Why are cucumbers soft in the garden, in the greenhouse and when pickling + what to do

Every gardener wants to grow strong, crispy cucumbers, but this does not always work out. Often the fruits turn out soft and seem to be flaccid. Sometimes fresh cucumbers seem good, but after canning they become soft. These problems start in the garden. Let's figure out why this happens and how to cope with the situation.

Why do cucumbers grow soft?

There can be many reasons for this unpleasant phenomenon. The influence of diseases or violations of the necessary growing conditions is quite likely. It is important to remember that you should not plant cucumbers and tomatoes nearby in the same greenhouse, as they require different microclimates.

In the greenhouse

Zelentsy can become soft under the influence of the following factors:

1. Too warm and waterlogged soil. In such conditions, pathogenic microorganisms multiply well, stimulating the process of decay.
2. Too dense plantings. They also create a favorable microclimate for diseases, and closely growing bushes guarantee the rapid spread of diseases.
3. Lack of moisture. First, the shoot is affected and withers, and then the green shoots begin to shrivel.
4. Fungal diseases. Their spores enter the greenhouse thanks to the wind, and the warm and humid atmosphere creates ideal conditions. The most popular diseases of cucumbers are gray and white rot, fusarium, and brown spot.

In the open ground

Cucumbers become cottony under the influence of the same factors as in the greenhouse.

1. Improperly organized watering. If cold water is used, this leads to poor growth of the bush and fruits, the appearance and development of various diseases. Lack or excess of moisture causes cucumbers to become hollow.
2. Growing bushes too close is a common mistake gardeners make.
3. Significant differences in day and night temperatures. As a result, the fetus does not develop and form properly.
4. Excessive heat and exposure of leaves to direct sunlight. Aggressive sun causes shoots to wilt.
5. Lack of microelements.
6. Excess nutrients. For example, if the soil is oversaturated with nitrogen, green mass actively grows, which shades the fruits. The ovaries become small and soft.
7. Fungal diseases.

Interesting fact: cucumber juice will do a great job of stopping squeaky door hinges if you use it instead of a lubricant.

Unbalanced diet

The main and most common reason that cucumbers grow empty is untimely feeding. Basically, this is an excess of nitrogen with a lack of phosphorus, potassium and calcium, as well as poor digestibility of microelements.

Secret No. 1! Many gardeners make the mistake of considering mullein to be the best fertilizer. This is not the case for cucumbers. During the flowering and ovary phases, it is the mineral nutritional components that are needed - potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron and many others.

Important! Do not overfeed cucumbers with nitrogen. An overdose occurs even if, during digging, more than 10 kg of manure per 1 sq. m was added to the planting. m, and then fed with urea (urea or ammonium nitrate).

What to do?
When digging when planting, it is better to add compost and wood ash. You can use mineral fertilizers (complex, such as diammophosphate, potassium monophosphate, pure, phosphorus - superphosphate, potassium - potassium sulfate or specialized ones, such as Acrycola).

Important! To quickly correct the situation, you can carry out foliar feeding, i.e. Spray cucumber bushes directly on the leaves.

Calcium is necessary for the development of the root system.

Watch the video : How to help cucumbers with a lack of calcium and microelements (if voids form inside the fruit)

Important! Lack of nutrients can lead to twisted and deformed fruits or yellowing of leaf edges.

Diseases that cause cucumbers to become soft

Cucumbers often suffer from various diseases. Some infections specifically affect greens, making them soft. To engage in prevention, you need to have an understanding of the most common diseases.

Root rot

Main symptoms:

1. Rapid yellowing of leaves.
2. Productivity drops sharply.
3. Cucumbers become lethargic.

The main reason is excess or lack of water in the soil. If cucumbers grow in open ground, overheating of the ground is another dangerous factor. To combat the disease, you can use well-proven folk remedies, such as ash, charcoal or copper. These substances, crushed into powder, should be sprinkled on the roots that are visible on the surface of the soil. This will help curb the development of the disease.

Powdery mildew

The main symptom is a whitish or reddish coating that appears on the upper side of the leaf blade. It causes the leaf to dry out.

The disease then attacks the stems and then the fruits. Cold weather is especially conducive to the spread of powdery mildew. At risk are bushes growing on soil oversaturated with nitrogen fertilizers.

