How to feed cucumbers in a greenhouse?

Cucumbers today are one of the most popular crops for growing in the greenhouse.This is a very tasty vegetable, rich in nutrients and vitamins, which is widely used in cooking. However, for the reason that the plant takes all the nutrients and trace elements from the soil, it is in dire need of proper feeding. Unfortunately, there is no universal method of fertilizer application today, because what materials to apply depends on many factors, including the type of soil, the estimated number of ovaries on the bush, and much more.

To get a rich crop of cucumbers, in the greenhouse you need not only to maintain the optimum temperature and humidity level, but also to provide the plants with nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and many other micro and macro elements. This culture is characterized by a high growth rate and rapid ripening, but this is compensated for by weak roots, and therefore if you make a mistake when fertilizing, you can lose a large part of the crop. Fortunately, today, experts have developed optimal methods for growing cucumbers in greenhouses, due to which even a beginner can grow tasty vegetables in large quantities.

When the fruit crops for growth and development have enough of all the substances contained in the soil, the bushes shine with their greenery, they do not wither as long as possible and give abundant crops. If you notice signs of wilting, this is a disturbing bell. The first signal of a shortage of nutrients will be a significant lag in development, an abrupt change in leaf color and a bad ovary - all this clearly indicates the need to urgently feed them. Thanks to some features, it is possible to understand with accuracy exactly what the cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse lack, but it is very important not to overdo it with fertilizers.

The lack of such substances as phosphorus and nitrogen is most often observed on soils of sod-podzolic type. Cucumbers, which grow on sandy and sandy soils, usually lack copper and trace elements such as boron and potassium. The plant may lack manganese, especially if it grows on peaty ground or on an alkaline or carbonate type of land. If the cucumbers simply do not have enough moisture, then the fruit will be poorly developed at the base and slightly inflated at the end, that is, it will have a peculiar waist.

Outwardly, all this is manifested in the fact that the fruits of cucumber with a strong potassium deficiency begin to gradually fade. In addition, the lack of this substance can cause burns that usually appear on old leaves - they begin to acquire a yellow tint in the direction from their borders to the center.

The leaves of the plant usually serve as a kind of marker by which to navigate. When they are still green around the main veins, the lack of potassium is still expressed rather weakly. Then, in the places of yellowing of leaves, brown burns are formed, due to which the process of dying begins, gradually spreading throughout the plant. It should be borne in mind that potassium is a substance capable of rapidly spreading through the plant to its young leaves, even when it receives it in small quantities. For this reason, a cucumber can grow quite normally, but its yield will drop markedly.

When cucumber fruits are hook shaped, this means that during their growth there was a strong nitrogen deficiency, which also significantly affects the normal growth of this crop. One of the main signs of a lack of nitrogen is the leaves of a light green color and the sharp shape of the fruit, which will also have a light shade.In the case of an acute shortage of this substance, the leaves of the plant may turn yellow, and the roots will turn brown and will simply wither away over time.

In many cases, with a shortage of nitrogen, the leaves of the cucumber will be small and directed upwards. Also often there is a small amount of lateral shoots of the plant, as well as the dying off of the ovaries and flowers. During this period, it is necessary to urgently begin the subcortex of cucumbers with nitrogenous fertilizers, otherwise the fruits will be yellow, small and hooked.

If cucumbers in the greenhouse grow in the soil with high acidity, then magnesium is possible. One of the first visual signs of the deficiency of this substance will be the appearance of light green spots on the leaves of the plant, which then become yellow. After yellowing the leaves become very brittle and in some cases may simply fall away, and at this stage the plant simply stops growing.

Calcium deficiency is also characteristic of soils with high acidity. Light yellow spots, appearing in large numbers on the young leaves of the plant, indicate its lack. Other signs of a deficiency of this microelement agrotechnics include growth retardation and degradation of the root system of the bush. The leaves of the cucumber become small, crooked, and at the edges they have a peculiar fringe, while the fruits grow small, with an ugly texture and a slightly pronounced taste.

A strong lack of boron usually entails the death of the roots, the cessation of the growth of the stems and the change in the shape of the cucumber fruits. In addition, due to the deficiency of this trace element, leaves can take a spoon-like shape and eventually break. The flowers of the plant lose their ability to fertilize and also die because the process of photosynthesis and circulation of carbohydrates ceases. As a result, the development of fruits is inhibited, they take on an irregular shape.

The lack of phosphorus is determined quite simply, since when it is deficient, the leaves change their color up to a blue tint, sometimes with purple inclusions. When the leaves of a plant with phosphorus deficiency dry, they become almost black. Their shape also changes significantly - they shrink, twist downwards and become more dense. When the bush experiences an acute shortage of this substance, even young leaves have watery spots. Molybdenum deficiency becomes noticeable when the plant becomes ill with chlorosis, and its edges of its leaves twist into tubules. Also a clear sign of a lack of molybdenum is blanching of the veins on the leaves and a decrease in the flowers on the bush. An excess of such substances as nitrogen and a high content of heavy metals can cause a deficiency of molybdenum.

