Pale leaves on cucumbers: what to do and what to feed, treatment for diseases and pests

Author's rating

Author of the article

Yakov Pavlovich

Professor, Head of the Department of Vegetable Growing

Articles written

153

During the growing season, pale leaves sometimes appear on cucumbers. This worries the vegetable grower. What to do and how to feed the plant so that the cucumber vines do not stop growing, and the green plants that have already begun to form do not stop their development. There may be several reasons and you need to figure it out quickly. Every minute of delay can lead to the loss of the entire harvest.

Basic information

The most common problem with cucumber bushes is changes in the shape of the leaves, their color and size.
The culprit is a common nutrient deficiency. The main thing is to understand what exactly the plant lacks at the moment. To do this, you need to study in more detail exactly how the leaves turn pale: the greenery disappears between the veins, begins to appear exclusively at the edges, spreads in spots, or the problem affects the entire plate at once. Based on the options presented, you can easily identify the problem and begin to deal with it. Otherwise, the cucumber ovaries will simply fall off, and there can be no talk of a good harvest. So how can you feed the melon crop if its leaves begin to turn pale and yellow?

Main reasons

The reason why cucumber leaves turn white can be either disease or pests, or improper care.

Incorrect agricultural technology

The main mistakes gardeners make in caring for plants:

• planting in the ground too early;
• watering young plants with cold water;
• unsuitable soil for acidity.

All these nuances eventually lead to the whitening of cucumber leaves.

Disembarkation time

The crop should be planted in open ground no earlier than the first 10 days of April, otherwise the seeds and first shoots will freeze as soon as they appear on the surface of the soil.

Watering

Young cucumber bushes are watered with slightly warm water at a temperature of about 20-25°C: this helps the plants adapt faster and accelerates their growth without compromising their health.

Acidity

Too high acidity also plays a significant role in the fact that the plant’s leaves turn pale and growth stops.

Before planting seeds in open soil, check the acidity level of the soil: place a handful of soil in a plastic container, pour distilled water into it so that the soil becomes viscous, add 1 tsp. baking soda. If the mixture hisses and bubbles, the pH of the soil is increased. An ash solution will help neutralize high acidity.

250 g of ash are placed in 5 liters of water, stirred thoroughly to achieve homogeneity of the mixture. The prepared solution is used for watering holes during planting.

Diseases and pests

The first signs that the plant has been affected by pests or disease are dryness and whitening of the leaves. Among the main diseases and parasites that have a negative impact on cucumber bushes are:

• powdery mildew;
• white mosaic;
• ascochyta;
• spider mite;
• anthracnose

Powdery mildew

The most common cause of white spots on cucumber leaves is powdery mildew. This is a fungal disease. Most often, infection occurs in the greenhouse, because there are the best conditions for the development of Erysiphales. White spots that look like drops of moisture appear on leaves, young shoots, stems, and sometimes on fruits.

To prevent the disease, carefully monitor watering: moisten the soil near the plant, trying not to get it on the leaves. If cucumbers are grown in a greenhouse, it should be closed at night to avoid extreme temperature changes.

White mosaic

It is necessary to start treatment as soon as possible

White mosaic is the second most common disease to which cucumbers are susceptible. This viral-fungal disease is distinguished by the fact that the spots on the leaves are star-shaped, causing the leaves to dry out.

The disease even affects cotyledon leaves. If nothing is done, the infected plant dies.

Ascochyta blight

Another parasite of cucumbers is ascochyta blight, caused by a group of imperfect fungi that belong to the genus Ascochyta. Signs of the influence of this pest:

• the tips of the leaves, and sometimes the stems, are covered with small spots of yellowish color;
• leaves change color to dirty gray;
• spots increase in size. sometimes occupy most of the sheet.

As a result, the leaves of cucumbers dry out, sometimes they can even wrinkle.

Spider mite

Spider mites are a pest that are less than 1 mm in size. It often becomes the reason why cucumber leaves dry out. The lower leaves are affected first. Another danger is that insects of this species reproduce very quickly: a female can lay up to 400 eggs in a few days.

Anthracnose

Anthracnose is a fungal disease. From its negative influence, not only the leaves dry out, but also the stems and shoots. Yellowish or brownish spots appear ranging from approximately 3 mm to 3-4 cm.

The edges of the leaves are most often affected. With severe damage, the spots merge. Ulcers form at the affected areas. Sometimes the sheet simply breaks into pieces.

Plants grown in greenhouses are most susceptible to the effects of anthracnose, because there is a limited space into which it is convenient for the pathogen to migrate.

Causes of pale leaves and seedlings

What causes foliage to change color to light green? Do they differ in vines growing in greenhouses from those grown in open ground?

In the open ground

If you rush to plant cucumber seedlings in open ground, when the soil has not yet warmed up enough, the leaves may lighten and fall off. To eliminate the problem, a portable greenhouse is made - the temporary frame is covered with film. Leave it until the ground warms up.

In the greenhouse

Cucumber seedlings planted in a greenhouse may become sick, turn pale and dry out if disease spores were contained in untreated soil. Therefore, it is recommended to disinfect the soil, the greenhouse itself and gardening tools in advance.

Pale leaves on greenhouse cucumbers

If the occurrence of various problems with the stem of the described crop in open ground can be explained by a deficiency or excess of any minerals, then in a greenhouse such moments are practically excluded.

Under artificial growing conditions, the blanching of leaves on melon bushes manifests itself:

It turns out that even growing in a greenhouse does not protect the melon crop from all sorts of misfortunes that affect its proper development and healthy state.

Why do the leaves turn pale?

Gardeners often encounter pathological processes that manifest themselves as pale leaves in cucumbers. They depend on what element the plant lacks or, conversely, what nutrients are supplied in excess.

Green leaves become pale green due to improper care or unfavorable weather conditions.

Improper care

Pathological processes do not necessarily indicate a lack of nutrients in the soil. Sometimes it happens that these substances are not absorbed due to improper care. Nitrogen deficiency can occur due to lack of moisture. Too dry soil causes the activity of beneficial microorganisms to dampen, available nitrogen disappears, which leads to pale leaves. Seedlings and cucumbers require regular watering.

Some gardeners, having not fully figured out the reason, are in a hurry with fertilizing. But an excess of nitrogen will lead to the accumulation of nitrates in the fruits, which will significantly reduce their quality. The cause can be eliminated by proper and regular watering - in a week the leaves will acquire a natural color.

If the situation is critical, the cucumbers are fertilized, but fertilizing should not be done before harvesting.

