Kira Stoletova
When growing a cucumber crop in a greenhouse or in open ground conditions, some summer residents wonder why cucumbers have an irregular shape: either the vegetables are crocheted, or they grow in the form of an uneven pear, or they turn out to be pot-bellied and hook-shaped. It turns out that in order to get even fruits, it is not enough to plant seedlings in a greenhouse. It is necessary to eliminate the reasons for the formation of irregularly shaped cucumbers, including ensuring proper care, good nutrition, the required agricultural technology and timely harvest.
Improper nutrition
Incorrectly selected mineral nutrition, when vegetables lack useful components, can also be the reason why cucumbers grow in crooked, irregular shapes.
Potassium deficiency
The lack of a microelement responsible for the formation of cucumber fruits is one of the most common causes of changes and distortions in the shape of cucumbers. Lack of potassium at the flowering stage and before direct fruit formation leads to potassium starvation of plants, as a result of which a narrow “butt” begins to form in the fruits and the lower part of the fruit is rather wide in comparison with it. The deformation of the shape of cucumbers in the form of a pear, when there is not enough potassium, is also accompanied by the appearance of a yellow border on the edges of the leaf blades.
To compensate for the lack of potassium, you can use ready-made fertilizers that have the desired component in their composition. Potassium sulphate is diluted at the rate of 3-4 large spoons per 10 liters of water and cucumber bushes are watered with a consumption rate of 0.5 liters for each seedling.
To correct the situation so that the vegetables change their appearance in time and become classically straight, you can use additional foliar feeding, which is carried out with preparations containing potassium with a concentration 2 times less than when watering.
Lack of nitrogen
When the foliage on a cucumber bush changes color and begins to turn pale, and the fruits are twisted or formed with a wide base and a narrow end, these are signs that the vegetable crop lacks nitrogen.
Saturate the soil with nitrogen-containing components allows chicken manure or herbal infusions.
Chicken manure is used in the form of compost prepared with peat, sawdust and straw for 1.5-2 months or in liquid form when it is diluted with water 50/50 and left for 2-3 days. Concentrated solutions are diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10 and the aisles are already poured with working fluid.
Among the suitable herbs for the preparation of solutions, nettles are distinguished, the foliage and stems of which are crushed, poured with water and fermented for 7-14 days, diluted again with water in a ratio of 1:10 for irrigation or 1:20 for spraying at foliar top dressing and apply at intervals of 2 weeks until the condition of cucumber plantings improves.
Violation of agricultural technology
One of the main reasons why cucumbers are deformed by a hook and become pear-shaped is a violation of the rules of agricultural cultivation of cucumber crops.
Crop rotation
Cucumbers planted after pumpkin crops, strawberries, eggplants and tomatoes, which take all potassium from the soil, grow irregularly shaped: they become pear-shaped or hooked.
In conditions of limited sown areas, soil fertility can be replenished by planting before late boarding green manure cucumbers. Oats are considered the most potash green manure of all green manure.
Unsuitable varieties
Cucumbers are bent, become round or twisted if the variety is chosen incorrectly: it does not fit the description for a particular season. So, light-loving and heat-loving varieties by the end of the summer period will certainly begin to react to a decrease in ambient temperature and a decrease in daylight hours, which is why they will begin to change their shape.
Early varieties of cucumbers that love light and warmth need to be planted a little earlier and harvested from them until the end of August.
In terms of the percentage of potential formation of ugly vegetables, the Twixie, Paratunk and Othello hybrids are least likely to appear. By the end of August, in 100% of cases, it will be possible to get twisted fruits with a thin stalk or an ugly shape from Patty, Champion and Thumb Boy by the end of August.
Wrong neighborhood
Do not plant next to each other, especially in a closed greenhouse, pollinated and parthenocarpic varieties of cucumbers. Parthenocarpic varieties are intended for cultivation mainly indoors, as hybrids form an ovary without pollination. But when their flowers in the neighborhood of inflorescences of classic varieties attract pollinating insects, in most cases this leads to deformation of the fruit and the growth of irregularly shaped cucumbers.
Neighboring varieties, while saving the sown area, are isolated from each other with a non-woven covering material. Also when growing hybrid varieties you should not often open the windows in the greenhouse, so as not to attract insects and eliminate the risk of cross-pollination of parthenocarpic varieties with other varieties.
