Foliar top dressing of cucumbers is a great opportunity to increase their productivity in their area. By the way, it can be applied to many vegetable crops. The main feature of this fertilizer method is the almost instant absorption of nutrients by the plant. This figure is on average six times more than conventional top dressing. The publication will tell you how to conduct foliar fertilizing of cucumbers in the open ground and in the greenhouse with various substances.
What is the difference between foliar top dressing?
Root and foliar top dressing of cucumbers - these are methods of conveying various nutrient components to the plant. In the second case, a special solution is used, which consists of water and minerals.
Top dressing is done by spraying the leaves, stems and inflorescences of cucumbers with a fine spray or a special watering can. But it is so necessary to fertilize on a regular basis, throughout the entire life cycle of the plant. This will improve photosynthesis and positively affect growth and fruiting.
Foliar top dressing has several significant advantages.
1. Fast action. Useful substances when ingested on leaves and stems are absorbed by plants much faster than with root fertilizer.
2. Economical spending. Nutrients when watering cucumbers directly under the root, as a rule, fall into the lower layers of the soil. There they already become inaccessible to the root system of the plant, so most of the fertilizer, you can say, goes nowhere. Proper spraying of the stems and leaves will help to avoid such losses.
When to carry out foliar fertilizer?
It is recommended to carry out foliar top dressing at each stage of cucumber development: during fruiting, before flowering, and before harvesting. Accordingly, it is necessary to fertilize the soil for the season only three times. But at each stage, cucumbers need various trace elements. Nitrogen gives active growth, and potassium is very useful during the formation of fruits. It is important to note that spraying with fertilizers is necessary without fail when cucumbers lack nutrients. Yellowed leaves, a change in the shape of the fruit and falling inflorescences can signal this. Top dressing acts as an excellent measure to support the growth and development of a plant.
It is worth noting that cucumbers most of all need foliar top dressing when a cool summer is issued, that is, the temperature of the earth for a long time keeps at around less than twelve degrees of heat. The fact is that the roots of plants in cold weather for summer cannot fully absorb nutrients from the soil. For this reason, organic and mineral fertilizers should be applied along the leaves and stems of cucumbers.
Foliar feeding cucumbers in a greenhouse
In greenhouses and hotbeds foliar top dressing can be carried out in any weather. But it is imperative to protect the landing from bright sunlight. It is important to carefully monitor the dosage of fertilizers, because cucumbers do not tolerate excessive amounts of nutrients, especially if they are in closed ground. Also, all spraying should occur evenly.
The first foliar feeding of cucumbers in the greenhouse should be carried out approximately two weeks after planting. During this period, stems and leaves will form, so preference should be given to nitrogenous fertilizers. The second top dressing is carried out during flowering. At this stage, potash is preferred. This element in the fertilizer should be twice as much as nitrogen. The third top dressing is done during the fruiting period. Again, preference should be given to nitrogenous and potassium compounds.
It should be noted that some gardeners recommend alternating mineral and organic fertilizing, that is, they are first fertilized with something natural. After two weeks, mineral substances are introduced and after about the same period, foliar top dressing is performed. It is believed that this method contributes to a longer fruiting of cucumber bushes.
Foliar feeding of cucumbers in the open ground
If cucumbers are grown in unprotected soil, then the nutrient solution can be sprayed only in the evening or early morning. In this case, calm and dry weather is a prerequisite. If the street is cloudy and there is no rainfall, then you can make top dressing in the afternoon. The fertilizer will be absorbed by the leaves for about two hours, so it is important that at this time it does not dry out a strong wind and does not wash away the rain.
The first feeding is recommended after a pair of true leaves. It is important not to confuse them with cotyledonous processes. The fertilizer method is the same as for cucumbers in the greenhouse. The second feeding is carried out approximately two weeks after the first. It is preferable to use a mullein solution, but gardeners have successfully used other substances. Further, cucumbers fertilize in the same way as in a greenhouse.
General rules for foliar feeding
To obtain excellent results from foliar feeding of cucumbers, some nuances must be taken into account.
Concentrated fertilizers during the formation of sprouts do not have a beneficial effect. On the contrary, an excess of nutrients will cause yellowing of leaves and falling of inflorescences on young plants. For this reason, in this case, weak solutions are first used. Their concentration can be increased gradually when the sprouts get stronger.
From the mere appearance of the cucumbers, it is difficult to determine what nutrients they need. Therefore, it is recommended to first test the solutions on several bushes. If their condition improves after a while, then you can start processing the remaining plants.
Foliar top dressing of cucumbers is carried out in the morning or evening for a reason. The fact is that during the day the sun's rays are the hottest, therefore, they can cause leaf burns with this method of fertilizer.
Now we will consider what substances can be fed cucumbers foliar way.
Urea Fertilizer
Urea is a popular fertilizer that comes in the form of granules. In addition, it is highly soluble in water. For cucumbers, this is an excellent source of nitrogen, which is necessary for full development. With a lack of this substance, the leaves turn yellow or turn pale, and the fruits grow slowly.
The first foliar feeding of cucumbers with urea is recommended to be performed at the vegetation stage. First, seedlings transferred to a greenhouse or open ground are sprayed. After fertilize the plant until the fruits appear.
The amount of urea needed for spraying depends on the variety of crop being cultivated. On average, about fifteen grams of the substance is bred in ten liters of water. In addition to good growth, cucumbers will receive protection from aphids and weevils. Urea itself needs to be stored in a dry place, protected from moisture.