The appearance on a crop of leaves resembling a dome in shape with a light border along the edges often misleads vegetable growers, since the same symptoms may indicate damage to the roots. The discovery of yellow, dry roots indicates a serious disease and fertilizing is indispensable. The root system may turn yellow due to an excess of certain nutrients in the soil.

Low temperatures and frosts

With an unexpected cold snap, individual areas of the leaf blade turn pale until completely discolored. Damaged leaves and shoots of plants are removed.

Sudden temperature fluctuations

Daily temperature changes can cause leaves to turn pale. If it is cool at night and warm enough during the day, you should cover the plants with film.

Violation of agrotechnical conditions

The leaves of cucumber seedlings often turn lighter due to lack of light. This can be eliminated by simply moving the cup with seedlings towards the light or using additional lighting. However, direct sunlight will also cause harm.

The tops take on a light green color if the plants are exposed to drafts. Growing cucumbers in a greenhouse will help ensure the necessary temperature conditions, absence of drafts and proper ventilation.

Lack or excess of microelements

Experts identify several reasons why cucumber leaves become discolored. Here are the main ones:

There are cases where an excess of some fertilizers leads to a shortage of others. This happens most often with nitrogen and potassium. Excess nitrogen manifests itself in large organs and numerous flowers, but the ovary forms later and the fruits take longer to ripen. An increased concentration of potassium in the soil causes rapid flowering and fruit formation, but the crops inhibit growth, and as a result, the amount of harvest decreases sharply. At high calcium concentrations, crops poorly absorb manganese, zinc and copper.

Keep a close eye on your plants

External symptoms of nutrient deficiency may vary, but general pathologies in growth and development are also present. An experienced gardener visually determines that something is wrong with the plant.

Poor watering

Cucumbers are moisture-loving vegetables. If there is a lack of watering, the leaves may turn pale and wither. Excess water will also not be beneficial; plants begin to get sick from excess moisture.

It is better not to use cold water for watering; it can also make the foliage lighten. It is best to irrigate cucumbers with settled warm water.

Plant overload with ovaries

The opinion that in order to obtain the maximum yield it is necessary to leave the greatest number of ovaries is deeply erroneous. In order for the plant to receive optimal load, excess ovaries are evenly pinched, leaving about 20 per bush. With an excess of ovaries, the lash loses vitality and turns pale.

Poor pollination

Insufficient pollination of cucumbers can cause foliage to change color. The problem most often occurs in plantings in greenhouses and greenhouses, when insects do not have access to flowers. In this case, specialized means for pollination are used or measures are taken to attract insects.

Plants are sprayed regularly with solutions of purchased preparations or boric acid using a spray bottle.

In order for insects to pollinate cucumber flowers in a greenhouse, dill or honey herbs are planted inside; a few bushes are enough. They will attract flies and bees to pollinate the cucumbers.

Damage by insects or infections: methods of combating them

A common cause of pale tops is pests and diseases. The incidence of fungal diseases is promoted by temperatures below 15 degrees and excess moisture.

Nutrition

The lack of any element that influences the development of a vegetable crop can manifest itself in various external changes:

• the leaf blade completely turns yellow and brightens;
• pale spots appear from the edges;
• the surface becomes spotted, covered with individual pale fragments;
• the foliage remains green but changes color in the vein area.

Pallor sometimes signals the first signs of illness.

The loss of bright color is caused not only by a lack, but also by an excess of nutrition. So, with excessive application of boron-containing fertilizers, the foliage begins to turn yellow from the edges, gradually moving towards the center. Often, such symptoms appear when there is an excess of organic matter, especially chicken droppings.

Why cucumber seedlings lose their green color - other reasons

What to do if the leaves of cucumbers become pale during the period of active growth and development of the bush? First of all, determine the cause, and then act in such a way as not to reduce the fruiting of plants:

Pinching the ovaries is a very important point in the formation of a fruit bush. On average, it is believed that one plant should not have more than 23 ovaries at the same time, otherwise it will not cope with the load and will begin to turn pale.

What is chlorosis

Chlorosis is a condition when, due to non-compliance with care rules in unfavorable weather conditions or due to infection, the leaves of a plant begin to lighten. Usually, with chlorosis, the veins retain their original color against the background of general discoloration of the leaf. But in some cases they can also lose color along with any other parts, which sometimes makes it difficult to determine the exact cause of what is happening. After all, the manifestation of chlorosis can often be confused with various diseases.

Chlorosis reflects the external state of a depressed plant with a reduced photosynthetic function. Chlorosis can be edaphic, non-infectious and infectious.

Edaphic chlorosis occurs when exposed to external factors (weather conditions and temperature changes) and partly due to errors in care (changes in soil composition due to improper fertilizing, unregulated watering).

Non-infectious chlorosis is associated with a lack of nutrients in the plant due to infrequent or improper feeding. Sometimes it can be combined with edaphic chlorosis, since the absorption of individual elements by the crop depends on the composition of the soil.

Infectious chlorosis occurs when plants are infected with a special virus, the carriers of which are pests.

In other words, we can distinguish several groups of reasons associated with the occurrence of chlorosis in cucumbers with a subsequent change in the color of their leaves.

Supposed reasons for the loss of green color in cucumbers

Nitrogen is responsible for the accumulation of green pigment in plant leaves. But if the root system is weak, then it will not be able to absorb nutrients, even if they are in the soil. Therefore, the reason must be sought deeper.

The roots may not develop due to the alkaline reaction of the soil. If lime was added to it, then phosphorus nutrition will be unavailable to the plants, since phosphorus itself has a high pH.

For complete decomposition, it needs acidic neighbors - nitrogen and potassium. With phosphorus starvation, the foliage turns yellow unevenly - yellow-brown spots appear, which dry out after a couple of days.

A chain reaction results: plants do not absorb phosphorus because it is not available to the roots. Due to a lack of phosphorus, nitrogen is not absorbed. You need to look first at the roots of the cucumbers.

If they turn yellow, then fertilizing with mineral mixtures will not help - most likely, the plants will die. If the root system is white, then you can start with spraying with urea. This fertilizer is best absorbed through the leaves, so the effect will be quick.

If the lower leaves of cucumbers are light green, feed them only with nitrogen. Because the lack of nitrogenous substances begins to appear first on the old foliage, and then moves to the young tops - they also begin to turn yellow, dry out and die.

Important! With nitrogen starvation, there are other signs that you need to pay attention to - thin shoots of cucumbers, small leaves, fruits with pointed tips, few flowers and ovaries

Another important nutritional element for cucumbers during the fruiting period is potassium. If there is a small amount in the soil at the beginning of the fruiting period, the foliage may begin to turn yellow at the edges. Potassium starvation can be distinguished from nitrogen starvation only by the marginal “burn” of foliage. With nitrogen, the leaf suffers completely.

