What to do if cucumber seedlings turn yellow: we fix the problem and prevent its appearance

Novice gardeners often have a question: what to do if the cucumber seedlings turn yellow? Leaves can dry and turn yellow for several reasons, the main ones being improper care and disease.

Further in the article, we will consider all the possible factors affecting this, we will learn how to grow cucumbers without loss and what to do if the leaves have already turned yellow.

Causes of yellowing of cucumber seedlings

The history of this vegetable culture has more than 6000 years. The homeland of cucumber is called tropical and subtropical regions of India. Growing it in your gardens, you should create similar conditions - the cucumber is very picky about care.

Yellowing of the leaves of a plant can be associated with improper agricultural technology, diseases and pests.

Let's look at seven of the most common reasons:

1. The planting is very dense.
2. Lack or excess of moisture.
3. Fungal diseases and pests.
4. Lack of nutrition.
5. Fluctuations in temperature.
6. Root damage.
7. Reaction to the sun.

To learn how to grow cucumbers on the balcony, read here.

What to do

The first step is to find out the exact cause of leaf damage, and then take appropriate measures. If the plant lacks nutrients, feed it, pests bother it - treat it with special means, etc.

Top dressing

Lack of nutrients often causes yellowing of leaves. For better growth and increased productivity, cucumbers are fed throughout the entire period of development and fruiting.

Lack of potassium and magnesium causes the roots to dry out. Dark green streaks on a yellow background indicate iron and manganese deficiency. The upper leaves turn yellow due to a lack of copper.

Cucumbers are fed 3-4 times per season. At the beginning of summer - with nitrogen fertilizers, and at the end - with potash. Use organic and inorganic fertilizers.

Organic fertilizers

This is a type of fertilizer of organic, that is, natural, origin (manure, bird droppings, peat, sawdust, compost).

Here are some recipes for organic fertilizers:

1. Herbal infusion with ash. Insist the herb in water for 2-3 days until a strong odor appears. Dissolve a liter of tincture in a bucket of water, add a glass of wood ash.
2. Compost, humus. During planting, spread or dissolve 1 kg of compost in a bucket of water and water.
3. Hydrogen peroxide solution: 2 tbsp. Dissolve tablespoons of peroxide in a liter jar of water.
4. Ammonium nitrate solution: 1 tbsp. add a spoonful of saltpeter to a bucket of water.

Important! Top dressing is done only after watering.

Inorganic fertilizers

It is useful to feed the seedlings with a mixture of 2 tbsp. spoons of superphosphate, 1 tbsp. tablespoons of urea, 1 glass of ash, which are diluted in a bucket of water (use fertilizer per 1 sq. m).

Watering

Cucumbers do not tolerate drought: the fruits turn yellow, the bush does not grow and disappears. Rainy weather also negatively affects the plant.

At the beginning of growth, young shoots are very vulnerable. The roots are poorly developed, the plant receives nutrition only through watering.

The main rules during this period:

• make sure that the soil does not dry out;
• do moderate watering, do not overfill;
• it is better to water three times a week;
• water at the root;
• cannot be poured onto the leaves;
• watering between rows;
• mulch land with straw, needles, grass in the aisles.

A pest such as gray rot often appears on cucumbers, read more.

Effect of light and heat on young seedlings

When planting, it should be borne in mind that cucumbers do not tolerate tightness and like sunny places. When planting seedlings, you must correctly calculate the distance between the bushes and in the rows. Closely planted plants shade each other, which leads to the death of the lower parts.

Rare plantings burn out and die. Unhardened seedlings are especially affected. In hot weather, sunburn is visible on the leaves. Evenly planted bushes create a "backstage" that preserves young shoots.

Landing rules:

• plant in rows 40-60 cm apart;
• make rows 1 m wide.

With this planting, the bushes receive light and ventilate.

Sudden changes in temperature negatively affect cucumbers, which love humid and warm weather. With a sharp drop in temperature, the roots are damaged and, not receiving adequate nutrition, die.

Seedlings are planted in the ground when the air temperature at night is stable at least 12 ° C. Cucumbers do not tolerate frost; with a slight decrease in temperature, they stop growing and may die.

