The methods for growing cucumbers in a greenhouse and on open ground are almost identical, although there are still some differences. What exactly are the discrepancies in agricultural cultivation will be considered in this article. And also describe the features of fertilizing cucumbers in greenhouse conditions.
Growing cucumbers in a greenhouse can be quite a profitable process, due to the possibility of creating artificial favorable conditions, which will significantly increase productivity. However, this is possible only subject to certain rules. In particular, if cucumber is grown in a greenhouse, top dressing should be appropriate, since the soil cannot take all the necessary substances from the environment.
To increase productivity, it is required to take care of soil fertility in advance. First of all, the soil needs to be decontaminated. And this applies to everything that is in the greenhouse, and not just the soil. An ideal solution would be a solution of bleach. You will need about 40 g of lime, which must be diluted in 12 liters of water. It is better to take clean water without sediment. Insist requires at least two hours, and then cultivate the soil. You need to do this in the fall. In spring, the soil is treated with boiling water with potassium permanganate (add no more than 3 g of potassium permanganate powder to a bucket of water).
Feed the soil with carbon dioxide will help to activate the process of formation of inflorescences before the seedlings are planted, or before flowering. To do this, you need to add a certain amount of organic matter to the prepared soil, for example, mullein. However, care must be taken to ensure that the fertilizer does not fall directly on the cucumbers.
The purpose of feeding
If top dressing is carried out on time and in the right amount, then you can achieve absolute plant resistance to various diseases, since fertilizers can significantly increase immunity. There are practically no pests that at least somehow affect productivity. The only thing that can affect the course of growth of cucumbers is adverse conditions, in particular low temperatures.
Cucumbers are very fond of high humidity, periodic feeding in small quantities. Watering and top dressing should be done exclusively in the early morning or after sunset, otherwise it threatens the appearance of various fungal diseases, in particular powdery mildew and anthracnose.
The first feeding of cucumbers in the greenhouse should be carried out immediately after planting. It is important to give the process a lot of attention and not let the growth go by itself.
Stages of the fertilizer application
There are four main stages of feeding:
- If cucumber is grown in a greenhouse, top dressing begins even at the stage of seedling preparation. At this time, you need to carefully take care of the soil for future seedlings, then fertilizer is applied when the first leaves on the sprout appear, after the second leaf appears, and after two weeks. At this stage, the preparation of seedlings is over.
- Before planting, the plant needs to be fertilized. This process is very stressful for cucumbers. In this case, feeding tomatoes and cucumbers in the greenhouse is carried out several days before planting, and it is better to fertilize by spraying.
- Fertilization during the period of active growth and flowering.
- Top dressing in the period from the beginning to the end of fruiting. At this stage, you need to use only those fertilizers that will not affect the quality of the fruits in the future towards deterioration.
Topping cucumbers at the seedling stage
Even if cucumber is grown in a greenhouse, seedlings will be the best way to plant. They grow it in bulk boxes usually about a month. They do this directly in the greenhouse itself on a dedicated (separate) site, and after a while they simply distribute it in the beds.
Seeds for growing seedlings do not lay too deep in the soil, so when preparing the soil, you need to add compost or manure (about 8 kg of fertilizer per 1 square meter) and some wood ash as a source of potassium.
The first feeding of cucumbers in the greenhouse is carried out immediately after planting. Cucumber seedlings respond well enough to fertilizer, which consists of superphosphate, litter (better than cow), ammonium nitrate (you should be extremely careful with this component, since with an excess you can increase the amount of nitrates in cucumbers). Fertilizing seedlings of cucumbers in the greenhouse can be carried out using special fertilizers that are designed for this plant and practically do not contain nitrate nitrogen.
Fertilizing during flowering
Before direct flowering, cucumbers require top dressing, rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium. However, potassium should also not be forgotten.
If cucumber is grown in a greenhouse, top dressing should contain nitrogen. Since it is necessary for the formation of leaves.
Phosphorus needs to be brought in small portions, and top dressing of cucumbers after planting in the greenhouse should also contain this element. However, this should be done with enviable regularity, since in the absence of this element in the soil, the root system will develop poorly, the plant will cease to bear fruit. Timely application of phosphorus in the right amount activates the process of flower formation.
Potassium, in turn, helps other nutrients move along the plant's root system.
Fertilizing cucumbers after planting in the greenhouse should be carried out at least five times for the entire period of vegetation and flowering. Before flowering, a mullein solution (1 tbsp. Per bucket of water) is used, in which you need to add superphosphate and potassium sulfate. Next, fertilizers should be applied every two weeks, while replacing superphosphate and potassium sulfate with a nitrophos. Ready-made specialized fertilizers are also suitable.
Fruiting period: features of top dressing
When the first fruits appear, top dressing of cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse should change its composition. Now you need to add magnesium, nitrogen and potassium (ideal potassium nitrate) to the soil . The amount of potassium must be sharply increased, and nitrogen should be reduced.
Feeding with wood ash
Growing cucumbers in a greenhouse, including top dressing, has common features with growing on open ground. In particular, wood ash is considered an excellent fertilizer that can protect fruits from the most common diseases.
This mineral fertilizer is good because it is completely natural and contains many useful substances, such as potassium, which the soil needs to ensure the growth of cucumbers. In addition, this top dressing will not be able to harm the health of the person who makes it. Also, ash can be used during the period of active fruiting. There are two methods for applying fertilizer:
- spraying with an ash solution;
- dusting with dry ash, which must be carefully sieved before use;
- pouring ash solution under the roots.
To prepare the ash solution, you need to add about 1 tbsp. To a bucket of water. ash and leave for a day. Further, the action depends on the method of fertilizer application. If this is a spray, then the solution must be filtered. It is advisable to use water no colder than 20 degrees.
Nitroammophos dressing
Azofoska, or nitroammophoska, is a complex mineral fertilizer that contains elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and the prevailing one cannot be distinguished.
Topping cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse using this substance is performed as follows: 1 tbsp. Is added to a bucket of water at room temperature. l the drug. For one bush of cucumbers, 1 liter of the resulting solution is enough.
This fertilizer must not be applied to dry soil. Previously, the near-root site needs to be moistened.
To increase the effectiveness of the effect of this fertilizer on the root system, and the roots tend to absorb the elements given to them in a small amount, twice as much wood ash is required to be added to the azofoski solution, since plants also need potassium. Ash can be safely replaced with potassium sulfate or kalimagnesia. Only in this case will be enough 1 tbsp. l on a bucket of water.
Yeast use
Feeding cucumbers in the greenhouse with yeast is also possible. To do this, dilute 1 kg of fresh yeast in 5 l of water. The resulting solution must be diluted with water (0.5 l of solution in a bucket of water). For one bush, half a liter of fertilizer is enough.
Out of stock or oversupply items
The nutrition of cucumbers that are grown in the greenhouse, it is quite easy to disrupt both the lack of nutrition and its overabundance. You can determine this visually:
- Delayed flowering may indicate an excess of nitrogen in the soil. Also, the stem thickens, the leaves become dense and dark. If it is not enough, the appearance of fruits with a thick peduncle is possible.
- Yellowing of the leaves is due to the large amount of phosphorus.
- An excess of potassium can lead to a slowdown in plant growth, its shortage threatens the development of irregular fruits with a thin peduncle.
- A large amount of calcium can lead to the development of intervein chlorosis.
If cucumber is grown in a greenhouse, top dressing is extremely necessary, but this must be done carefully.