Nitrogen is an element necessary for the full growth of plants, including cucumbers. Watering cucumbers with ammonia, which contains this element, allows the plant to develop quickly and produce a high-quality, rich harvest. But such fertilizing of the plant crop must be done correctly, adding fertilizer to the soil, since from it the cucumbers will absorb the compounds necessary for their growth.
general information
Cucumbers are a vegetable crop that is sensitive to the presence of nitrogen in the soil. Therefore, they are often fed with ammonia.This is especially true for situations when a summer resident decides to plant a vegetable in a greenhouse immediately after the frost has subsided.
Before applying such fertilizers to the soil, you need to make sure they are necessary. The following signs may indicate this:
- yellowing of the lower leaves of the plant;
- formation of small leaves throughout the plant;
- the stem and shoots have a faded appearance, become thinner, and break easily;
- the grown vine stops growing;
- cucumber inflorescences are formed, but not dissolved;
- the plant withers when the surrounding temperatures drop.
When such signs of nitrogen deficiency appear, it is necessary to add fertilizer to the soil. But processing cucumbers should not be haphazard, since oversaturation of the soil with nitrogen activates the vegetative principle of growth in the plant.
Also, nitrates can accumulate in the tubers, and the plant will be at risk of contracting fungal infections.
How to properly apply ammonia fertilizers?
The need to use such fertilizer in the garden is determined by the presence of signs of their deficiency. There are three types of ammonia fertilizer used to treat cucumbers:
- foliar, that is, spraying;
- root, that is, watering;
- rubbing of foliage.
The use of ammonia allows you to get a high-quality rich harvest not only when growing cucumbers in greenhouses, but also in open ground. You can fertilize cucumbers at different stages of their growth.
Experienced gardeners recommend treating bushes in the early morning hours or in the evening. The following fertilizer application scheme is considered the best option:
- For the first time, cucumber seedlings are fertilized.
- Further, the fertilizer is regularly used for plants that are in the stage of active growth of green mass.
- Before the period of flowering and mass fruiting, the use of ammonia fertilizers is reduced.
To feed cucumbers, you can use different concentrations of ammonia.
Optimal concentrations
Ammonia as a fertilizer for cucumbers can be used in various concentrations. Universal proportions of such fertilizer have been developed. It is prepared from 50 milliliters of ammonia and 4 liters of water.
If there is a need for a weak concentration of this fertilizer, 1 tablespoon of ammonia should be diluted in 10 liters of water. And to get a concentrated solution you need to mix 1 dessert spoon of ammonia and 1 liter of water.
The peculiarity of this fertilizer is that foliar treatment of plants is carried out by watering. This is due to the fact that, as in the case of hydrogen peroxide and iodine, ammonia is highly volatile. How to water cucumbers correctly, taking into account the volatile qualities of ammonia? If it is necessary to fertilize the plant at the roots, the fertilizer must be poured strictly at the root, and the fertilizer should form a clear visible stream.
How to properly process the crop? Watering cucumbers with ammonia should be done during non-sunny periods of the day, and best of all in cloudy weather. When feeding cucumbers with ammonia using the root method, it is necessary to prevent burns. To do this, after watering, the plant is sprayed with clean water using the fog mode set on the spray bottle.
If fertilizing is carried out by spraying, you should select the spray mode on the spray gun, not the nebula mode. This is because in the case of fogging treatment, most of the nutrients will remain in the air.
Mode of application
Is it possible to water cucumbers with ammonia throughout the entire growth of the plant? If there are indications for applying ammonia fertilizing, it is allowed to apply such fertilizers at any phase of plant growth. However, you can feed cucumbers with ammonia as effectively as possible using the following scheme:
- The best period for the first feeding is considered to be the beginning of active plant growth, which is observed in late spring and early summer. Ammonia is used for seedlings weekly using a universal solution.
- When a plant crop begins to actively form ovaries, it should be fed intensively. Treatment should be carried out twice a week. Pour the concentrated solution over the cucumbers.
- When strong stems and full-fledged leaves, painted in a bright green tint, are formed, the planting should then be watered once a week with a universal solution.
- How to water cucumbers if the plant is sluggish with a lot of empty flowers? In such a situation, it is necessary to water more frequently.
- When the plant enters the phase of fruit formation and flowering, the frequency of watering should be reduced. In this case, it is recommended to use a low concentrated ammonia solution or manure as a fertilizer.
At all stages of fertilization, it is necessary to monitor the plant’s response to treatment.
Features of processing greenhouse cucumbers
If you need to spray or water cucumbers that grow in a greenhouse, you need to maintain an optimal level of humidity. The air should not be too humid, otherwise the vegetables will suffer from diseases, especially rot.
Use for feeding cucumbers growing in a greenhouse structure, a universal and weakly concentrated solution follows.Before the procedure, it is necessary to thoroughly spray the green part of the plant with clean water to prevent burns.
Pest Control
Fertilizers based on ammonia are also used to eliminate pests. They are most effective in the fight against aphids, wireworms, and mole crickets. Such solutions should be prepared according to a low-concentration scheme: take 1 tablespoon of ammonia per 10 liters of water.
There is another recipe to get rid of aphids on cucumbers. For a 10 liter bucket of water take 50 milliliters of ammonia and a quarter of a piece of laundry soap:
- The soap is grated on a fine grater.
- Soap shavings and ammonia dissolve in water.
- Everything is thoroughly mixed and then used to wipe the foliage.
Ammonia against aphids is used by spraying the plant. When processing the plant, it is necessary to use gloves, respirators or bandages to eliminate the risk of burns.
During the period of feeding cucumbers with ammonia, it is necessary to ensure careful care of the plant. You can avoid burns by regularly spraying the foliage of treated plants with clean water.
If the plant crop begins to be attacked by diseases, the ammonia concentration should be reduced or a different fertilizer should be used for feeding.
