Is it possible and why to water cucumbers with ammonia?

Ammonia for cucumbers serves as a natural source of nitrogen, thanks to which the bushes grow quickly, become stronger and gain green mass. Ammonia is used in the early stages of the growing season. After the appearance of the first fruits it is not used.

Why water cucumbers with ammonia?

Ammonia performs three main functions:

1. Serves as a source of nitrogen (fertilizer).
2. Destroys fungi and bacteria.
3. Its pungent odor repels insects and other pests.

Ammonia is also used to obtain a good harvest of cucumbers. Due to the fact that the substance contains a large amount of nitrogen, systematic treatments lead to rapid growth of the green mass of the plant. As a result, the bushes become strong and healthy, they are better able to withstand adverse weather, pests and diseases.

Dosage of ammonia for cucumbers

Ammonia is an aqueous solution of ammonia (NH₃). It is sold at the pharmacy in dark glass bottles or other containers. In most cases, the solution has a strength of 10%. This is a high concentration, so to process cucumbers the liquid must be diluted.

The dosage depends on the type of treatment (root, foliar feeding), as well as on the stage of plant development. The table shows the basic proportions for feeding cucumbers with ammonia.

*Symptoms of nitrogen deficiency in cucumbers:

• shoots become thin;
• inflorescences are very small;
• the color of the tops is pale green;
• the lower leaf blades begin to turn yellow;
• short internodes;
• obvious growth retardation.

Preparing the solution is quite simple. Since ammonia is already dissolved, water can be taken at any temperature. The sequence of actions is as follows:

1. Fill a bucket of water with 10 liters
2. Wear a mask to avoid inhaling fumes.
3. Measure out the required amount of ammonia.
4. Pour it into a bucket.
5. Stir thoroughly.
6. Start watering the cucumbers or pour them into a spray bottle.

The standard concentration of pharmaceutical ammonia is 10%

When watering cucumbers with ammonia, the consumption rate is up to 1 liter for each bush. If foliar feeding is necessary, it is necessary to completely spray the entire above-ground part of the plant (leaves, stems).

The composition is stored for no more than 1-2 days. If there is excess left, you can simply water other plantings, the soil in the greenhouse or next to it. Thanks to this, the soil will receive additional nitrogen replenishment.

Methods for feeding cucumbers with ammonia

Ammonia is given to cucumbers in two main ways - root (watering) and foliar (total spraying). If there are not very many plantings, you can moisten gauze or cotton wool and wipe the leaves. This procedure will take a little longer.

How to water cucumbers with ammonia at the root

Root feeding is given to cucumbers at the seedling stage, when it grows and gets stronger (5-7 leaves or more). Fertilizer is also given in the following cases:

• mass flowering;
• the beginning of fruit formation;
• clear signs of nitrogen deficiency (at any stage).

Before watering, prepare a solution of the required concentration. Pour under the root (1 liter per hole).

Foliar feeding

Ammonia is also used for foliar feeding of cucumbers in open ground and in greenhouses. Spraying is done in the following cases:

• newly emerged seedlings (at least two true leaves);
• 15 days after transplanting cucumbers into a greenhouse or soil;
• formation of the first flowers.

Pre-measure the required volume of ammonia and dissolve it in water, then proceed to total spraying. You can also wipe the leaves with a cloth soaked in the solution (this is especially effective in cases of severe nitrogen deficiency).

Spraying is done early in the morning or late evening. If the bushes grow in an open garden bed, work is planned only for dry, windless weather.

Ammonia for cucumbers against pests and diseases

To get a good harvest of large cucumbers, as in the photo, it is important to fertilize with ammonia in a timely manner. The drug is used not only for treatment, but also as a preventive measure.

