Cucumbers are very demanding on moisture. Precipitation usually is not enough for good growth and fruiting. The reason is that the underdeveloped roots of these plants are located close to the surface, and the top layer of the earth dries quickly.
Lack of rain and sparse watering are the reasons for the discharge of flowers and ovaries. Among the fruits there are many ugly, tasteless and bitter, they quickly turn yellow.
How to water cucumbers - tips for gardeners
Cucumber is a tropical plant, in addition to high humidity, he also loves warmth. Therefore, in cold weather, cucumbers should not be watered. This can provoke a process such as decay of the roots, which absorb moisture poorly.
At different periods of growth, the cucumber requires irrigation of varying intensity. Watering cucumbers after planting is not required at all, even if seedlings are planted. The first watering of seedlings is carried out after two to three days with warm water. Young plants in the garden before the beginning of the flowering period, a fairly moderate amount of moisture. They need to be watered about once every 4-5 days. Increased watering will lead to violent growth of leaves and will slow down the beginning of flowering.
When the ovary appeared, watering should be increased. It should be the most abundant during fruiting, about once every 2-3 days.
It is very important to know how to water cucumbers correctly
When watering cucumbers, you need to use only warm water, giving it time to stand and warm in the sun. It is best to water in the evening, but with the expectation that the leaves will dry by night. On cold nights, water the cucumbers in the morning. You can not carry out watering in the hot sun - this will cause burns on the leaves of plants.
Water the cucumbers should be very careful, best with a watering can with a special spray. By arranging rain from a watering can, you thereby increase the humidity of the air near the plants. It is not recommended to use a hose or bucket because it can damage the root system of the plant and tighten the soil very much. By the way, so that after irrigation a crust does not form, and the earth absorbs water better, it is recommended to loosen the soil. A second watering method is also possible. Water pours from a watering can without a strainer into small grooves in the aisles. After that, the soil can be mulched with straw or dry grass. So it’s not so difficult to answer the question of how to water cucumbers.
The irrigation rate is 25 liters of water per 1 square. m. of land. On hot days, when it is very dry, it is good to do refreshing watering, 2-3 times reducing the amount of water for irrigation.
It is recommended to use drop watering of cucumbers in the greenhouse. To do this, you can purchase a special system, and some craftsmen make it themselves from improvised means. So, drip irrigation is carried out through a perforated hose, using a drip irrigation tape or a wick (connection to water using a cloth strip), etc.
From folk experience
To create increased humidity between the grooves in which cucumbers grow, you can arrange containers with water. You can get a greater effect if you insist on a “nutritious cocktail” in these containers: burdock, nettle, dandelion leaves, and add manure or chicken droppings. The benefit is twofold: the evaporation is on, and you can use the “cocktail” for top dressing, you just need to dilute it in a proportion of no less than 1:10.
Using the drip irrigation method for watering cucumbers, you can use plastic bottles with top dressing, or you can use a hose with holes. In the first case, holes are made in the lower part of the bottle, up to 2 liters in volume (for example, with a hot nail). Then the cap is unscrewed, and the bottom of the bottle is buried between the cucumbers. A weak top-dressing solution should always be present in the bottle, for this it must be periodically added.
If you know how to water cucumbers correctly, you can always count on a good harvest.