Maximum cucumber harvest thanks to super-fertilizing in August

Days in August are still warm, but nighttime temperatures can drop to 8-10°C. Dew and fog in the mornings take their toll, and cucumber leaves begin to turn yellow, even though there are still plenty of buds and flowers on the vines. There are fertilizer recipes that can help extend the fruiting period of cucumbers in open ground and greenhouses.

Why do you need to feed cucumbers in August?

Cold nights and high humidity create favorable conditions for fungal infections. To prevent powdery mildew outbreaks, cucumbers in the open ground and greenhouses need to be fertilized. At the same time, it's important to improve the microclimate in the root zone by reducing humidity.

Mulch (hay, straw, mown lawn grass) helps to normalize humidity; a mulch layer is used in a greenhouse and open ground.

A nutrient-rich layer made from onion peels will provide effective support for cucumbers in August. First, steep the peels in a bucket of boiling water, then let them steep for 24 hours. Water the cucumbers with the slurry, and place the peels in the holes around the stems.

Fertilizer recipes for cucumbers in greenhouses and open ground

In August, the quality of agricultural practices is especially important. The slightest violation can lead to plant disease and death. There are many recipes for maintaining health and prolonging fruiting, and they are easy to apply.

To strengthen the root system

The stronger the root system, the more nutrients the plant absorbs. In August, apply the following fertilizer to cucumbers:

• ash in the form of a solution;
• superphosphate;
• potassium sulfate.

Ash contains all the macro- and microelements (potassium, zinc, phosphorus, and calcium) cucumbers need in August. To obtain it, you can burn firewood, grass, sunflower tops, and stems.

For greenhouse plants, ash is applied in dry form before watering – dusting the soil under the bushes, and for cucumbers growing in open ground, an infusion is prepared:

• 200 g (a glass) of ash is poured into a 10-liter bucket;
• fill to the top with hot water;
• insist for 5-7 days.

Water each bush at the root with this solution.

Superphosphate boosts immunity, so it's used in August. Plants treated with phosphorus fertilizer are better able to resist fungal infections. Phosphorus and potassium fertilizers can be added to the working solution—1 tablespoon of each per 10 liters of water. It's best to add a liter of boiling water to the superphosphate the day before; it dissolves poorly in cool water.

What to feed if it gets cold

During cold spells in August, cucumbers can be saved by using whey and urea. Both remedies help prolong fruiting only in healthy plants; if the bushes are affected by downy mildew or root rot, this recipe is of no use.

In cool weather, it's best to mist the bushes, and if warmer weather sets in, water them at the roots. A couple of days after fertilizing, the leaves will green up with renewed vigor.

In August, an excellent Japanese product, HB-101, will help boost your plants' immunity. It poses no risk to humans or pets. Apply 1-2 drops of the stimulant per liter of water, spraying the plants every 10 days.

Foliar feeding recipes

The complex fertilizers Rastvorin and Kemira-Lux have earned excellent reviews from gardeners. They increase cucumber yields in August. The solution is prepared using the same formula: 1 liter of water, ½ teaspoon of fertilizer. Spray the vines between 5 and 7 PM.

To prevent diseases (anthracnose, powdery mildew), prepare a mullein infusion: 1 liter of water and 1 kg of manure. Let it steep for 7 days and strain before use. Cucumbers can be sprayed with this fertilizer once every 10 days. This recipe is suitable for both greenhouse cucumbers and those grown outdoors.

Foliar feeding with mineral fertilizers is very effective. They are used when the bushes are producing misshapen fruits. Malformed cucumbers indicate a deficiency of several micronutrients in the soil. Nitroammophoska (NAP) helps replenish these micronutrients. A solution is prepared from it:

• water 1 l;
• fertilizer 2 tbsp.

Foliar treatment can be carried out twice with a weekly interval.

From cucumber diseases

In August, crops may suffer from bacterial wilt, anthracnose, downy mildew, and powdery mildew. These diseases can be controlled with fungicidal treatments.

Prepare the solution exactly according to the instructions; use personal protective equipment during work.

Powdery mildew can be treated with a Chinese mixture:

• urea 100 g;
• copper sulfate 3 g;
• potassium permanganate 1 g;
• boric acid 5 g.

Dissolve everything in 10 liters of water, and spray the leaves with the resulting mixture once a week. The green leaves can be harvested two days after the procedure.

Adviсe

Cucumber bushes growing on a trellis can be revived in August not only with foliar and root feeding. Healthy stems, free of disease, can be rejuvenated. Lower the lower part of the central stem to the ground and sprinkle it with a mixture of humus, garden soil, and peat. Roots formed along the entire length of the buried stem will improve the plant's nutrition, prolonging fruiting.

If the cucumbers aren't tied to supports, rejuvenation is done another way. Take well-rotted compost and spread it over the bed. Use half a bucket of compost per square meter. The soil around the bushes is loosened slightly. Additional roots appear on the buried stems, providing the cucumbers with additional organic nutrients.

You can rejuvenate cucumber vines in August using rotted hay. An infusion can be made from it:

• water 1 part;
• rotted hay 1 part;
• infusion time 48 hours.

The vines are sprayed with a hay infusion at least three times, with a 10-day interval between treatments. This fertilizer extends the growing season and protects against powdery mildew.

Reviews

Mikhail, Saratov

In August, cucumber fruiting begins to wane. To revive them, I spray the leaves and water the bushes at the roots with a whey solution. I use 2 liters of whey per 10-liter bucket and add ½ cup of sugar.

Tatyana, Rostov Oblast

To prevent cucumber leaves from turning yellow, I spray them with Kemira Lux. I use 20 g of the product per 10 liters of water. I spray the underside of the leaves, where the nutrients are absorbed faster. To prevent root rot, I water the plants at least twice a month with a potassium permanganate solution.

Conclusion

Cucumbers respond well to care. Using various types of fertilizers, fruiting can be extended into autumn. August cucumbers are especially good for pickling. Using various recipes, fruiting in open ground can be extended until October 10-15 in the south, and until September in temperate latitudes.