How to properly water cucumbers with soda and what benefits it will bring to the crop

Collecting a rich and environmentally friendly crop is the maximum task of every gardener. Diseases, pests and increased acidity of the soil can interfere with this goal. A well-known and affordable tool will solve these problems - sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda.

How to pour soda over cucumbers so as not to harm the plant, and what effect will be from its use - read in our article.

Why water cucumbers with soda

More and more vegetable growers are rejecting the use of chemicals on their plots. However, this decision often leads to the loss of the entire crop. Many found salvation in the means used by our grandparents. One such versatile fertilizer is soda.

Regular baking soda - bicarbonate or sodium bicarbonate - can be a real help in growing cucumbers. When used correctly, the product has antibacterial and antiviral properties.

What effect does

Soda is an inexpensive tool that every housewife has in the kitchen. It can be used not only in baking. Sodium bicarbonate has a positive effect on plant development.

Properties of soda in the garden:

• disinfects seed material;
• fertilizes plants;
• improves the taste of fruits;
• repels insect pests;
• prevents pathogenic yellowing and death of foliage;
• protects and treats various diseases;
• reduces soil acidity.

Benefits for cucumbers

Experienced gardeners have noticed that soda dressings not only protect plants, but also increase yields. Sodium bicarbonate helps to strengthen plant immunity.

Indications for soda treatment are slow development of the bush, the formation of a large number of barren flowers.

Soda-treated cucumbers differ in taste. The substance cleans the surface of the fruit from fungal spores, this contributes to the accumulation of sugars.

How to feed cucumbers with baking soda

When preparing the solution, it is necessary to adhere to the recommended proportions.

Solution preparation

You will need 10 liters of water and 3 tbsp. l. facilities. These components are sufficient for plant nutrition.

Important! For the working solution, it is better to use settled water at room temperature. It must be filtered before use.

Overfeeding cucumbers with soda is undesirable. An overdose of sodium leads to a decrease in yield, curling and crushing of fruits. At a high concentration of the substance, the pH of the soil changes.

Attention! It is not recommended to dilute the soda solution in polystyrene or aluminum containers.

The solution cannot be stored for a long time - it is better to use it within 3 hours after preparation.

The timing of feeding

To increase the appearance of ovaries, 2 dressings are carried out. The most important is the first procedure. It accelerates the growth of the bush and increases the yield. It is carried out two weeks after planting seedlings in the garden.

The second time feeding is applied 2 weeks after the first. Its purpose is to extend the fruiting period.

Additional feeding can be carried out between procedures. To increase fruiting, a solution with soda is used once a week.

Soda solution effectively solves the problem of the formation of barren flowers. For 5 liters of water, 1 tbsp is enough. l. facilities. Top dressing is applied at the root 1 time in 3 days. For one bush, 2 liters of liquid is enough.

Instructions for use

The solution is used for watering at the root and spraying on the leaf.

When feeding cucumbers with soda, follow the recommendations:

• make feeding together withwatering;
• water the solution after 6 pm or before 6 am;
• exceeding the sodium concentration will negatively affect the plant;
• if top dressing is applied under the root of the bush, moisten the entire hole.

Spraying is carried out for preventive purposes. Use a fine spray gun, treat both sides of the sheet.

Prevention and treatment of diseases

Soda is a disinfectant that helps in the treatment of fungal diseases. Sodium bicarbonate blocks the development of the mycelium of pathogenic fungi.

Gardeners use soda for the prevention and treatment of such diseases:

• powdery mildew;
• downy mildew;
• gray andwhite rot;
• late blight;
• peronosporosis.

The tool is used at the first signs of yellowing of foliage and the formation of spots. Not all gardeners can immediately recognize the disease, and delaying treatment can lead to crop loss.

Folk recipes

If the purpose of treatments is to treat disease, additional ingredients may be required.

Powdery mildew solution: 10 liters of water, 2 tbsp. l. baking soda, 2 tsp. liquid detergent, 2 crushed aspirin tablets, 2 tbsp. vegetable oil. The tool is used once a week.

Against downy mildew: 10 liters of water, 2 tbsp. l. soda and 2 tbsp. l. grated soap. The beds are processed once every 2 days. If the disease progresses, then copper sulfate is added to the solution. Spray once a week.

For the prevention of disease, such a solution is used.: 20 liters of water, 6 tbsp. l. baking soda, 4 tbsp. l. crushed laundry soap. The agent is applied to the ground part of the plant with a spray bottle. The procedure is repeated after 2 weeks.

In the treatment of various rot, 100 g of baking soda are used. The product is dissolved in 10 liters of warm water. The beds are treated with a soda solution every other day until the signs of the disease disappear.

To protect plants from premature yellowing and leaf wilting, the beds are treated with this solution: 1 tbsp. l. means for 10 liters of water. The liquid is used for watering cucumbers at the root. Three procedures are enough per season - at the beginning and at the end of July, then in the middle of August.

Application from pests

Many insects prefer an acidic environment. Soda is a leaching agent that normalizes soil balance and helps eliminate pests.

Recipe fromaphids: 10 liters of warm water, 50 g of baking soda, 2 matchboxes of wood ash, 2 tbsp. l. crushed laundry soap. Spray every 2 days.

Solution fromspider mite: 10 liters of water, 160 g of soda. Processed every other day, until insects disappear. As a preventive measure, crops growing next to cucumbers are also treated with the agent.

Reference! Treatment with a working solution of soda will also help drive weevils, cabbage and caterpillars from the site.

Features of the use of soda

Excessive soil leaching leads to slower plant growth and lower yields. Soda solution is most often used to feed cucumbers at the root, but if they are sprayed with it, it is important to moisten the surface of the well.

Treatments in open and closed beds are the same. Preventive and therapeutic spraying is carried out in cloudy, calm weather. The solution is easily washed off with rain; after precipitation, the procedure will need to be repeated.

Soda solution processing rules:

• the procedure is carried out in the morning or evening to avoid burning the foliage;
• the solution is evenly applied to the foliage by irrigation;
• they spray not only leaves, but also stems, flowers and fruits;
• do not exceed the dosage and do not feed too often.

Greenhouse cucumbers can be sprayed during the day. The main thing is not to carry out the procedure in sunny weather.

Disinfection of seeds with soda

Soda is used to treat seed material before planting.The product increases plant productivity by 30%.

To protect against diseases and improve germination, seeds are soaked for 8-12 hours in a solution - 1 tsp for 1 liter of warm water. facilities. Then the planting material is dried.

Precautions

Soda solution is harmless to humans and pets. Treatment with the product does not harm pollinating insects. When working with baking soda, you do not need to adhere to special safety measures.

Important! After processing, white dust may appear on the fruits - it does not pose a danger to humans. Rinse cucumbers with running water before use.

Conclusion

Baking soda is a folk remedy that is widely used in summer cottages and vegetable gardens. With its help, cucumbers are fertilized, protected from diseases and pests, and increased productivity. To benefit from using sodium bicarbonate, adhere to the recommended dosages and processing times.