With the beginning of the summer season, professional and amateur vegetable growers are faced with the problem of black leg in cucumber seedlings. It becomes very offensive. The sprouts that were grown with such love suddenly begin to disappear one by one. The downside is that the disease spreads very quickly, and the plant can no longer be saved.
What is the disease
It is very easy to recognize the black leg on cucumbers. The roots of seedlings ready for planting begin to turn yellow. At this time, the cotyledon leaves appear.
The root collar of the seedlings changes its color, acquiring a brown tint. Then a constriction forms on the neck. The color of the lower part of the stem changes to dark green and becomes wet. Over time, the root darkens and becomes rotten. The lower leaves gradually turn yellow and fade.
How does infection occur?
The causative agent of the disease is a fungus that can parasitize not only the plant itself, but also exists without problems both in the soil and on plant debris. If the soil is not changed and cucumbers are planted in the same container all the time, fungi accumulate.
Blackleg can be carried with peat, manure and materials intended for sowing and planting seedlings.
Spread of fungus
Blackleg spreads very quickly on an infected plant. The following factors contribute to accelerating the spread:
- changes in soil temperature due to weather changes;
- cold water used for watering seedlings;
- reduction in ambient air temperature.
People do not always take such nuances into account: after all, it’s as easy as shelling pears to monitor the temperature conditions in order to get good seedlings and a bountiful harvest as a result.
Fighting fungus
How to deal with the disease so that it leaves the dacha forever? It is best to prevent the development of disease in seedlings. In order for the plant to be healthy and strong, a prerequisite is compliance with preventive measures. Often the buyer does not pay attention to the quality of the seeds and the level of resistance to many factors, thereby making a huge mistake.
To get strong seedlings and protect them from blackleg, you must follow all the rules of sowing and growing. Sow cucumbers no earlier than the specified time. Even if the containers are placed on the windowsill, this does not guarantee that the sprouts will be strong and healthy.In early spring, the windowsill is a fairly cool and dark place for cucumbers. Lack of lighting can cause a decrease in immunity.
Measures to combat blackleg are peat pots or tablets. It has been proven that seedlings grown in them are much less susceptible to rot. Sprouts can be easily planted by replanting them together with a peat lump.
Soil and seed requirements
Do not plant seeds in untreated soil. First it needs to be etched. A simple procedure will destroy various bacteria and microorganisms of rot, mold and mildew. The soil is watered with boiling water with the addition of potassium permanganate. After a simple procedure, the soil is allowed to rest for two days. During this period, the ground will be prepared for planting the seed. It is strictly forbidden to immediately plant seeds in freshly treated soil: they may “burn” without sprouting.
A common occurrence after sowing is the appearance of rot on the soil surface. To prevent the soil from becoming moldy with each watering, it is recommended to sprinkle the top layer with river sand or ash. The same rule applies to diving. By observing this condition, the top layer of soil will always remain dry and clean.
Most often, the black leg affects seedlings whose seeds were purchased secondhand at the market. To avoid this, it is recommended to purchase cucumbers exclusively in a specialized store. But if this is not possible, you can do the following. Before planting, place seeds purchased on the market in a solution of potassium permanganate and leave for 35 - 40 minutes.
Seed material can also be processed by other means. Prepare the purchased drug according to the instructions. It can be used to treat the roots of cucumber seedlings before planting in the soil.In some cases, it is simply poured into the ground.
Useful tips
To save cucumber seedlings from blackleg, do not forget about simple nuances:
- Sow seeds in slightly moist soil.
- Disinfect the soil before planting.
- Maintain moderate watering.
- Maintain sowing density.
At the initial signs of blackleg infection, action must be taken. First of all, remove diseased plants, stop watering, and cover the soil itself with ash.
Important
Blackleg is a fungus that lives in any soil. Development begins only after the onset of favorable conditions.
To get rid of fungus, it is first recommended to pay attention to the ambient humidity and temperature. These indicators should not be high.
The disease is quickly transmitted from one plant to another with insufficient air ventilation. Usually the sprouts are planted very densely together. It is better to take pots with soil outside for the winter. The soil will freeze, and at the same time it will be disinfected.
At the first sign of fungus, it is recommended to immediately get rid of infected sprouts. There is no way to save them, since the plants are very weakened.
Seedlings must be carefully inspected to eliminate the possibility of re-infection. You may not notice the beginning signs of the disease and leave the plant, exposing the entire seedling to infection.
Homemade remedy
How to fight the fungus if healthy seedlings are infected? Experienced summer residents do not recommend getting too carried away with chemicals. Cucumbers can accumulate poisons that will enter the human body along with cooked dishes. In some cases, they only worsen the condition of the infected seedlings.
What to do if a black leg on cucumbers can cause the death of all seedlings? It is worth using products that you can prepare at home. An excellent homemade preparation is a tincture of marigolds and onion peels. They simply water the ground with it, not only on infected sprouts, but also on healthy ones.
But this option is suitable if initial signs of the disease have been noticed. Otherwise, the blackened stems are cut off, deepening the root so that it can sprout new healthy shoots. If this does not help, then it is better to remove the seedlings completely. This will help preserve some of the cucumbers and get a harvest.
In any case, it is better to prevent the disease than to treat it. To prevent black leg from appearing on seedlings, you must not neglect the growing tips. It is worth examining each crop daily to notice the slightest signs of change. Following simple rules, the black leg will not be harmful to cucumbers.
