How to feed cucumbers with urea: spraying, processing rules

Urea is one of the most effective and affordable fertilizers that provides plants with nitrogen. All plants need this element for active growth and expansion of leaf mass. Urea is used for feeding cucumbers as an independent fertilizer, or together with other substances. The drug successfully combines low price and effective results. Therefore, many vegetable growers prefer to use this particular product to stimulate the growth of cucumber bushes.

What is urea

Urea is a nitrogen fertilizer, without which the normal growing season, growth and development of plants is impossible. Therefore, it is especially necessary for soils with low nutrient content. Urea for cucumbers is used by gardeners both independently and together with other types of fertilizing.

Attention! It may be in the form of small colorless crystals or soluble tablets. The latter type is convenient to use on personal plots.

This fertilizer is a product of chemical origin. It is obtained by synthesizing ammonia and carbon dioxide at high temperatures. Urea has found application not only in agriculture (type “B”), but also in the food industry (type “A”).

Urea contains 46% nitrogen, which is available to plants. Without it, they cannot fully grow and develop.

Feeding cucumbers with urea is necessary for:

accelerated growth of tops;
replenishment of nitrogen content;
increasing plant immunity;
providing protection from diseases and parasites - in this case, fertilizer is an excellent analogue of expensive insecticides. With its help you can destroy aphids, copperheads, flower beetles, etc.

In addition, foliar feeding of cucumbers with urea does not burn the leaves of the crop.

Cucumber needs

Cucumber culture is one of the most capricious. If the cucumber does not like something in the soil or watering regime, then the fruits will taste bitter. For example, if you allow the soil to become dry in the early stages of development of fruiting branches, the entire crop will become bitter, no matter how much you water the already formed cucumber beds.

Cucumbers really don't like fresh manure. If you fertilize the beds with manure before planting cucumbers, the cucumbers will give off a good bitterness. Manure is introduced exclusively in the fall. Manure derivatives in the form of mullein solution can be used at the height of the season. See the paragraph on the use of fertilizers.

Cucumber culture loves moderately fertilized soil. There is no need to allow the soil to become oversaturated with micronutrients; on such soil, cucumbers instantly “get fat,” that is, all the growth force will go into the tops, and the harvest will be a solid fraction.

An excellent place for planting cucumbers are cabbage beds that were fertilized according to the norm a year ago. That is, experienced summer residents alternate planting cabbage and cucumbers. In this case, the land for cabbage is fertilized according to all norms and rules, and the cucumber beds are treated only by loosening and mulching (spraying against pests and diseases can be added).

So, what fertilizers are used for open ground?

Nitrogen deficiency and excess

Cucumbers need proper and proper care, otherwise it is impossible to get a rich harvest. In case of nitrogen deficiency, you may notice:

growth has slowed;
leaves and stems turned yellow;
during the flowering process, the leaves fall off;
ovaries are not formed;
crop reduction;
the growth of side shoots slowed down.

If these signs appear, then treatment of cucumbers with urea is necessary.

Attention!

Fertilizers should be applied not superficially, but deep into the soil. Thanks to this, ammonium loss is minimized.

An excess of nitrogen is just as harmful to plants as its lack. In this case, the green mass will grow too actively and become dark green in color. The fruits will be crooked or not appear at all.

How to dilute fertilizer

It is allowed to feed cucumbers with urea in diluted or dry form. It dissolves well in any liquid.

If a liquid solution is needed, the product must be diluted with water. The ratio of liquid and preparation depends on the chosen method of fertilizing. At the same time, the instructions are important: if it indicates the dosage in grams, then it is important to remember that 1 tablespoon contains 10 g of urea, and a regular glass - 130 g of the drug in granules.

If cucumbers grow in a polycarbonate greenhouse, then the recipe for preparing the fertilizer is as follows:

water – 10 l;
urea – 15 g;
superphosphate – 20 g;
potassium chloride – 15 g.

It is necessary to fertilize cucumbers at the root in open ground with a concentrated solution. To prepare liquid fertilizer that can be used to water or spray vegetables, you will need:

water - bucket;
urea – 15 g;
superphosphate – 60 g.

Fertilize the crop with this mixture only after good watering and preferably on a cloudy day.

Deadlines for depositing

Cucumbers need nitrogen during the first half of the flowering period. Its duration continues from the moment of growing green mass and ends during the fruiting period. It is necessary to feed based on the leaf: as soon as the first one appears, the procedure can be carried out.

Attention!

If you do not apply fertilizers, the vegetables will produce a poor harvest and begin to age prematurely.

After the fruiting stage begins, the frequency of feeding should be reduced.

During the time that passes from growing cucumbers to obtaining the desired result, urea fertilizer should be applied 5 times. But in order to get a good harvest, it is important how many times the urea was used, and whether the procedure was carried out on time. The timing of urea application depends on the chosen method: root or foliar.

