Foliar feeding of cucumbers

Foliar feeding of cucumbers is usually used in addition to the root method. Plants recommend feeding 3-4 times per season.

Foliar feeding of cucumbers

To get a good crop, use both methods of fertilizing. Consider the basal dressing cucumbers in more detail.

Benefits

As plants develop b Quickly, the bushes may need additional nutrition. The non-root method in this case is ideal. It is also necessary during the cool summer. If the temperature is kept at a level no higher than 12 ° C for a long time and it is cloudy outside, the roots poorly absorb nutrients from the soil .

This type of recharge is also used for preventive purposes. Some fertilizers can increase the fruiting period, as well as help the development of the ovaries.

For use, use the following scheme: the first feeding is carried out on the eve of the flowering period of the bush (tentatively, when the first buds appear, but flowering has not yet begun). The second feeding – when the plant begins to bear fruit intensively (with the advent of the first fully formed ovaries).The third – when the amount of yield decreases.

Foliar feeding 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.
• Savings. When watering bushes under the root, part of the useful substances penetrates deeper into the earth than necessary. The roots receive only part of these substances. If you spray the leaves, the losses are much less.
• Versatility. You can spray the leaves at any time, regardless of the growing season.

What fertilizers to use

For foliar top dressing, both minerals and organic matter are used.

Minerals

• Urea is recommended to saturate the bush with nitrogen. For the first recharge, 40 g of the substance are 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 is especially in need of additional nutrition. To compensate for the deficiency of phosphorus, superphosphate is used (at the rate of 35 g per 10 liters of water).
• To nourish cucumbers with potassium and microelements, 1 tsp. boric acid and 10 crystals of potassium permanganate are dissolved in 1 liter of water.
• When growing non-pollinated varieties, you can use a solution 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 for the solution to cool to room temperature.

Organic fertilizers

• Effective in applying infusion of fermented weeds. Weeds are placed in a barrel and water is poured to the top, covered with a lid and left for 14 days. The fluid is stirred every day. After the required period has passed, the infusion is diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 20. The leaves are sprayed with the resulting product.
• Useful hay. It is poured with water in a ratio of 1 to 1, insisted for two days. This means is sprayed with bushes 3 times during the season at weekly intervals.
• During the fruiting period it is useful to use a solution of ash. To do this, dissolve a glass of ash in 10 l of water, wait a day, then filter and mix, otherwise the remainder of the ash will clog the sprayer.

Recommendations for feeding

So that fertilizers bring maximum benefits for cucumbers, they are guided by a number of recommendations:

• Foliar top dressing for cucumbers is optional and can not replace the main food.
• When breeding fertilizers in no case The recommended concentration should not be exceeded: this will cause burns to 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 should be hot. It takes at least 2 hours for the product to be absorbed. During this period, the solution should not dry out or rinse off with rain.
• Direct sunlight should not fall on cucumbers in the greenhouse. You should also monitor the dosage of fertilizers: in closed ground, excess nutrients are especially harmful.
• The result of treatment is sometimes unexpected, therefore, before using it for the first time, it is recommended to check the product in a small area or in one bush and wait a day. If everything is in order with the plants, you can process the rest.
• You should observe the cucumbers, note signs of excess or deficiency of minerals. With a lack of potassium, the fruits take the form of a bulb or hook. With nitrogen deficiency, leaf reduction and depletion of cucumber lashes are observed. With a lack of phosphorus, a thin stem forms in the bushes.

Conclusion

Foliar top dressing serves as an additional source of nutrients for cucumbers.It also protects bushes from pests. With its help, you can achieve a greater yield, due to the increase in the period of fruiting.