The deficiency of such an important substance as iron is manifested primarily in slowing the growth and development of the hive, stopping the emergence of new growth points, and also in significant blanching of the leaves, since chlorophyll stops forming in them. If the lack of iron progresses, the leaves will eventually become lemon hue, which then turns into an almost white color.

Manganese is very important to use in top dressing, because it helps the plant to breathe and absorb carbon dioxide better. If manganese is not enough, then the bush will eventually acquire a brownish tint, and spots of the same color will appear on its leaves. Then the cucumber bush with a shortage of this substance will become yellow or even brown, then it will spread to young leaves, which also acquire a brown tint, and then become transparent and die.

Among summer residents and gardeners often argue about when and how often to fertilize cucumbers growing in a greenhouse. Despite the fact that opinions differ on this, professional agrotechnologists have long since derived the optimal method, following which one can achieve the best results and get a big crop of vegetables. So, the bushes that grow in the greenhouse, it is customary to water fertilizers and nutrients at least four times per season.

The first feeding is carried out 2 weeks after planting the seedlings. Seedlings for good growth must be fertilized with potassium and nitrogen based feedings, since these substances are necessary for this crop after planting. The second time you need to make fertilizer in the spring with the beginning of flowering. During this period, cucumbers are still in need of nitrogen and potassium, but at the same time they need substances such as magnesium, boron, and some other trace elements. Thus, during the second feeding, it is best to use complex fertilizer. The third time fertilizers are applied during fruiting, more precisely, when it is just beginning. The third feeding is almost identical to the second nutrient composition and their proportions, but it can be adjusted depending on the condition of the cucumber bushes. Two or three weeks after the third feeding, fertilizers are applied for the fourth time. At this stage, it is necessary to effectively stimulate fruiting, and therefore not only the usual composition of nutrients is introduced, but also phosphorus-based fertilizers.

In order for the cucumbers to produce a good harvest, and the fruits were large and tasty, the bushes must have a properly developed aerial part. For proper growth and development of bushes, it is recommended to fertilize them with the help of various nutrients. For this reason, experienced growers throughout the season make various fertilizers - industrial or folk remedies, proven experience of generations. However, it is very important to carry out this procedure correctly, otherwise the vegetables will have an unpleasant taste, and it will not be possible to achieve a bountiful harvest.

During different periods of the growing season this culture needs different nutrients and trace elements. So, at the beginning of growth, nitrogen fertilizers are most needed for cucumbers, since they absorb this substance most actively. During the growth period of the lashes, the plant will need a substance such as potassium. When the bush has new shoots and it begins to actively bear fruit, then it needs even more nitrogen. It is known that the optimal amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium will be a 2: 1: 3 ratio.

As you know, most of all nutrients and moisture need cucumbers when they bear fruit. Then you need to carry out both root and foliar feeding with the help of mineral nutrient preparations, and organic-type fertilizers are applied strictly under the plant root. While cucumbers are bearing fruit, they need to be fed at least three times: the first fertilizer is prepared on the basis of 200 grams of bird droppings and nitroammofoski, which must be added to five liters of water, while the second feed is prepared using a teaspoon of potash sulfate dissolved in ten liters of water. After 12 days, put the third dressing on the basis of one glass of mullein or a tablespoon of nitroammofoski dissolved in ten liters of water.

To improve the quality of the fruit, you can additionally conduct foliar feeding with various professional means. For this purpose, recommended such complex drugs as "Epin" or "Wage earner", also "Zircon" is also well suited. In specialized stores, you can also easily purchase tools such as Ideal or Fertility — these fertilizers are specifically designed for cucumbers and contribute to an increase in yield. To fertilize them with plants, you need to take a tablespoon of the drug per ten liters of water, after which five liters is applied per 1 m2.

The most common home remedies for feeding cucumbers include:

• decoction based on garden herbs;
• hood made with running water and mullein;
• bird droppings fertilizer.

A good alternative to store fertilizers will be homemade grass-based fertilizers. To prepare this, you need to take the plantain and nettle, to which is added a small amount of quinoa and poured ten liters of hot water. It is better to maintain this solution for 24 hours, after which it is filtered and the beds are fertilized with this liquid at the rate of two liters per square meter. This feeding goes well with a small amount of chicken manure. It is important to use such a solution carefully so that during watering it does not get on the stems of plants.

When the bush needs extra strength for growth and development, gardeners use a weak solution based on manure. But keep in mind that this feed is quite powerful, and if you overdo it, the plant will have an excess of nitrogen and the fruits will turn yellow.

