The Main Problems In The Cultivation Of Cucumbers And Methods For Their Solution. Yellowing And Wilting Of Leaves, Diseases And Pests. Photo

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The Main Problems In The Cultivation Of Cucumbers And Methods For Their Solution. Yellowing And Wilting Of Leaves, Diseases And Pests. Photo
The Main Problems In The Cultivation Of Cucumbers And Methods For Their Solution. Yellowing And Wilting Of Leaves, Diseases And Pests. Photo

Video: The Main Problems In The Cultivation Of Cucumbers And Methods For Their Solution. Yellowing And Wilting Of Leaves, Diseases And Pests. Photo

Video: The Main Problems In The Cultivation Of Cucumbers And Methods For Their Solution. Yellowing And Wilting Of Leaves, Diseases And Pests. Photo
Video: Yellow Marks on Cucumbers Leaves, Insect Damage & Treatment: Neem Oil - TRG 2014 2024, March
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Cucumbers are the most popular representatives of the Pumpkin family among gardeners. A well-growing, healthy cucumber shrub has broad, evenly colored green leaves, firm stems and a rich harvest. Healthy cucumbers can bear fruit for 2-3 months without a break, but vulnerability to pests and diseases prevents the crop from reaching its full potential. Recognizing the signs of underlying problems when growing cucumbers will help you heal the plants as soon as possible. This will prevent crop loss and the cucumbers will not look "tired" already in the middle of summer.

The main problems in growing cucumbers and methods for solving them
The main problems in growing cucumbers and methods for solving them

Content:

  • Withering of cucumbers due to insufficient watering
  • Yellowing of leaves due to lack of nutrition
  • Yellowing of cucumber leaves due to fungal diseases
  • Cucumber vertical wilt
  • Cucumber lack of ovaries
  • Damage by pests
  • How to prolong the fruiting of cucumbers?

Withering of cucumbers due to insufficient watering

Withering causes the leaves of the cucumber to sink or curl inward. In this case, spots of different localization are often formed on the leaf blade. Most wilting problems are due to improper watering, although sometimes diseases or pests can be the cause. Correct diagnosis of the cause and its rapid elimination can bring vegetables back to life and prevent the complete death of the plant.

To prevent wilt associated with watering, it is important to check the soil regularly. To do this, immerse your finger in the ground near the cucumber bush. If the soil feels dry enough at a depth of about 2.5 centimeters, then it is urgent to water the plants. The soil is moistened within a radius of 15 centimeters around the stem. The moisture should be soaked to a depth of about 20 centimeters. At the same time, immediately near the root collar, the earth should remain dry so as not to provoke fungal diseases.

Irrigation water is always warm (25-28 degrees). The jet is made weak so that when watering it does not compact the soil, erode and injure the roots, since they are superficially located in a cucumber. You can water the cucumbers in the morning, or in the evening, as soon as the heat subsides.

In hot weather, cucumbers have to be watered more abundantly and more often, since the soil dries out faster. If the soil seems moist or damp, then you should reduce the watering, allowing it to dry out a little.

In hot summer, in order to slow down evaporation and maintain soil moisture, it is recommended to spread a layer of mulch with a thickness of at least 5 centimeters on the cucumber garden. Straw, grass cuttings, peat, etc. can be used as mulching materials. Mulch also suppresses weed growth by preventing plants from competing for moisture, nutrition and sun, making life easier for the gardener.

On particularly hot days, even mulched cucumbers can still wilt slightly, but they should recover quickly when temperatures drop at night.

Sometimes stunted growth and yellowing of foliage also cause a sharp drop in day and night temperatures.

Most problems with wilting cucumber leaves are due to improper watering
Most problems with wilting cucumber leaves are due to improper watering

Yellowing of leaves due to lack of nutrition

When the lashes of young cucumbers grow, it is useful to feed them with nitrogen fertilizer. Lack of nitrogen can lead to poor growth and yellow foliage. If the problem was lack of nutrition, then the foliage will quickly turn bright green.

Lack of nutrients can occur at any time during the growing season, in which case the plant does not develop, the ovaries become soft and deformed. Besides nitrogen deficiency, cucumbers are also often potassium deficient. In this case, it is necessary to water the beds with potassium sulfate, azophos or a solution of wood ash.

Amateur gardeners also note the positive effect of bread dressing on cucumbers. To prepare it, you need to fill a bucket with bread crusts by 2/3, pour water and put under a press for a week. For feeding, it is necessary to dilute the infusion three times. If desired, you can add a universal fertilizer at the rate of 50 grams per 12 liters of water.

Yellowing of cucumber leaves due to fungal diseases

Cucumber plants suffer from various fungal diseases, but powdery mildew and downy mildew often cause the most significant crop damage. Powdery mildew causes white to grayish white powdery spots to grow on leaves and stems. Downy mildew initially appears as small yellowish spots on the lower old leaves. Over time, these spots grow and merge, and the leaf blade turns brown and dies off.

Both pathogens often cause stunted, deformed leaves and premature foliage fall. Downy mildew pathogens thrive in cool, humid conditions, while powdery mildew fungi prefer dry, warm weather with high humidity levels.

Cucumbers can also stop growing due to the development of anthracnose (copperhead). This is a disease in which there is the appearance of brown necrotic spots on the leaves, stems and fruits, eventually turning into weeping sores or holes. The method of treatment is watering the plant with 1% Bordeaux liquid, which must be repeated once every 2-3 days until new signs of the disease stop appearing. In this case, it is better to remove all damaged parts of the plant.