Ways to fight:

1. Promptly remove ripe fruits.
2. Carry out autumn disinfection of the greenhouse.
3. Do not overheat the cucumbers, keeping the temperature in the greenhouse no higher than +25 °C.
4. Plant cucumbers in a new place every year.
5. Use seeds of hybrids that are immune to the disease.

Fusarium

The main reason for the development of this fungus is waterlogging.

Main symptoms:

1. Yellowing and wilting of leaves.
2. The stem becomes thinner and acquires a brown color.
3. The fruits begin to rot and become soft.

The following technique will help to definitively make a diagnosis: you need to cut the shoot along the vessels and carefully examine the cut. A diseased plant has vessels with a pronounced brown tint.

The best way to combat this is to replace the soil seasonally. The top layer must be removed and new soil filled in. If the bushes are already sick, then they need to be treated with special solutions, and the hopeless ones must be removed.

What to do if cucumbers are soft in a greenhouse or open ground

Before taking any action, it is necessary to find out the cause.

1. Cucumbers lack microelements - adding organic matter, such as humus or peat, will help.
2. If there is an excess of nitrogen in the soil, you need to add manure-based fertilizer and urea to it.
3. If the watering regime is incorrect, the irrigation schedule should be reconsidered. In hot, dry weather, water more abundantly in the morning and evening; on cool days, limit watering. To do this, use warm water. It is optimal to use drip irrigation systems.
4. The cause of the softness was a fungal disease - it is necessary to disinfect the greenhouse, soil, and all equipment. The dead bush should be removed, and the affected areas should be cut out from diseased plants. The greenhouse must be ventilated frequently and the temperature maintained at least +18 °C.
5. Constant collection of ripened fruits can correct the situation. Overripe cucumbers begin to take moisture from their resources. This is the reason for their hollowness.

Insufficient watering

One of the main reasons for the appearance of looseness and emptiness inside the fruit is improper watering.

Watering should be regular and sufficient. If you don’t water the cucumbers for 3-4 days, the soil becomes quite dry. When you water suddenly and in large quantities, it can lead to tissue rupture, cracks and voids.

Important! Improper watering can also lead to deformed and distorted fruits.

• It is important to water cucumbers every day, in the evening or in the morning, especially if you have a hot climate.
• The water should be warm 25-28 degrees.
• Also, do not forget about loosening, this will allow air circulation at the roots, which promotes rapid growth.

How to water cucumbers correctly, read our article: How to properly water cucumbers in a greenhouse and open ground

Secret No. 2 In order to prevent the formation of a crust on the soil and retain moisture at the roots longer, the holes need to be mulched, possibly with straw or compost.

Preventive measures

To prevent the fruit from softening, you can take the following measures:

1. It is important to control the temperature in the greenhouse when the cucumbers bloom and begin to bear fruit; it should not be lower than +18 °C.
2. The greenhouse needs to be ventilated more often.
3. The soil around the shoots must be loosened regularly.
4. Inspect all bushes from time to time to identify diseases. Cut out the affected areas immediately.
5. When choosing seeds, give preference to resistant varieties and change them from time to time.
6. Maintain crop rotation. In addition, in the spring, before planting, it is useful to change the top layer of soil to prevent plants from being affected by diseases.
7. Avoid overcrowding of plantings. It is necessary to leave at least 15 cm between bushes.

Fun fact: a slice of cucumber will make your shoes shine and can easily replace shoe polish. In addition, cucumber juice repels water, so the shoes can be worn in the rain.

Troubleshooting solutions

Initially, it is necessary to understand when to sow cucumbers depending on the varietal type and calculate the temperature and moisture level indicators based on the climate in the region. Next, it is important to precisely carry out the correct formation of the seedling stem with the obligatory garter.

The minimum volume of agrotechnical requirements is as follows:

1. Water abundantly with warm water in the evening into the root hole or by using a fine-drop nozzle on a hose and through a watering can.
2. Systematic application of fertilizers not only with organic matter, but also with complex minerals.
3. Planting disease-resistant cucumber crops in the garden or evenly treating the seedlings with special preparations.
4. Maintaining the temperature during the entire period of growing vegetables in a greenhouse with shading or additional illumination with artificial lighting devices, if necessary.
5. Maintaining the required level of moisture by placing barrels of water in the greenhouse structure or spraying on hot days.
6. Regular collection of fruits ripened in a greenhouse or in the garden, reducing the risk of the formation of overripe, rotten, deformed products.

