Urea for cucumbers (carbamide) is considered the most affordable and at the same time effective fertilizer of nitrogen origin, because nitrogen is the substance that is necessary for the normal vegetation of the plant. In appearance it resembles small colorless crystals or tablets that dissolve well in water. This fertilizer can be used as the main type of fertilizing or in combination with others. A considerable number of summer residents believe that feeding cucumbers with urea is very profitable, because price and efficiency are well correlated.
Main signs of nitrogen deficiency
Cucumber is considered a vegetable that every person loves. It is used not only fresh for preparing salads, but also pickled or salted. Therefore, gardeners are trying to grow more cucumbers for fresh consumption, pickling and sale. This is where proper care and treatment of plants comes in handy, because without this it is almost impossible to grow a good harvest.
With a lack of nitrogen, cucumbers will experience:
- growth slowdown;
- yellowing of leaves and even stems;
- falling leaves during the peak of the growing season;
- lack of formation of not only leaves, but also the ovary;
- reduction in yield levels;
- pale color of fruits;
- blunted growth of lateral shoots.
When the above signs of nitrogen deficiency are detected, it becomes necessary to add urea. However, you need to remember that cucumber seedlings can also be spoiled by excess nitrogen. This is manifested by the fact that only an excessive growth of green mass will be observed: the leaves will reach large sizes and have a dark green color. As for fruits, cucumbers may be absent or will grow crooked and underdeveloped.
Please note that when applying urea, you should remember that after it enters the soil, bacteria influence the composition, due to which ammonium carbonate is released. For best efficiency, fertilizer should never be applied superficially. Feeding cucumbers with urea will be effective if the composition is applied into the soil, because this will minimize ammonium losses.
Urea is endowed with the ability to increase soil acidity and alkali content, therefore, when used on acidic soils, it is recommended to add chalk in parallel with urea in a ratio of 200:300 g.
Technique for feeding cucumbers using urea
During the growing season, it is recommended to fertilize cucumbers at least five times, which will allow you to get a good and rich harvest of vegetables: the fruits will be healthy and beautiful.
Applying fertilizer to the root system
Basically, the following stages of plant nutrition are distinguished:
- Adding urea when preparing the soil for planting cucumbers in the garden. It is carried out when digging the beds. It is necessary to ensure that the granules fall 7–8 cm deep into the soil. Fertilizer consumption should not exceed 5–10 g per square meter of soil. The most optimal option for applying urea for feeding cucumbers is considered to be in two stages - in autumn and spring.
- Direct application of urea when sowing seeds. Fertilizer is thrown into the holes, but in such a way that it does not come into contact with the seeds, otherwise there will be a delay in the development and germination of the plant. It is recommended to add approximately 4 g of urea to the hole, sprinkle it lightly with soil and sow the seeds.
- After the first leaves appear. At this stage, urea should be applied at the root in a diluted form. You need to dilute 30 g of fertilizer in 10 liters of water. When planting plants grown using the seedling method, it is recommended to fertilize no earlier than 14 days after planting in the ground - this time is enough for the adaptation period to pass. In this case, you need to add 50 g of superphosphate to 10 liters of water.
- During the appearance of the first fruits. Feeding should be done to make it easier for plants to grow fruit mass.The best option is considered to be a combination of urea with superphosphate and potassium nitrate in a ratio of 30:40:20 g.
- During the fruiting period. To prepare the fertilizer, you need to add 13 g of urea and 30 g of potassium nitrate to 10 liters of water.
It is not recommended to apply saltpeter during drought or at lunchtime, when the sun is most active. It is best to feed in the evening or morning, and then water the plants.
Foliar feeding
Foliar feeding of cucumbers is used if the plants have a painful condition or there is a fall of leaves and even ovaries.
Foliar feeding has an extremely high level of effectiveness during drought or cold snap. This is explained by the fact that at this time the root fibers do not absorb nutrients from the soil in sufficient quantities.
Application of foliar feeding:
- helps to increase the duration of active fruiting for a long period;
- allows nutrients from the fertilizer to enter the plants almost immediately, through the leaves and stems;
- It is characterized by a high level of efficiency, because the fertilizer ends up on a specific plant, and not in the soil, from which not only cucumbers, but also weeds feed on nutrients;
- allowed at any time - regardless of what stage of formation or development the cucumber is at.
Spraying is considered highly effective because it can be used to prevent cucumber diseases and pests. The plant's immune system is strengthened.
In order not to cause harm, you need to know how to properly feed the bush, remember the processing rules and dosage:
- For watering, dilute 5 tbsp in a bucket of water. l. urea.If the plants are young, the amount of fertilizer may be slightly less. It is not recommended to increase the dosage, as this may cause the cucumber leaves to get burned.
- You should not water the seedlings during rain or at lunchtime when the sun is very active. The best options for applying fertilizer are morning and evening.
- For the best effect, it is recommended to combine the application of urea and manure or other fertilizers and useful elements.
Processing greenhouse cucumbers
The application of diluted fertilizer for feeding cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse should be done before flowering begins.
For cucumbers in a greenhouse, the second stage is carried out if visible signs of nitrogen deficiency appear. If a favorable climate and frequent watering are provided in a polycarbonate greenhouse, the leaf mass should not look curled and yellowed, but have a bright green color throughout the entire period of time during which fruiting occurs. If a disturbance in the growth and development of greenhouse plants is detected, it is allowed to carry out a second feeding: the soil and leaves are treated.
The manual indicates that to prepare the solution you need:
- to feed the root system, dilute 50 grams of urea in 10 liters of water;
- To spray the leaf mass, add 15 g of fertilizer to 10 liters of water.
When watering, you need to be very careful and make sure that the solution gets into the soil a few centimeters from the root system. The best time to treat plants in a polycarbonate greenhouse is considered to be the evening, because the risk of burns disappears.
Fertilizing cucumbers in open ground or in greenhouses can also be done with dry granules. It is recommended to introduce them into the soil very carefully, a few centimeters from the root.After this, be sure to water the seedlings. Applying fertilizer in dry form is risky, so before fertilizing in this way you need to weigh the pros and cons.
Nuances that require attention
Please note that the best option would be a combination of foliar and root feeding. This is explained by the fact that having chosen one of the methods, you will need to apply fertilizers very often, at least once every 14 days, otherwise no visible benefit will be observed. To see the result of fertilizing, you can not treat one plant and compare the results to see if the bush will differ from those that were fed.
To make fertilizer calculation easy, remember the following numbers:
- 1 tbsp. l. contains 10 g of urea;
- matchboxes - 13 g;
- glass with a capacity of 200 ml - 130 g.
Before watering the plants, carefully carry out the calculations and in no case exceed the recommended amount of urea for feeding cucumbers, which is indicated in the instructions, because such actions may leave you without a harvest.
Growing cucumbers is not that difficult. All that is necessary is to monitor the condition of the plants, nourish them with urea and other nutrients. These actions will make it possible to obtain a high level of productivity, because the cucumbers will bear fruit over a long period of time. Now you know whether it is possible to water cucumbers with urea and how much fertilizer should be used for this or that type of processing. Follow the recommendations specified in the instructions for use of the product, and the result will not be long in coming.
