How to get rid of aphids on cucumbers and how to deal with it It is necessary to know not only for beginners, but also for experienced gardeners. After all, this pest is capable of destroying the entire crop. It is necessary to combat these pests from spring in the greenhouse and from July in open ground. And this must be done quickly, since aphids reproduce in a short time and in just a week can infect all cucumber plantings, leaving the gardener without a harvest. Therefore, in this article we will talk about how to fight aphids on cucumbers folk, biological and chemical means.
What are aphids and how are they dangerous for plants, including cucumbers?
There are many types of aphids. Pumpkin crops, including cucumbers, are affected by melon aphids. Cabbage, legumes (beans, peas) and tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers also suffer from aphids.
The pest reaches no more than 2 mm in length, and it multiplies very quickly, occupying all garden beds in a matter of days.
The melon aphid damages the leaves and young shoots by piercing them and sucking the juice from the plants. As a result, the shoots stop growing, stop forming fruits, and the plant soon dies.
In addition, aphids are carriers of dangerous viral diseases, which can cause the death of neighboring crops.
The pest settles on the back side of the leaves, so it can be replaced at the wrong time.
Signs of aphids on cucumbers:
- the edges of the leaves curl down;
- deformation of the tops of the stems occurs;
- the plant stops growing;
- internodes are shortened;
- fruit formation is reduced;
- plants are covered with honeydew;
- ants appear;
- the ovaries fall off;
- the lower leaves wither;
- Small black bugs appeared on the back of the leaves.
Description of the pest
There are many species of aphids found in nature. The melon variety of insect can damage cucumbers. The distributors are ants. They transfer aphids from one plant to another.
The aphids are small in size, the body no more than 2.2 mm. There are different colors: white, black-green, green-yellow, brown. The pest overwinters on plant debris. Withstands frosts down to -16 degrees.
In a greenhouse, aphids can be found in the spring, in open beds a little later - at the end of June. Insect development occurs quickly. In 10 days the larva turns into an adult. Therefore, plants need to be saved as soon as the first signs appear on the leaves.
Insects are located on the inside of the leaf and feed on the sap of the seedlings. Light yellow spots begin to appear on the leaf blade, and a sticky, whitish film is noticeable. Gradually the leaves curl, dry out, and the ovaries fall off. The plant begins to look weak and wilted.
In addition, aphids cause the spread of dangerous viral infections.
How to treat cucumbers against aphids: folk methods of fighting aphids on cucumbers
Important! To completely destroy melon aphids on cucumbers, it is necessary to carry out 2-3 treatments with an interval of 3-4 days. At the same time, various folk remedies are used so that the pest cannot adapt to them.
Treatment of cucumbers against aphids is carried out in the evening after sunset on the back side of the leaves.
Ammonia (ammonia solution)
10% ammonia effectively fights aphids.
Solution recipe:
- 10 liters of water;
- 50 ml. ammonia;
- 5 tbsp. spoons of liquid laundry soap;
- 3 tbsp. spoons of sunflower oil.
Interesting! Liquid soap enhances the adhesion of the solution to the leaves, and oil enhances the effectiveness of the product.
Mustard powder
Mustard powder is good for controlling aphids. The solution is prepared as follows:
- 100 g powder;
- 3 liters of boiling water;
- Leave for 5-6 hours (stirring occasionally);
- after the mustard settles, the liquid is poured into a 10-liter sprayer
- add 5 tbsp. spoons of liquid laundry soap;
- 3 tbsp. spoons of sunflower oil;
- 7 liters of water.
- Spraying is carried out.
Soda
Baking soda works great against aphids. Preparation of the solution:
- 10 liters of water;
- 50 g of soda (3 tablespoons);
- 5 tbsp. spoons of liquid laundry soap;
- 3 tbsp. spoons of sunflower oil.
Interesting! Soda solution is also effective against powdery mildew and rot.
Vinegar
To treat cucumbers against aphids, prepare the following solution:
- 1 tbsp. spoon of acetic acid;
- 1 liter of water;
- 1 tbsp. spoon of laundry soap or detergent.
In further recipes you need to add soap, but you can discard the oil.
Wood ash
- 200 g of ash;
- 10 liters of water;
- stand for 12 hours;
- then add 2-3 tbsp. spoons of soap, grated.
Interesting! Products based on plants that emit a pungent odor are effective: celandine, garlic, onion skins and others.
Laundry or tar soap
- Finely grate 100 g of soap;
- pour 10 liters of water.
Garlic
- 150 g crushed;
- add to 10 liters of boiling water;
- stand for 24 hours;
- filter.
Onion peel
- 200 g husk;
- 10 liters of water;
- stand for 4-5 days;
- strain.
Pine needle extract
- 1 tbsp. spoon of extract;
- 2-3 tbsp. spoons of liquid soap;
- a bucket of water.
Tobacco dust
- 2 cups of tobacco dust;
- 10 liters of water;
- Infuse for 1 day;
- filter;
- add 50 g of crushed laundry soap.
In the same way, you can prepare not an infusion, but a decoction. In this case, the mixture will need to be simmered for 30 minutes after boiling.
Tops of tomatoes and potatoes
- 3 liter jar.
- Fill it ½ full with tops.
- Boiling water is poured to the brim.
- They insist for a day.
- Rub 1 tbsp. a spoonful of laundry soap.
Celandine
Infusion of celandine is an effective remedy for aphids on cucumbers.
- 3-4 kg of freshly cut green grass or 1 kg of dry;
- 10 liters of water;
- stand for 1-2 days;
- filter;
- add 2-3 tbsp. spoons of soap (grate).