If the leaves turn yellow and wither, then it is necessary to urgently take measures so as not to completely ruin the crop. Professionals know what to do about the problem, and they give the following recommendations:

1. Water the seedlings with a decoction of onion peels. To do this you will need a small bag of husks and 5 liters of water.
2. Fill it with water and boil over low heat.
3. Water the beds with cooled and filtered broth.

If possible, you should not plant tomatoes next to cucumber seedlings. Tomatoes love dry air, unlike cucumbers. However, if this is not possible, then it is important to “shade”.

Note!

The essence of the technique is that the roof and walls of the greenhouse are covered with whitewash. This helps reduce the temperature in the greenhouse.

It is necessary to install fine-droplet sprayers on the beds. Turn them on several times a day. The windows in the greenhouse must be opened from time to time to ventilate the greenhouse. Fungi often cause soft cucumbers. If a fungal infection develops, the greenhouse is immediately disinfected and the plants are treated.

When growing cucumbers in a greenhouse, you need to carefully monitor every little detail so that the harvest is large and the fruits grow strong, juicy and crunchy.

Tips from Mr. Summer Resident on growing and storing cucumbers

To get a high-quality and abundant harvest, you must adhere to the following rules:

1. Water the bushes in the evening using warm water and a drip system.
2. Do not forget to feed the shoots with organic matter and mineral fertilizers in a timely manner.
3. Choose seeds of resistant varieties and carry out preventive measures against diseases in a timely manner.
4. Make sure that the greenhouse has a comfortable temperature and light conditions, as well as the required level of soil and air humidity.
5. Pick ripe fruits in a timely manner.
6. Store freshly picked cucumbers in a cool place; wash them only before use.
7. Make greenhouses from quality materials.
8. For watering, it is better to install a container in the greenhouse, so the water will be warm all the time.

Rules for growing cucumbers indoors

The first step is to prepare the soil. A few weeks before planting, the soil is disinfected with copper sulfate, then a mixture of peat, humus and soil is prepared.

It would be good to initially fertilize it with superphosphates, saltpeter and potassium sulfate.

Many experts recommend this particular composition, although soil with pine sawdust has also proven itself to be excellent. Properly prepared soil is the key to a bountiful harvest.

Planting is carried out only with seedlings; it will produce early fruits and will allow you to initially control the established bushes. In the case of sowing seeds, it is quite difficult and labor-intensive to grow a healthy crop in a greenhouse.

As soon as the bushes get stronger, they must initially be provided with support; for this, trellises are installed, to which twine is subsequently attached to entwine and secure the plant stems on it. In the future, it is worth following the rules of watering and timely feeding.

Why do cucumbers become soft when pickled or marinated in a jar?

There are several reasons why pickles become soft in a jar. They also belong to lightly salted and pickled cucumbers. Let's list them.

Lack of tightness

The fruits soften and become watery if air gets under the lid. To avoid this, you need to use high-quality caps and a working seaming wrench. If the brine in the jar becomes cloudy, it means that air has got in there, and the cucumbers will become soft and will quickly deteriorate.

Violation of sterilization technology

Cucumbers must be washed thoroughly to avoid mold. The main symptom indicating poor heat treatment is a swollen lid and cloudy brine. This situation can be corrected. It is necessary to treat the container with hot steam and boil the brine.

Errors when preparing brine

The main task in this case is the correct salt concentration. Ideally, this figure reaches from 6 to 12%. You should use table salt, not iodized salt, then the cucumbers will definitely be tasty. Water hardness is also important. If it is soft, the cucumbers will become loose, flabby, and acquire an unpleasant metallic taste.

Poor quality cucumbers

The fruits should be small or medium. One container should contain cucumbers of approximately the same size so that they are evenly salted.

Damaged fruits should not be used, as they may contain pathogenic bacteria. It is optimal to pickle cucumbers no later than 24 hours after harvest.

Mistakes when laying cucumbers

If the fruits are not laid correctly, the upper layers begin to put a lot of pressure on the lower ones, as a result of which they are damaged. It is best to lay cucumbers vertically.

When salting in a barrel or pan, it is necessary to use pressure. Its weight should be approximately 10% of the weight of the fruit.

Improper storage

The temperature at which jars of canned cucumbers are kept should be +1…+3 °C. A cellar or refrigerator is suitable for this.

There are many ways to preserve cucumbers, all of them are very popular among housewives. So that labor and vegetables do not go to waste, you must strictly follow the correct technology, then soft cucumbers do not threaten to appear when pickling and pickling.

Filling with hot brine

This method is good because it allows you to sterilize salted fruits. The recipe is simple: dissolve one heaped tablespoon of salt in a liter jar of water. Then pour this mixture over the cucumbers and add spices. Leave for three days to ferment. After this, the brine must be boiled and poured over the vegetables, which must first be washed and placed in a sterile container. After this, the jar can be rolled up and stored in a cool place. It is important not to increase the fermentation time, otherwise the cucumbers will become soft.

Pickling

Are your pickled cucumbers getting soft? Check if you are doing everything correctly. To prepare this way, you need to place the cucumbers in a clean three-liter jar, adding greens. Then pour boiling water over the fruits and leave for 30 minutes to sterilize. After this, pour the water into a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of salt, 2 tablespoons of sugar, 70 g of acetic acid. Bring the entire mixture to a boil, pour over the cucumbers and roll up.

Cold billet

For this option, not only glass jars are suitable, but also barrels and large enamel pans. First you need to put the cucumbers in water and leave them there for several hours. This is done to ensure that the fruit remains crispy. Then the cucumbers are placed in a container, topped with spices. Vegetables are poured with brine, for the preparation of which 150 g of salt are dissolved in 3 liters of water. Infuse for two days in a warm room.

After this, the brine must be drained, brought to a boil, cooled and poured over the cucumbers. Then you can seal with lids. The variety of cucumber is also important. Nezhinsky, Crispy, Zozulya, and Salted are ideal.

Recommendations from experienced housewives

Advice from experienced chefs will help you understand why salted fruits turn out soft and avoid the problem:

Nina : “Pickles become soft due to moldy mushrooms getting into the preservation. I had this problem until I started using mustard powder. I add it before twisting, 1 teaspoon per three-liter jar.”

Peter : “The reason for the softness of pickled cucumbers is the wrong variety. I choose those that are intended for pickling. I also add an aspirin tablet to the brine.”

Marya : “I’ve been closing cucumbers for a long time. I understood one thing: vegetables must cool quickly after pasteurization. I don't wrap them up. I use only young fruits for pickling.”

General recommendations and secrets for pickling cucumbers from Mister Summer Resident

You should not use cucumber varieties intended for salads. Fruits with thin skin and high sugar content should be preserved.

Our website https://mrdachnik.com reminds us of some other points:

1. Bacteria in jars of cucumbers will not develop if oak leaves, mustard or horseradish are used during preservation.
2. The fruits must be free of damage and signs of disease.
3. Cans of preserved food should not be left in a warm place.
4. If you add 50 g of vodka to a jar, the cucumbers will turn out strong and crispy.

Before preservation, you can soak the cucumbers in cold water for 4 hours. You should not overuse garlic, as it causes the fruit to soften.

Reasons for the growth of soft or prickly cucumber fruits

When growing cucumber crops in a greenhouse, it is difficult to maintain a microclimate that is comfortable for the plant. This is the main reason why yields suffer. Turgor in cucumbers also suffers due to improperly organized watering. The crop does not like an excess of water in the soil, but its lack is also unacceptable.

The most common reasons why cucumbers are soft in a greenhouse are as follows:

1. Planting next to tomatoes.
2. Development of the disease.
3. Deficiency of useful microelements in the soil.
4. Close planting of seedlings (close).
5. Lack of sun.
6. Heat and drought.

Many vegetable growers forget that a greater number of “cucumber” pathologies appear due to watering the beds with ice water from a hose.

Note!

You can water cucumber seedlings with sun-heated water from a barrel.

What to do with already soft pickles, is it possible to make them crispy?

There is one way to get barreled cucumbers to start crunching, to revive them. It is necessary to select the best cucumbers from the container, throw away all wrinkled and damaged ones, rinse them in a weak salt solution (the concentration should reach 3%).

Then you need to remove the spices from the barrel, rinse them thoroughly in boiled water and place them at the bottom of liter jars. Place selected cucumbers on them. Bring the brine to a boil, strain and pour over the vegetables. If there is not enough of it, you can prepare fresh one. Then sterilize the jars in boiling water for 20 minutes, roll up the lids and wait until they cool. After this, you can put them in the cellar.