Applying fertilizer to the root system

The use of urea has a beneficial effect on crop development if you follow the rules. Its effectiveness will be higher if the fertilizer is applied as deep into the soil as possible.

Stages of root feeding:

Basic tillage - you need to dig up the soil in the fall or spring. During this period, you need to add urea. For every square meter of area, 10 g of dry granules are required. They should be sealed so that they are at a depth of 8 cm. You can divide the fertilizer into 2 parts, one of which should be applied to the soil in the spring, and the second in the fall.
Sowing - the use of urea is permissible simultaneously with sowing seeds. The product must be spread into the prepared holes, but at the same time avoid its contact with the seed material. Add 4 g of urea to each hole, then sprinkle with soil and sow the seeds.
The appearance of two true leaves - during this period it is better to feed the cucumbers with urea at the root. To prepare a solution, dissolve 30 substances in a bucket of water and use for watering. If I grow a crop through seedlings, then water the cucumbers with urea in this case after 14 days - this is the time needed for the plant to undergo adaptation. To make it take root better, you can add 50 g of superphosphate to the resulting solution.
Beginning of fruiting – it is necessary to water the seedlings with urea at the beginning of fruiting. This is an important aspect, since during this period the green mass consumes more nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and other elements from the soil. Therefore, it is necessary to quickly replenish the content of these microelements in the soil. Gardeners prepare liquid root fertilizers as follows: dilute 30 g of urea, 20 g of potassium nitrate and 40 g of superphosphate in a bucket of liquid. Use the mixture for watering at the rate of 1 liter per 1 bush.
Mass fruiting - at this time the greatest consumption of nutrients by the plant occurs. Therefore, the deficiency of useful microelements needs to be restored. Otherwise, it will not be possible to reap a rich harvest. To avoid such consequences, you need to mix 10 liters of water, 15 g of urea and 30 g of potassium nitrate. Use the resulting solution for watering cucumbers.

Regardless of the stage of fertilizing, it is better to carry out the procedure in the morning and evening hours. Then water the soil abundantly with water.

Useful tips

Treating cucumbers with urea often does not have a positive effect. Without receiving the desired result, gardeners stop trusting fertilizers such as urea. They don’t even think about what caused the feeding to not work.

In most cases, most of the blame lies with gardeners. People do not prepare the solution correctly, fertilize it differently and do not follow the proportions. Weather conditions also play a big role.

In order not to encounter negative experiences using urea for fertilizing, before starting the procedure, you need to know certain rules:

With good growth, cucumbers do not need urea. It seems to a person that he can improve an already good situation and feeds it. This is harmful to the crop, as it leads to excess nutrients. This phenomenon is observed when grown outdoors and in greenhouses.
When fertilizing on hot days, the crop must be watered at the end of the procedure. This way the fertilizers will work even better. The watering can ensures even distribution of moisture.
The most suitable option is to fertilize in wet weather. It may be the rainy season. Moreover, watering may not be necessary.

Before the feeding procedure, a person must thoroughly study the instructions. It is strictly forbidden to exceed the recommended amount of urea for fertilizing a vegetable crop such as cucumber. Calculations are made based on the number of plants processed and the area of land. If a person does not act according to the rules, his actions will lead to the loss of the harvest.

The amount of harvest directly depends on the gardener’s level of knowledge about all the nuances of crop care. One of the most important is feeding. Urea fertilizer directly affects the taste of the fruit, presentation and number of cucumbers on the bush. Therefore, a person must be careful when feeding.

To get the maximum effect from using urea, you should adhere to the following recommendations:

It is possible to use nitrogen fertilizer undiluted, but then dry granules are sprinkled at a distance of 1-2 cm from the stem

It is important to prevent close contact of the plant with the active substance. After applying the product, the seedlings must be watered

When feeding cucumbers, maximum efficiency is achieved by alternating root feeding with foliar feeding at an interval of 14 days. Do not exceed the dosage allowed by the instructions. It is better to add more water than to exceed the dose of the drug.

Foliar feeding

Vegetable growers resort to this method of adding urea if the crop is painful or the ovaries and leaves have begun to fall off. Foliar fertilizer is most effective during drought or low temperatures, as it nourishes the plant.

Advantages of this method:

the period of active fruiting increases;
spraying cucumbers with urea helps nutrients get directly into the stems and leaves;
profitability - urea will go directly to the crop that is being processed, and not to the ground, feeding not only the plant, but also the weeds;
The vegetable's immunity increases;
can be used at any time, regardless of the stage of formation and development of the cucumber.

Attention!

Spraying vegetables is more effective, since gardeners use this method to prevent diseases and parasites.

In order not to cause harm, you need to know how to feed, but also maintain the dosage:

Water the cucumbers with a solution prepared from 5 tbsp diluted in water. l. urea. You must strictly follow the instructions, otherwise you can burn the leaves of the plant.
Avoid watering during rainfall or during the afternoon. The best time for the procedure is morning or evening.