The yellow edge of the leaf subsequently dries out and dies.

Potassium starvation can also occur with a lack of phosphorus. Because of this close relationship, these elements contribute simultaneously. Potassium is absorbed faster by cucumbers, as it is needed for the formation of fruits and their ripening - it can be added during the growth of cucumbers. Phosphorus is consumed more slowly; dosages are usually sufficient for the entire fruiting period.

Reasons why cucumber leaves are pale green

Discoloration can occur over the entire surface of the leaf, along the edges, or in the form of individual spots. The plate may also have prominent bright veins and a pale space between them.

When you notice the first signs of a problem, carefully inspect the cucumbers. With such symptoms, the plant may shed all its ovaries. Let's look at the most common reasons.

Lack of micro- and macroelements

An imbalance of nutrients leads to cucumbers losing their presentation and deformation of the fruit. Nitrogen is responsible for the pigmentation of foliage - its deficiency affects not only the color, but also the development of young seedlings and the formation of lateral vines.

Reference. The lack of nitrogen fertilizers is determined by the following signs: the leaf becomes paler, then turns yellow, and all the veins remain bright and become discolored just before falling.

But in some cases, even a sufficient amount of nitrogen in the soil does not guarantee normal growth of cucumbers. If the tops have a poorly developed root system, it does not absorb nutrients in the required amount, so you will have to look further for the exact cause.

The most important substances and other fertilizers for cucumbers:

1. Calcium. Adult leaves do not respond to its lack, and young leaves do not develop to a large size and look unnaturally bright at first and become pale gradually, discoloring from the center to the edge in stripes.
2. Copper. The tops become pale green, and the plant slowly fades, which indicates a lack of this element.
3. Potassium. Its deficiency is manifested by blanching and further acquisition of a brown tint by the tops. If there is excess peat in the soil, the plant will quickly and completely die.
4. Phosphorus. The development of the bush stops, it does not stretch upward, the leaves become pale yellow and hard to the touch, and fall off after a few days.

Excess fertilizer is also contraindicated for cucumbers. For example, if they are sprayed excessively with Bordeaux mixture and excess boron, mature leaves begin to turn pale and yellow at the edges. Then colorless spots spread across the entire plate, the leaf wrinkles and falls off.

With iron deficiency, the young leaves turn pale and yellow first, then the problem spreads to the entire bush. If you do not fertilize, the crop will completely die.

Diseases

A common cause of pale tops is infection and pest attack. The plant becomes vulnerable to disease if the air temperature drops below +15°C and the soil is excessively moist.

Gardeners most often encounter the following diseases:

• fusarium - affects the root part and the vascular system, the greens become watery and lose color;
• peronosporosis (downy mildew) - a coating forms on the leaf plates, but not white, but a yellowish-grayish color, over time they turn yellow and dry out (the reason is excessive watering or temperature fluctuations);
• anthracnose - manifested by the blanching of individual sections of the plates, and then the formation of brown spots in their place;
• angular spotting - the leaves become discolored, holes form on them, and a pinkish liquid appears (the fruits become deformed with brown ulcers).

If the bushes are attacked by insect pests, then urgent agricultural measures will be required. The introduction of special chemical compounds will help the correct development of the vines and increase the crop's resistance to damage.

Unwanted guests on the site are spider mites, whiteflies and melon aphids.

Agrotechnical errors

Inexperienced summer residents are sure that the more ovaries remain on the bush, the richer the harvest will be. This is one of the biggest mistakes . For optimal load and sufficient saturation with nutrients, it is necessary to leave no more than 20 ovaries, otherwise the whip will turn pale due to lack of vitality.

The reason for the color change is also insufficient pollination of plants. This problem is more often encountered by owners of greenhouses, where insects do not have access to cucumbers. They need to be attracted by planting honey plants in the greenhouse. But you should be wary of the cockchafer: it will destroy the entire crop with lightning speed.

Important ! The plant reacts sharply to watering with cold water. It is recommended to use only warm water, approximately the same temperature.

Frost

Temperature fluctuations and night frosts are strictly contraindicated for plants. Such changes cause the foliage to turn pale, and then the ovaries are shed. In addition, in persistently cloudy weather, the process of photosynthesis is disrupted and the brightness of the tops disappears. But as soon as sunny days return, healthy bushes acquire a natural bright green color.

Mineral deficiency

One of the main reasons why cucumber leaves turn pale is a lack or, conversely, an excess of certain minerals and trace elements in the soil.

Basically, a violation of this balance affects the quality and presentation of the fruit, and also impairs the growth of the bushes. Leaves turn pale most often due to a lack of nitrogen, magnesium, iron, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, copper and manganese.

The lack of this element affects not only the paleness of the foliage, but also the development and modification of the entire plant:

The leaves turn pale, later become yellowish, then completely darken. The leaves from below are the first to become infected. You can recognize an insufficient amount of nitrogen by the green veins on the leaves. They retain color almost until they fall off.

Treatment

It is necessary to timely apply nitrogen fertilizing to the soil. You can also fertilize with a solution of mullein and water (1 liter of mullein per 10 liters of water), 1 liter for each plant.

Magnesium

Magnesium deficiency can be recognized by the following signs:

The first signs of blanching are visible between the veins, then closer to them, and then the color spreads throughout the plant. Afterwards, the cucumbers acquire a purple or dark burgundy color along the edges of the leaf blades.

Treatment

The plant needs constant foliar feeding with magnesium nitrate in the ratio of 100 g of the drug per 10 liters of clean water.

Iron

If there is a lack of iron, the plant needs root feeding with iron sulfate.

With a deficiency of this mineral, the rate of photosynthesis decreases. Also, the plant (especially young ones) loses color, starting from the top. If the problem is not resolved in a timely manner, this will result in:

The loss of green color begins soon in mature leaves. Lack of iron does not affect the yield and quality of fruiting, but the growth and flowering of the bush slows down.

Treatment

The plant needs root feeding with iron sulfate (5% solutions) or foliar fertilizer with a soap solution from an ash extract.

Calcium

Mature leaves do not respond to a lack of calcium, unlike young leaves, which have a rich dark color. For calcium deficiency:

Treatment

Foliar feeding with a 3% chelated calcium solution is required.

Phosphorus

With a lack of phosphorus:

Treatment

Drip irrigation is carried out with phosphorus-potassium fertilizer.

Potassium

If it is noticeable that a light border has formed on the leaves, and the shoots begin to fade quickly, the plant has a potassium deficiency.

