How to feed cucumbers when growing on a windowsill

Growing cucumbers indoors, on a windowsill or balcony, will only be successful if you carefully select your fertilizers. A small amount of nutrient-rich soil will be sufficient if you regularly apply organic and mineral fertilizers. It's important to keep in mind that balcony cucumbers often receive less sunlight without additional lighting and are more susceptible to fungal and mold diseases. When choosing the right fertilizer, consider not only traditional and well-known remedies but also complex fertilizers for cucumbers grown outdoors.

Types of fertilizers

You can even feed indoor plants with inexpensive and readily available substances, such as compounds made by infusing common herbs. Cucumbers grown on a windowsill require just as much macronutrients as any other plant. Therefore, fertilizers should also be applied in the form of ready-made complexes.

Organics

The plant completes its growth and maturation cycle in just 56-60 days. Fruit formation requires a large number of elements. Almost all of them are found in various types of manure and humusThe advantage of such fertilizers is their low concentration. Cucumbers on a windowsill or balcony are fed this method regularly in small doses to ensure uniform and stable growth. The following will be most beneficial:

• mullein;
• bird droppings;
• rabbit manure.

Cucumbers require a weak solution; it's safe to apply at the roots. Even young cucumbers on a windowsill benefit from a bird droppings infusion. The dry material is diluted with warm water at a ratio of 1:2 and left for at least 2 hours. Then, add 1 liter to 10 liters, then water each plant. A dry method is used: place the droppings on the soil, then water thoroughly with lukewarm water.

Rabbit manure is recommended for fertilizing home-grown cucumbers, as it contains the lowest amount of pathogenic bacteria that can cause dangerous diseases. The fertilizer contains nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium. The dried material is processed into a powder that can be dissolved or used as mulch. The advantage of this option is the reduced risk of weed infestation.

Minerals

Minerals and macronutrients are primarily needed to improve soil quality, oxygenate it, and regulate acidity. Fertilizing indoor cucumbers is therefore necessary if the existing soil is depleted and organic matter no longer produces the desired results. The main drawback of mineral fertilizers is their high concentration. Calculating the exact dosage is difficult, but this type of fertilizer has a cumulative effect. Fertilizing window and balcony cucumbers requires caution, as promoting growth in one part of the plant can harm another.

Mineral fertilizers are rarely used for cucumbers on the balcony or indoors, as the fruits can accumulate chemical elements and develop a distinctive flavor. Excessive mineral content can even make the crop hazardous to health if consumed regularly. The following are beneficial and safe for cucumbers:

• ammonium nitrate;
• superphosphate solution;
• potassium nitrate;
• ammophos.

The standard concentration is 5 grams of total mineral fertilizer per 250 grams of water. This is enough to water 5 plants. It's best to fertilize cucumbers on the windowsill using this method before ovaries appear. Any young plant appreciates an abundance of minerals. They help ovaries form and the green parts grow.

Folk remedies

Homemade mixtures are based on a combination of organic and mineral elements. To fertilize varietal cucumbers on the balcony, use banana peels, which contain magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, and calcium. To stimulate fruit growth, make an infusion: four crushed peels in three liters of warm water, steep for three days. Then strain and immediately use for root watering. If the plant is young, dilute the mixture, reducing the concentration by half. This can feed even the youngest cucumber seedlings. Banana peels are good as a nutritious mulch. They are dried, ground, and mixed with soil. Two teaspoons are sufficient for one plant.

Eggshell feeding is considered one of the best folk remedies. Using similar proportions, prepare an infusion. Water once a week. Eggshells are also used as an additional drainage layer at the bottom of pots or boxes. It's best to replace them once a year. Eggshells are 93 percent pure calcium in a readily soluble form. Therefore, nutrients will be continuously recirculated into the water.

You can promote vigorous cucumber growth and the formation of juicy, firm, and crunchy fruits by using sugar water as a fertilizer. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of sugar in 1 liter of liquid. Pure glucose, available at pharmacies, can also be used. This substance is more concentrated; 1 gram per liter is sufficient. This type of fertilizer for cucumbers is prepared at home once a week.

Complex compositions

Factory-produced complex formulations are effective and safe. Liquid solutions or dry mixtures already contain small amounts of minerals and organic compounds and are not susceptible to mold, fungi, or bacteria that are harmful to cucumbers.

Ready-made fertilizers can be made more or less concentrated, depending on the application time and specific application. The following are well suited for indoor cucumbers:

• "Barrier";
• "Breadwinner";
• Rossa.

Ready-made urea solutions are also used, diluting them to the desired concentration. During the period of active growth and ripening, universal vegetable fertilizers are also effective. Cucumbers will even respond well to fertilizers designed for greens and leafy salads.