Rules for caring for vegetables

Growing cucumbers is not difficult, but it is important to fulfill the following conditions:

create an environment for good growth and fruit formation;
disease prevention;
pinching branches and stems;
fertilize at the right time;
control the flowering time, if necessary, repeat pollination.

All points are very important; they directly affect the quality and quantity of the harvest. But, no less important is urea for cucumbers. Any plant needs feeding. Feeding helps prevent possible diseases and pests. In addition, they affect fruit growth and ripening time.

In order for cucumbers to receive all the beneficial substances, they need to be fed 3-4 times throughout the season. Gardeners can use any method: foliar or root.

Processing of seedlings

You can spray cucumbers with urea during seed germination and during transplantation. It is important to remember that an excess of nitrogen promotes the growth of green mass and, as a result, the tops and leaves will become large, and the fruits will become small.

Gardeners can apply fertilizer to the garden when digging the soil before planting seedlings or immediately before planting. In the first case, it is advisable to carry out the procedure twice a year: in autumn and spring. In this case, the product should penetrate approximately 8-10 centimeters deep into the ground. Use no more than 10 g of urea.

In the second case, the granules are poured directly into the prepared holes. This must be done in such a way as to avoid contact of seeds with urea. If you neglect this rule, the germination and development of the crop will slow down. Therefore, initially the granules are placed in the soil and then covered with earth. Only after this the seeds are added.

Possible negative aspects

Urea, like any plant nutrition product, cannot be called absolutely safe. It is important to consider the following nuances before use:

The product is useless for use on neutral and highly alkaline soils, since carbonates in the soil will inhibit the effect of urea.
Incorrect concentration or overdose of urea can lead to the death of the vegetable crop.
Too frequent application of urea inhibits the growth of cucumbers.

It is also important to consider the basic rule of how to water cucumbers with urea. It must be incorporated into the soil, otherwise the nitrogen will partially enter the fruit and turn into nitrates. It is strictly not recommended to mix urea with some fertilizer substances.

Processing greenhouse cucumbers

It is better to fertilize cucumbers in a greenhouse in two stages, the first of which occurs before the onset of the growing season.

The second stage is necessary if signs of nitrogen deficiency are noticeable. If the required temperature regime and regular watering are set in the greenhouse, then the leaves of the cucumbers should be green throughout the entire fruiting period, and not yellow and curled. In cases where negative changes have occurred in the growth and development of greenhouse plants, it is necessary to treat the soil and leaves.

For the solution you need:

dilute 50 g of urea in a bucket of water - root feeding before the growing season;
Dilute 15 g of urea in 10 liters of liquid for spraying stems and leaves.

Attention!

You need to water so that the mixture gets into the soil, but a few centimeters from the roots.

The optimal time for processing greenhouse cucumbers is evening, since burns to the plants can be avoided.

You can also feed cucumbers with dry granules. But their use should be careful, a few centimeters from the root. In this case, per 1 square meter of area there should be no more than 7 g of urea. After completion, water. This method is quite risky, so before using it you need to think carefully about the possible consequences.

What you should pay attention to

To get the desired result from feeding cucumbers with urea, you need to:

alternate root and foliar application of fertilizer - two weeks should pass between procedures;
You should not exceed the dose recommended by the instructions. It is better to add more liquid to the solution than substance;
Avoid the simultaneous use of urea and ash to fertilize cucumbers. It is better to first spray the plants with a solution from the second product, and after 14 days use urea;
do not mix fertilizer with calcium nitrate;
mix phosphates with urea immediately before use.

In addition, you need to consider the type of soil where cucumbers grow. For example, in sandy soil, nutritional components are poorly preserved, so you need to feed the plants in small portions, but often. In the case of clay soil, the amount of fertilizer must be reduced, since clay retains useful components for a long time.

Application Guide

There are rules for using such a drug. It must be introduced into the soil quite deeply to prevent decomposition. The fertilizer can be used both for cucumbers grown in open ground and for greenhouses. Although the additive is considered universal, an individual dosage is required for any crop.

Urea tends to increase the level of acidity and alkalinity of the soil. To neutralize this phenomenon, use a lime mixture. In addition to cucumbers, this product is suitable for tomatoes, other vegetable and fruit crops.

Precautionary measures

Urea is not dangerous to humans, but in some cases it can cause consequences such as allergies or intolerances. Therefore, it is better to fertilize with this substance while wearing personal protective equipment. You will need:

gloves;
mask;
respirator.

If the solution gets into your eyes, they should be rinsed with plenty of water. Store dry granules out of the reach of children and animals, away from food.

To obtain a rich and tasty harvest of cucumbers, you must not only use various fertilizers, but also follow the instructions exactly. Thanks to this, the plants will not be damaged.