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Using the right and proven fertilizers, you can significantly improve the quality of homemade cucumbers. Such fertilizing has an effect on the size of the fruit and the amount of harvest. They also directly affect the taste of cucumbers. Fertilizers can increase the shelf life of fruits, as the composition of the pulp is optimized.
It is very convenient that today there is a huge amount of ready-made complex fertilizers containing all the necessary minerals. Such fertilizers do not need to be mixed with other components. They are easy to use, because usually the fertilizer is simply diluted with water or sprinkled on the soil. This saves gardeners from additional worries. To prepare a mineral mixture yourself, you need to know the proportions and follow them exactly. Such a universal fertilizer is “Rodnichok”. This remedy has gained great popularity, as it has a positive effect on cucumber seedlings, making them strong and healthy. Later in the article we will look at the composition of this supplement, and also see how to use it correctly.
What do cucumbers need?
It is impossible to say exactly which fertilizer is most suitable for cucumbers. The fact is that the composition of the feed should vary depending on the growing method (greenhouse or open ground) and soil fertility. It is also important to consider what nutrients cucumbers need during seedling growth, after planting in the ground and during fruiting.
Considering the needs of cucumbers, the most popular fertilizers are:
- manure and other organic fertilizers;
- based fertilizers potassium;
- nitrogen mineral fertilizers;
- superphosphate;
- urea;
Fertilizers for greenhouse cucumbers
So that cucumbers grow well in greenhouse conditions, it is necessary to strictly follow the proportions of individual microelements. The development of fruits will deteriorate significantly if there are more of some substances than necessary and less of others. The most popular fertilizers for cucumbers are phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen. When using them, you should take into account the needs of cucumbers.
When growing cucumbers in a greenhouse, the plants simply need nitrogen. Such fertilizers have a very positive effect on the growth of green mass and help in the formation of fruits. Fertilizer containing nitrogen is used throughout the entire growing season. Nitrogen fertilizers are also great for preparing soil in the fall or spring.
Phosphorus Cucumbers need fertilizers in order for the ovaries to form, and, accordingly, the fruits. The lack of phosphorus can be determined by the leaves of plants. If the outer parts of the sheets change color to dark, this means that it is time to apply this substance.
Potassium fertilizers are applied throughout plant growth. This substance helps transport other minerals from the roots throughout the bush. Also potassium is responsible for the resistance of cucumbers to diseases and pests. It improves the taste of fruits and makes plants resistant to temperature changes.
Cucumbers that are grown on the balcony need mineral fertilizers the most. The fact is that the soil in the garden has the ability to independently regulate its composition. When growing cucumbers in a small box or pot, you will need to add sufficient nutrients. In this case, it is better to use special complex fertilizers containing all the most important minerals. The easiest way is to use liquid fertilizers. Even an inexperienced gardener can easily cope with this type of fertilizer.
Feeding cucumbers in open ground
Cucumbers planted on the site are usually fed with organic fertilizers. You can prepare them yourself using available materials. Experienced gardeners recommend using chicken droppings or manure for this. To prepare a nutrient solution based on cow manure, you need to combine 10 liters of water and 1 liter of manure in one container. Water each cucumber bush with this mixture at the rate of 1 liter per plant. In the same way it is carried out feeding cucumbers with chicken droppings.
Ordinary wood ash has a very good effect on cucumbers. It is simply sprinkled on the soil and then watered so that the beneficial substances penetrate inside. It is effective to use yeast to feed cucumbers.Fertilizers based on them contain proteins, iron and essential amino acids. Fertilizers prepared from ordinary of bread.
Properties of fertilizer for cucumbers “Rodnichok”
The Rodnichok fertilizer contains many of the minerals that cucumbers need. It is used for watering plants in the form of an aqueous solution. Usually “Rodnichok” is packaged in 50 gram packs, but you can also find large packs of 1 kg of supplementary food. The fertilizer dissolves easily in water, leaving no grains. Suitable not only for cucumbers, but also for zucchini and pumpkins. Can be used throughout plant growth.
Composition of complex fertilizer “Rodnichok”:
- 15% potassium.
- 13% phosphorus.
- 9% nitrogen.
Many gardeners use this particular fertilizer and have noticed a number of important advantages:
- increasing the yield of cucumbers;
- provides plants with all necessary microelements;
- does not contain chlorine or other harmful components.
