Why do cucumber leaves curl inside?

Most gardeners when growing cucumbers sometimes notice that the leaves of cucumbers are curled inside.This disease can lead to a complete loss of the cucumber harvest, so that this does not happen, you should find out the main causes of leaf twisting, as well as get acquainted with preventive measures.

Growing cucumbers in the greenhouse or in the open field can get a high yield, even if this is a novice gardener. But even with all the rules of cultivation, plants are subject to various diseases. The most common is the twisting of the leaves of the seedling.

This problem occurs for certain reasons. In some cases, the plant survives, but the harvest is significantly reduced. Experts recommend the first thing to correctly determine the cause of the disease, and then proceed to treatment, otherwise you can destroy the plant.

Consider the main factors affecting the state of cucumbers when grown:

• Lack of moisture. Often, cucumber leaves are curled due to the fact that irrigation measures were carried out incorrectly and at the wrong time.
• Nutrient deficiencies. If you notice that the plant is sick, it is possible that it lacks nutrients, namely nitrogen, sulfur, magnesium. Lack of such nutrients may appear due to improperly prepared soil for planting or insufficient amount of fertilizer has been added during the growing season.
• Sudden temperature fluctuations. Cucumbers, like other vegetables, react poorly to sudden changes in temperature.
• Malicious microorganisms. If the above reasons are not identified, and the cucumber leaves also continue to be wrapped, then the plant may be attacked by harmful insects (spider mite, aphid). To do this, just look at the reverse side of the leaflet - it is in this area that they hide.
• It is not always possible to avoid powdery mildew in the middle of the summer period., namely, the disease can cause cucumber leaves to fold. At the same time on the leaves will be white bloom. Powdery mildew appears due to insufficient ventilation in the room where vegetables are grown (balcony, greenhouse), and sharp temperature fluctuations. The reasons for the emergence of powdery mildew can be improperly performed watering activities, the presence of weeds or non-compliance with the rules of planting seedlings.

Also, mushroom spores during irrigation can be transferred to the leaf plates of other vegetable crops, thereby infecting them. To prevent the infection from spreading, the infected leaves should be immediately removed, and the soil should be disinfected after the cultivation of cucumber fruits is completed.

• Root rot. It appears in the form of yellowed leaves, and the stem becomes brown. This disease occurs due to improper care of the plants, if the soil has been improperly loosened.
• Ammonia burn. Folding leaves may be due to the fact that uncured manure or a fertilizer with a high content of ammonia substance was applied as a fertilizer.
• Many growers notice that seedlings can curl not only down, but also up. And this is an indicator that the plant lack of certain nutrients, such as potassium, zinc and calcium.
• If, after planting seedlings in open ground, the cucumber seedlings are yellowed, and the leaf plates are curled down, then The problem lies in the pick, that is, the root system was damaged during transplantation.

Methods for the treatment of vegetable crops are completely dependent on the cause of the twisting of the leaves.

If you determine that the leaves have shriveled due to insufficient moisture in the soil, then you need to increase the amount of watering.The first thing to do is to break through the soil in the area where the rhizomes of the plants are located, and you need to act carefully, because the roots are too close to the ground surface. Then plentifully water a bed, at the same time the soil has to be humidified on depth from 10 to 15 centimeters.

Watering is only around the stem, so that water does not fall on the leaves of cucumbers. Watering should be carried out depending on a certain period of vegetation. After planting the seedlings in the ground the plants are watered 1 time in 4-5 days. When the ovary appeared, watering activities should be carried out 1 time in 2 days. During the fruiting period, watering is done every other day, but if the weather is hot, then it is necessary to water every day. In cool weather (below +15 degrees), watering activities need to stop.

If the cause of the twisted leaves is a deficiency of nutrients, then in this case it is necessary to feed the soil. For this purpose it is necessary to purchase special means ("Agricola", "Sudarushka", "Master"), which are pre-diluted with liquid according to the instructions. It is important that the ratio of water and funds is correct, otherwise an excessive amount of the substance will lead to the death of the plant.

