Signs of micronutrient deficiency in cucumbers: what's missing

Micronutrient deficiencies in cucumbers can be temporary or chronic. The former occurs when transplanting the crop to a new location or during unstable weather conditions. The latter is caused by a lack of nutrients in the soil. It's important to provide the plant with the necessary nutrition in a timely manner.

The role of microelements

Dark green leaves on cucumbers are considered a sign of health. The appearance of yellowness — a reason to worry about a lack of micronutrients in the soil. This is precisely why the plant's production of chlorophyll, which is necessary for photosynthesis, decreases. The plant weakens and focuses all its energy on survival rather than fruit production.

It's important to remember that excess nutrients also negatively impact future harvests. Each essential element must be present in the soil in a specific amount, as the plant requires them all.

Potassium deficiency

You can determine a potassium deficiency in cucumbers by the following characteristic signs:

• a light border appears on the leaves;
• the plate itself darkens and takes on a dome-shaped form;
• the fruits become round and grow on shortened stalks;
• the shoots quickly wither.

To solve this problem, water the cucumbers with an ash solution. Use 1 tablespoon per 10 liters of water. Pour about 1 liter under each plant. Spray the leaves with a 0.5% solution of potassium permanganate and soap.

Nitrogen deficiency

It's rare to find a deficiency of this nutrient in cucumbers, but it's worth being aware of.

The main signs of nitrogen deficiency:

• the stems of the plant become thinner, fibrous and hard;
• the upper leaves acquire a yellow-green color;
• the lower ones droop completely;
• few fruits appear and they are small in size;
• the very tips of the cucumbers have a thin, pointed shape;
• The general appearance of the plant is sickly.

To feed cucumbers that lack nitrogen, use mullein. It's diluted with water at a ratio of 1 to 10. The recommended watering rate is 1 liter of solution per plant.

Magnesium deficiency

Signs of micronutrient deficiency in cucumbers appear only on the leaves:

• they look like they've been burnt;
• pale green or yellow spots appear on the lower leaves;
• healthy greenery is preserved only in the vein area.

To replenish magnesium deficiency, foliar feed with magnesium nitrite. Dissolve 100 g of magnesium nitrite in 10 liters of water. Nutrivant Drip can be used for irrigation. If the crop is grown hydroponically, add 30 mg of magnesium per liter of water.

Calcium deficiency

Calcium deficiency is manifested by the following symptoms:

• light stripes appear on the leaves, which thicken over time;
• flowers are covered with rot, it can even spread to the root system;
• The leaves take on a dome shape, sometimes becoming claw-shaped.

To replenish nutrients in cucumbers, foliar feeding is used. Spray the leaves with 3% chelated calcium.

Boron deficiency

Boron deficiency can be identified by the following signs:

• the growth point dies off;
• shoots weaken and tend to die off;
• The inflorescences quickly fall off without forming ovaries.

To correct the deficiency, apply Boron Chelate foliarly. Dissolve 50 g of the fertilizer in 10 liters of water and spray onto the bushes.

Phosphorus deficiency

Micronutrient deficiency manifests itself primarily in the foliage. The foliage turns grayish, and brown spots may appear. The leaves subsequently dry out and fall off, wrinkling and curling upward.

The plant needs to be treated with a superphosphate infusion. It dissolves in hot water. Therefore, 5 tablespoons of fertilizer are poured into boiling water in the evening. In the morning, the mixture is mixed with 10 liters of water. You can also use phosphate sprays to irrigate the bushes.potash fertilizers.

Molybdenum deficiency

Molybdenum deficiency occurs due to increased soil acidity. This can be caused by overuse of sulfate fertilizers or a site located in a marshy area. High manganese levels in the soil can also lead to molybdenum deficiency.

Symptoms of micronutrient deficiency include curling, yellow spots, and dry leaf edges. Fruits deficient in molybdenum fail to ripen and begin to rot while still green. Fertilizers containing phosphorus can help replenish the deficiency.