Treatment

The leaves are treated with a soap solution with the addition of potassium permanganate (5%). The plants are also watered with an ash solution (1 tbsp. ash per 10 liters of water) with the calculation of 1 liter of the prepared solution per plant.

Lack of copper has a detrimental effect on the plant

With a copper deficiency, the leaves noticeably turn pale, the shoots wither, and the flowers quickly fall off even before the ovary forms. It all starts with light green and then almost colorless tops of the leaves.

Treatment

Foliar treatment with copper sulfate (5%) during the growing season. Also, for prevention, in the spring, at the place where it is planned to grow cucumbers, a solution of the same copper sulfate (1%) is added to the soil, which also helps in the fight against various types of fungal diseases.

Manganese

For manganese deficiency:

Treatment

The plant needs root feeding with a solution of manganese in a ratio of 3 mg of the drug per 1 liter of water, for each bush.

Bor

Young foliage will be the first to indicate a deficiency. The apical leaves of the cucumber will be chlorotic and pale yellow in color. In this case, flowering will be weak, and the resulting green plants will turn yellow and fall off.

Nitrogen

Nitrogen starvation is manifested by the blanching of the leaves of the entire cucumber vine. In addition, pallor will be characteristic of the entire cucumber plantation.

Copper

If cucumbers are sown on red soil, then copper deficiency is impossible. But sand, loam, and sandy loam cannot always provide a cucumber with copper.

Copper provides the plant with the processes of photosynthesis and respiration, and affects the vascular system of cucumber vines. Copper starvation cannot always be determined by foliage, but a small number of flowers and ovaries will tell the vegetable grower about the need for fertilizing.

Zinc

Soils rich in humus completely provide the cucumber with zinc. The availability of the element in acidic soils is higher than in alkaline soils.

Cucumber is not very sensitive to zinc deficiency. In addition, if the level of nitrogen in the soil is optimal, then zinc starvation is impossible.

What to do

The harvest needs to be saved promptly by correctly identifying the cause of the blanching of the tops. First of all, it is necessary to follow the rules for timely application of fertilizers:

• first feeding - 14 days after planting young seedlings in an open area;
• the second - with the beginning of flowering;
• the third - during the fruiting period;
• fourth – 20 days after the previous one;
• fifth - required only for depleted soil.

Plants must be inspected for the presence of pests, and Actellik or other means of protection must be used to destroy them.

Important! Treatment with insecticides and any chemicals should not be carried out later than three weeks before harvest.

How to feed cucumbers

To restore the balance of nutrients, vegetables are fed with any available means:

• 1 liter of mullein is diluted in 10 liters of water and the bushes are watered carefully to the very roots;
• grind the weeds and dilute them in a ratio of 1:5 with water, leave for 10 hours and water the soil;
• 1 tbsp. l. urea is dissolved in 10 liters of water;
• 200-250 g of ash per ten-liter bucket of water (1 liter for each bush);
• 1 pack of fresh yeast per 10 liters of water (a rich source of iron, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen).

An effective comprehensive fertilizer for cucumbers is chicken manure; you can use fresh or rotted manure (diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10). 700-800 ml of infusion is enough for one bush. To apply this fertilizer in the evening, the beds need to be watered in the morning to prevent burning of the roots.

Possible diseases

The leaf blade reflects not only a lack of minerals, but also damage by fungi, viruses, and pests. The most dangerous ones include the following:

Verticillium

The disease occurs when the temperature rises and begins from the lower tiers of leaves. The pathogen is found in the soil, so treatment methods involve soil disinfection.

Fusarium

The pathogen begins to develop with a prolonged decrease in temperature and high humidity. The leaf turns yellow along the veins as the fungus moves through the plant's vascular system from bottom to top.

You can help by treating cucumber lashes with the following preparations:

• "Fitosporin-M". The solution is prepared with 50 ml of the drug and 10 liters of water. A glass of solution is poured under each bush;
• "Baktofit";
• "Planriz";
• "Integral";
• "Pseudobacterin".

Downy mildew (peronospora)

The name indicates that the symptoms of the disease resemble those of powdery mildew. A coating also appears on the leaves, but if with powdery mildew it is white and looks like flour, but with peronosporosis the coating is yellowish on top, grayish on the bottom of the leaf, and subsequently the spots darken. If no action is taken, the disease will lead to deformation and drying of the leaf.

Causes of the disease:

• excess moisture;
• changes in air or water temperature for irrigation.

Fighting methods:

• reducing the number of waterings;
• removal of damaged foliage;
• spraying the plant with special solutions.

Downy mildew

With this disease, the yellowness quickly turns into brown, and then the leaf dies. To stop the pathogen, cucumber plantings can be treated with the following drugs:

• "Previkur". Twice with an interval of 10-14 days. The solution is prepared from 1.5 ml of product per liter of water. Treatment is carried out by spraying;
• "Ordan". 25 g of the drug is dissolved in 10 liters of water. The product is suitable for treatment during the fruiting period.

Ascochyta blight

The leaf turns yellow in spots. An enlightened border along the periphery of the spot will help make an accurate diagnosis. Over time, the sheet becomes marbling and holey. The fungus spreads to green vegetables and forms ulcers.

You can save it by using Bordeaux mixture.

Anthracnose

Yellowing occurs in patches. The process begins from the edges and gradually moves to the center. At the same time, the sheet curls. High humidity promotes manifestation.

Copper-containing preparations are used as control agents.

Cucumber mosaic virus

The leaf becomes mosaic, wrinkled, and the fruit becomes warty.

The method of struggle is simple. The virus overwinters on last year's leftovers. By carrying out sanitary measures, you can easily avoid the multiplication of the virus.

Knowing exactly what pathogen affects cucumbers in a given area, you can select resistant varieties to a particular disease.

Root rot

This type of fungus first attacks the roots, and then the lower part of the plant, after which it rises. The leaves turn pale, after which the entire vine dies.

The cause of the disease is uneven watering, planting density, which causes rapid infection, as well as high humidity (in the greenhouse).

Treatment

Root rot can destroy all plants

Pale leaves should be removed, and the affected bushes should be treated with a solution of Infinity 61 SC.

White rot

White rot is another cause of pale cucumber leaves. The first sign of fungus is the appearance of jelly-like wet spots near the roots, on which white fluff soon appears. The fungus spreads throughout the plant, affecting the shoots and then the leaves.

Treatment

First, the infected areas are removed. When the affected part of the bush is not very large, it is sprinkled with a mixture of chalk crumbs and lime. Plants completely affected by the disease are removed.