Spraying cucumbers with iodine
Cucumbers during flowering are most susceptible to various diseases. Foliar top dressing for this reason, it is recommended to do a solution that contains iodine. The procedure is best done no earlier than the third sheet appears. The solution is prepared from ten liters of water, a liter of skim milk and thirty drops of iodine. You can also add a little soap to it so that the liquid lingers longer on the leaves. The prepared product is recommended to be used every ten days.
Iodine copes with pathogenic bacteria that cause powdery mildew, root rot and other diseases. And milk forms a kind of film on the surface of the plant, which protects against pests. If signs of damage are already present, then a more concentrated remedy will be required. Prepare it from a part of iodine and two parts of water. All diseased areas are removed from the plants, and then leaves and stems are sprayed with the solution.
Boric acid use
Foliar top dressing of cucumbers with boric acid protects against various diseases and contributes to a good harvest. After spraying, the fruits receive calcium, and the bush itself is saturated with oxygen. As a result, the taste of the culture is changing for the better. Boric acid will also help with fruit falling, the formation of a small number of ovaries and the appearance of yellow spots on the leaves. But you need to remember that this substance can not be used on an ongoing basis.
The first spraying with boric acid is best done before the flowering period begins. The second top dressing is done during the formation of the ovaries. A spray agent is prepared from ten liters of water and ten grams of boric acid. The substance dissolves only in a warm liquid. Therefore, first boric acid must be diluted in a small amount of heated water, and then add cool. To attract pollinating insects, it is recommended to add a little sugar or honey to the solution.
Foliar feeding of cucumbers with boric acid gives excellent results, so today you can find many ready-made preparations based on this substance. For example, this means "Mag-Bor." It is enough to dilute one package in water, and then spray the leaves and stems of cucumbers.
Feeding with calcium nitrate
Calcium nitrate is an alkaline fertilizer that is highly soluble in water. In addition, it is effective in cooling, lack of precipitation and high humidity. Foliar top dressing of cucumbers with calcium nitrate improves the taste and appearance of fruits, increases their storage time, immunity to diseases and resistance to stress factors. Also, such top dressing protects against slugs and ticks.
To spray cucumbers in a liter of water, you need to dilute two grams of calcium nitrate. The resulting solution is best used after the appearance of the third leaf on the seedling. Feeding with calcium nitrate is recommended to be repeated every ten days until fruiting. The effect after treatment will last long enough, so pathogenic bacteria will not harm the plant.
Complex feeding
Most of all, complex fertilizers that contain several types of minerals are useful for cucumbers. They are prepared from two solutions consisting of micro and macro elements.
The first kind is done in ten milliliters of water. They need to dissolve 0.008 grams of copper sulphate, 0.01 grams of ammonium, 0.18 grams of magnesium sulfate and 0.2 grams of boric acid. Macro elements are bred in ten liters of water. These are seven grams of potassium sulfate, ten grams of superphosphate and twenty grams of urea. In a solution of macronutrients, it is necessary to pour a liquid with microelements. After it can be used for spraying plants.
Foliar top dressing of cucumbers with folk remedies is no less effective. They do not contain chemical components, and therefore are safe. In addition, this is a cheaper way to fertilize cucumbers.
Yeast Processing
Yeast contains minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates and proteins. When they are dissolved, compounds are formed that positively affect the growth of cucumbers. However, the yeast should not come in contact with manure or chopped grass.
To prepare the solution, you need to slightly warm up three liters of water. After pour in ten grams of dry yeast and ten tablespoons of sugar. Stir until the components are completely dissolved. You can also use fresh yeast. It is recommended to breed them in ten parts of water. A capacity of at least six liters will be required, because in the end the mass of the solution will increase significantly. After mixing the components, the prepared product should be left for five to ten hours, stirring occasionally. Gardeners advise preparing the solution in the morning, and foliar feeding cucumbers with yeast in the evening.
For one plant, a liter of funds is enough. After spraying in a few days more inflorescences will appear, and the leaves of the cucumbers will acquire a bright green color. Such dressing can be done every week.
Fertilizer with herbal infusion
Herbal infusion or tea, as it is also called, is prepared from any weeds (woodlice, nettles, etc.). Their leaves and stems are chopped and poured with ten liters of water. After a week, a nitrogen-rich fertilizer is ready for use.
Instead of weed grass, you can use fine hay. It perfectly protects against powdery mildew and other diseases. The infusion is prepared only two days. They are better off foliar feeding cucumbers during fruiting in order to increase the life of the plant.
Feeding cucumbers with ash
For spraying cucumbers, ash, which is formed after burning plant debris or wood, is suitable. Categorically, plastic and any other rubbish should not get into it. Ash contains useful components that are necessary for the growth of cucumbers. These are potassium, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. In addition, ash protects plants from harmful insects and powdery mildew.
For spraying cucumbers, a solution is prepared of ten liters of water and one hundred grams of burned wood (or plant debris). The product must be allowed to infuse for a week. After that, you can start processing plants. Fifty grams of soap can be added to the solution so that it lingers longer on the foliage. It is necessary to spray cucumbers with ash every ten days.
We can conclude by saying that foliar feeding cucumbers provides calcium, nitrogen, phosphorus and other trace elements. For the preparation of solutions, substances that are perfectly diluted with water are used.