Violation of the rules of care
Improper care of cucumber plantings can cause deformation of cucumbers.
Thermal regime
Too much low temperature or indicators above 30-35 ° C lead to a decrease in the absorption of potassium by cucumber culture, resulting in a change in the shape of cucumbers.
In the hot time of the day, regular ventilation of the closed greenhouse is required. Some summer residents whitewash the roof of greenhouses for the summer season so that a lot does not pass through it sunlight. To save cucumber bushes from cool weather at night, barrels of water installed during the daytime help, which gain heat during the day, giving it away on a cool night.
When growing cucumbers on open soil, mini-greenhouses are installed to protect against coolness. From excessive heat, they use covering materials and create a shadow.
Crooked cucumbers? Causes and elimination.
Irregular shape is obtained in cucumbers and when watering vegetable crop too much cold water. In this case, the vegetables form screeds in the middle and the cucumbers look like crooked barrels.
So that the shape of the cucumber does not twist into a hook and the vegetables do not become bitter, when watering, use water not lower than 18 ° C.
Late harvest
At a wrong time harvested crop cucumbers can also affect the further change in the shape of future fruits. Present at cucumber whip overgrowths not only lose their taste characteristics, but also inhibit the further development of young vegetables, disrupting the supply of full-fledged mineral nutrition to them, as a result of which the shape is not at all the same as that of a classic cucumber.
In the case when it is not possible to maintain the cucumber harvest with the proper frequency, experienced gardeners recommend harvesting vegetables at least once every 2-3 days all at once - from fully ripened to small gherkins that have grown up to 4 cm. attention to the quality of cucumber lashes:
- it is important that they do not change and do not rot,
- old ones that have begun to dry out should be removed,
- Zelentsy with signs of pathology and disease do not leave either.
Kirill Sysoev
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Content
Each farmer wants to get a presentable crop, because the buyer is primarily focused on external parameters. Problems often arise with cucumbers, especially if they are grown in greenhouse conditions - vegetables are twisted. On taste qualities this does not affect, but consumers try to avoid deformed goods.
Why do cucumbers curl in a greenhouse
The first fruits almost always have nice shape They are small and even. Why then do cucumbers grow crochet in a greenhouse? This is due to poor conditions of detention, features of the neighborhood and specific varieties. Some nuances of the fruit twisting process:
- The combination of many phenomena affects the condition of the fruit. Since the microclimate is artificially maintained in the greenhouse, a person can easily make a mistake when forming optimal indicators. The method of disembarkation also affects the process.
- A cucumber loses its normal shape if it lacks nutrients, light and warm water. Because of this, it slows down its growth, the skin thickens, not enough liquid is retained in the pulp, and the fruit begins to curl.
- If the cucumber is pear-shaped (thickens where the flower was), it lacks potassium. The reverse form of "pot-belliedness" indicates a deficiency of nitrogen, sunlight and watering.
Why crooked cucumbers grow with an unsuccessful neighborhood
It depends on the neighboring plants how beautiful and generous the harvest will be. Why do cucumbers grow crochet in a greenhouse, and how do nearby crops affect the shape of green fruits? The reason for the failure is as follows: the proximity of varieties different type pollination. It is not necessary to cultivate close to each other plants pollinated by bees, and parthenocarpic varieties (self-pollinated - hybrids). If they are not isolated from each other, then there is a high probability of getting a crop of crooked cucumbers.
What to do? Block pollinating insects from entering the greenhouse. When leaving cultures outdoors, cover them with gauze. Better if cucumbers different varieties will grow in different parts of the garden or greenhouse. The least crooked fruits are obtained from such hybrids:
- "Othello";
- "Octopus";
- "Paratunka";
- "Twixie".
Only 5% of cucumbers of these varieties are twisted. The fruiting of "Pasamonte", "Pasadena" is not so successful, since about 30% of the fruits are crooked. “Santana”, “Primadonna”, “Talisman”, “Emelya” have poor performance - closer to autumn, almost half of the crop has an irregular shape. Things are even worse with the varieties "Prestige", "Champion", "Buyana", "Patti": almost all of these cucumbers do not grow well and have a crooked shape by the end of summer.