Causes of leaf blanching - seedling diseases

Seedling diseases leading to loss of color in the green part of the plant occur more often in cucumbers in a greenhouse, since fungal and viral infections spread faster in a stuffy and humid atmosphere. Caring for plants in a greenhouse is also complicated by the fact that it is necessary to monitor a constant flow of fresh air.

There are five most common diseases of cucumber seedlings, due to which plant leaves become pale:

• Mosaic disease. With this disease, which affects cucumbers both in greenhouses and in open ground, the leaves of cucumber seedlings become covered with a spotted pattern of yellowish or pale color. Then the cucumber leaves turn up at the edges and shrink. The disease spreads when infected seed is planted or when diseased plants come into contact with healthy ones. It is impossible to heal the damaged part. If the area covered by the disease is not large enough, the damaged areas are removed, and the entire plant is irrigated with milk of 1% fat content. Severely affected cucumber seedlings should be removed and the soil disinfected.

• Powdery mildew is a whitish, lime-like coating that covers the green leaves of cucumbers, mostly in open ground. The disease becomes active in damp weather with strong wind, watering or rain, and spreads not only to the leaves of the plant, but also to the stem of the vine and even to nearby crops. If the leaves of cucumbers characteristically turn pale in greenhouse conditions, it means that excess moisture or poor soil treatment before planting is to blame. Plants are healed with a composition of mullein and urea, taken in a ratio of 1:50.

• Downy mildew. The principle of covering a leaf with a coating during peronosporosis resembles the signs of powdery mildew, only the color of the coating is not white, but yellowish on the upper leaf plate and grayish on the lower one. When the gardener is inactive, the spots typically darken, and the leaf becomes deformed and dries out. Causes of the disease: firstly, excessive watering, secondly, unstable air temperatures or irrigation water. The fight against fungus includes: limiting soil moisture up to complete cessation of watering, removing damaged leaves and spraying the entire cucumber with Oxyx solution (two tablets per bucket of water).

• Root rot. The fungus spreads to the plant from the roots, and first covers the lower tier of leaves with a pale yellow color, and then moves to the subsequent ones. Following the defeat of the leaves, the entire vine begins to die off, and the plant dies - rots at the root. The causes of the disease are excessive watering, thick planting, in which fungal spores pass from a diseased cucumber to a healthy one, as well as high humidity and stuffiness in the greenhouse. Pale leaves should be removed immediately, and diseased plants should be sprayed with Infinito 61 SC solution.

• White rot is another reason why the leaves on cucumbers have turned pale. The fungus can be found under the lower vines of cucumbers, closer to the roots - jelly-like wet spots appear there, which are later covered with white fluff. White rot quickly spreads throughout the vine, affecting the stem and most of the leaves. Green ovaries can also turn white, especially those hanging on the lower vines. The fight against rot begins with removing damaged areas of the plant that have turned white, and, if the affected area is small, sprinkling the cucumber bush with a dry mixture of chalk and lime. Plants completely affected by the disease will have to be removed.

In close plantings typical of greenhouse cultivation, not only diseased plants are inspected and treated with solutions, but also all those in the immediate vicinity.

In the case when the disease is soil-borne, that is, all types of fungal infections, special attention is paid to disinfecting the soil at the site of the removed bush.

Pests

Pests may also be involved in yellowing foliage.

Spider mite

It settles on the inside of the leaf and forms dirty red spots. Then they are covered with a thin web.

The following are applicable as means of control:

• "Fufanon";
• "Aktelik";
• "Karate";
• “Akarin” and “Fitoverm” if fruiting has already begun.

Thrips

The affected parts of the cucumbers, after turning pale and losing color, die.

Treatment

Spray with strong onion infusion, then process:

melon aphid

Melon aphids can be detected by turning the leaf over to the back side; the insect is visible to the naked eye. To get rid of aphids, plant leaves are washed with soapy water and also sprayed with herbal infusions.

Whitefly

Yellowing of the foliage is preceded by a sticky coating and the appearance of small white insects. If the air temperature rises above 16 ᵒC, the whitefly is active. To fight, just hang traps or spray with garlic infusion.

If fruiting has not yet begun, the following drugs will help:

• "Spark";
• "Aktelik";
• "Fufanon."

Nematodes

A specifically pale leaf surface with yellowness, which is also characterized by deformed parts of the bush, most often dwarfism.

Treatment

It is best to destroy affected plants. To protect bushes that have not yet been affected, use a formalin solution or Bordeaux mixture 96%.

Pests of cucumbers

Strong seedlings are rarely affected by pests. For weakened, elongated seedlings, insect invasions can be disastrous.

melon aphid

A small insect sucks the juices out of the plant, the leaves curl and wither, and the shoots dry out. You should regularly inspect the seedlings for the presence of parasites, monitor the temperature, and ventilate the room.

If the number of parasites is small, they are collected manually and destroyed. Treatment with celandine infusion helps (150 g of dry grass, pour 1 liter of hot water, leave for 24 hours) three times with an interval of 7 days. Spraying with insecticides

Spray with insecticides (Fitoverm - 5 ml per 0.6 l, Intavir - 1 tablet per 10 l, Neoron - 1 ampoule per 3 l).

Spider mite

The pest, feeding on the sap of plants, entangles them in a thin web. Light spots appear on the leaves, gradually the leaves turn yellow and dry out. If the mite infestation is severe, the plant may die.

The pest loves dry air and heat - you should regularly irrigate the seedlings with warm water. Treat the plants with a solution of laundry soap, being careful not to get it on the ground. Spraying with garlic infusion (20 g of husk per 1 liter, leave for 5 hours), Fitoverm (5 ml per 0.6 liter) helps.

Shchitovka

Adults and scale insect larvae suck the sap from the plant, depleting it and causing it to turn yellow. It is necessary to periodically inspect the plants and, if the number of parasites is small, remove them manually. The affected seedlings are treated with Actellik (2 ml per 1 l).

Thrips

The pest attacks cucumber leaves, feeding on their juice. The main sign of thrips damage is the appearance of light yellow spots on the leaves. The leaves gradually dry out. In order to detect the parasite as early as possible, you should examine the seedlings more often and do not place them next to indoor flowers. Getting rid of thrips is quite difficult. Double treatment with Fitoverm and Actellik is carried out with an interval of 7 days.

Whitefly

Small light spots appear on the leaves. Whiteflies come to cucumber seedlings from indoor flowers. Therefore, you should carefully inspect the plants. For the purpose of prevention, seedlings should be sprayed with Bud solution (1 g per 1 l) every 10 days. When affected by the pest, seedlings are treated several times with dandelion infusion (60 g of leaves and roots per 1 liter, leave for 3 hours). To combat whiteflies, use Fufanon, Aktar with a small addition of shampoo to extend the life of the drugs.

