Feeding cucumbers during flowering and fruiting allows you to achieve better yield results and high quality fruits. For fertilizer, ready-made mineral compositions are used, as well as folk recipes.
The importance of different types of fertilizers
Timely applied fertilizers allow plants to develop faster, bloom better, form more ovaries and bear fruit longer. It is important that the correct types of fertilizing are applied at different stages of growth.It is important to know what to feed cucumbers during flowering and fruiting.
Vegetables need:
- phosphorus;
- nitrogen;
- calcium;
- potassium.
If these substances are present in sufficient quantities, cucumbers grow and develop.
- Nitrogen fertilizers. If cucumbers do not bear fruit in a greenhouse or develop poorly, this indicates a lack of nitrogen fertilizers. Also, a narrow tip and a thick stalk will indicate a lack of substance in the cucumber. Nitrogen is found in large quantities in chicken droppings, ammonium nitrate, mullein, horse manure, and compost. Ready-made nitrogen fertilizers also help cucumbers bear fruit.
- Potassium fertilizers. Potassium is another element that cucumbers need during fruiting. If it is deficient, the fruits are small in size and have increased rigidity. Its application is carried out at the beginning of the season, before transferring the plants to a permanent place. The best results are shown by using potassium sulfate. With its use, plants grow stronger and more resistant to adverse conditions.
- Calcium fertilizers. Calcium is especially necessary for plants before flowering and ovary formation. If there is a shortage of it, the blossoming flowers will begin to dry out and fall off. The easiest way to increase it in the soil is to feed the plants with eggshells.
- Phosphorus fertilizers. Phosphorus is responsible for the development of the root system. Its application before planting makes cucumbers in open ground stronger and more resistant to external factors.
For the growth and development of plants, copper, manganese, iron, and magnesium are necessary. For this reason, fertilizing cucumbers during the fruiting period is often done with complex formulations.
Of the universal mixtures containing a large number of essential substances, the following are distinguished:
- superphosphate;
- ammonium nitrate;
- nitrophoska;
- potassium nitrate.
Fertilizer application periods
In order for cucumbers to be strong, resistant to diseases, temperature changes and bear fruit better, they must be fed regularly. This especially applies to plants in greenhouses.
Plants need to be fertilized at certain stages of growth. In total, 3 or 4 feedings are made per season.
- Germination of seedlings. Feeding during this period is necessary for the growth of strong plants and the development of the root system. In the seedling state, fertilizing is applied after picking or 1-2 weeks before planting in the ground. This way plants can better tolerate the transition to a new location.
- Bloom. The second feeding is done during the flowering period. Thanks to nutrients, the plant blooms better and produces more flower stalks. In case of unfavorable weather conditions, fertilizer helps the cucumbers to bloom.
- Ovary formation and fruiting period. The third feeding is necessary during the fruiting period of cucumbers. It can be produced during fruit set. With fertilizers, the bushes form more ovaries and begin to bear fruit longer.
- Fruit growth period. The last feeding is done at the beginning of fruiting. It allows you to form larger fruits with better taste.
With proper agricultural technology, not all stages of fertilizing cucumbers are mandatory. Particular attention should be paid to the flowering and fruiting period.
How to feed cucumbers during flowering
The answer to the question why don't cucumbers bloom? in the greenhouse, is a lack of nitrogen fertilizers. For this reason, in greenhouses, as soon as the first bushes bloom, the plants are fertilized with nitrogen. A mineral mixture is perfect for plants in open ground.
The simplest recipe consists of a mixture of ammonium nitrate, potassium salt and superphosphate. The components take 30, 10 and 40 grams, respectively. The dry mixture is thoroughly mixed and dissolved in a bucket of water. The nutrient solution is applied into grooves made at a distance of 20 centimeters, parallel to the bushes.
At the beginning of flowering and at its end, spraying the bushes with boric acid is considered effective. For a 10-liter bucket, use ¼ teaspoon of acid. Treatment is carried out during the day in calm, cloudy weather. On a sunny day, it is better to postpone the procedure to the evening or early morning.
How to feed cucumbers during fruiting period
Feeding cucumbers during fruiting is associated with the active intake of nutrients from the soil. Their shortage leads to poor yield and low taste of cucumbers. Of particular importance during this period is the provision of plants with potassium, nitrogen and magnesium.
To obtain the best results, fertilizers are applied in two stages:
- at the beginning - to improve taste;
- at the end - to prolong fruiting.
When the first fruits appear, experts recommend introducing potassium or nitrophoska into the soil. To prepare potash fertilizer, 30 grams of sulfur are diluted in a 10-liter bucket. When using nitrophoska, use 1 tablespoon per bucket.
For cucumbers in the ground, urea treatment is better suited. 50 grams of urea are diluted per 10 liters of water. Processing is carried out in the morning. It is better to water the solution on already moistened soil.
During the fruiting period, fertilizing with ash gives good results. Use 1 cup of ground ash per bucket of water. The composition works well for both greenhouse and outdoor plants. All fertilizers are applied at intervals.Therefore, inexperienced gardeners have a question about how many days later the next feeding is allowed. In most situations, wait 7-14 days between applying different types of fertilizers. Complex formulations are used according to the scheme indicated on the packaging.
How to prolong the fruiting of cucumbers in a greenhouse
Experienced gardeners know how to increase the fruiting period of cucumbers. It turns out that you don’t need to do anything special for this; just applying certain types of fertilizers at the right periods of time is enough. Greenhouse vegetables are best suited for obtaining a second harvest.
For a good harvest and repeated flowering, cucumbers require fertilizing with several types of fertilizers.
- Ash solution. To prepare it, use 1 glass of ash per bucket of water.
- Urea. The solution is prepared at the rate of 12 g of urea per 12 liters of water.
- Soda. To prepare a soda solution you will need 1 bucket of water and 30 grams of soda.
- Infusion of rotted hay. To prepare the hay, it must be heated for at least two days.
In addition to timely application of fertilizers, warm weather and sufficient lighting can accelerate the formation of re-ovary.
Signs indicating a lack of fertilizers
In order for vegetables to grow actively and have long-term fruiting, they need timely fertilizer. Lack of nutrition leads to slower fruit growth, a decrease in the number of ovaries, and a change in the color of the leaf plate.
A number of factors indicate that there is not enough fertilizer in open beds or in a greenhouse:
- narrowing of the tips of the fruits with thick stalks;
- reducing the size of sheet plates;
- the presence of a whitish coating on the fruits;
- yellowing of leaves;
- purple color on the leaves.
One or more of these factors indicate that the plant requires fertilizer containing nitrogen, potassium or phosphorus.
Timely application of fertilizers allows you to improve the quality of the ovary, accelerate ripening, and obtain better yields than when grown without fertilizing with fertilizer compounds. As an experienced gardener notes: “I fed greenhouse cucumbers with chicken droppings, shells, ash and was able to achieve a double harvest.” With the right choice of fertilizers, this result is possible for everyone.