Why cucumbers are deformed in violation of agricultural technology
The reason for the formation of irregular fruits is a lack of potassium. Nitrogen, phosphorus and organic fertilizers are often more than applied, and potassium-containing top dressings are forgotten. Remember a simple rule: while the plant is in vegetative period(does not bear fruit), fertilize the crop with phosphorus. During flowering and fruit formation, cucumbers should be fed with nitrogen and potassium. Observe the necessary proportions and technology for fertilizing.
Why do cucumbers grow crochet in a greenhouse and how to fix it? Watering with cold water also leads to deformation of the fruit. The liquid must be defended in the sun, then the crop will be even. The second point regarding watering is that the procedure should be carried out in the morning and water should be applied in sufficient quantities. If the soil stays dry for a long time, then the growth of cucumbers will slow down, the fruits will harden and deform.
In order for the cultivation of this crop to give positive results, it is necessary to properly care for the soil. Dense soil with a crust on the surface prevents normal air exchange. Using a hoe or tool with teeth, you need to loosen the ground before sowing. Then you should do it very carefully or completely abandon the procedure - there is a risk of damaging the root system. To prevent the formation of an earthen crust, the soil is mulched - the surface of the soil is covered with peat and humus.
During the cucumber harvest season, many summer residents complain that the fruits grow crooked or irregular in shape. The aesthetic unattractiveness of the grown greens reduces their commercial value, makes it difficult to transport and process. It is very difficult to roll up such fruits. They are suitable only for salads and pickling in barrels. Let's try to understand the causes of curvature and change in the shape of the cucumber, as well as ways to eliminate them.
Reasons for the growth of crooked cucumbers
An undesirable form of cucumber, manifested in the curvature of the fruit, is most often observed when the rules of agricultural cultivation of this crop are violated. Here we can note the following errors in their chronology:
- non-compliance;
- Wrong choice of varieties and planting;
- Errors in the organization of watering;
- Violation thermal regime;
- Incorrectly carried out top dressing;
- Late harvest.
Neglect of crop rotation rules
In this case, the hooked shape of cucumbers is explained by the imbalance of micronutrients in the soil and the accumulation of colines in it. Zelentsy belong just to the culture that is very susceptible to colins. With constant cultivation in the same place, the concentration of this toxin reaches a maximum and, as a result, inhibits plant growth, rendering Negative influence on the quality of the crop.
Cucumbers will grow crooked even if predecessors with the same need for trace elements grew at their planting site last year. These include most cucurbits. Depleted soil is not able to give culture required amount a certain element (nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium). And fertilizers in this case will not help.
Wrong choice of variety and planting
Of no small importance in the formation of the cucumber fruit is the choice of variety and its planting. Many summer residents assure that they did everything strictly according to science. All recommendations were followed. There were no deviations in the planting pattern. But you, cucumbers grew crochet.
Understanding in more detail, it turns out that during planting, violations were made in the placement of different varieties relative to each other. So, in the neighborhood, bee-pollinated varieties and parthenocarpic varieties were planted, which do not need pollination for the formation of ovaries. As a result, partial pollination of parthenocarpic species provoked the growth of uneven cucumbers.
Wrong organization of watering
INTERESTING: The reason for the growth of crooked cucumbers can be both a lack of moisture in the soil and extremely cold water used for irrigation.
When the soil dries up, fruit growth stops as a result of the plant redistributing all the nutrients in the stem. Cucumbers lose their shape and deform.
Many are also surprised by the fact that with regular watering, crooked cucumbers are still obtained. The reason in this case is cold water. And, as you know, everything cucurbits, including Zelentsy, do not like cold watering. Cold water prevents the absorption of potassium necessary for the full formation of fruits.
Violation of the thermal regime
Lack of heat can be another reason why cucumbers grow crochet. Downgrading temperature regime culture stops its growth and stops the processes of fruit formation. The plant ceases to assimilate the trace elements found in the soil. With temperature fluctuations, the formation of constrictions in fruits is most often observed. In hot weather, plant leaves can get burned and become a source of various diseases.
Wrong top dressing
Unfortunately, not everyone knows that the curvature of the shape during the growth of cucumbers occurs due to a lack of potassium. Mistakenly believing that the matter can be corrected with nitrogen fertilizing, summer residents begin to apply exclusively these types of fertilizers. As a result, the fruits are deformed.