Priority measures

When the reasons for the blanching of cucumber foliage and fruits become clear, first of all it is worth eliminating the factors that have a negative impact on the development of the vegetable crop:

• increase the dose of the element that the plant lacks;
• cancel feeding with a component whose standard is exceeded;
• build a tunnel greenhouse with arched posts over the plantings, if the reason was early transplantation into unheated soil - this will create an additional thermal effect.
• trim off excess lashes and reduce the number of fruit ovaries, distributing them at an equal distance from each other, decreasing towards the top. The average number of ovaries on a plant is no more than 20-24 at a time.
• In case of illness, treatment is started immediately, and the soil is also disinfected.

Pale leaves on cucumbers

The most common, recognizable and beloved vegetable is, of course, the cucumber. Growing it at home is not at all difficult, but collecting a good harvest from a melon bush can sometimes be problematic. What is the reason? The plant is very sensitive, and therefore reacts with lightning speed to pests, and can seriously wither away from even the simplest disease. How, then, to harvest a large cucumber harvest? Use the right fertilizer. This will be discussed further.

What fertilizers should I use?

Another important issue that requires detailed consideration. When choosing a suitable fertilizer for cucumbers, you have to take into account the type of soil in which they grow, its chemical composition and the time of immediate processing.

The vegetative period is the moment of using foliar fertilizing, as this is how the plant receives a large amount of useful microelements through the foliage. As soon as the first ovaries appear on the stems, we move on to processing the roots. We treat the moist soil under the plants with a liquid nutrient solution. Fertilizer consumption is 10 liters per square meter. To prevent burns from occurring, water the treated soil on top with the same amount of clean water.

Another option is to treat the soil around the plant with dry ingredients. This procedure is recommended to be carried out before rain or subsequent watering.

Prevention of chlorosis

To prevent yellowing of leaves, plants need proper care and timely application of fertilizers. Before transplanting seedlings, the bed is fertilized with humus from plant residues and other biological waste. Then the soil is dug up and the sprouts are planted. As the humus decomposes, useful substances are released, which are absorbed by the root system of developing bushes.

To prevent chlorosis, the following measures are taken:

1. Seedlings are planted, observing the recommended intervals, so as not to thicken the plantings and not to shade the bushes. For the same purpose, do not arrange beds in areas shaded by buildings and trees.
2. The soil is moistened as the surface layer of soil dries. Excessive irrigation leads to rotting of the root system and the development of dangerous diseases.
3. The seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place after the final warmth has been established. If frosts are expected, cover the cucumber bushes with agrofibre or film to protect them from freezing.
4. Cucumbers should not be planted in areas where cold winds often blow or there are drafts. Constant exposure to low temperatures causes yellowing of the leaves.

It is easier to prevent chlorosis than to treat its manifestations later. The main difficulty in treating the disease lies in correctly identifying the cause that provoked the negative changes. Therefore, when growing vegetables, they adhere to the established rules for caring for plants: choose a sunny area protected from the wind to organize the bed, water the plants on time and apply fertilizing.

Which micronutrients are suitable?

The most practical and useful modification of fertilizers for cucumbers is the chelate form. Usually this is a rather expensive mixture of fertilizers, 90% of which are completely absorbed by the melon crop. You can use a comprehensive collection of the mixture or use its individual elements. You need to feed cucumber leaves with such fertilizers before the heat sets in (early morning or evening).

Do not use too many minerals to feed weakened plants. It is better to prepare the solution based on the manufacturer's instructions.

The most effective and quickly absorbed fertilizer is urea, because it contains 46% nitrogen. Gardeners use it when plants are starved of nitrogen or damaged by fungi. To prepare the active solution you will need a bucket of water and 100 g of the active substance. The resulting mixture is enough to treat an area of ​​200 square meters.

On alkaline and neutral soils, most of the urea is wasted, so its effect is enhanced with the help of superphosphates.

Pale leaves of cucumbers can be “cured” with the help of factory fertilizers: nitrophox, azofox or diammophos. Their main feature is the simultaneous presence of nitrogen and phosphorus.

The importance of nitrogen-potassium fertilizers

If the cucumber leaves begin to gradually lose their color, it’s time to saturate them with organic, safe and affordable nutrition. The ideal solution is to use mature compost or use mullein. But most gardeners are summer residents who appear in their garden beds quite rarely. For periodic but effective feeding of plantings, granular fertilizer or bird droppings are perfect. They contain large amounts of potassium, ammonia components and vitamins.

Fresh manure can also be used, but only in the correct proportions. To do this, prepare a solution of 30% fertilizer and 70% water. Before using it, you need to leave it for 7 days, and then treat the roots of the pale cucumber bushes.

Another great remedy is wood ash. It is used for phosphorus and potassium deficiency, which is manifested by fading of crop growth and yellowing of its leaves. The fertilizer contains 30 different types of important microelements that have a positive effect on the development of cucumbers. To prepare the solution you will need 10 liters of water and 300 g of ash. Combine the ingredients, mix, and leave to infuse for 4 days. Treat the cucumber roots with the resulting mixture. If the presence of chlorosis is detected, it is better to add the ash solution to the soil in the fall.

Do not combine nitrogen and ash fertilizers with each other. They will neutralize each other's beneficial qualities and become completely useless. It is better to treat the yellow leaves of the bushes with urea, and feed their rhizomes with ash or saltpeter and saturate the soil.

Advice from experienced gardeners

How to protect the crop from destruction and prevent the leaves from turning pale? For those who plant seedlings in a greenhouse, the key to success is preliminary cleaning in the greenhouse before the planting season. It is necessary to remove all old foliage, wash and disinfect the walls with a solution of potassium permanganate.

Despite the high effectiveness of folk recipes for feeding cucumbers, it is recommended to use professional products. These are balanced compositions that may cost more, but have a beneficial effect on the development of vegetables.

For example, “Magbor”, “Kaltsinit”, “Uniflor”, “Omex”, “Molibion” are produced containing individual microelements.

Reference. For emergency replenishment, you can use two-component formulations - “Azofos” and “Diammophos” (phosphorus with nitrogen) or a three-component composition – “Nitrophoska” (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium).

Summer residents recommend using a simple method to determine alkaline soil in which phosphorus is poorly absorbed: to do this, check the reaction with litmus paper. If you get positive results, add peat or sawdust to the soil.

How to feed cucumbers with light green leaves

From a safety and nutritional point of view, many people prefer organic fertilizers - manure and compost. The purchased mixture must be prepared strictly in accordance with the instructions, since an excess of nutrient solution can harm a weakened plant.

