concentration of drugs, especially pharmaceuticals.
Advice! Before using a new product on all plantings, test it on one plant. If nothing happens to the bush after a day, use the drug on the remaining bushes.
Basic recommendations and tricks for prolonging the fruiting of cucumbers
The fruiting period of cucumbers depends not only on fertilizing. Compliance with a number of rules and knowledge of the nuances will help achieve the desired result.
How to prolong fruiting of cucumbers in open ground in August:
- Mulching. This is one of the most important rules. Covering the beds with a layer of rotted straw, hay or compost will protect the plant roots from frost. In addition, mulch protects plants from pests and provides cucumbers with additional nutrition.
- Selecting a location. The area where cucumbers grow should be protected from the wind from all sides, but at the same time sunny. Crop rotation is no less important. If melons and melons grew in this place before cucumbers, the soil will be depleted.
- Protection. In August the weather is unstable. Therefore, during noticeable cold snaps, cucumbers are covered with film. To do this, construct a frame of wood or metal rings.
- Watering. In the second half of August the nights become cold. At this time, the plantings are watered only in the morning.
- Landing method. Vertical beds provide plants with optimal air exchange. This ensures long-term fruiting.
- Sowing. It is recommended to sow cucumber seeds at different times, thereby prolonging their fruiting period. Another way to get cucumber fruits all summer is to plant varieties with different ripening periods.
- Attracting Pollinators. To do this, plants that bloom in August or September are planted next to the cucumber beds, or the cucumbers are sprayed with sweet water.
- Timely harvesting. The sooner some cucumbers are picked from the bush, the faster others will appear. The plant devotes all its strength to the already formed fruits, which does not allow new ones to form.
Conclusion
Cucumbers are able to bear fruit until the first frost, but usually they wither and stop producing fruit much earlier. This is due to non-compliance with maintenance rules and soil depletion.
To get a large amount of tasty, ripe fruits until mid-autumn, experienced gardeners use effective fertilizing, follow the basic rules of care and use some tricks.