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Who doesn’t like to enjoy homemade, fresh and aromatic cucumbers? But in order to grow them like this, it is important to know the basic rules of care. Timely feeding of cucumbers increases the immunity of plants, thanks to which they resist diseases. It is worth noting that cucumbers do not like temperature changes and cold. Grows well in humid climates. To increase productivity, organic matter and mineral fertilizers should be added to the soil.
In this article we will talk about azofoska, a fertilizer used for cucumbers. So, you will learn how to determine the lack of microelements in the soil in which cucumbers grow, why many summer residents choose azofoska as a top dressing and how to use it in gardening.
Means for feeding cucumbers
To protect cucumbers from diseases, many gardeners use ordinary wood ash. It contains potassium, which is so necessary microelement for cucumbers. Since ash is a natural remedy, it is absolutely harmless to the human body. This fertilizing can be done during the harvest period. You can spray cucumber bushes with a solution of ash, powder the soil with a sifted dry mixture, and also add a solution of ash under the root.
An ash solution is prepared from 1 cup of ash and 10 liters of water. Leave for 24 hours to allow the ash to brew. To spray this infusion, you must first strain it. Water the cucumbers with warm water; its temperature should be between 20–25ºС. If the solution is left in the sun for a day, then in the evening it will be warm, which will allow you to apply fertilizer to the root or spray it.
Not everyone has ash in their garden or dacha, so it is not possible to fertilize the soil with this natural remedy. In this case, you can feed the cucumbers with Azophoska. This comprehensive mineral fertilizer, which contains all the microelements necessary for the full growth of cucumbers. However, before we talk about the benefits of azofoska and its features, as well as how this fertilizer is used, we suggest you find out the signs indicating that it is time to apply fertilizer to the soil.
Signs of soil depletion
If you have already harvested, and there is still time before the end of the season, then it’s time to help the cucumber bushes recover. In the second phase of the cucumber growing season, irregularly shaped fruits may appear. This is the main sign that fertilizers need to be added to the soil to feed the cucumbers.
In addition, you need to loosen the soil. The compacted soil should be pierced with a fork, while moving 10–15 cm away from the cucumber stems. Do not loosen the soil with a hoe, since the root system of cucumbers is almost on the surface of the earth. Pricking with a fork will increase the flow of oxygen to the roots, which will help them regenerate. After this, you should add it to the soil growth stimulants, such as potassium humate, Epin, Kornevin and others. Then you can mineralize the soil and add organic matter to it.
To achieve maximum effect, fertilize cucumbers every 7-10 days, this should be done in small doses.
Composition of azofoska
If you have a large plot of land that needs to be fertilized, then purchasing fertilizer will not be cheap. Azofoska, unlike other species fertilizing is inexpensive. That is why many gardeners and vegetable gardeners prefer this type of feeding.
As a percentage, azofoska contains nitrogen in the greatest quantity. It is worth noting that nitrogen is an important microelement. Although some plants need less of it than others. Another component of azofoska is phosphorus, which is necessary to ensure the full development of cucumber bushes. Different brands of azofoska can be applied during almost all periods of the growing season. The lowest phosphorus content in azophoska is 4%, and the highest is 20%. It all depends on the brand of fertilizer.
Another important component of the fertilizer is potassium; in azophoska it can be from 5 to 18%. And the last component of azofoska is sulfur. It is the smallest percentage in the composition, but this is enough for the full development and growth of cucumbers.
Characteristics and properties
Azofoska, judging by the composition set out in the previous subsection, is a complex mineral fertilizer. Main characteristics of the composition:
- Packaging – granules with a size of 1–5 mm. They do not absorb moisture from the air.
- The granules may be light pink or white.
- When stored for a long time, azofoska does not cake or stick together and remains crumbly.
- Non-flammable fertilizer, non-toxic.
- Quickly dissolves in water and is easily absorbed by plants.
- Azophoska should be stored in vacuum packaging or closed containers, in a dark and cool place. If storage rules are not followed, the fertilizer loses its potency.
The complex effect of azofoska on cucumbers leads to:
- increasing the fat content in fruits, resulting in increased yield;
- increasing nutritional value;
- increasing the growing season;
- strengthening the immunity of cucumbers, as a result of which they become more resistant to diseases and can adapt to climatic conditions that are not appropriate for their development.