Nitrogen-potassium fertilizers

Potassium nitrate is used for root and foliar feeding throughout the season. In this way, the lack of nitrogen and potassium that causes paleness of the tops is compensated. It is important not to overfeed the plant, this will negatively affect its life.

Mineral mixtures

Mineral compositions will compensate for the lack of substances, in which the leaves become light. Fertilizing is done root and foliar. Mineral mixtures are fed several times according to the appropriate scheme.

Microelements

There are mixtures that contain only microelements, or microelements are included in complex fertilizers. Microfertilizers containing vitamins and enzymes act as catalysts for reactions in the plant.

Complex fertilizers

Complex fertilizers are convenient because they will provide all the necessary nutrients at once. You can make this fertilizer yourself by mixing various components, or you can purchase it ready-made.

Urea

The most effective and cheapest remedy that helps fight against the pallor of the green mass of cucumbers. Contains up to 46% nitrogen.

The active substance is diluted at the rate of 50-100 g per 10 liters of water. This amount is enough to process up to 200 m².

Cucumbers are sprayed with urea not only during nitrogen starvation, but also to protect the vegetable crop against fungal diseases.

Optimal conditions for seedlings

It is not difficult to grow strong seedlings if you provide them with favorable conditions: choose suitable soil and good seed material, observe light and temperature conditions, regularly water and fertilize.

In comfortable conditions, seedlings will grow healthy

The entire period of growing seedlings should be maintained at an optimal temperature: at night not lower than 18C, during the day +22C. Plants need light. In a dark room, the shoots will turn pale and stretch out. The soil must be sufficiently moist. However, excess moisture can lead to root rot. Seedlings require good nutrition, but excessive addition of microelements can negatively affect their development. Plants should be well ventilated and not interfere with each other. Sowing seeds too thickly can cause the sprouts to stretch out.

With a lack of light, the shoots will turn pale and stretch out.

Strong, healthy seedlings have good immunity, but sometimes, if the rules of care are not followed, they can be affected by diseases. Excessive humidity promotes the development of powdery mildew and rot. Too dry air promotes spider mite infestation.

Main diseases and pests - table

Try proven remedies:

• Doctor is a systemic drug in the form of arrow briquettes based on Aktara. It is absorbed by the roots when watering and quickly spreads throughout the plant body. The drug helps fight aphids, thrips, whiteflies, scale insects and other insects.
• The drug 30 plus is aimed at destroying overwintering parasites. Used for washing fruit, berry, ornamental and citrus crops. Contains minerals and petroleum jelly. The emulsion helps in the fight against whiteflies, scale insects, moths, copperheads, scale insects and other overwintering parasites.
• Tiovit Jet is a unique preparation that combines the properties of a fungicide and an acaricide, plus it contains various microfertilizers. Recommended for the protection of vegetable plants, fruit and berry crops, as well as flowers and grapes. Prevents the appearance of powdery mildew and some other diseases, and also fights ticks.

How to feed a diseased plant

You see that the leaves of cucumbers are light green; they should be immediately fed with nitrogen fertilizers. Since the lack of this substance first affects the leaves themselves, then they appear on young trunks, as a result the plant may die.

If the foliage becomes light, then you must immediately feed the plant with a manganese solution. This process can begin with the middle leaves. This means that the plant does not have enough copper.

Lack of specific elements

But it may also be that the cause of the problem is that the soil lacks specific substances that allow the plant to develop successfully. Let's look at some of the most common examples:

• Phosphorus. With its help, the plant develops its root system, and the same substance is also responsible for the metabolism of cucumbers. In its absence, in addition to a lighter shade, dark veins begin to become noticeable on the leaves, they acquire a purple or bluish tint.
• Nitrogen. With its help, the plant increases the amount of harvest it produces and also strengthens its tops. With a lack of this particular substance, the tops of the shoots of cucumbers begin to change color, the leaves become small and begin to fly off.
• Potassium. This substance also helps metabolism, as well as the synthesis of sugars and proteins. With its deficiency, leaves not only become light, but also dry out, turn slightly yellow, and characteristic burns appear along their edges.
• Copper. The presence of this substance increases the plant’s resistance to various diseases. If it is not there, the cucumbers grow unstably, their bushes become noticeably smaller, the edges of the leaves not only lighten, but also begin to dry out.
• Magnesium. This substance strengthens cucumbers and is directly involved in the process of photosynthesis. With it, the underside of the leaf brightens, starting from the veins and from the lower leaves. Sometimes the edges of the leaves turn burgundy.
• Calcium. Without this substance there would be no active cell division. It also affects protein metabolism. It can be identified by the fact that the leaves do not lighten evenly, but in stripes.

Three substances will also cause leaves to turn lighter if there are too many of them:

• Potassium. When there is an excess of it, the edges of old leaves begin to turn pale. Over time, the amount of harvest begins to decrease.
• Bor. The foliage first turns pale, then yellow spots appear on it.
• Nitrogen. The foliage becomes too large and there is too much flowering.

Prevention measures

Top dressing

Cucumber vines should be fed once every 7-10 days. At the beginning of fruiting, fertilizing is carried out with each watering.

Crop rotation

Cucumber is not one of the crops that greatly tires the soil. Its root system does not lie deep and it is enough to dig up the soil with the bayonet of a shovel to restore the mineral composition.

Mulching

To retain moisture, mulching is necessary. It will prevent water from evaporating quickly and will maintain balance.

As mulching materials, you can choose both natural plant waste and synthetic ones.

Compliance with watering rules

Cucumber does not tolerate drying out. Young roots die and the plant begins to turn yellow. It will take 5-7 days to fully restore the balance. Timely watering is especially important during the fruiting period. When the soil dries out, the growth of green plants stops.

The leaf will tell you about the moisture deficiency. Loss of turgor indicates a lack of water.

Controlling Humidity in a Greenhouse

Even if there is no psychrometer in the greenhouse, the leaf will tell you the condition of the plant. It should be:

Remove excess ovaries

Highly productive hybrids plant up to 8 cucumbers in internodes. It is not always possible for a plant to feed such an amount. In this case there are two options:

1. At the beginning of fruiting, fertilize with each watering.
2. Normalize the ovary, leaving no more than 2 greens per internode.

You need to control the normalization by the color of the ovary. If the cucumber turns yellow, this indicates a lack of nutrients; excess should be removed and the vines should be fed with each watering.

Daily careful observation of plant vines will help to promptly identify the cause and help the cucumber.

Attracting pollinating insects

If parthencarpic hybrids are selected, then there is no need for pollinators. For bee-pollinated cucumbers, you need to spray the vines with a sugar solution.

