Foliar dressing of cucumbers
Foliar dressing for cucumbers is usually used in addition to the root method. The plants are recommended to be fed 3-4 times per season.
Foliar dressing of cucumbers
To get a good harvest, both fertilization methods are used. Let's consider the root feeding of cucumbers in more detail.
Benefits
As plants grow quickly, the bushes may need additional nutrition. The foliar method is ideal in this case. It is also necessary during the cool summer. If the temperature for a long time is kept at a level not higher than 12 ° C and it is cloudy outside, the roots do not absorb nutrients from the soil poorly.
This type of makeup is also used for preventive purposes. Some fertilizers can increase the period of fruiting and help the development of the ovaries.
For use, the following scheme is used: the first feeding is carried out on the eve of the flowering period of the bush (approximately, when the first buds appear, but flowering has not yet begun). The second feeding is when the plant begins to bear fruit intensively (with the appearance of the first fully formed ovaries). The third is when the amount of the crop decreases.
Foliar dressing has the following advantages.
- Fast action. The effect of the effects of drugs and fertilizers on the bush itself (vines, leaves) will manifest itself much faster than with the root feeding method.
- Saving. When watering the bushes at the root, some of the nutrients penetrate into the ground deeper than necessary. The roots receive only a fraction of these substances. If you spray the leaves, there is much less loss.
- Versatility. You can spray the leaves at any time, regardless of the growing season.
What fertilizers to use
For foliar feeding, both minerals and organic matter are used.
Minerals
- To saturate the bush with nitrogen, it is recommended to use urea. For the first make-up, 40 g of the substance is dissolved in 10 l of water. For the second and third - 30 and 15 g, respectively.
- At the beginning of the flowering period, it is advised to use other fertilizers. At this time, the bush especially needs additional nutrition. To replenish the phosphorus deficiency, superphosphate is used (at the rate of 35 g per 10 l of water).
- To nourish cucumbers with potassium and trace elements, 1 tsp. boric acid and 10 crystals of potassium permanganate are dissolved in 1 liter of water.
- When growing non-self-pollinating varieties, a solution can be used to attract pollinating insects. The recipe is as follows: 2 g of boric acid and 100 g of sugar are dissolved in 1 liter of hot water. Wait until the solution has cooled to room temperature.
Organic fertilizers
Fertilizer can be prepared by yourself
- An infusion of fermented weeds is effective in application. Weeds are placed in a barrel and filled to the top with water, covered with a lid and left for 14 days. The liquid is stirred every day. After the required period of time, the infusion is diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 20. The leaves are sprayed with the resulting product.
- Rotten hay will come in handy.It is poured with water in a ratio of 1 to 1, insisted for two days. This agent is sprayed on the bushes 3 times during the season at weekly intervals.
- During the fruiting period, it is useful to use an ash solution. To do this, dissolve a glass of ash in 10 liters of water, wait a day, then filter and stir, otherwise the ash residue will clog the sprayer.
Recommendations for feeding
In order for fertilizers to bring maximum benefit to cucumbers, they are guided by a number of recommendations:
- Foliar dressing for cucumbers is optional and cannot replace the main food.
- When diluting fertilizers, in no case should the recommended concentration be exceeded: this will lead to burning of the leaves. It is necessary to strictly adhere to the instructions or make the solution a little weaker.
- A lighter concentration is used at the beginning of the growing season. During this period, the leaves are still young and very tender.
- It is desirable that the weather be dry and calm, but not hot. It takes at least 2 hours for the product to be absorbed. During this period, the solution should not dry out or wash off with rain.
- The cucumbers in the greenhouse should not be exposed to direct sunlight. You should also monitor the dosage of fertilizers: in a closed field, an excess of nutrients is especially harmful.
- The result of the treatment is sometimes unexpected, therefore, before the first use, it is recommended to check the product in a small area or one bush and wait a day. If everything is in order with the plants, you can process the rest.
- Cucumbers should be watched for signs of excess or deficiency of minerals. With a lack of potassium, the fruit takes the form of a bulb or a hook. With a nitrogen deficiency, a decrease in leaves and depletion of cucumber lashes are observed. With a lack of phosphorus, a thin stem is formed in the bushes.
Conclusion
Foliar dressing serves as an additional source of nutrients for cucumbers. It also protects bushes from pests. With its help, you can achieve a larger yield, due to an increase in the fruiting period.