Vegetable growing » Cucumbers
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Kira Stoletova
Cucumber is a capricious crop, so growing it in the country or at home on the window sometimes turns into a challenge. There are many reasons why cucumbers turn yellow and dry on the windowsill. The main problem is that the seedling embryos do not really have time to bloom or the grown plants begin to dry out - this is insufficient or excessive lighting, improper feeding and watering.
Cucumbers turn yellow and dry on the windowsill
Why do cucumber seedlings turn yellow?
It will not be very easy for a beginner to immediately notice this disease. When growing seedlings, you need to carefully monitor this, otherwise if you start such a process, it will be too late to save the plant and it will die.
There are two groups of reasons why foliage turns yellow. The first is external conditions, and the second is the presence of harmful insects that drink plant juices or eat up the root system.
There is a third reason, a separate one, but first things first.
The foliage of cucumber seedlings turns yellow for many reasons. One of them is a lack of minerals in the soil . The second reason is incorrect watering regime . Another possible cause may be lack of light . This is why the leaves of cucumber seedlings on the window turn yellow.
Young seedlings should not be exposed to bright sun, as this can cause foliage burns. Lack of space for the root system can also cause yellowing of young leaves.
There is another reason why the leaves of cucumber seedlings turn yellow. It is the saddest, so to speak, because there are no effective remedies against it.
It may be a matter of bad seeds , then you can forget about a good harvest. Therefore, you should buy seeds from safe places and store them properly. Read more about preparing seeds before planting.
Prevention
You need to choose your seeds carefully. Experts advise buying seed material of varieties that are resistant to disease. Today you can buy seeds that are coated with disinfectant compounds. Before planting, it is advisable to treat the soil with special biological preparations, for example, Glyokladin or Baikal EM1. They are capable of destroying a large number of pathogens.
Cucumbers wither and dry out in acidic soil, so the beds need to be deoxidized. The addition of dolomite flour, lime, chalk and ash will help make the acidity level neutral. The latter is able to inhibit the growth of fungal diseases. To prevent cucumbers from getting sick, it is recommended to plant them after beans, tomatoes, potatoes, onions and cabbage. It is not advisable to plant after pumpkin plants. Cucumber bushes will have enough moisture, nutrients, air and sun if the distance between them is at least 40 cm. To preserve heat, inhibit the growth of weeds and prevent the soil from drying out, it is advisable to create mulch. You can use non-woven materials, peat, sawdust and hay. It is necessary to protect cucumbers growing outdoors in a timely manner from cold weather and heavy rains. However, they should not be under the film all the time.
If yellow leaves appear in an area with growing cucumbers, this is considered an alarming sign. It is necessary to establish probable causes as quickly as possible and try to correct the situation. If the decision is late, the bushes will completely dry out and there will be no harvest. When you start growing cucumbers, you need to follow all the recommendations of experienced gardeners and create optimal conditions for the plant to grow and develop.
What to do if the leaves turn yellow?
If you are overcome by such a nuisance, then first of all you need to adjust the watering , this is the most common reason that the seedlings begin to turn yellow. also worth applying more fertilizers , but this issue must be approached with caution, since excessive amounts of them can also harm young shoots.
Particular attention should be paid to fertilizers containing manganese and nitrogen. If everything has already been done, and the leaves continue to wither and change color, this may mean that the seedlings do not have enough space and need to be transplanted into a larger pot . Although cucumbers do not like to be replanted, in this case it is simply necessary, otherwise there is a risk of losing the entire harvest.
You should definitely pay attention to where your shoots are located. If there is a draft, then immediately look for another, more suitable place; cucumbers do not like drafts, especially seedlings.
Spider mites are the main enemy of gardeners. For many years, the most effective remedy against this barely noticeable pest has been a simple soap solution. The shoots and leaves themselves are washed with it.
The pest dies from this, but the plant does no harm. The same measure will be effective against aphids. You can also use Iskra or Fitoverm. More radical measures will be needed against the leaf roller - fungicides.
Ways to solve problems
Many problems can be avoided if you choose the right variety for your balcony or windowsill and organize the care of your cucumbers. It is also important to choose a place for these crops, because in too dark areas the bushes will wither. On the contrary, they will get burned in the sun.
Choosing the right variety for the windowsill
Hybrids and varieties with compact stems and small leaves that do not require pollinating insects are suitable for balconies and window sills. It is advisable to purchase early crops. Pickles or gherkins bear fruit well in apartment conditions.
It is preferable to sow the following varieties on the windowsill: Balagan F1 (parthenocarpic hybrid, early ripening, gherkin), Balcony F1 (early hybrid that does not require pollinators), Garland F1, Calendar F1, Kolibri F1, Tomboy F1.
We organize proper plant care
Cucumbers need to be properly cared for and fed regularly. The first fertilizing is applied when the seedlings are 2 weeks old. At this age, they are fertilized with a urea solution. After 10 days, another fertilizing is applied, constantly alternating nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus substances. Water the soil regularly, avoiding excess moisture, otherwise the plants will get sick. As the bush grows, it is shaped and tied to a support. Cucumbers are afraid of drafts. If they are on the balcony, during strong winds they are covered with a curtain.
