Extending The Fruiting Of Cucumbers

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

In August, in many areas, the harvest of cucumbers begins to decline, or even completely disappears. But experienced gardeners know how to extend fruiting until mid-September, and in warm autumn until mid-October. What helps to pick crispy green cucumbers before a cold snap?

Timely harvest

The very first and, perhaps, the simplest rule is the timely harvest. You need to pick the rarest fruits - once every two days, be sure to carefully examine the lashes, because cucumbers that have reached technical maturity reduce the life of the cucumber lash and suspend the development of new ovaries. In addition, ripe cucumbers require most of the nutrients to bring the seeds to maturity, and this leads to the fact that the development of new flower stalks is inhibited. Accordingly, the yield decreases.

Mulching

This is another simple operation that will help prolong the life of the cucumber lashes. It is often very hot during the daytime in late summer and early autumn. And in the evening and at night it is cool. This temperature drop leads to the death of the root system of cucumbers. To protect the roots from such sudden changes and, accordingly, from death, you can cover them with a five to seven centimeter layer of mulch.

Pruning leaves

A significant role in the productivity of the lash is played by the timely formation of the bush and caring for it. Leaves located in places where fruiting has ended can be safely removed, they are not needed and only draw off nutrients. Leaves should remain on the lash only in places of new ovaries and peduncles, under the last of them there should be no more than 2-3 leaf plates. It is also necessary to remove any yellowing and damaged leaves.

Prevention of various diseases

Any disease significantly shortens the life of the cucumber bush. Therefore, from the moment 2-3 true leaves appear, it is necessary to carry out preventive treatments for various bacterial, viral and fungal diseases. Processing can be carried out with any means that you like: purchased ready-made chemicals or folk remedies.

Foliar dressing

Well, another rather effective way to prolong the life and fruiting of cucumbers is to regularly carry out foliar feeding. Everyone knows that during the fruiting period, cucumbers, like any other plant, require a fairly large amount of nutrients. Conventional feeding often solves the problem, but up to a certain point, namely, until the ambient temperature drops. As soon as this happens (and this moment usually occurs in August), the ability of the roots to receive from the ground various necessary elements for the life of the bush sharply decreases. It is believed that lowering the ambient temperature by only 1 degree leads to the fact that the roots begin to absorb 13-15% less of the necessary substances. Therefore, to continue obtaining the harvest, replace irrigation with fertilizers with foliar dressings, because in this case, almost complete absorption of the substances necessary for growth and development will be ensured.

For foliar dressing, you can use organic raw materials, for example, an infusion of manure or various weeds, and mineral fertilizers, for example, various complex fertilizers, biostimulants, and so on. It is desirable to carry out top dressing 4-5 times a month.

Fertilizer selection - at your discretion. You can use familiar substances, or you can try something new.

And do not forget to periodically treat the plant from pests, this will also help prolong its life.

That's all. Hope these simple tips will help you get a good, stable harvest of cucumbers before the cold snap.