How to feed cucumbers in a greenhouse - what fertilizers and when

The climatic conditions in our country make it possible to grow a good harvest of cucumbers and harvest it early only in the south of Russia. That is why gardeners prefer to grow this vegetable in protected conditions. A greenhouse is perfect for this, because it is there that you can create a stable and necessary temperature for the plant. However, in greenhouse conditions, the soil does not have the opportunity to receive those important microelements that it would receive in an open area, therefore, in order to get a good harvest, it is impossible to do without additional feeding and care. How and when is it better to feed cucumbers in a greenhouse - what fertilizers and when to apply feeding for cucumbers.

How often to feed cucumbers

In order for our cucumbers to grow and develop well, it is simply necessary to feed the cucumbers with organic fertilizers and mineral-based fertilizers. The most important elements are feeding with nitrogen, potassium, calcium and, of course, phosphorus.

Organic matter is perhaps the best option for bushes, our plant assimilates them much better. Fertilizers prepared according to folk recipes will help to avoid unnecessary nitrates.

It can greatly facilitate the task of caring for the culture, scheduling. To do this, it is important to understand what exactly she will need and at what stages of growth.

Total stages 4:

The first is feeding the seedlings immediately after planting in the greenhouse.
The second is during the flowering period.
The third is when the fruits begin to emerge.
The fourth is needed if you want to extend the fruiting period.

Of course, without top dressing, you will also get a crop, but it will be very small. To get a large and high-quality crop, you will need to be patient and take time to feed at least three times.

Preparing the land before planting in the greenhouse

It is necessary to prepare the soil for future seedlings in the autumn.

To protect our cucumbers from diseases and pests, it is necessary to treat the greenhouse with chlorine and sulfur. At the beginning of spring, the soil in the greenhouse must be treated with potassium permanganate and fertilized with nitrogen. It is found in sufficient quantities in compost, horse and cow manure, and chicken manure. It should be noted that the latter contains the most nitrogen.

A few days before planting seedlings, it is necessary to scatter fertilizers over the surface with the calculation of 500 grams per kW. meter and dig up.

If you decide to feed the cucumbers with chemical fertilizers containing potassium sulfate, phosphate and ammonium nitrate, then they need no more than 20 grams. When buying such fertilizers in a specialized store, follow the instructions during use. Also, when choosing fertilizers, it is important to know that nitrate nitrogen and chlorine should not be contained in fertilizers.

When choosing seeds for planting, pay attention to varieties that self-pollinate. This will be the best choice. But they will need to be soaked in a weak potassium solution. If you prefer hybrid varieties, processing is not required.

How often can bushes be fed?
In fact, feeding this culture is needed no more than four times during the entire growth period and it is applied once every 14 or 21 days. But by doing this, you can get a good harvest of mouth-watering cucumbers.

The first feeding of cucumbers

After planting the plant in the greenhouse.Nitrogen is an element that contributes to the adaptation of the plant, makes its roots strong and activates its growth and development. Of course, this is the most important element at the initial stage, but it is far from the only one. For a good and correct development, complex fertilizers must be used.

To prepare the necessary top dressing, you will need a 10 liter bucket, potassium sulfide 20 grams, ammonium nitrate 15 grams, double phosphate 25 grams. All this must be filled with water and mixed. After that, you need to feed the cucumbers by watering directly the soil around the plant, without touching the leaves.

When deciding to use organic fertilizers as your first feed, you will need mullein or bird droppings. They must be mixed with water 1/10. Apply when it's cloudy outside or in the evening after sunset.

Remember, nutrients are best absorbed when taken after watering.

Second feeding of cucumbers

When flowering begins, usually two weeks after the first feeding, the second feeding phase should begin.

What is the best use at this stage?

During this period of development, it is necessary to feed the cucumbers with phosphorus.

Methods for preparing top dressing

There are many options for preparing fertilizers. We'll cover five.

The first option will require you to prepare a 10 liter bucket. It will be necessary to place 0.5 liters of mullein, a glass of wood ash, a teaspoon of boric acid, 3 grams of potassium permanganate, 50 grams of potassium sulphide and nitrophosphate 1 tbsp. spoon. All this must be filled with water and mixed. For 1 sq. meter of earth, three liters of solution are consumed.