Often the culprits of this problem are harmful microorganisms. Basically, cucumbers are attacked by a spider mite and melon aphid, which settle on the inside of the leaf. In this situation, you can not hesitate, because these types of insects are carriers of various diseases. To cure the plant, you should use a folk remedy with the use of soap - prepare a solution from a warm liquid (10 liters) and soap chips (150-200 grams).

For the destruction of parasites on sale there are specialized tools ("Hyphen", "Metaphos", "Karbofos"). Be careful when using such drugs, because they contain toxins that can later accumulate in the fruit, so you need to process plants with such special means 21 days before the formation of the ovaries. Biological preparations are less dangerous (“Actofit”, “Fitoverm”). After 2 days after treatment with such means, the fruit can be eaten.

In the greenhouse at the seedlings, the leaf plates turn down due to an excess of air humidity, therefore it should be constantly ventilated. Indoors, it is also necessary to monitor the state of the air, because not only the humidity of the air, but also its dryness affects the plants detrimentally. It is necessary to regularly spray them with water, as well as moisten the air itself. 80-90% is considered to be the best indicator of humidity for greenhouses, and the temperature - not less than +22 degrees.

When growing cucumbers in the open ground, it is useless to carry out air humidification measures; in this case, the leaf plates of cucumbers can be sprayed with warm liquid in the evening (no later than 19 hours) or in the early morning.

After all, this material warms up and cools very quickly, which will lead to the formation of burns on the leaves or to the overcooling of the plant.

To get rid of powdery mildew, experienced growers use potassium permanganate (1.5 grams), which is pre-diluted in water (10 liters).

The most effective means is the use of a specialized drug "Topaz". The manufacturer produces the product in ampoules. For spraying, one ampoule is sufficient, which should be diluted in 8 liters of warm liquid. Spray the plant should be immediately after the first symptoms of powdery mildew, but it is recommended to hold this event before the flowering of seedlings.

There are preventive measures, performing which you do not allow the twisting of the leaves in this vegetable culture. During the growing season, experts recommend fertilizing, the number of dressings should not be less than 3.

• As soon as the seed planted in open groundshould be made first feeding. As a fertilizer, it is necessary to use substances that contain a large amount of phosphates.
• The second feeding is made, when the plant begins to bloom. For this purpose, most gardeners use potassium solution. For its preparation will require 10 liters of warm water and 5 grams of potassium. This solution is also able to improve the formation of ovaries, which further leads to a good cucumber harvest.
• The third dressing is applied to the soil, when the plant begins to bear fruit. During this period, you should use fertilizers that contain a large amount of phosphoric substances. In this case, you not only prevent the twisting of cucumber leaves, but also give the chance to the fruits to better reveal the taste qualities.

The reason for wrapping the leaves of cucumber seedlings may be incorrectly executed planting technology. To plant seedlings in open ground should only be when the soil warms to a certain temperature (not lower than +12 degrees), and the risk of night frost has passed. At first, the seedlings need to be covered with a film so that the plant is not subjected to supercooling.

In closed ground cucumber seedlings need to be planted in the 15-20 days of April, and in the open - in early June.

The seedlings, which can be planted in the soil, should grow in a special container for 25 days, during this time it will have 2-3 true leaves. The distance between the bushes should be 15-20 centimeters, and rows should be located at a distance of at least 80 centimeters. Thick planting of seedlings will lead to the appearance of various fungal diseases in plants.

Experts recommend growing cucumbers with a special device for tying lashes. So you will allow the air to circulate freely between the plants, and the harvest will be more convenient.

Before planting, the seed must be decontaminated. Seeds should be soaked for 15 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. In this way, you can prevent the appearance of various fungal diseases, as well as prevent the attack of harmful microorganisms on vegetables. If you buy cucumber seeds in specialized stores, then carefully read the instructions on the package, because some types of seeds have a protective sheath. Such materials do not need to be soaked in a disinfectant solution, they already have protection.

On why the leaves of cucumbers curl, see below.