Vinegar is the best folk remedy to fight aphids on cucumbers

Aphids infect stems, leaves, fruits, can spread viruses, which can ultimately lead to the death of the plant, loss of yield. There are many methods and techniques to prevent the appearance and spread of agricultural pests.

Folk remedies, for example, vinegar, are popular to protect cucumbers from aphids. Unlike other biological and chemical methods, acetic acid is safer for both the plant and the human body. From the article you will learn: who is aphid and how dangerous it is, how to understand that the fruits are affected, what effective methods of pest control exist, and how vinegar helps in the fight against aphids on cucumbers.

What kind of insect aphid is, and how is it dangerous for cucumbers

Aphids - a superfamily of insects from the order of hemiptera... More than 4,000 species are known, of which almost 1,000 live in Europe. The appearance and distribution is possible with any method of growing cucumbers: in spring in greenhouses and greenhouses, in summer in open ground.

Favorable conditions for the reproduction of parasites - regions with a humid warm climate... However, pests are resistant to weather conditions: they can exist and reproduce in a wide range of temperatures, with different air humidity.

Aphids feed on plant sap, affecting all of its aerial parts: flowers, leaves, ovaries, fruits, can spread viruses, cause pathological formations in plants (galls). Gauls weaken the plant, slow down fruiting, can lead to its death and, accordingly, loss of yield.

For reference. You can protect plantings by choosing the right cucumber variety that is resistant to pests and diseases.

Which aphid affects cucumbers

The main pest of cucumbers is melon, or cotton aphid... This is a small insect, body length is 1-2 mm. Some individuals reach 5 mm. The species contains winged and wingless forms. The body color is different, ranging from light yellow to rich green, almost black. Each individual has a proboscis, which pierces the surface of leaves and shoots.

Melon aphid development begins in springwhen a larva hatches from eggs laid on the host plant in the autumn. The larva feeds on the sap of the plant, and after molting begins reproduction. During the summer, one female reproduces more than 10 times, more than 500 individuals of winged and wingless forms can appear from her. In autumn, winged females fly to a weed plant, where they begin laying eggs for the winter.

Interesting. Insects are sedentary, but move quickly enough. Winged individuals can travel long distances and create colonies in new places.

How to understand that cucumbers are affected by aphids

At the initial stage, it is not easy to determine the damage to the plant by aphids.... However, the pests multiply quickly and in a short time, if plant protection measures are not taken, they completely cover the ovaries, flowers, young shoots, destroying part of the seedlings.

To preserve the harvest and prevent the reproduction and settlement of aphids, it is necessary to regularly inspect the plantings for the presence of pests.

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It is possible to determine that cucumbers are affected by melon aphids by external signs:

• curling leaves;
• the appearance of yellow spots on the leaves, their complete or partial yellowing;
• massive leaf fall;
• slowing down the growth of plants;
• sticky drops on leaves and stems;
• the presence of an anthill or ants scurrying along the stems nearby;
• accumulation of small parasites on the spread of twisted leaves.

Reasons for defeat

The appearance of aphids on cucumbers may be associated with favorable climatic conditions in the region (air temperature + 22-23 ° C, humidity at 80%), non-observance of the density of planting of cucumbers, the presence of weeds, where parasites lay overwintering eggs.

Another reason for the appearance of aphids on cucumbers is ants.... They contribute to the spread of pests, as they feed on their sweet liquid secretions and protect pest colonies from predatory insects. For the winter period, they hide aphids from the cold in an anthill, and in the spring, with the onset of heat, they transfer them to the plant.

Aphids on cucumbers: how to deal with it

Plant protection should be carried out throughout the growing season.... It is important not only to limit the activity of harmful organisms, but to provide for the time of the appearance of aphids on cucumbers and to prevent its reproduction and dispersal.

For this use different methods of struggle: direct destruction of parasites and indirect impact through environmental factors. When choosing the optimal method, the area and degree of damage to the cucumbers by aphids are taken into account.

Important ways to protect cucumbers from aphids include:

1. Biological method... To suppress and reduce the number of parasites, predatory mites, parasitic insects, birds, mammals are used. This also includes spraying plants with microbiological preparations.
2. Chemical method... Assumes the use of pesticides toxic to aphids on cucumbers. This method has a number of disadvantages: soil contamination, accumulation of pesticides in fruits, the emergence of further forms of agricultural pests that are resistant to toxins. In addition, the fruits after spraying will be suitable for consumption in 15-30 days.
3. Folk remedies... For the treatment of foliage from cotton aphids, an infusion of dandelion, celandine, pepper, onion husks, garlic, a mixture of laundry soap and wood ash, and vinegar are used. Irrigation is carried out regularly, once every two to three days, until the insects disappear completely.

Do not plant other melons and gourds next to cucumbers: squash, squash. These plants can also be affected by aphids.

The effectiveness of vinegar against aphids

Table vinegar is used to prevent the appearance melon aphidon cucumbers and directly to eliminate the pest.

Acetic acid solution has a pronounced specific odor that repels harmful organisms. Vinegar has a destructive effect on aphids that have already settled on the plant and completely destroys the insect. The result of processing with vinegar is in no way inferior to chemical agents.

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How to properly use vinegar in the fight against a pest

Treating cucumbers with vinegar from aphids suggests several options.: spraying and watering. Irrigation is carried out using a special device for spraying or a spray bottle.

The solution is sprayed onto each leaf, it is especially important to process it from the outside, where aphids usually settle. With large lesions, one procedure is not enough. Spraying is carried out every 2-3 days until the complete elimination of pests. Then it is processed every 3-4 weeks as a preventive measure.

Vinegar solution recipe

The standard recipe is 1 tbsp. l. vinegar 9% per 1 liter of water... To increase efficiency, an additional 2 tbsp of dishwashing detergent is added to the solution. l. 5 liters of water or laundry soap (tar, green) at the rate of 2 tbsp. l. for 1 liter of water.

The soap improves the adhesion of the foliage to the liquid solution, which lasts longer on the plant, therefore, is able to destroy more parasites. The prepared solution is used to process the plantings.

You can use apple cider vinegar or vinegar essence as the main substance. It is more concentrated, so 2-4 tbsp will be enough for a 10 liter bucket. l. vinegar 70%.

Prevention

It is easier to prevent the appearance of melon aphids on cucumbers than to fight it. The following preventive measures help protect plantings from insect damage:

• competent and regular watering;
• compliance with the planting density of cucumbers;
• weeding, cleaning weeds;
• tillage, fertilization for agricultural crops during their growing season;
• selection of a cucumber variety that is resistant to pests and diseases;
• periodic watering of the beds with a simple solution of laundry soap;
• autumn digging of soil;
• planting plants with a pronounced odor close to cucumbers to scare off aphids: mint, mustard, basil, coriander, onion, garlic.

Prevention of cucumber aphid infestation also includes measures against garden ants... Use chemical insecticides or folk remedies. The same vinegar will help: a solution of 400 ml of vinegar and the same amount of shampoo, vegetable oil. Dissolve the ingredients in 10 liters of water, stir.

Make a hole in the central part of the anthill, fill it with a solution, cover with cling film for several days.

Council. The natural enemy of aphids is the ladybug. To protect the cucumbers from pests with the help of beetles, mustard leaves are planted next to the plant.

Conclusion

It is necessary to carry out activities aimed at combating pests of agricultural crops in a timely manner and correctly, without harm to the fruits and the human body.

Aphid vinegar on cucumbers is an affordable, simple and effective processing method. The acidic liquid can be used as a preventative measure. Positive feedback from gardeners confirms the effectiveness of the folk remedy.