To prepare the bait, just dissolve 1 tbsp. spoon of sugar in a liter of water and sprinkle at intervals of 3-5 days.

Preventive measures to prevent the problem

To prevent the tops from withering and discoloring, it is recommended to take the following measures:

1. Feed the plants regularly, every 15 days, applying fertilizer only in the evening and not exceeding the dosage indicated by the manufacturer on the package.
2. Maintain crop rotation (cucumbers cannot be planted in the same area for more than two years in a row).
3. Water regularly and use only settled warm water.
4. Mulch the soil with grass clippings or weeds to prevent rapid evaporation of moisture.
5. Control air humidity in the greenhouse.
6. Attract insects to greenhouses for natural pollination (plant dill, honey-bearing herbs nearby, or spray the plantings with boric acid from a spray bottle).
7. Remove excess ovaries, leaving no more than 20 pieces per bush.

Plants immediately after the first shoots appear must be treated with a preventive solution, which will strengthen their immune system and protect them from pests. To do this, use the following composition:

• 20 g laundry soap;
• 30 drops of iodine;
• 1 liter of milk.

The solution is sprayed on young seedlings 15 days after germination.

Important! Cucumber is a moisture-loving plant, so delay or insufficient watering is disastrous for it.

How to solve a problem with seedlings

The seedling period of cucumber is short. In 30 days, the hatched grain should form 6-8 leaves and have an extensive habit.

To ensure growth, you should carefully select the soil for growing seedlings. You can use purchased soil called “Universal soil for cucumber seedlings” or prepare it yourself. If you prepare the soil with the addition of fresh compost, humus and garden soil 1:1:1, then there will be no problems.

If during the growing period the edges of the leaves become a little lighter, then you should fertilize with a solution of stove ash (1 tablespoon per liter of water). If the leaf blades have completely turned pale, then a solution of ammonium nitrate 1 g per liter will help restore nutrition.

Reason for change in pigmentation

The main problem with loss of color in cucumber leaves is a lack or excess of nutrients. In the early stages, such nuances can only affect the growth of planted seedlings and the appearance of not very attractive fruits. A timely solution to the problem will restore the process of subsequent fruiting without any consequences for the plant itself.

The pallor of cucumber leaves occurs due to a lack of a number of microelements.

A timely response to emerging problems will avoid a decrease in cucumber yields.

Pest protection and disease prevention

Treating cucumbers with ammonia will protect the plant from leaf aphids. To do this, the entire surface of the stem is treated with a special mixture: a bucket of water, 40 g of soap, 1 tbsp. l. ammonia. By the way, the resulting composition, in addition to its protective function, is also a good supplement. To achieve maximum results, repeat the procedure after 7 days.

To prevent pale leaves from appearing on cucumbers and the crop being damaged by common diseases, it is enough to take timely preventive measures.

1. Prevent rapid evaporation of moisture by using vegetable mulch.
2. Carry out timely watering at the appropriate time of day.
3. Every 14 days, feed the cucumbers with nitrogen, mineral and complex fertilizers that can accumulate in the soil.
4. Control air humidity when growing in a greenhouse.
5. Carry out timely elimination of the problem due to the correct differentiation of the manifested symptoms.

Sources

• https://moyogorodik.ru/ogurtsy/blednye-listya-u-ogurtsov-chto-delat-chem-podkormit
• https://dacharai.ru/listya-ogurtsov-bledneyut-chto-delat/
• https://MoeFermerstvo.ru/ogurtsy/blednye-listya-chto-delat
• https://5minutkaotdyx.ru/ogurtsy-blednye-listya-prichina/
• https://voronaz.ru/chego-ne-hvataet-ogurtsam-esli-listya-svetlo-zelenye/
• https://sovhozik.ru/ovoshhi/ogurtsy/listya-u-ogurtsov-svetlo-zelenye-chem-podkormit
• https://udobreniya.net/listya-u-ogurcov-svetlo-zelenye-chem-podkormit/
• https://nashsadovod.ru/ogurtsy/blednye-listya-chto-delat
• https://SadDrakona.ru/sorta/svetleyut-listya-ogurcov.html

Reasons for the death of seedlings and how to save them

If the seedlings are sick, do not rush to throw them away. If you know the causes of the disease, you can take the necessary measures in time and save it.

Selection of seed material

To obtain good seedlings, you need high-quality seeds that are genetically resistant to diseases. In addition, seed material must be disinfected before sowing.

Presence of infection

Pests are often brought in with the soil. Therefore, a new substrate is used for seedlings; it is advisable to spill it with a solution of manganese. In addition, seed material must be disinfected before sowing. It is better to remove infected seedlings so as not to infect all plants.

Infections are often brought in through the soil.

Temperature

Seedlings react painfully to temperature changes and are afraid of drafts and cold. At temperatures below +15 degrees they stop growing. If the seedlings are damaged by cold, they are moved to a warmer room, watering is reduced for a while, and they are fed with Zircon solution to increase stress resistance.

In extreme heat (above +28), seedlings wither, dry out, and become vulnerable to infections and pests. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain an optimal air and soil temperature of +22–25 degrees.

On a note. You can restore wilted seedlings by spraying with Epin solution.

Lighting

Seedlings need a lot of light. In a dark room the shoots will stretch. Weakened seedlings need to be provided with additional lighting. Typically, fluorescent lamps are used, which are installed on top of the seedlings.

Soil moisture

Cucumbers love moisture very much. They should be watered generously. However, stagnation of water in the soil has a detrimental effect on the roots and leads to diseases. Excessive moisture promotes the growth of vulnerable seedlings with a weak root system, which will find it difficult to take root in the garden.

Air humidity

For the growth of cucumbers, high environmental humidity is needed - 75–85%. The plant does not tolerate drought well: its growth slows down and its immunity is weakened. Therefore, when growing seedlings in an apartment, the air must be humidified, especially on hot days. But a too humid microclimate contributes to the occurrence of infectious diseases of seedlings.

Mineral nutrition

Weak plants are more susceptible to disease. To strengthen the immunity of young shoots, they are fed with mineral and organic fertilizers: when the first leaf appears and a few days before transplanting into the ground. Timely feeding forms healthy plants and ensures high yields. However, excess nutrition can cause diseases. Therefore, you need to apply fertilizers carefully, strictly following the instructions.

To strengthen the immune system, seedlings are fed with complex fertilizer

Crop density

If cucumbers grow very densely, they will lack nutrition and light. Frail plants are more susceptible to disease and may die when attacked by pests. Therefore, too dense plantings must be thinned out by pinching or cutting off thinner seedlings. In comfortable conditions, young shoots will quickly gain strength.

Healthy seedlings are the key to a good harvest