Iron deficiency

It's easiest to spot on young foliage. The very top of the cucumber becomes lighter, the small leaves turn light yellow and even pale, and the plant significantly slows growth and flower production.

Iron deficiency can be remedied with root feeding. A 5% solution of ferrous sulfate is used for this purpose. Leaf blades can also be sprayed with a solution of ash and soap.

Deficiency of copper, zinc and manganese

Weak, limp shoots with light-colored leaves indicate a copper deficiency. Another sign of deficiency is falling flower buds. As a preventative measure, apply a 1% copper sulfate solution to the soil before planting seedlings. Foliar feeding is also possible. However, the solution should be 0.5%.

Zinc deficiency is difficult to detect. Only an experienced gardener with a trained eye can spot it. Signs of deficiency include slight yellowing of young leaves and a lack of symmetry in mature leaves. Excess calcium can also cause signs of boron and zinc deficiency. The plant can be fertilized with zinc sulfate. Add 30 mg of cucumber fertilizer to 10 liters of water.

Manganese is directly involved in the absorption of carbon dioxide by cucumbers. Deficiency symptoms include small yellow spots on the upper leaves of the plant. Small fruits grow, and shoots gain mass slowly. Fertilize the plant with a manganese solution (0.3 mg/liter).

How to determine what cucumbers are lacking by looking at their leaves

Determining the type of deficiency is easiest with photographs of the affected leaves. However, the general symptoms can be so obvious that a simple description can be used to make a diagnosis. For reliability, it's best to combine textual information with photographs.

Table 1 - Signs of microelement deficiency.

If there's a severe deficiency of any element, root feeding is best for restoring the plant's health. It will produce results more quickly. If the deficiency is minimal, foliar feeding can be used.

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Fertilizing greenhouse cucumbers

Cucumbers in the greenhouse are fed with organic and mineral fertilizers. Mineral salts are diluted in water before use.

The procedure for fertilizing:

1. Nitrophoska. It contains nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium. Use 40 g of fertilizer per 10 liters of water. One greenhouse plant requires 300 to 500 mg.
2. Superphosphate. For best results, dilute 60 g of superphosphate, 15 g of urea, and 0.5 g of boric acid in 10 liters of water. You'll need 3 liters of solution per square meter.
3. Potassium sulfate. Dissolve 40 g of potassium, 20 g of urea, and 0.5 g of boric acid in 10 liters of water. For treatment, you'll need 3-4 liters per square meter.
4. Use the same ingredients as the third feeding, adding 40 g of superphosphate. Pour 0.5 liters of the solution under each bush.

It's important to apply fertilizer in stages, according to the list provided. This will ensure that micronutrients reach the soil in a timely manner.

For those who prefer organic fertilizers, there's a method for fertilizing with ash. It's rich in calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Dissolve 1 cup of ash in 7 liters of water. This amount is enough for 1 square meter of garden bed.

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For foliar feeding, the following technology is used:

• 1 glass of ash is boiled for an hour in a liter of water;
• insist for 5 hours;
• strain;
• add water to make a volume of 4 liters.

Ash contains very little nitrogen. Therefore, additional fertilization with cow manure is necessary. The fertilizer is prepared as follows:

• 3.5 liters of cow manure are poured with 6.5 liters of water;
• insist for 10 days;
• 1 liter of solution is added to 10 liters of water.

These 10 liters are enough for 1 square meter of garden bed. If foliar feeding is used, the solution concentration should be halved.

In a greenhouse, you can use a yeast fertilizer. It will replenish cucumbers' potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen reserves. Dissolve 10 g of dry yeast and 30 g of sugar in 10 liters of water. Let it steep for 2 hours. Water the cucumbers with the prepared mixture twice a year, during flowering and fruiting.

The absence or deficiency of a particular micronutrient in the soil negatively impacts the growth and development of cucumbers. To avoid problems during cultivation, it is recommended to apply mineral or organic fertilizers promptly. If a deficiency has already occurred, descriptions and photos of the affected leaves can help identify it. The same fertilizers can help replenish the element and restore the plant.