Using fertilizer "Spring"
Fertilizer can be used to enrich the soil with nutrients before planting cucumbers. It is also used to prepare the soil in the fall. If the soil has been previously used and fertilized, then about 45–50 grams of the substance will be needed per 1 square meter. If this area is used for growing vegetables for the first time, then 60–70 grams of fertilizer should be applied.
It is more effective to apply “Springhead” directly into the hole. To do this, place up to 15 grams of fertilizer in the holes prepared for planting cucumbers. You can do this in 2 ways:
- Fertilizer is mixed with soil and placed at the bottom of the hole.
- Fertilizer is applied to the bottom of the hole, and then lightly sprinkled with soil. Only after this can seedlings or seeds be planted.
During the growing season, fertilizer can be applied no more than 3 times. For 1 square meter of bed you need only 20 grams of “Rodnichka”. The first time cucumbers are fed is during the formation of ovaries. Further, fertilizing is done every 2 weeks or as needed.
This fertilizer can be applied either dry or by watering the plants. In the first case, “Rodnichok” is scattered on the surface in dry form. Then you should dig up the soil so that the fertilizer gets deep. If the soil is not wet enough, then it needs to be watered. The “Rodnichok” fertilizer solution is usually used during the formation of the first leaves on plants, as well as during the growth of green mass.
Signs of excess nutrients
Even using complex fertilizers, it is not always possible to guess the ratio of the amount of minerals. An excess of even the most beneficial substances can adversely affect the growth and development of cucumbers. As a result, it will be useless to count on a good harvest. And excessive amounts of some minerals can even negatively affect human health.
In order to help the seedlings in time, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the sprouts. Signs of excess fertilizer may include:
- Due to the large amount of potassium, plants do not absorb nitrogen well. As a result, the shoots become thin and lifeless, the leaves become lighter and may gradually dry out;
- excess nitrogen causes the stems of cucumbers to become too thick, the green mass grows rapidly, and the ripening of fruits, on the contrary, is significantly delayed. Such fruits will turn out to be very small. They may also contain nitrate, which is dangerous for the human body. The immunity of cucumbers is weakened, which is why they often suffer from various fungal diseases;
- excess phosphorus immediately affects the condition of the leaves. Non-critical spots appear on them, and then the foliage completely falls off. The plant begins to poorly absorb potassium, and the aging process occurs much faster.
Signs of mineral deficiency
A lack of nutrients can also be determined by carefully examining the plants. If you notice the following signs, you must immediately change the composition of the feed:
- lack of nitrogen affects the general condition of plants. They become exhausted and lethargic. Due to the lack of this element, the stems will be thin and hard. The leaves fade and become light green. As a result, the fruits will grow small and there will be very few of them. The fruits will grow and develop very slowly. Also, pointed tips of fruits can be added to the signs of nitrogen deficiency;
- insufficient magnesium can be determined by brittle and burnt leaves. They take on a pale green or yellow color. Spots appear on the lower leaves;
- The lack of potassium first appears on the leaves of cucumbers. A light yellow border forms at their edges. The leaves themselves darken and become round. The fruits grow poorly in length and are noticeably rounded. Cucumbers taper near the stem. The plant itself quickly loses strength and begins to wither;
- The need for calcium in cucumbers will be noticeable by the characteristic light stripes on the leaves. Over time they are able to expand. This phenomenon can cause the leaves to become brittle and wilt over time. The inflorescences begin to rot, and in the future the disease can spread to the root system and the plant as a whole;
- Insufficient phosphorus can cause dry spots on leaves. In this case, it is not the upper, but the lower leaves that suffer more. As a result, the plant stops growing normally, and all the ovaries and flowers simply fall off.
Conclusion
As we saw from this article, proper nutrition plays a very important role for cucumbers. Each gardener selects the feeding method that is most suitable for his plot and variety of cucumbers. It is very convenient to use ready-made complex fertilizers, such as Rodnichok. It contains sufficient amounts of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus for cucumbers.
It is also used to fertilize squash, zucchini and pumpkin. This fertilizer can be applied in autumn and spring to prepare the area for planting cucumbers. It is also used to water the sprouts and apply dry fertilizer. It is very important to fertilize cucumbers with this preparation during the formation of ovaries. Plants also need feeding during active fruiting. The instructions on the package will tell you how to apply the fertilizer correctly.
