The answer to the question of why cucumber leaves wither in a greenhouse is not always related to soil moisture and heat. To prevent crop loss, you need to find out the reason and start taking action.
The main reasons why cucumbers wither in a greenhouse
Climatic conditions do not always allow for growing cucumbers safely in an open area. Therefore, more and more often, vegetable growers began to install a greenhouse on their site, where, it would seem, all the conditions were created. But the greenhouse climate does not always ward off trouble from vegetable crops.
There are several main reasons why leaves on cucumbers may wilt.
- Cucumber leaves wither in the greenhouse due to failure to maintain the distance between seedlings (as a result, the vines intertwine and interfere with the flow of air and light to all parts of the plant).
- Cucumbers can disappear as a result of a lack or excess of moisture.
- Using cold water to water cucumber beds.
- Fungal or viral disease.
- Contact of cucumber leaves with chemicals intended to feed the root system.
- Constant exposure of the cucumber lashes to the scorching rays of the sun during the day.
- The reason for the wilting of cucumber leaves is an unfortunate neighborhood in the greenhouse (for example, cucumbers do not get along well with tomatoes, so they need to be planted separately).
- Cucumbers can die due to improper application of fertilizers or their complete absence.
If the reason why cucumber leaves turn yellow and wither is in the heat, then often it is not the sun itself that harms them, but the simultaneous presence of other unfavorable factors. If you water cucumbers on a sunny day, you are more likely to get burned. The leaves dry out and fall off. Therefore, you need to water in the morning or evening, and after the procedure, be sure to ventilate the room.
For the same reasons listed, cucumbers may not perform well in open ground. Additionally, unfavorable weather conditions can be noted in the form of cold nights, strong winds, and prolonged rains.
If cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse not only wither, but also turn yellow, then the reasons may be associated with such unfavorable factors as infectious diseases of plants and soil, pest invasion, excessive watering, and infrequent ventilation of the room. In this case, cucumbers may form irregular shapes and taste bitter.
Why do cucumbers wither in a greenhouse and what to do?
If the leaves of cucumbers turn yellow and wither, you need to check all the seedlings to understand the reason, and only then begin to solve the problem.
- If during the inspection no traces of pests and infections were detected, but only wilting of the leaves of the cucumbers in the greenhouse is observed, you need to water the plant. The water should be warm (about 20 degrees), it is best to leave it in a barrel during the day. After watering the cucumbers, it is recommended to loosen the soil. This will improve the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the roots.
- Cucumbers die at temperatures above 27 degrees. The leaves begin to dry out and turn yellow. It is necessary to monitor the temperature, ventilate the room, shade the structure and water the beds up to twice a day.
- Cucumber leaves wither even in the absence of sufficient pollination. If bee-pollinated cucumber varieties have been selected, the greenhouse doors must be opened to provide free access to pollinating insects. You can attract them with sweet solutions. If self-pollinating varieties are planted, then the plant needs help. To do this, lightly shake the stem with your hand several times a day. You can transfer pollen from male inflorescences to female flowers with a brush.
- Cucumber seedlings can change their appearance due to a lack of micronutrients in the soil. Cucumber leaves wither and curl as a result of lack of nitrogen. Foliar treatment with an infusion of chicken manure can compensate for its deficiency; fertilizing with urea is suitable.
- Due to damage to the root system, the leaves also wither. They can be damaged during loosening. Nitrogen fertilization and hilling of the seedling will help save the situation.
- The lower leaves of cucumbers turn yellow and dry out as a result of lack of light. The upper leaves, shading the lower row, do not transmit light.The problem is not terrible, you just need to pick off those leaves that have dried up.
- Leaves may dry out due to a lack of potassium, phosphorus or magnesium.
During the period when the cucumbers in the greenhouse have wilted, watering should be done manually. Water each root with a thin stream, without pressure. Do not allow moisture to get on the green part of the plant.
If the question arises of how to treat weak plants, you need to turn to the practice of experienced gardeners. Proven drugs that help cucumbers strengthen and recover are: Previkur, Topsin, Bayleton.
Infectious problems
Cucumbers wither as a result of pathogens entering various diseases inside the plant. The most common diseases of cucumbers in a greenhouse are white rot and fusarium.
A disease such as white rot leads to damage to the root system, and the plant loses the ability to feed properly. On cucumbers in a greenhouse, you can notice brown spots at the base of the stem. Gradually, the spots spread to the leaves, stem, and the cucumber plantings die. A drug such as Trichodermin helps fight the disease.
Tracheomycosis wilt of cucumbers most often affects vegetables in closed ground. Fungi such as fusarium and verticillium, when entering the plant, destroy blood vessels and cause the death of the plant.
Fusarium is a fungal disease in which all parts of the plant wither, starting from the crown, and the root part of the stem begins to rot. Dark spots appear on the affected seedlings, the leaves dry out and curl. They are treated with drugs such as Fitosporin, Heteroauxin, Kornevin, Trichofit.
Fusarium affects all plants in the greenhouse. Therefore, it is recommended to start fighting it when the first signs appear.It is recommended to initially select cucumber varieties that are resistant to fusarium: Ideal, Caprice, Sudar, Ryabinushka.
Most often, cucumber beds are attacked by aphids, whiteflies and spider mites. A soap solution or an infusion of onion peels will help fight them. You can use recipes based on wood ash. If cucumbers wither in a greenhouse, what should you do in case of massive damage to the beds? In this case, you will have to treat with insecticides: Aktara, Aktellik.
Preventive actions
Prevention includes the use of both store-bought drugs and formulations made according to folk recipes.
- The seeds of the selected cucumber variety are selected and processed. You definitely need to warm up the seeds. Many experienced gardeners additionally soak them in preparations that stimulate growth and improve immunity.
- It is recommended to change the top layer of soil in the greenhouse at least once every two years. Otherwise, it becomes depleted and lacks nutrients.
- Cucumbers should not be planted on the same plot of land every year.
- Keep your distance when boarding. The distance between seedlings should be at least 45 cm.
- It is best to mulch the soil. An additional layer of grass, straw, and peat will reduce the risk of disease development and retain heat and moisture in the soil.
- It is imperative to weed from weeds, which can cause diseases and the spread of pests.
As a preventive measure, it is useful to spray the tops with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, and treat the lower leaves with Fitosporin and Trichodermin.
What to do when cucumber leaves wither in a greenhouse, folk recipes
If the leaves of cucumbers turn yellow, you can use folk recipes.They are safe and help get rid of many other problems.
- A composition of pepper can be made to control pests. You will need to take 35 g of hot pepper and mix with 200 g of tobacco dust. The mixture is poured with hot water and left to infuse for one day. Then the solution is filtered, soap and wood ash are added.
- If the cucumbers are limp, wood ash will help. It is taken in an amount of 100 g, poured with a bucket of boiling water and left for a day. The finished solution must be filtered and the soap shavings dissolved.
- Potato tops help get rid of yellowing. You will need 350 g of greens, which are poured with 10 liters of hot water. After 3-4 hours you can spray the cucumber beds. For better adhesion of the solution to the leaves, dissolve soap.
- At the first signs of a fungal disease, a composition with whey will help. You need to take 2 liters of the product and mix with water.
- Diseases caused by various pathogens can be eliminated using a composition containing skim milk. Dissolve 20 g of soap shavings in a liter of milk, add 25 drops of iodine and mix with water. It is useful to water the cucumbers with this solution every 10 days until the problem disappears.
As fertilizers you can use mullein infusion, baking soda solution, urea solution. They will help not only remove yellow, dry leaves, but also enrich the soil with microelements.
