How to get a high-quality crop of cucumbers at home? High-quality seed, fertile climate, fertile soil, caring care – all these are mandatory components. However, there is one more important point: it is necessary to determine when top dressing of cucumber seedlings is carried out in order to get a harvest of healthy, tasty marketable fruits. This matter should be approached with all responsibility, so as not to harm the growth of seeds.
There is an exception, which requires premature feeding. If the plant has an unhealthy, sluggish appearance, the process is recommended to start earlier. This usually happens with greenhouse plants.
Premature feeding
Farmers who believe that the sooner you start feeding seedlings, the more crops you should expect in the future, are wrong.The process will be wasted until the first leaf grows on the plant: the nutrients are simply not absorbed. At the beginning of the life path, the seedling has enough energy that is in itself. In addition, the transplanted plant must be given at least 2 weeks to adapt. During flowering, it will be useful to water with a solution of ash. In a glass of hot water add 0.5 cups of ash and insist for at least a day. Before using cucumber seedlings, the solution should first be poured with water at room temperature.
Agronomists advise feeding seedlings at the maturation stage exclusively with natural fertilizers. Depending on the degree of leaf sprouting, the composition of the fertilizer will change.
Types of fertilizing
The soil can be fed with organic, that is, natural, or mineral substances. There are root and non-root methods of obtaining nutrients.
The former are usually used when there are no problems with the development of the root system. They are suitable for regions with a favorable climate, in early spring. It is better to choose the time of the evening period after rain or heavy watering.
Foliar top dressing is needed in cloudy and cold weather, when the roots are unable to cope with the absorption of minerals. Spraying will come to the rescue, which must be carried out in such a way that the solution is distributed in small portions evenly over the leaves.A long stay on their surface will ensure high-quality absorption.
Processing stages
3 sessions of feeding cucumber seedlings are enough:
- Before planting it in greenhouse or open soil. For a weak plant – every 2 weeks.
- The second stage starts after the next batch of leaves has germinated.
- A couple of days before planting in the ground, the last top dressing is done.
Sometimes, during the period of mass fruiting, farmers arrange an additional, fourth, in order to extend the flowering period and to increase the overall yield. You should not overdo it with the amount of fertilizer applied: this will not benefit the plant growth.
First stage
The first feeding will help form the root system
Experienced agronomists recommend starting the feeding with a mixture of organic fertilizers with mineral fertilizers. List of sample options:
- manure, diluted with water (1: 1 ratio, a whole bucket), 20 g of superphosphate;
- bird droppings with water (1:10), 20 g of superphosphate;
- 7 g of ammonium nitrate, 15 g of superphosphate, 9 g of potassium, sulfuric acid, 10 l of water, you can also add mullein (1: 4) or aged chicken droppings (1: 7); such a mixture is good at the stage of the appearance of flowers in the plant;
- ready-made complex fertilizers such as potassium humate or sodium humate in a ratio of 1 tbsp. l on a bucket of water.
per 1 square. 2-2.5 liters of solution is enough. The correct first feeding of cucumber seedlings at the initial stage of life is able to form a healthy root system in the plant and a strong trunk.
Second stage
The main principle of subsequent feeding is a 2-fold increase in the quantity minerals in the composition of the feed mixture. After the second line of leaves has grown, top dressing is also sprayed. Plants growing in the greenhouse are especially in need of additional trace elements.
At this stage, cucumbers are fertilized with complex mineral additives. It can be a mixture of Kimira Lux and Nitrofoska. 1 tbsp is enough for a bucket of water l a similar mixture. Watering is carried out according to the scheme of 2.5 liters per 1 square. m seedlings. Boric acid is suitable as nutrition. It can be mixed in an amount of 1 tsp. with 12 crystals of potassium permanganate and 1 liter of water or in a volume of 2 g with 100 g sugar per 1 liter of hot water – this recipe is suitable for attracting pollinating insects. Another option is 30 g of superphosphate per 10 l of water at room temperature. From organics, you can really try the infusion of green grass at a concentration of 1: 5.
Third stage
One of the best recipes for the mixture needed by the plant 2-3 days before planting in soil, the following is considered: 15 g of urea, 40 g of superphosphate, 10 g of potassium salt, 10 l of water. Chlorine is not recommended as it can harm young cucumbers. One bucket feeds 2 square meters. m beds.
It is good to use a green solution in the ratio of 1: 5 as an organic fertilizer. For foliar feeding, 12 g of urea per 10 liters of water is suitable.
Fourth stage
If the gardener considers it necessary to carry out another, control, feeding process after planting, then he can use for this purpose aged 30 g of baking soda per 10 liters of water or 1 glass of ash hay. In an area with a cold climate – 15 g of urea per 10 liters of water.
Feeding technology
The basic rule for feeding cucumber seedlings is to do this clearly under the root. But in the case of the non-root method of nutrition with a low saturation of trace elements, the principle is not used.
Root top dressing of cucumbers for seedlings needs the subsequent plentiful watering at room temperature or warmer temperatures. Attention! The makeup mixture should not fall on the leaves and stalk: in this case, a burn or yellow coating is likely. If drops of solution nevertheless fall on objects of the forbidden zone, this part of the plant should be immediately sprayed with warm water.
Conclusion
Fertilizing for seedlings of cucumbers helps to provide seeds with all the necessary substances for the formation of seedlings and the growth of a tasty and healthy vegetable. This care element is no less important than everyone else in the growing process.
Top dressing is a prerequisite for growing cucumbers for seedlings.