Landing errors

It often happens that after planting in the ground, the seedlings begin to die. The leaves wither and turn yellow, the plantation has to be replanted. This happens for the following reasons:

1. Incorrect landing site.
2. Cucumbers are planted in shaded areas that are not ventilated.
3. The beds are located from east to west, so no light falls along the length of the bed.
4. Young plants do not receive nutrition from the first days.
5. No fertilizer has been applied to the ground.
6. Damaged roots (the work was done carelessly during planting).
7. Planting holes of the wrong size (hole depth should be 8-10 cm).
8. The cucumbers were planted in the morning (they are better accepted if done in the evening).
9. The soil was not dug up before planting and was not enriched with oxygen, which affects the growth and fruiting of the plant.

Protection against diseases and pests

Cucumbers can be infested with many pests. The most dangerous of them are spider mites and whiteflies. They suck out the juice, which leads to the death of the plant. In the fight against them, they use pesticides ("Vermittek", "Akarin", "Fitoverm", "Aktara", "Aktellik") and folk remedies.

With a sharp change in temperature, the beds are affected by fungal diseases: fusarium and pityosis. The scourges become lethargic, rusty spots appear on them, the plant dies.

Folk remedies

Growing organic vegetables is the main task of the gardener. To achieve this goal, it is better to use herbal infusions and decoctions:

1. Garlic tincture. Insist leaves or cloves of garlic in water for three days. Spray in the evening in calm weather.
2. Wormwood decoction. Brew wormwood tops, cool, process the plant.
3. Tincture of bitter pepper. Boil the peppers for ten minutes. When it cools down, spray the plantation.

If you notice signs of illness, start fighting it immediately. Stems, leaves and soil can be sprayed with the following solutions:

• brilliant green: 10 drops of brilliant green for 1 liter of water;
• milk: mix 1 liter of milk, 5 drops of iodine, laundry soap for the solution to stick;
• baking soda: dilute 1 teaspoon of baking soda and liquid soap in 1 liter of water;
• yeast or bread: Soak a loaf in water, add a small bottle of iodine. Let stand and dissolve in a bucket of water.

Important!It is necessary to process cucumbers against diseases once every two weeks throughout the summer season.

Methods for recovering seedlings with yellowing

Having found yellow leaves on seedlings, immediately proceed with the following actions:

1. Feed.
2. Spray against fungal diseases.
3. Check watering mode.
4. Start pest control.
5. For dense planting, thin out the beds.

Prevention

Compliance with agricultural techniques will help to avoid problems when growing cucumbers.

Fundamental rules:

1. The seeds must be prepared for planting: first, harden (stand in turn in cold and warmth), and then disinfect in a solution of potassium permanganate. This will give future plants disease resistance.
2. Sow in special peat soil. Grow seedlings on a windowsill or in a greenhouse. For planting in the garden, you need to prepare the soil in advance: dig it up, fertilize with humus or compost at the rate of 5 kg of humus per 1 running meter.
3. Do not plant diseased seedlings.
4. Feed and water at the right time.
5. When the first shoots appear, treat with a light solution of potassium permanganate.

Tips for experienced summer residents

When growing cucumbers, as in any business, the advice and experience of those who have already been involved in this are very valuable. What do experienced summer residents recommend?

Irina: “I want to share my tricks of growing cucumbers. Immediately after planting, I mulch the soil well around the bushes and in the aisles - this helps to maintain moisture, the plants feel better. And I also feed it every two weeks: first with nitrogen fertilizers, so that they grow, then potash, so that they bear fruit. I always have a good harvest until late autumn. "

Sergei: “Cucumbers are not familiar with the problem of yellowing of leaves. I have been growing this vegetable for many years. I use only folk remedies: I fertilize with humus, yeast and ashes, sprinkle with yeast solution with soda. My cucumbers rarely get sick, and my neighbors - constantly. A solution of baking soda and iodine helps fight pests. "

Vera: “I love cucumbers, I grow them all the time. And during all this time, I realized: so that they do not get sick, it is necessary to plant each year in different places. And it is also important to apply fertilizer to the ground when planting. My harvest has increased, and cucumbers are less sick. For prevention, so as not to get sick, I spray 1% Bordeaux mixture twice at the beginning of the season. My cucumbers do not turn yellow. "

And here is how to pickle cucumbers with basil, find out here.

Conclusion

Improper care, the appearance of diseases and pests are the main reasons for yellowing and drying of cucumber leaves. Having studied and applied in practice the secrets and methods of dealing with plant damage, you will get a rich and high-quality harvest.

Observe a certain growing technology and take preventive measures - and such a problem as yellow and dry leaves on seedlings will not arise, and fresh cucumbers will be on your table until late autumn.