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Timing of fertilizer application

When grown indoors, regular fertilizing is essential, as the plant cannot find the nutrients it needs in large volumes of soil or groundwater. There are several important periods:

• immediately after seating;
• before the formation of ovaries;
• during fruiting.

After the first shoots emerge and true leaves form, the young shoots are transplanted, thinned, and pricked out. Fertilizing is especially necessary at this time to increase the chances of survival and shorten the adaptation period. Also, at this stage, it's important to avoid stretching, which will weaken the entire plant. This is especially important when growing without supplemental lighting. The following fertilizing schedule can be used:

• 14 days after germination – urea, superphosphate;
• after 10 days – urea or manure;
• after 10 days - wood ash.

Ash is dissolved in water; 30 grams of dry matter is needed per 3 liters. The remaining ingredients are used according to the instructions. Manure is applied as a root dressing in the form of a solution.

Over the next 15-20 days, ovaries will begin to form rapidly. If the plant lacks nutrients, these ovaries will be replaced by barren flowers, significantly reducing the overall yield. Yellowing leaves are a warning sign. Inflorescences may even fall off. In this case, fertilizing is essential. Use a combination of:

• ammonium nitrate;
• potassium sulfate;
• double superphosphate.

Dissolve 10 grams of each substance in 10 liters of water. This watering is performed twice, 7 days apart. During this period, the plant focuses its energy on fruit formation, and nitrogen content in the green part of the plant decreases. As a result, photosynthesis and natural metabolism are disrupted. Nitrate restores this balance. Potassium, in turn, promotes the accumulation of natural sugars and water retention in the fruit.

During fruiting, fertilizing should not be completely abandoned. Fertilizing is especially important in the second half of summer and towards autumn. During this period, there is a high risk of deformation and crooked fruit. Wood ash is used in the concentration indicated above. The fertilizer should be prepared only from the combustion products of healthy wood. Avoid ashes from cardboard, paper, or construction waste. If growth is inactive and cucumbers do not reach the standard size for the variety, use nitrophoska or azofoska. Dissolve 10 grams of the substance in 10 liters of water and water every 10 days.

Fertilizers are applied outside the standard schedule if alarming symptoms of a deficiency of particularly important elements appear. Complex formulations are best, as it's difficult to accurately diagnose a problem based on external signs, while low concentrations of ready-made fertilizers can help the plant overcome virtually any ailment. Nitrogen fertilizers are needed if stems have thinned or leaves have become wilted despite timely watering. Excessive amounts are also dangerous, manifesting as darkening and deformed leaves. In this case, calcium nitrate is used. Phosphorus deficiency will manifest itself as small, downward-curling leaves. Potassium deficiency will be noticeable by the appearance of yellow edges or red veins.

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Feeding technology

When applying liquid or dry fertilizer, several rules must be followed. The soil must be well-moistened. Otherwise, the water and nutrients will either remain on the surface or be immediately drained away. To ensure the plant can absorb the fertilizer through its roots, the entire mass must be evenly distributed throughout the soil.

When watering at the root, avoid directing the stream of water directly at the stem. Even low concentrations of active ingredients can cause burns. It's better to irrigate the surrounding soil. Cucumbers have deep, branched roots, so even in this case, all the ingredients will reach the plant. Also, avoid spraying the leaves with substances intended for root application only.

Don't apply fertilizer until the first shoots appear. Even if the shoots are sparse or too late, fertilizing won't speed up the process. It will be useless and may even damage the youngest shoots that haven't yet broken through the surface.

All soil-improving fertilizers should be applied when transplanting seedlings or before sowing. Deep loosening is unacceptable, as it will damage the roots. Surface fertilizers, similar in properties to mulch, are used. They will release nutrients to the soil and plant when watered.

Dangerous substances

Cucumbers can quickly accumulate any water-soluble minerals. Therefore, such preparations should not be used regularly. It's better to opt for organic, complex products. The accumulated substances will alter the vegetable's flavor and make it harmful to humans.

Fresh manure should also not be used. It will burn the roots or stems, which could cause the plant to die completely. For the solution, use properly prepared, well-aged raw materials. If the organic fertilizer is too fresh, reduce the concentration when preparing the solution.

Urea is often considered a universal fertilizer. However, it is suitable for acidic and neutral soils. Alkaline soil will suffer from regular application of this substance. Oxygen exchange will be slowed, and the plant roots will not be able to receive sufficient nutrition.

Almost any cucumber variety can be grown on a balcony or windowsill, including those with the largest and heaviest fruits. A strong plant with a large number of ovaries can be formed with timely feeding. It's important not only to adhere to the timing but also to maintain a balance of organic and mineral nutrients. Following these simple rules will help prevent burns even during the seedling germination stage.