Ammonia not only increases yield, but also protects cucumbers from diseases and pests

From diseases

When growing seedlings in open ground and in a greenhouse, the crop may suffer from fungal, bacterial diseases and other infections. Therefore, as a preventive measure it is recommended:

1. The day before planting, water the soil for seedlings with ammonia (10 ml per 10 l).
2. A day before transferring cucumber seedlings into the ground, moisten the previously dug holes with a solution of the same concentration.
3. Treat with ammonia a few days after transplanting the seedlings.

If signs of powdery mildew, cladosporiosis, gray mold or other fungal infections are detected, proceed as follows:

1. Carefully inspect the cucumber plantings and remove all affected leaves. If necessary, severely damaged plants are transplanted.
2. A concentrated liquid is obtained (50 ml of ammonia in 10 liters of water).
3. Pour into a spray bottle and carry out a total treatment. Moreover, it is necessary to spray not only affected plants, but also healthy ones, since they can also become infected.
4. After 10-15 days, the cucumbers are re-treated with ammonia. As a rule, this is enough, but to completely destroy fungi, sometimes you have to do a third procedure.

From pests

Chemicals help control insects.Very often, ammonia is used to spray cucumbers against pests:

• aphid;
• spider mite;
• whiteflies;
• mole crickets;
• slugs;
• wireworms;
• ants.

Ammonia rids plantings of pests

To process cucumbers, concentrated ammonia is prepared. Moreover, for a better effect, other components can be added to the composition. Below are popular recipes (calculations for 10 liters):

1. 50-60 ml of ammonia are mixed with 150 g of previously obtained shavings of laundry or tar soap. Due to the latter, an alkaline environment is created that destroys pests. In addition, soapy water is better retained on the leaves and stems of cucumbers, which is especially important in rainy and windy weather.
2. 10 ml of ammonia is dissolved in water and watered over the cucumber vines. The concentration is low, but this liquid helps in the fight against wireworms.
3. Take cotton wool and soak it in a solution of pharmaceutical ammonia. They place it next to the burrows in which moles live or near cucumber beds (to protect against slugs).
4. If an anthill appears on the site, it must be destroyed. Ants promote the reproduction of aphids. To combat them, take several bottles of ammonia (total volume 100 ml per 1 liter of water) and fill the anthill with the resulting liquid. If necessary, you can additionally go through boiling water.

You can water cucumbers with ammonia during flowering and fruiting.

Ammonia is a source of nitrogen for cucumbers. It promotes rapid growth of green mass, shoots and leaves. This is a very useful feeding at the initial stages of plant development. But during flowering and fruiting, its application is reduced to a minimum - one watering is enough.Foliar treatments are carried out only to destroy pests or treat diseases.

In some cases, feeding with ammonia is completely eliminated. Once the fruits have begun to actively form, cucumbers no longer need large amounts of nitrogen. If the fruits are small, and the shoots, on the contrary, are tall and large (fatten), the addition of ammonia is also not allowed.

Ammonia can be used during flowering, but in moderation

Features of processing cucumbers with ammonia in a greenhouse

Ammonia is also used to feed cucumbers in a greenhouse. The timing, dosage and frequency of treatments are exactly the same. But there are several features:

1. The substance is odorous, so during spraying, watering, the doors of the greenhouse must be opened wide.
2. Since watering increases air humidity, the greenhouse should be ventilated during hot weather.
3. If the soil is infertile, then in the spring, when digging, you can water it with a weak (10 ml per 10 l) solution of ammonia.

Security measures

Ammonia is a substance with a pungent odor. Inhaling its vapors can lead to headaches, dizziness and other unpleasant consequences. Therefore, when processing and preparing the solution, several precautions must be taken:

• work in a mask (especially in a greenhouse);
• exclude children's access;
• prevent contact with eyes (if necessary, rinse under low pressure);
• Do not prepare the composition for long-term storage.

Conclusion

Ammonia for cucumbers is the most inexpensive product that is used as a nitrogen fertilizer, as well as for treatment against pests and diseases. For effective use, the specified concentrations must be observed. As soon as the first fruits appear, it is better to stop feeding with ammonia.

Reviews on the use of ammonia for cucumbers

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