Effective treatment for cucumber chlorosis

Cucumber chlorosis often affects cucumbers grown in open beds or greenhouses. Infected plants, the leaves turn yellow and gradually wilt. After a short time, the plant dies completely. The disease has various causes. But more often, it is caused by improper care or an imbalance of nutrients in the soil. Treatment is successful at the initial stage of the disease's development. Once the damage has spread significantly, all gardener's efforts fail to bring about a recovery.

Causes and signs of spread

When leaves become chlorotic, chlorophyll production is disrupted. Consequently, photosynthesis is impaired. Oxygen is produced in the leaves under the influence of sunlight. It is essential for the survival of all living organisms. The growth and development of green plant parts is impossible without it. In the early stages of the disease, the plant can still be saved.

The following reasons lead to the appearance of chlorosis:

• imbalance of nutrients and microelements in the soil;
• improper organization of irrigation of cucumber bushes;
• viral infectious diseases;
• too high or low air temperature;
• lack of sunlight;
• spread of insect pests;
• drafts.

The disease manifests itself as yellowing along the leaf edges. The yellowing then spreads to the leaf blade, leaving the veins untouched. Over time, the foliage completely changes color, withers, and dies. The green color is lost due to a lack of chlorophyll. A plant infected with chlorosis can be seen in more detail in the photo.

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Types of chlorosis

Most often, the disease develops due to a lack or excess of microelements in the soil:

1. When magnesium deficiency occurs, the undersides of the leaves are the first to suffer. When yellowing appears, the veins retain their original dark green hue. However, if left untreated, the yellowing spreads to the entire leaf. As the disease progresses, a purple tint develops along the leaf edges. Symptoms are alleviated by applying fertilizers containing high amounts of magnesium.
2. A nitrogen deficiency causes the undersides of the leaves to turn pale. This is followed by yellowing, browning, and death of the foliage. In cases of nitrogen deficiency, the vein color also changes and becomes less intense. Nitrogen-containing fertilizers are used to eliminate the symptoms of the disease.
3. Insufficient iron causes the apical shoots to turn pale. After this, the leaves turn brown.
4. Zinc deficiency causes individual areas of the leaf between the veins to turn pale. The foliage then becomes covered with brown spots. The leaf blades take on a grayish tint, eventually turning brown. To combat the disease, supplement with zinc-containing nutrients.
5. Manganese deficiency manifests itself as a pale, interveinal leaf area. The color of the interveinal areas remains unchanged. Rusty patches then appear on the leaf edges.
6. If the soil lacks potassium, the edges of the lower leaves begin to turn pale. The color then suddenly changes to brown without any yellowing.
7. A sulfur deficiency causes leaf discoloration, making them more jagged. If there's too much of the micronutrient, the foliage becomes coarse and small. Its hue changes to a lilac-brown. Scale-like growths appear on the plant.

Sometimes the disease is triggered by insect pests or sudden changes in weather conditions. High humidity causes leaves to wilt. They become pale and droop lifelessly. Serous, rotting areas form on the plant. The foliage gradually falls off. If left untreated, mold and root rot develop. The disease can be recognized by excessively wet soil. To restore the plant's health, stop watering.

Sudden frosts can cause leaf discoloration, either completely or in patches. To restore the plant, the affected areas are removed. If cucumbers are grown in the shade and lack sunlight, all green parts become pale and smaller, and the stems become elongated and thin.

Pests primarily nest on the undersides of leaves. A close inspection of plants reveals their presence. Spider mites are identified by fine webbing between the veins. The foliage of an infested plant turns yellow and falls off. When nematodes infest, all parts of the plant become deformed. Leaves, shoots, and fruits become smaller.

Methods of combating the disease

Before treating chlorosis and preserving the harvest, the cause of the disease must be determined. If there is a deficiency of beneficial micronutrients, remove all damaged parts of the plant and then apply the necessary fertilizer. To replenish nitrogen, use mullein, diluted with water at a ratio of 1:10. Apply 1 liter of the prepared fertilizer to each plant.

To increase magnesium levels, dissolve 100 g of magnesium nitrate in 10 liters of water. To restore potassium, use wood ash: dissolve 100 g of it in 10 liters of water. After steeping, pour the mixture under the roots. Use no more than 1 liter of the prepared fertilizer for each bush.

To replenish iron deficiency, use commercially available mineral complexes or make your own. The solution is prepared by mixing 6 g of ferrous sulfate and 5 g of methylene blue in 1 liter of boiled water. The resulting solution takes on a bright orange hue. It is used as a root watering or as a foliar spray.

If chlorosis develops due to an excess of beneficial micronutrients in the soil, treatment requires more time. To restore the balance of nutrients, temporarily stop fertilizing. Then, water the plants daily to reduce the concentration of the excess micronutrient in the soil. Apply moderate amounts of water to avoid damaging the root system. To restore the greenery, spray the plants with calcium nitrate.

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If damage is caused by bad weather, the affected areas of the plants are simply pruned. Treatment of the bushes with special preparations is not necessary. To improve the condition of the bushes, additional fertilizer is applied to strengthen the shoots. When the soil becomes alkaline, nitrogen and iron, necessary for growth, are not fully absorbed by the plant's root system. To improve the condition of the bushes, acidify the soil. A working solution is prepared from 10 liters of water and 5 ml of nitric-phosphoric acid. The fertilizer is poured under the root of each bush.

If chlorosis is caused by overwatering, allow the soil to dry out. This is accomplished by temporarily avoiding irrigation. Once the soil dries out, establish a proper soil moisture regime to prevent waterlogging of the root system.

Nutrient deficiencies in plants occur when the root system is damaged due to careless transplanting or after replanting. Until the shoots recover, beneficial micronutrients are available in limited quantities. To speed up root recovery during transplanting, rooting agents such as "Clean Sheet" or "Radiopharm" are used.

Pests are controlled using folk remedies or commercial insecticides. Treating bushes with a garlic infusion produces good results. To prepare a working solution, soak the chopped garlic in water for several days. Then strain the liquid and use it to spray on greenery to combat aphids, spider mites, or thrips.

Prevention of chlorosis

To prevent yellowing of leaves, plants need proper care and timely application of fertilizersBefore transplanting the seedlings, the bed is fertilized with compost from plant debris and other organic waste. The soil is then dug over and the seedlings are planted. As the compost decomposes, nutrients are released, which are absorbed by the root system of the developing plants.

To prevent chlorosis, the following measures are taken:

1. Seedlings are planted at recommended intervals to avoid overcrowding and shading. For the same reason, beds should not be placed in areas shaded by buildings or trees.
2. The soil is moistened as the surface layer dries out. Overwatering leads to root rot and the development of dangerous diseases.
3. The seedlings are transplanted to their permanent location once the weather has fully warmed up. If frost is expected, cover the cucumber plants with agrofibre or film to protect them from freezing.
4. Avoid planting cucumbers in areas frequently exposed to cold winds or drafts. Constant exposure to low temperatures will cause the leaves to turn yellow.

Chlorosis is easier to prevent than to treat later. The main difficulty in treating the disease is correctly identifying the cause that triggered the negative changes. Therefore, when growing vegetables, adhere to established plant care guidelines: choose a sunny, sheltered site for the garden bed, water the plants regularly, and apply fertilizer.