Shading overly lit areas
It is advisable to plant cucumbers on the south side of the house, in partial shade. In the sun, the plant can get burned. On a summer afternoon, it is recommended to shade areas that are too sunlit. You can hang a curtain and from time to time cover the bushes growing on the loggia or windowsill with it.
Why do the leaf edges of cucumber seedlings dry out?
Drying of leaves is a common problem when growing cucumber seedlings. The reasons for this may be external conditions and harmful organisms, as well as various diseases .
Improper watering is one of the common causes of drying leaves. Too bright or insufficient light, acidic soil can also be reasons for the leaves to dry out. The plant may also be susceptible to various fungal diseases.
The most common pests are spider mites, aphids and greenhouse whiteflies, especially if the seedlings grow in greenhouse shelters. Although the sprout fly is a rare pest, this does not reduce its danger.
Downy mildew, true powdery mildew, and root rot also cause the foliage of seedlings to dry out. Such a dangerous disease as fusarium can destroy not only young shoots, but also an adult plant.
Sudden changes in temperature , low temperatures or too high temperatures can also be the reason why small plants feel unwell.
What to do if the leaves dry out?
Powdery mildew is a fungal disease against which Topaz and colloidal sulfur are used . We must take into account that these are still seedlings, so the dosage must be selected especially carefully so as not to cause harm. The drug “Fitostorin” will be effective against a disease such as downy mildew .
In the case of blossom end rot, it is necessary to adjust the watering and it is best to water the seedlings in small doses twice a day , morning and evening. For this, water must be prepared, that is, it must be collected in advance and left for at least 12-14 hours or passed through a filter.
A good old soap solution made from ordinary laundry soap against aphids and spider mites
They wipe foxes and shoots of future cucumbers with it. The product “Confidor” successfully helps against greenhouse whitefly . The drug “Strela” will be effective against germ flies .
If a disease such as root rot occurs, you need to check the soil and drainage of the bottom of the cassette or other container where your seedlings are growing; water can accumulate there, which causes root rot. If this is not done most carefully, the young shoots will die.
If the soil is acidic, then the acidity should be reduced, bringing it to neutral . The easiest and cheapest way is slaked lime . The method is natural and suitable for everyone who does not want to use heavy chemicals again and is quite fast.
You can also use dolomite flour , which is quite expensive, but very effective. Products such as chalk and ash are also quite effective methods of reducing soil acidity. In addition, it can serve as additional fertilizer.
Such measures can be effective for more than one season, so next year you will be free from this problem.
Cucumber seedlings - the leaves dry out and turn yellow, photo below:
To get a good harvest of cucumbers, you need to work hard. This is especially true for growing seedlings. Here a beginner faces many difficulties. But if you grow it without yellowing or wilting of the leaves, then you can rightfully be proud and consider yourself an experienced gardener.
In the article we found out the reasons why cucumber seedlings die or the leaves of cucumber seedlings turn yellow, what to do in this case? They described methods of combating these ailments. By using them, almost any problems will not be scary, since the most difficult stage is over. Good luck to you, luck and patience, and of course a great harvest.
Processing and treatment procedures
Cucumbers will get sick less if you disinfect the soil before planting and treat the seeds with a solution of potassium permanganate. The earth can be warmed up at high temperatures or, conversely, allowed to freeze at low temperatures. It is imperative to disinfect the containers in which the seedlings will grow.
If the cucumbers are sick, it is advisable to first treat them with biological preparations (Albit, Gamair). These products increase immunity and stimulate plant growth. Biological drugs can be used repeatedly until signs of disease completely disappear.
In advanced cases, chemical fungicides (Topaz, Bayleton) are used. Their effect lasts from 7 to 20 days. Such drugs are more effective, but they are toxic.
Useful materials
Explore other useful articles about cucumber seedlings:
- How to properly grow on a windowsill, balcony and even in the basement?
- Tips for growing in various containers, in particular peat pots and tablets.
- Find out the planting dates depending on the region.
- Reasons why seedlings stretch?
- All the secrets of proper planting in open ground.
Signs of drying out of seedlings and adult cucumber bushes
- Only the edges of cucumbers become drier. The middle of the leaves can remain bright green and fresh, but the edge zone curls up and the cucumber leaves dry quickly. It is necessary to begin therapy immediately so that the entire leaf plate does not deteriorate.
- Pale shade. The entire leaf may have a pale color or only the veins remain green.
- Whitish spots. Over time, their number increases. Sometimes this spotting spreads to neighboring leaves. The shade may first be brownish-yellow, and only then pallor appears.
Often only the old cucumber leaves are affected, and then the young shoots dry out. First, the shade begins to change, and curling begins; if you do nothing, the sheet crumbles. This should not be allowed, because thanks to it, vegetables are protected from excessive sun and pests. The edges of cucumber leaves often dry out from the bottom first. This happens with fungal infections. Seedling shoots quickly become stale and die. 4-7 days are enough for the bush to be completely damaged. It is the change in appearance that is considered the first sign.
