Among the main reasons why cucumber seedlings wither are improper planting and care, diseases and pest attacks. A vegetable grower needs to know the first signs of a problem in order to take action and not lose seedlings.
Why do cucumber seedlings wither and fall?
Sometimes vegetable growers are faced with a problem when cucumber seedlings begin to dry out after germination. To answer the question of whether plants can be restored, you need to know the cause of the problem.
- The main reason why the leaves of young sprouts wither at home or in the garden beds is the lack of light.In this case, the container with seedlings must be moved to an open, sunny place. To plant cucumber seeds, you need to choose an area where sunlight falls freely.
- Another reason why cucumbers die is failure to comply with the deadlines for transplanting to a permanent place. When transplanted late, the bushes become too large and strong, and it is more difficult for them to take root in a new place. Transplanting too early leads to the fact that the fragile plant is poorly resistant to adverse environmental factors.
- Young shoots often die due to improper watering. Excess or lack of moisture causes the stem and leaves to begin to lose shape.
- Seedlings disappear due to too dense planting. With good and friendly germination, the seedlings begin to feel bad. The sprouts prevent the free flow of light and air, and a deficiency of nutrients develops. Therefore, it is important to maintain distance during sowing.
- An unbalanced amount of microelements in the soil can also cause changes in the appearance of seedlings in open ground. Excess fertilizer can cause burning of weak roots. As a result, the entire plant may die. A lack of nutrients also leads to leaf wilting.
- Planted sprouts must be constantly looked after. Cucumber seedlings wither because the bed is crowded with other, stronger plants. Therefore, it is necessary to promptly get rid of weeds, which often become carriers of infection, shade the beds and impede air circulation.
If, after planting seedlings, the bushes in the garden wither and fall, the reason may be due to damage to the roots during transplantation, too late or early planting, low air temperature at night, infection or pest attack. Since cucumbers do not take root well in a new place, many vegetable growers prefer to use sprouted seeds for planting on the site.
The reasons why cucumber seedlings disappear in a greenhouse are almost the same. Additional unfavorable factors that cause cucumber seedlings to wither in a greenhouse can be infrequent ventilation, high humidity and incorrect temperature conditions. During ventilation, drafts should not be allowed.
Important recommendations if wilting is observed in cucumber seedlings in a greenhouse. What to do? The room must be regularly ventilated. During active sun it is recommended to shade the roof of the greenhouse.
Why cucumber seedlings die, diseases
Another common reason why seedlings may die is infections. Even proper care does not guarantee that cucumbers will be susceptible to fungal diseases. The problem can arise with seedlings, both at home and in the garden. Therefore, it is imperative to know the signs that will help determine that cucumber seedlings are sick. You need to know and what to do when cucumber seedlings die.
If the temperature is not stable or the sprouts are watered with cold water, immunity decreases and a disease such as powdery mildew may appear. On thin stems, the leaves also begin to weaken, and a white coating appears. Then the leaves turn yellow and the plant dies. It is important to grow seedlings in warm conditions and water only with settled, warm water.How to treat if a problem occurs? Can be treated with Hom, Quadris or Topaz.
Downy mildew manifests itself as small yellow spots on the leaves, which gradually increase in size. A gray coating forms on the inside of the leaf. The leaves of cucumber seedlings wither, dry out, and then the entire plant dies. The cause may be improper watering mode and air temperature fluctuations. To combat the problem, use Bordeaux mixture, the drugs Ridomil, Kuproxat and Ordan.
Fusarium begins with rotting of the root system, and then the above-ground part of the plant begins to dry out and rot. Drugs such as Trichodermin and Phytocid can cope with the infection.
Cucumbers are dying due to a disease such as sclerotinia. At the initial stage, it is characterized by the appearance of fluffy light mold. Then dark spots begin to form and the plant dies. The effective drug Fitosporin M will help save you from death.
If the stem of young seedlings dries out and turns black, this may also be a sign of a fungal disease. People call it Black Leg. The infection spreads very quickly, so you need to start fighting as early as possible. To prevent the entire plant from disappearing, watering should be reduced, it is recommended to mulch, and treat the bushes with a solution of potassium permanganate. Among the drugs you can choose Baktofit, Fitosporin, Fitolavin.
