Why are cucumbers empty inside and how to prevent this problem

Every summer resident at least once came across the fact that in the harvested harvest of cucumbers, there are empty specimens inside. Violation of the process of formation and development of fruits can be caused by various reasons.

It is important to know how to eliminate them - then the efforts spent on growing fruits will not be in vain. We will talk about this in the article.

Causes of emptiness inside cucumbers

Cucumbers are not a capricious crop that is difficult to grow. Vegetables are unpretentious to care for, but some rules should still be followedto harvest a rich and high-quality harvest.

By its appearance, you can recognize that a void has formed inside the fruit.... They look a little concave, misshapen, and wrinkled. You can be convinced if you break a cucumber: the core in it is dry, yellowed or completely absent.

Emptiness is the result of abnormal growth of the placentaon which the seedlings are located. Why this is happening, we will understand further.

Wrong microclimate

This is a common problem familiar to gardeners who have greenhouses. Culture reacts sharply to temperature changes, which cannot be called a rare occurrence in most regions. The difference between daytime and nighttime temperature indicators can reach 12-15 degrees, which is detrimental to plants.

Reference. Cucumber is one of the few vegetables that grows at night. The optimum temperature should be at least + 20 ° C.

A prerequisite for growing is compliance with the light regime... The leaves of the plant need bright sunlight, and when fruits appear, it is recommended to shade them slightly.

If the greenhouse is too dark, they not only form hollow, but also lose their taste, do not grow to large sizes.

Watering errors

Cucumbers are 90% water - the rest is juice and enzymes. Therefore, some gardeners are sure that they need a lot of moisture and often water the soil.

For a plant, both excess moisture and its lack are destructive.... The root system does not absorb enough water and microelements, the fruits begin to dry out and crack, tissue damage on the stems and vegetables leads to a loss of 40-45% of the mass.

To organize regular and moderate watering in greenhouses use a drip irrigation system that evenly moisturizes the soil, directing the flow gently under the root of the plant.

Soil quality

All nutrients and trace elements are obtained from the culture soil, hence, the soil should be rich and balanced. The inept use of mineral fertilizers and organic matter leads to a low quality of the crop.

Important! An excess of nitrogen, urea or manure in the area is the main reason for the formation of voids.

Complex mineral fertilizers are applied according to the scheme:

• when ovaries form, more potassium preparations are added;
• when flowering, cucumbers need phosphorus;
• at the initial stage, with the growth of green mass, nitrogen is needed.

The soil must be soft, regular loosening will saturate it with oxygen and ensure its circulation... In addition, the land for cucumbers is cultivated before planting.It can contain pathogens, bacteria and infections that cause viral diseases and impaired development of young tissues.

Varietal features

Cucumber hybrids most resistant to void formation, they are marked with the letter F and a unit (F1). Common ones are:

• Clean ponds;
• Green Wave;
• Buyan;
• Grasshopper;
• Marina Grove.

Hybrids are not hereditary, therefore, you cannot collect seeds from them for planting. To avoid the appearance of hollow fruits, fresh planting material is taken.

Diseases

With regular temperature fluctuations, the immunity of cucumbers decreases, they become vulnerable to infectious diseases. The appearance of defects is often associated with infection of the bush, which leads to a significant decrease in yield. For example, from viral necrosis, the yield decreases by 30-50%.

Late harvest

The vegetables are harvested as soon as they are ripe. The specimens left in the beds overripe and outgrow, testes are formed in them, which becomes the cause of inner emptiness. The peel of such vegetables is tough and bitter, they actively consume moisture from the accumulated supply.

What to do if hollow cucumbers appear

If hollow cucumbers appear on the site, this does not mean that the entire crop is spoiled. Timely identification of the causes will help to understand how to get rid of this.

Plants need to provide comfortable growing conditions. Firstly recommended to revise watering scheme:

1. Use only warm water (+ 26-28 ° C) - in this case, a sufficient amount of moisture will be absorbed by the roots, and the residues will quickly evaporate.
2. Limit watering in cloudy weather, as the roots do not absorb liquid on such days.
3. Moisten the soil with a weak stream, directing it carefully under the root so as not to damage, and spray the ground part only after sunset.

If you come across a large number of empty cucumbers, correct mistakes in the organization of lighting: thin out the bushes so that they do not block the sun's rays. If the plot is located in the shade, UV lamps are installed between the beds inside the greenhouse.

Deterioration of fruit quality can be corrected by fertilization... Compost is the most effective top dressing, which is almost impossible to overdose. But in combination with urea it can impair the quality of the soil and hence the taste of the cucumbers.

Preventive measures

Choose suitable varieties for planting, adapted to the climatic conditions of the region. To prevent the appearance of voids in fruits, it is recommended:

• do not allow an excess of nitrogen in fertilizers;
• spray the fruits in order to prevent diseases (1 kg of mullein per 3 liters of water, insist for 3 days, strain and bring the volume to 6 liters);
• to prevent cracking and internal emptiness, treat bushes with water with the addition of sour milk (in equal proportions);
• spray plants and soil with manganese solution to prevent viral diseases.

In greenhouses, cucumbers are treated with formalin solution at the rate of 1 liter 2% composition per 1 sq. m. Every evening the greenhouse room is ventilated, and on cloudy and humid days it is kept open.

Important! Follow the rule of crop rotation: do not plant cucumbers in the same place for 4 years in a row.

When the thermometer falls below + 20 ° C, shrubs in the open field insulate, covered with a film, and heaters are installed in the greenhouse at night.

Why are cucumbers empty inside when salted

The main causes of the problem:

• selection of low-quality, overripe, initially empty fruits;
• violation of salting technology.

Overripe fruits are not recommended for conservation and salting.... Only timely picked young cucumbers will do. It is not recommended to store them for a long time.

Some varieties are not suitable for harvesting for the winter., especially salad - a cavity can form inside the fruit.

Even high-quality vegetables can spoil during salting.. The emergence of emptiness inside it is associated with the development of microorganisms, which practically process the pulp into gases and destroy it. These fruits are recognized externally: they are swollen and enlarged.

Important! Experienced housewives soak the harvested fruits in cool water for 2-3 hours before salting, and if the skin is blocked, they make several punctures with a needle.

Tips & Tricks

It is recommended to treat the seeds with a solution of wood ash before planting.... This composition saturates the seed with essential nutrients and increases plant immunity. The culture is becoming more resistant to climatic conditions and diseases.

To avoid growing problems, it is recommended to use trellis for cucumbers... This will avoid a lack of lighting.

Hardening procedure is effective... Before planting, the seeds are placed in a dampened cloth or gauze, left in a warm room with an air temperature of at least + 25 ° C. As soon as several young shoots hatch, the seed is sent to the refrigerator for 24 hours. After that, the seeds are kept in a cool room, for example, in a cellar or on a balcony, so that they move away from the cold.

An important role in the development of cucumbers is played by neighborhood... They get along well with garlic and onions, legumes and lettuce, celery and beets. And if you plant shrubs next to corn, you can collect juicy, slightly sweetish fruits.

Conclusion

Compliance with the rules of growing and caring for cucumbers will avoid reducing the quality of the crop. A void in vegetables is formed due to a violation of agricultural technology, inappropriate microclimatic conditions and a number of diseases. The problem that has arisen can not only be eliminated, but also prevented by taking timely measures.