The most important thing during cultivation is to determine the rules of how often to water cucumbers in open ground. This largely determines how rich and tasty the harvest will be. Proper watering reduces the risk of disease development and pest infestation.
How often should you water cucumbers?
Cucumbers are considered moisture-loving cultivated plants. After planting in open ground, do not allow the soil to dry out. This unfavorable factor causes the leaves and ovaries to dry out, turn yellow and fall off.
But if you overdo it with water, then the risk of rotting of the root system and the development of fungal infections increases. With excess moisture in the ground, the amount of oxygen decreases, the leaves turn pale, the growth of vines stops, and the ovaries are poorly formed.
You can enjoy tasty, crispy cucumbers only if the watering regime is adjusted. If a rare supply of moisture alternates with excessive watering, the plant also develops slowly, and the fruits turn out to be bitter and have a deformed shape.
Cucumbers should be watered at the same frequency and with the same amount of warm water. If cucumbers have not received moisture for a long time, do not fill them with large amounts of water. To return to normal watering mode, you need to increase the moisture gradually.
How many times a week to water the cucumbers depends on the prevailing weather conditions. In the summer, when the weather is clear and without rain, watering twice a week is sufficient. When hot, dry weather sets in, it is recommended to water the cucumbers every day. In rainy times, it is not recommended to water the beds additionally.
How to water cucumbers in open ground
Do not water cucumbers with cold water. It reduces resistance to infections and pests, slows down the growth and development of cucumber vines. It definitely needs to be left to warm up. A large barrel is suitable in which the water will settle. The water temperature for watering cucumbers should be approximately +20 degrees.
After each watering, it is useful to shallowly loosen the soil. This procedure improves the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the plant. If the soil has moved away from the stem, then hilling can be done.
Many novice gardeners are interested in the question of what kind of water can be used to water the beds.Water for irrigation should not only be warm, but also soft, without harmful impurities. If the water is hard, wood ash will help correct the situation. For 10 liters of water you need to take 60 g of ash.
It makes no difference when it is preferable to water cucumbers, in the morning or in the evening. In the evening, it is better to water approximately two hours before sunset. But you can also water in the morning, between 6 and 7 o’clock.
Is it possible to water cucumbers during the day?
When is the best time to irrigate cucumber beds again depends on the weather. Do not water during the day if the weather is hot and sunny. From the sun's rays passing through drops of moisture, burns remain on the stem, leaves, ovaries. As a result, the plant may die. During hot weather, water the leaves in the evening, when the scorching sun is gone and the coolness has not yet set in.
On cloudy and cold days, watering cucumbers is reduced. In cold weather, if there is no rain, it is better to water the cucumber beds during the day. It is best to water cucumbers on the leaves before lunch time; under the plant, you need to water with a weak stream pressure. This way, there will still be time for excess moisture to evaporate. In bad weather, the roots do not absorb water well, and the root system may begin to rot. Fungus can develop on cucumber leaves.
Proper care involves mulching the soil. Meadow grass, chopped grass, sawdust, peat, straw, film are suitable. Mulch can prevent the soil from drying out on a hot day, retains heat and protects against pests and infections.
How to water cucumbers, stages of development
When planting cucumber seedlings in open beds, they need to be watered abundantly 3-4 hours before transplanting.Then they are carefully removed from the box along with the earthen lump and placed in pre-prepared holes. After planting in the ground, seedlings need to be watered immediately. When cucumber seedlings are just planted, approximately 2 liters of water per square meter should be consumed. meter.
Before sowing cucumber seeds, you need to prepare the soil; do not forget to add mineral fertilizers and ash, dig up and level the land. Then you need to water the beds; it is better to use hot water and a weak solution of potassium permanganate. This will disinfect the soil. It is better to plant cucumber seeds at a depth of 2 cm, at a distance of at least 45 cm.
Whether it is worth watering the ground immediately after the cucumber seeds have been sown is a controversial issue. But many vegetable growers believe that it is not worth watering cucumbers after planting, since the soil was initially watered. Oxygen will be forced out of the ground and the seeds will slowly germinate. In addition, repeated watering promotes crust formation.
Since cucumbers love moisture, it is necessary to ensure its uniform supply. After the first shoots appear, watering with warm water is carried out as the soil dries. Young sprouts need 2.5 liters of water per square meter. meter. As the greenery grows, the amount increases to 6.5 liters.
After planting, you need to water cucumbers according to the rules, taking into account their age and stage of development. The watering rate for cucumbers is calculated using the same criteria.
- After the first leaves unfurl, the frequency of watering should be once every 4-5 days. This frequency of watering is maintained until flowering. For 1 sq. m. should use approximately 4.5 liters of water.
- During flowering and formation of ovaries, it is recommended to irrigate the soil every other day.The amount of liquid increases to 8 liters per 1 sq. m. On hot days, you can moisten the soil daily.
- During active fruiting, the frequency of watering should be reduced. This helps direct all the plant’s forces to the growth and development of fruits. Otherwise, the tops gain strength.
Do not allow moisture to get into the green part of the plant, as this increases the risk of rotting. You need to pour water strictly at the root, trying not to erode the soil, without exposing the root system and the base of the stem.
Watering in combination with fertilizers
Along with watering, the cucumber beds are fed at the same time. At the beginning of the development of a vegetable crop, nitrogen is consumed the most, so 1.5 weeks after planting you need to add ammonium nitrate. During the fruiting period, potassium is actively consumed and therefore it is worth adding potassium nitrate or superphosphate.
You can also apply organic fertilizers while watering cucumbers in open ground. Rotted chicken droppings or mullein are popular. An infusion of wood ash helps to compensate for the lack of microelements in the soil. It is better to apply fertilizing in the evening.
Root treatment with fertilizers begins after the first pair of leaves unfold. Subsequently, fertilization is repeated every 12-14 days.
A composition of the following three components works well for cucumbers. Take 15 g of urea, 20 g of potassium sulfate and 25 g of superphosphate. All components are dissolved in 10 liters of water and left to infuse for a couple of hours. Pour the resulting solution over each cucumber bush.
After two weeks, you can use fertilizing based on cow manure. The component is poured with 10 liters of water and left to infuse for about three days.To enhance the beneficial properties of the composition, it is recommended to add wood ash and superphosphate. Before watering, the solution must be diluted with water in a ratio of 1:6.
Exactly the same compositions, only in lower concentrations, can be used for foliar treatment. All nutrients are absorbed not by the roots, but by the leaves.
A total of four feedings are recommended for the entire growing season. If problems arise with the growth and development of cucumbers, the amount of fertilizing can be increased.