In the second case, you also need a bucket of 10 liters, a liter of manure, complex fertilizer 30 grams and nitroammophoska 25 grams. Mix everything well and pour. One liter will be enough for 5 bushes.

Folk recipes

Folk remedies, this is perhaps the most favorite feeding option for skilled gardeners. But it can seem difficult for those who are just starting to grow vegetables on their site.

To prepare according to the first recipe, you will need black bread crackers and a 10 liter container. The container is 2/3 filled with breadcrumbs, a heavy stone or some other weight is placed and covered with a lid. The prepared mixture is left to ferment for one week.

The second recipe is to make an infusion from onion husks. It will be necessary to place one glass of husk in a container of 8 liters and pour hot boiling water over it. Let it brew and water the plants.

Well, perhaps the most popular recipe is a top dressing based on wood ash, since it is very simple to use it during the entire growth period.

Just sprinkle the bushes with ash, at the rate of 2 tbsp. spoons and water the plants. Or dilute a glass of ash in 10 liters of water and pour at the rate of two liters per bush.

The third feeding of cucumbers

When your plants begin to bear fruit, they have a need for potassium, so you need to increase it. You should be careful with nitrogen, as it affects the growth of greenery, while slowing down the formation of fruits.

Feeding preparation methods:

As a first option, you can dilute 30 grams of potassium in ten liters of water and water the soil directly around the bushes without touching the leaves.

You can also prepare herbal infusion. To do this, you can use weeds from your garden, fill them with water at the rate of 1 to 1 and let it brew for a week. Next, dilute the mixture with water at the rate of 1 to 10 and water the plants.

Foliar dressing: how to properly feed cucumbers

For foliar treatment, use a spray bottle. To avoid burns, spray your plants on cloudy days or after sunset.

Top dressing recipes

In the first case, pour water into a 10 liter bucket, add 30 grams of potassium nitrate, 60 grams of phosphate, 1 gram of boric acid, 4 grams of potassium permanganate, 1 gram of zinc and mix well.

The second option is extremely simple. It is enough to put 12 grams of urea in a bucket of water and stir.

Natural ingredients prepared according to folk recipes are also perfect.

For example, you can use yeast for cooking. Fill a 10 liter container with warm water, add dry yeast 12 grams there and wait until fermentation. Before foliar treatment, dilute the mixture with water at the rate of 0.5 liters. to 10 y.

You can also use wood ash by diluting one glass in 10 liters of water.

The fourth feeding of cucumbers

It is necessary to feed the cucumbers the 4th time in case of prolongation of fruiting in August or September. For these purposes, ash, herbal infusions or mixtures prepared with yeast are perfect.

How can you feed cucumbers if they grow poorly or are weak?

Healthy bushes have a rich green color, flowering occurs on time, and the fruits have the shape that this variety should have.

If you notice any changes, the leaves darken, become weak, flowers fall or sluggish fruits, then the plant is experiencing a lack of nutrients.

For example, the lack of nitrogen is evidenced by darkening of the leaves and pointed to the bottom and whitening fruits. A solution with a mullein will help to fill the lack of this element.

If your cucumbers are curled, this indicates a lack of potassium. A solution based on wood ash will help here.

The lack of phosphorus is indicated by yellow leaves on the plant. In this case, foliar feeding based on phosphate can help.

To keep your vegetables juicy and taste good, don't neglect magnesium in your fertilizers. If it is not enough, then the taste will not be what it could be.

Phosphorus-deficient vegetables are susceptible to disease and pests.

If you notice signs of a lack of any elements, you need to immediately address this problem.

It is also important to remember that too much nutrients can also be bad for plants. Therefore, if you are not sure what exactly your cucumbers lack, it is better to use complex fertilizers without chlorine content. Feed them two or three bushes and if the plants get better, then do the same with the rest.

Please note that in case of high humidity and temperature, you should not overdo it with fertilizers, as your health depends on it.

The yield and quality of cucumbers grown in greenhouse conditions depends solely on how we take care of them.