General recommendations
Most often, azofoska is used for soils with poor diffusion, however, it is also applicable for other types of soils. The main recommendation for using azofoska is to follow the dosage indicated in the instructions for use. This is explained by the fact that unauthorized dosing will lead to an excess of micro- and macroelements in the soil, due to which nitrates will accumulate in vegetables, which have a negative effect on the human body.
To ensure a high-quality and abundant harvest, alternate organic matter with mineral fertilizers. This way, you can minimize the likelihood of nitrate accumulation in cucumbers.
Azofoska should not be applied during the cold season. This is due to the fact that due to lack of heat, nitrates will accumulate in the soil. The best time to fertilize the land with azofoska is the end of April - May.During this period, the earth warms up sufficiently, and moisture from the melting snow still remains in it, which promotes the diffusion of useful substances.
Benefits of azofoska
Each fertilizer has its own advantages. Azofoska is no exception. So, among a number of advantages of fertilizer it is worth noting the following:
- The complex of microelements allows cucumber bushes to receive everything they need for their full development.
- Quickly dissolves in water.
- Stimulates the growth of cucumber bushes and strengthens the roots.
- Easy to digest.
- Cucumbers become more adapted to the weather and are less susceptible to diseases.
- The abundance and flowering period increases.
- Productivity increases.
- Picked cucumbers last longer.
- Affordable price.
- If you add azofoska to the ground, you usually don’t have to fertilize it additionally.
Types of azofoska and their use
Azofoska is divided into several types, which allows it to be used for different plants. Thus, brands of products differ, as mentioned above, in the amount of nutrients they contain - nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.
- NPK 16:16:16 is a classic, it contains all components in equal quantities. Used for tuber and vegetable crops, as well as for processing fruit trees.
- NPK 19:9:19 - this composition contains less phosphorus than the classic version. If there is enough phosphorus in the soil in your garden, then this brand of fertilizer will suit you. In dry areas, this trace element is usually sufficient, since it is washed out by water. Therefore, the NPK 19:9:19 brand of azophoska is used, as a rule, in arid, warm areas.
- NPK 22:11:11 is applicable on neglected soils, since this brand of fertilizer contains the most nitrogen.Azophoska NPK 22:11:11 is used for intensive farming, as a result of which the soil becomes tired and depleted. This artificial fertilizing helps the soil renew itself faster.
Azofoska application rates and instructions for use
As mentioned above, azofoska is a universal fertilizer used not only for cucumbers, but also for other agricultural crops, as well as bushes and trees.
Norms for fertilizing land with azofoska:
- To fertilize annuals by scattering fertilizer granules over the soil, you need to use 30–45 g/m2.
- If you need to add fertilizer to the holes, the norm will be 4 g of azophosphate per hole.
- For root feeding, 2–3 g of azofoska is diluted in a liter of water.
- To fertilize bushes and trees, you need to dose it at the rate of 30–35 g/m2. In this case, the amount of fertilizer is distributed in a circle from the trunk.
Features of feeding cucumbers
Fertilization of cucumbers is carried out in 3 stages:
- Fertilizer is applied a week before planting cucumbers, either seedlings or sowing seeds. To do this, prepare a bed and water it with an aqueous solution of azofoska.
- The next feeding is carried out in early June. This time it is better to add organic matter to the soil. This can be green liquid fertilizer or mullein infusion.
- In mid-June, that is, 2 weeks after the second fertilizing, you need to carry out the third fertilizing - add azofoska to the soil.
This way, you will prepare the bushes for the period of formation and ripening of cucumbers. Usually these three feedings are enough. But if desired, every 10 days you can dust the ground with ash or spray the cucumbers with an infusion from it. This was discussed at the beginning of this article.
For fertilizing during the fruiting period, you can also use green slurry, which does not contain nitrates. It is worth noting that feeding cucumbers with manure during the ripening period is also not worth it, since it also contains nitrates, which will certainly accumulate in the cucumber fruits if fertilizers are applied incorrectly.
So, in order to get a good harvest of cucumbers this year, follow the above instructions for using azofoska and other fertilizers used along with it. In addition, we invite you to watch a video about the use of azofoska in agriculture:
