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More and more vegetable growers are growing cucumbers in greenhouses. They have special climatic conditions that differ from open ground. It is necessary to follow the correct agricultural technology for growing cucumbersto get a high yield of tasty and healthy vegetables. This primarily concerns the characteristics of feeding. Cucumbers ripen quickly; not every fertilizer can be used for fertilizing.
First Feeding cucumbers after planting in a greenhouse - an important procedure that should not be neglected. With its weak root system, the green vegetable is not able to obtain the necessary amount of nutrients for fast-growing green mass, such as nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Insufficient nutrition at first negatively affects the growth and fruiting of cucumbers, and as a result - a low yield.
Soil preparation
As such feeding cucumbers in a greenhouse or greenhouse it begins with preparing the soil so that the planted cucumbers have enough nutrition at first until they take root well.
We've been preparing the soil since the fall.
In order for the first feeding of cucumbers after planting seedlings to be effective, it is necessary to take care of the soil and the cleanliness of the greenhouse in the fall. All surfaces are disinfected with bleach. For 10 liters of water, 300 grams of product are required. After the composition has infused, spray the greenhouse or greenhouse, including the soil. The remaining grounds are poured into all the cracks.
Before digging the soil, add humus or compost: one bucket per square area. Since the soil in greenhouses, as a rule, is highly acidic, you need to sprinkle it with dolomite flour (up to 0.5 kg per square) or fluff lime.
What to do in spring
In the spring, about 7 days before planting cucumber seedlings, apply ammonium nitrate (30 g), potassium sulfate (20 g), superphosphate (30 g) for each square. After this, the soil is dug up and poured with boiling water, adding 1 gram of potassium permanganate.
Feeding cucumbers
The first feeding of cucumbers grown in a greenhouse must be done after planting. A good remedy is mullein. Furrows are made between the rows, mullein is brought in and sprinkled with soil. Mullein will not only feed the soil for cucumbers with microelements, but will also begin to “burn.” This will release a sufficient amount of carbon dioxide. Cucumbers need carbon dioxide, just like humans need oxygen.
The lack of carbon dioxide in a greenhouse can be compensated for using dry ice. For a greenhouse of 10 square meters, 200 grams is enough. The ice needs to be spread out in the morning at about 9 o'clock.For unfolding, use stands that rise above the ground and do not reach the root system of the cucumber. This kind of first aid is necessary for cucumbers.
Immediately after planting in a greenhouse or greenhouse, plants need to be supported with nitrogen-containing fertilizers. During the first and subsequent feedings of cucumbers, you need to focus on their appearance: growth, state of green mass, abundance of flowering.
Excess microelements negatively affects development.
Why are fertilizers needed?
Beginning vegetable growers are often perplexed as to why else they should feed plants in a greenhouse or greenhouse if mineral and organic fertilizers have already been added to it when preparing the soil. The fact is that the root system of cucumbers is superficial; they are not able to extract nutrients located in the depths. Consequently, having used up the reserves stored in the surface layer, cucumbers can reduce their immunity and will be less resistant to diseases and temperature changes.
Cucumbers grow well with high air humidity and minor fertilizing. Any procedures related to watering and feeding plants are carried out early in the morning, before the rays of the sun appear on the horizon. Evening watering must be carried out after sunset. Otherwise, cucumbers may be at risk of powdery mildew and anthracnose.
Cucumbers are fed for the first time after planting in a greenhouse or greenhouse. But the effectiveness of fertilizing will be low if the plants experienced “hunger” at the stage of growing seedlings.
When to fertilize
In general, to obtain a rich harvest of green crispy fruits, it is necessary to take into account the stages of feeding. Let's look at these activities in more detail, so that in the future, when growing cucumbers, beginners will not have questions about the need for this type of work.
Feeding stages:
- You need to start feeding greenhouse cucumbers at the stage of growing seedlings. First of all, you need to prepare high-quality, nutritious soil. When and how many times should you fertilize cucumber seedlings? Twice before planting in the ground: first when the first true leaves appear, then after 14 days.
- Before transplanting cucumber seedlings into the greenhouse, they are fed again about a week. Plants must be sprayed with a nutrient composition to increase immunity and reduce stress during planting.
- After the seedlings are planted in the greenhouse, they are fed again. You can use both the root and foliar options. In addition to accelerating the establishment, cucumbers receive an impetus to increase green mass and the appearance of embryos.
- During the period of flowering and fruit growth, fertilizers are used that do not accumulate in cucumbers.
Feeding cucumber seedlings
As a rule, cucumbers are grown in greenhouses and greenhouses to obtain early production. Sowing by seeds is not entirely effective. You can get cucumber seedlings not only in the apartment, but also in the greenhouse itself. Only the seedlings will have to be covered at night.
The boxes are filled with nutritious soil, a small amount of wood ash is added and a hot solution is poured over, adding a little potassium permanganate.Wood ash is a source of potassium, potassium permanganate will feed the seedlings with manganese and potassium. These microelements are an important component of the successful growth of cucumbers.
How to feed seedlings after planting
As soon as the cucumbers are planted, it is necessary to support it and reduce stress. During the first feeding in the greenhouse, water the cucumbers with superphosphate, mullein, and ammonium nitrate.
There are a number of special fertilizers for cucumbers that do not contain nitrate nitrogen:
- Kristallin A;
- Humatized fertilizers;
- Potassium sulfate.
Root feeding
Mineral supplements
When cucumbers are planted in a greenhouse, they should usually have 3 to 4 true leaves. They have already spent some of the nutrients necessary for proper development while they were being grown in seedling containers. At the time of planting, plants need nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium like air. It is not always possible to obtain them from the soil. Therefore, cucumbers need the first feeding.
What can be used when feeding newly planted seedlings for the first time:
- Cucumbers can obtain the necessary microelements from such a solution. Add double superphosphate (20 grams), ammonium nitrate (15 grams), and potassium sulfate (15 grams) to a ten-liter bucket of water. The elements of the solution are thoroughly mixed until completely dissolved. This portion is enough for 15 cucumbers.
- Azofoska or nitroammofoska provides good nutrition. These mineral fertilizers contain a full range of microelements necessary for cucumbers for the first feeding after planting in a greenhouse or greenhouse.They consist of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. To feed cucumbers with such fertilizers, prepare the following solution: pour clean water at room temperature into a ten-liter watering can or bucket. Azofoski or nitroammofoski will require 1 tablespoon. This solution is enough to feed ten cucumbers.
You can use the following complex fertilizer for the first feeding of cucumbers in a greenhouse:
- add a spoonful of nitrophoska to 500 ml of mullein and bring the amount of liquid to 10 liters;
- then add ash (1 cup). Instead of wood ash, you can use potassium sulfate (50 g) + manganese sulfate (0.3 g) + boric acid (0.5 g).
The mixture is mixed well. This fertilizer is enough for 3.5 square meters.
When feeding plants at the root, try not to get them on the foliage so that chemical burns do not form on them. Use a watering can without a sprayer or a regular ladle.
You can learn how to properly feed cucumbers by watching the video:
Organic fertilizers
Not all gardeners agree with the use of mineral fertilizers for feeding cucumbers in a greenhouse. Most often, they find a replacement for them among organic options.
The most popular type of fertilizing after planting cucumbers in a greenhouse is an infusion of herbs. This is an excellent option for organic fertilizer containing easily digestible nitrogen.
Take equal amounts of grass and water. The infusion will be ready in 3 or 4 days. You can determine readiness by the appearance of bubbles and a sour smell.When diluted with 5 parts water, add 1 part herbal infusion.
Water under each cucumber on pre-moistened soil. Per square meter you need up to 5 liters of organic fertilizer. Some gardeners sprinkle the soil with ash after watering. This feeding will supply the cucumber vines with phosphorus, calcium and microelements.
If the seedlings planted in the greenhouse have the first ovaries, then it is necessary to use such organic fertilizers: mix infusions of mullein and chicken manure. Plants will receive the required portion of nitrogen and potassium. Add 1 liter of mullein and 500 ml of chicken manure to a ten-liter bucket of water. This composition is enough for 10 plants.
You can use a solution of ash for the first feeding of cucumbers. Add a glass of wood ash to a bucket of water, mix and immediately feed the cucumbers.
Root feeding of plants allows you to grow a rich harvest of pimply, crunchy fruits, such as in the photo.
Foliar feeding
You can feed greenhouse cucumbers both by root and foliar methods. The choice of first fertilizing option will depend on the soil temperature. The fact is that mineral and organic fertilizers are poorly absorbed by the root system in cold soil. If the soil has not yet reached the required temperature and the cucumbers are planted, you will have to use foliar feeding of the plants.
For foliar feeding, you can use the same fertilizers as for root watering. The only difference is in the concentration of the solutions: it is reduced by half. Spraying is best done with a fine sprayer. The smaller the droplets, the faster the plants absorb their “vitamin” supplement.For work, choose a day without bright sun, so that the leaves can be slowly “eaten”. In the sun, drops can cause burns to cucumber leaves.
In addition to liquid fertilizers for green mass, you can use dusting of cucumbers with ash after planting. It needs to be sifted and sprinkled on each leaf. It is better to do the work in the evening. In the morning, dew drops form on the plants, microelements will quickly enter the plant. This is not only feeding, but also protection, for example, from aphids.
About the types, forms and feeding regime of cucumbers:
If excess fertilizer is applied...
It is better to underfeed cucumber lashes than to overfeed them. Let's look at what cucumbers look like with an excess of any trace elements:
- If there is too much nitrogen, the formation of ovaries on cucumbers slows down. The vines become thick, the leaves are dense and unnaturally green.
- With an excess of phosphorus, yellowness and necrotic spots are observed on the leaves. As a result, leaf fall begins.
- The presence of a large amount of calcium also affects the leaves and leads to interveinal chlorosis.
- Excess potassium slows down the growth of cucumbers, and its deficiency leads to curling of the fruit, as in the photo.
Let's sum it up
Proper care of cucumbers, timely fertilizing, and compliance with agrotechnical standards will delight you with an abundant harvest of crispy fruits with pimples.
Each gardener chooses for himself which fertilizing option to use if cucumbers are grown in a greenhouse or greenhouse. You can combine mineral fertilizers with organic ones, or you can feed them only with organic matter. The main thing is to do everything according to the rules, observing the dosage.
If the cucumbers grow normally, then the number of fertilizing can be reduced to a minimum.