Cucumber plants suffer from various fungal diseases
Cucumber plants suffer from various fungal diseases

Prevention and control of fungal diseases of cucumbers

Adherence to a number of agrotechnical techniques will help prevent the spread and growth of fungi: do not water the cucumbers from above, which increases the level of moisture around the plants. Place the cucumbers far enough apart to allow good air circulation around each plant. Control the onset of the disease by simply tearing off the affected leaves if the disease is just beginning.

"Alirin" and "Fitosporin" proved to be effective biological preparations for preventing fungal diseases. But it is imperative to apply these funds before the onset of the disease - three times, according to the instructions. Epin-Extra can be used as an adhesive.

If the problem has gone far and the defeat has become severe, then you will have to turn to chemicals, for example: "Oxyhom", "Ordan", "Skor", "Topaz", "Forecast", "Bordeaux liquid" and others.

Solarizing the soil is also a measure to prevent fungal growth. In this case, raising the temperature of the soil by heating it with sunlight underneath the transparent film can kill fungi that are transmitted through the soil. To do this, cover the soil in the cucumber beds with transparent plastic wrap for four to eight weeks, during the period when the daytime temperature rises above 26 degrees.

Cucumber vertical wilt

The verticillary wilting, which affects many crops, including cucumbers, unfortunately cannot be treated. The fungus attacks the capillary system of the cucumber, thus interfering with the normal transport of moisture. As a result, yellowing and wilting of the leaves occurs, and you can also notice light brown stripes that appear along the stems.

To verify the diagnosis, you can cut the stem near the node. With verticillary wilting, stripes will be visible within the stem. Also, if you cut the roots across, you will find the same brown stripes. If the disease is confirmed, immediately destroy all infected plants to prevent the spread of the fungus.

To avoid verticillosis, initially choose varieties that are resistant to this disease. In addition, a clear crop rotation is required. That is, do not grow cucumbers where potatoes, peppers or tomatoes previously grew.

With verticillary wilting, stripes inside the stem will be visible
With verticillary wilting, stripes inside the stem will be visible

Cucumber lack of ovaries

Lack of flowering and, as a result, lack of fruit can provoke some pests, including nematode infestation. Soil nematodes feed on the roots of plants, as a result of which they stunt growth and reduce yield.

Incorrect plant spacing can also lead to low fruit set. When cucumber bushes are planted too close or too far away, pollination can be affected and the plants can produce more foliage and fewer flowers and fruits.

It is best to plant cucumbers horizontally at a distance of 70 centimeters to 1 meter between holes and 80 to 100 centimeters between rows. If the cucumbers are grown vertically, the distance between the bushes will be 35-40 centimeters. Cucumbers on the other side of the trellis are planted at a distance of 45-60 centimeters. The second row, planted in a similar way, is done stepping back 80 centimeters.

By the way, gardeners usually observe higher productivity (2-3 times more) when growing cucumbers vertically on supports. This may be due to the fact that foliage receives more sun for successful photosynthesis. A partial explanation for the high yields is also that cucumbers on trellises are easier to pick as they are easier to spot and less likely to miss large, overripe fruits. In addition, growing cucumbers vertically makes it easier to prevent and control pest and disease problems.

How to increase the number of ovaries?

If the first two or three flowers on young plants are fertilized, shoot growth will slow down as the plant assumes that its main mission has been accomplished - the seeds were set to produce offspring. But if the first female flowers fall naturally or are deliberately plucked off, the plant perceives this as a message that more flowers and fruits are needed, its growth and development increases.

Therefore, it is ideal to pinch off the first few ovaries, in the interest of greater productivity. The pinching of the main stem is also important, since, mainly, ovaries appear on the lateral shoots.

Do not forget that regular, timely collection of zelents stimulates fruiting. Moreover, the more often they are harvested, the higher the yield will be. Large, yellow, ripe cucumbers are not edible, and if the fruit is allowed to fully ripen, the plant temporarily stops fruiting. This is most often due to the low yield of cucumbers among summer residents of the "weekend".

Regular, timely collection of zelents stimulates fruiting
Regular, timely collection of zelents stimulates fruiting

Damage by pests

The main pests of cucumber in the open field are melon aphids. Spider mites and whiteflies harm greenhouse cucumbers. To identify pests in time, periodically check the back of the foliage, where they are most often localized. Other signs of damage - the leaves begin to wilt and curl, they develop discolored yellow spots or dots.

Acaricides are used to fight the tick, insecticides help to fight the whitefly. It is better to use means of systemic action, for example, "Aktaru". Aphids are susceptible to most contact and systemic acaricides. Insect control is especially important as pests can spread viral diseases that are difficult and sometimes impossible to cure.

How to prolong the fruiting of cucumbers?

In August, cucumbers usually "get tired" and stop bearing fruit. When growing cucumbers horizontally, the whips located on the ground should not be disturbed. They will form new roots to further nourish the plants, which means that fruiting can remain at the level. Watering at this time is carried out only in the morning and very moderately, in the absence of precipitation. At night, there is enough moisture in the air that cucumbers are able to absorb through the leaves.

As the end of summer approaches, the air temperature drops, as a result of which the roots absorb nutrients from the soil worse, which means that you should switch to foliar dressing with soluble fertilizers on the leaf.

To protect cucumbers from temperature extremes at the end of summer, which negatively affects the yield and the condition of the plant as a whole, you can cover the beds with plastic wrap or dense non-woven material at night. You can also hide cucumbers under the film from prolonged cold rains.

If until August the cucumbers were not yet mulched, then it is better to do this now in order to smooth out the temperature drops in the soil. Planting autumn-flowering or long-flowering plants (asters, marigolds, helenium) near cucumber beds will attract insects for successful pollination of cucumbers.

And, of course, the surest way to prolong the fruiting of cucumbers is to regularly plant young cucumber seedlings at several times.

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