Yarrow
- 1 kg of flowers and leaves;
- fill the bucket with boiling water to the brim;
- leave for 4-5 days;
- drain the liquid into another container;
- add 2-3 tablespoons of previously crushed soap to it.
Chamomile
- 10 liters of boiling water;
- 1 kg of pharmaceutical chamomile;
- leave for 12 hours.
- dilute with water 1:3;
- rub laundry soap (40 g per 10 liters of solution).
Sorrel
- 300 g horse sorrel roots;
- 10 liters of boiling water;
- Infuse for 2 hours;
- filter and spray.
Basic methods of struggle
Controlling aphids on cucumbers requires effort, especially when the population is rapidly increasing .
Chemical agents of contact-intestinal action are the most effective. They are used before flowering, since aggressive substances accumulate in flower ovaries, fruits and roots. Consumption of such a product by humans is hazardous to health. Insecticides are available in powder, tablet and liquid form .
The substances have a nerve-paralytic effect. The chemicals “Decis”, “Inta-Vir”, “Aktara”, “Tanrek”, “Danadim”, “Konfidor” are popular among gardeners. No less effective against aphids are biological products - “Bitoxibacillin”, “Aquarin”, “Aktofit”, “Fitoverm”, “Entobacterin”, “Strela”. They are allowed to be used during the fruiting period. The substances do not accumulate in plant tissues and are completely harmless to humans. Penetrating the digestive system, they deprive the insect of the opportunity to feed, causing starvation. The products do not cause addiction in aphids, as happens with chemicals.
Folk remedies based on herbal decoctions and infusions, vinegar , mustard powder , soap, ash, tobacco, and ammonia are suitable for use throughout the growing season. For better results, it is recommended to alternate and combine them with each other. For example, spraying foliage with garlic infusion is combined with treatment with a solution of mustard powder.
Attention! The action of folk remedies is not aimed at physically destroying the pest, but at repelling it.
Biological agents
If aphids have already infected many cucumber plantings, then it is necessary to resort to treatment with special fungicides: biological and chemical. Effective biological preparations for controlling aphids on cucumbers include the following:
- Bitoxibacillin;
- Aktofit;
- Biotlin;
- Fitoverm.
Fitoverm allows you to destroy pests very quickly: 2 hours after treatment they stop feeding, and after 2 days they die.
You can also use “Healthy Garden” against aphids, the main thing is to double the dosage - 4 granules per 1 liter of water). It lasts for 2-3 weeks, after which you can spray it again.
Moreover, already 3-5 days after processing, the fruits can be used for food again.
Causes of aphids
One of the main reasons for the appearance of aphids on the site is ants . They are attracted to the sweet and sticky honeydew on the leaves. This is honeydew - a secretion secreted by aphids. Moving around the site, ants act as “carriers”. They carry bugs on themselves, infecting new plantings.
Reference. Some ant species protect aphid colonies from natural pests and graze them as pets.
Failure to follow the rules for caring for cucumbers (loosening the soil and removing weeds), dense planting, poor ventilation in the greenhouse, and an excess of nitrogen in the soil contribute to the appearance of aphids.
Chemicals
Most often, after several treatments of cucumbers with folk or biological remedies, the aphids disappear. However, it happens that the pest remains. Then it is necessary to use chemical insecticides: systemic or surface.
| Name | Consumption rates, 10 l of water | After treatment, wait days before harvesting | Peculiarities |
| Inta-vir | 1 tab | 3 | do not use during flowering, toxic to bees |
| Aktellik | 3-15 ml | 20 | |
| Karbofos | 10 ml | 20 | |
| Spark Bio | 77 ml | 2 | |
| Iskra M | 10 ml | 20 | |
| Iskra Golden | 5 ml | 3 | |
| Fufanon | 10 ml | 20 | |
| Fufanon-Nova | 13 ml | 2 | |
| Commander | 5 ml | 3 |
The disadvantage of using chemicals is the long wait time for the substance to be removed. That is, the fruits can be eaten only 3-4 weeks after processing. Before this, the fruits will need to be picked and thrown away.
Advice from expert gardeners on preventive measures
Experienced gardeners recommend the following to prevent aphids on cucumbers:
- Regularly inspect the back of the leaves.
- If there are any signs of infection, treat with folk remedies.
- If traditional methods do not produce results, use biological and chemical agents.
- Regularly apply potassium-phosphorus fertilizers.
- At the same time, you need to fight the ants.
- Remove weeds in a timely manner.
- Immediately remove and burn the affected parts of the plant.
- Wash the bushes before flowering by sprinkling.
- Varieties that are resistant to insects are grown.
- Protect ventilation openings in greenhouses with mesh or gauze.
- Cover the cucumbers with a thin cloth in the open ground.
- Treat seeds and soil before sowing.
- In the fall, disinfect the greenhouse with sulfur bombs.
- Change spraying preparations so that the pest does not adapt to them.
- Do not thicken the plantings.
Using various means and preparations to combat aphids on cucumbers, you can choose the optimal ones that will allow you to get rid of the malicious pest and save your crop.
Watch the video! Aphids on cucumbers: the best ways to fight them
Signs of defeat
At the beginning of the season, it is quite difficult to see small green bugs merging with the green mass. However, as the pest spreads, the first signs appear :
- delayed growth and development of cucumbers;
- delayed flowering;
- wilting of the upper foliage;
- curling and drying of leaves;
- honeydew on greens;
- accumulation of ants on the site;
- falling of flower ovaries;
- wilting of the lower leaves;
- black or green bugs on the back of leaves.