Another common plant fertilizer is fertilizer with ash. It is prepared quite simply: about two hundred grams of ash is poured with ten liters of warm water. This solution is poured under the bushes with the calculation of one liter per plant. In addition, the ash can be used for the prevention of various diseases, for which it is poured on the ground around the bushes and it hides the lower part of the shoots.

Another tool is made on the basis of the usual onion peel. 200 grams of onion peel is poured with ten liters of water, after which this mixture should be brought to a boil over low heat. After the broth has cooled, they can water cucumber bushes - about one liter per plant.

A yeast based feed is also common. It is known that yeast is rich in various vitamins, trace elements and nutrients, which makes them a good fertilizer. To prepare such dressing, you need to dilute a pack of yeast in ten liters of water and allow the solution to stand for a day. Then this feed can be irrigated cucumbers in the amount of one liter per plant.

To grow high-quality cucumbers in a greenhouse, it is necessary to use methods and supplements that are specifically designed for this growing method. Professional vegetable growers distinguish two main ways of applying feedings and fertilizers, namely, root and foliar. They will help to achieve impressive results and get a really good crop of cucumbers.

The first root dressing for cucumbers growing in the greenhouse is carried out during the appearance of the first leaflets on the stem of the plant.During this period, it is necessary to apply fertilizer on the basis of nitrate, for which a special solution is required. To do this, combine twenty grams of superphosphate with fifteen grams of sulfuric potassium and the same amount of ammonium nitrate. This amount of fertilizer will be enough for about a dozen bushes.

After three weeks you will need to hold the next root feed. At this time, active flowering begins and the first ovaries appear in the plant, and therefore it is best to use organic matter. Fertilizers based on bird droppings or mullein are best suited to which ash or potassium-rich substances can be added. It is recommended to make fertilizer in this way: in a solution of ten liters of water and half a liter of liquid cow manure to make two hundred grams of ash, 0.5 grams of boric acid and quite a bit of manganese. This fertilizer is used at the rate of three liters per square meter.

After another two weeks, usually begin the third stage of the introduction of nutrients. To do this, prepare a solution of two tablespoons of liquid cow manure and ten liters of water. This fertilizer is made at the rate of eight liters per square meter. After 14 days the introduction of such feeding is repeated. Maximum efficiency can be achieved if plants are fertilized together with their watering and do it at least once every seven days.

Foliar fertilization is carried out with the aim to accelerate the growth of bushes and increase the yield of this crop. Foliar top dressings are made on the basis of various complex fertilizers and useful microelements. All the necessary components are available, you can buy them in any specialty store.

To prepare fertilizer for foliar feeding, you need to take 50 grams of superphosphate and combine with one gram of boric acid, and add about 30 grams of potassium nitrate and a very small amount of manganese and zinc. It is important to keep proportions in order not to overfeed cucumbers. Otherwise, an antidote will have to be applied to the soil to dilute the concentrate. Also a good foliar fertilizer solution is considered to be 1.5% urea with ten liters of water.

There are several popular methods, guided by which you can easily grow your own hands tasty and strong vegetables and increase the yield. So, to improve the quality of the soil in which cucumbers grow, you can put pre-steamed peas in the holes. Due to its unique properties, it can make the soil more suitable for other plants, including tomatoes - they can grow much faster.

The easiest to prepare and use dressing is fertilizer based on cow manure. It is very simple to make it - it is enough to mix it with water at the rate of one part of manure per 10 parts of water in such a way as to obtain a homogeneous slush as a result. It is necessary to water this bushes every day with this solution, then the result will exceed all expectations. It is important to ensure that the nutrient mixture does not fall on the stems and leaves of the plant, otherwise they risk being burned with a concentrated solution of organic substances.

Another non-standard way to fertilize cucumbers is the use of dressing based on eggshell. To do this, you need to tamp it in a three-liter jar and from time to time pour hot water there.

Often, people living in an apartment grow cucumbers on the balcony. This method of cultivation is considered greenhouse, but it has its own specificity and feeding scheme, respectively, nutrients are introduced in a different way. The first feeding is done in the same way, 14-15 days after the first shoots appear, and a mixture of 10 liters of water, 15 grams of potassium-based preparations and 5 grams of ammonium nitrate is suitable for feeding. After 10 days, the second dressing is done by means of a solution of 10 liters of water, a liter of liquid cow manure and a mixture of 20 grams of superphosphate fertilizers with 15 grams of potassium sulfate. Once every 10 days, cucumbers should be fertilized with a weak solution of manganese and then the harvest will be good and healthy.

Growing cucumbers in a greenhouse also involves the preparation of a greenhouse. After harvesting, you need to remove the remains of plants from it and dig up the ground well. Then you need to disinfect all parts of the greenhouse, made of metal, wood or glass, for which a special composition of bleach and water is well suited. And at the last stage of preparation, the land is again dug up with the introduction of manure, compost or humus, as well as dolomite flour to lower the level of acidity.

For information on when and how to feed cucumbers in a greenhouse, see the following video.