The reason why cucumber seedlings may fall and wither may be an invasion of insect pests. The stem dries, the leaves curl and turn yellow, and spots of various colors appear. On the leaves, most often on the inside, you can find the insects themselves or their larvae. The most common cucumber pests are melon aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, and sprout flies.
Root rot causes the stem at the seedlings to become thinner and the leaves to look limp. It may break soon. The cause of this fungal disease is watering the beds with cold water, frequent feeding with the same component, excess moisture or sudden temperature fluctuations. During treatment, all errors are corrected, wood ash and sand are sprinkled near the trunk.
Among the drying out sprouts, you need to select the healthiest ones and transplant them to another place. It is better to take diseased plants away from the garden and burn them. If the fungal disease progresses, then you need to get rid of all the seedlings and, if there is time, plant the seeds again. They must first be disinfected and kept in solutions to increase immunity.
How to care for cucumber seedlings
The further growing process depends on proper care of the young seedling. Plants are rarely susceptible to disease, have a strong root system and allow you to harvest much earlier. It is imperative to follow all the rules when planting seeds and caring for seedlings.
After the cucumber seeds are planted, cover the container with film and put it in a warm place. In about a week, the first shoots should emerge. The container is opened and moved to a well-lit place. It is recommended to thin out the seedlings, leaving only strong shoots; weak ones should be cut off and not pulled out by the roots.
Growing cucumbers according to all the rules will avoid many unpleasant problems.
- Cucumbers germinate better and faster in a warm room. The optimal temperature for growing seedlings is considered to be about 21 degrees during the day and 18 degrees at night.
- There should be enough light, but direct sunlight should be avoided, otherwise the seedlings may dry out. With a lack of light, the sprouts stretch upward and lighten.
- Plantings should be protected from drafts. If cucumbers are grown in a greenhouse, then it is imperative to ventilate the room daily.
- Be sure to set the watering mode. Water intended for irrigation must be warm. There should be drainage holes at the bottom of the container where the seedlings grow.
- 12-14 days after the leaves appear, the first feeding is carried out. For cucumbers, a solution based on urea, mullein, and chicken droppings is suitable. The next feeding is carried out after 8 days. You can use wood ash.
- Some vegetable growers carry out picking in order for the root system to gain strength. The procedure is carried out early, when the first pair of leaves appears. After picking, you can notice that the seedlings have withered, but after two days the seedlings are restored. A solution of Epin and Humate restores seedlings faster.
- It is recommended to pinch those bushes that have grown strongly.
- A week before transplanting seedlings into the garden, hardening is carried out. Reduce watering, lower the air temperature, and it is useful to take the seedlings outside for a while.
Cucumber bushes do not tolerate transplantation well. It is most convenient to plant in separate peat pots, then the roots will not be damaged during replanting. Three days before transplanting, stop watering. The soil should dry out and stick to the roots of the plant. The sprout is planted in a pre-prepared hole in the garden bed along with a lump of earth. Cover with soil, compact and mulch.
How to properly water cucumber seedlings
Cucumbers are very picky about watering.Untimely watering can lead to wilting and drying out of the vines. Therefore, it is so important to water the seedlings correctly. Watering should be moderate; the soil should not be over-moistened, otherwise the seedlings will wither. The water should be warm (about 24 degrees), it is better to take it in advance to allow it to settle.
It is better to water newly emerged shoots with a spoon so that the soil does not wash away and expose the roots. For young sprouts, it is useful to use melted or filtered water. Regular water may contain harmful impurities.
If the cucumbers sprouted quickly, but after a week they began to dry out and turn yellow, in most cases this is due to a lack of moisture. The problem especially arises for those who spray instead of watering or water frequently, but in small portions.
To determine how often to water the beds, you need to take into account the composition of the soil, the temperature and humidity in the room, and the amount of sunlight. The soil should not dry out completely. You can deepen a wooden stick along the edge of the container. The soil should feel moist and loose to the touch. The seedlings will need to be watered approximately twice in a week. It is recommended to water seedlings that are receiving additional light more often.
The basic rule for watering cucumber seedlings is not only warm water. It is important to prevent it from getting on the leaves. Watering is carried out in the morning, no later than 11 o’clock.
Exist rules and how to water cucumbers in a greenhouse or greenhouse. When watering, water should not be poured under the roots. It is better to leave the soil around the root dry. Greenhouse seedlings are watered between the rows.