IMPORTANT: An excess of nitrogen in the soil against the background of a lack of potassium and phosphorus leads to the fall of the ovary.
Late harvest
If, subject to the previous agrotechnical rules, the question “Why do cucumbers grow in crooked?” remains relevant, pay attention to the timeliness of harvesting. Irregular eating of fruits does not contribute to the proper distribution of nutrients. The presence of overgrown greens on the stems will certainly lead to a delay in the ripening of new fruits.
Prevention measures
All measures to correct the situation with the growth of crooked cucumbers in the beds come down to eliminating the above reasons.
- Follow the rules of crop rotation and take into account the predecessors who were in the beds in past seasons. The best predecessors for greens are perennial herbs, cabbage, peppers, onions, tomatoes, carrots. After pumpkin and gourds Zelentsy can be planted only after four years.
- Try to space cucumber varieties with different pollination requirements away from each other. The most important thing about location different types so that bees do not have access to plants that do not need pollination.
- To preserve moisture at the root system of cucumbers in order to prevent their hooking, it is necessary to mulch with chopped straw or peat after watering.
- Be sure to warm the water in the sun before watering. If the weather is cloudy, then you can add a little boiling water to the cold water.
IMPORTANT: To reduce the dependence of cucumbers on constant watering, proceed as follows: as soon as shoots appear, loosen the soil. Later loosening is impossible, since the roots of this vegetable grow near the surface of the soil, because of which they can be very easily damaged. To cause the appearance adventitious roots, the stems need to be lightly (2-3 cm) spud with earth.
Ordinary or sowing cucumbers grow on almost every personal plot. The favorite vegetable of most gardeners is grown not only in open ground conditions, but also in greenhouse or greenhouse facilities.
Despite the fact that we owe the appearance of the cucumber to the tropical and subtropical regions of India, where it still grows in absolutely natural conditions, in Russia the vegetable requires certain conditions. Why exactly the cucumber won the hearts and minds of many generations of summer residents is not known for certain. After all, it is this vegetable, according to statistics, that is most in demand for home canning, and only a tomato can be compared with it in popularity.
Problem Features
Any, even minor violations of agricultural technology in the cultivation of this greenhouse and ridge crop, cause diseases in the vegetable and a decrease in yield. The appearance of the ugly is not uncommon, but the curves greenhouse vegetables cause a lot of trouble and disappointment not only for beginners, but also for experienced gardeners. Obtaining even marketable greens becomes the main task of gardeners. However, the question why curves grow in protected ground arises quite often.
Gardeners who have been growing these vegetables in a greenhouse or in open field, notice that crooked cucumbers appear on the beds, starting in the second half of summer. These popular vegetables that grow in a greenhouse and those that grow without shelters are equally exposed to distortions. Cucumbers in this case can have a pear-shaped or spherical shape, and also outwardly resemble a crescent.
Main reasons
There are several reasons why the entire crop becomes practically substandard in appearance. However, the main and most common - only four.
- The first and most common reason explaining why curvature is observed in a growing cucumber is a violation of potassium balance. The first part of summer is characterized by the introduction of a significant amount organic fertilizer, the reserves of which run out over time and provoke external anomalies in cucumbers. In addition, a decrease in the temperature regime at night worsens the absorption of potassium and contributes to the growth of crochet vegetables even in a greenhouse.
- The second most common reason is lack of knowledge biological features this vegetable. Beginners often plant cucumber varieties that are “unfriendly” to each other in the same greenhouse, which leads to such problems.
- The third reason crooked cucumbers grow is for irrigation purposes. cold water. This tropical vegetable reacts very painfully to such watering.
- It should be remembered that for some reason it is cucumbers of several varieties that tend to curl in the absence of any apparent reason. Most often, this category includes hybrids. late varieties. It is for this reason that one should be extremely careful in choosing a variety and carefully study all its features before purchasing.
Caring for cucumbers in a greenhouse (video)
Troubleshooting
If the reason why such a change in the appearance of cucumber greens has already occurred has already been determined, you should immediately proceed to its elimination and correction.
- It is strictly forbidden to grow cucumber varieties requiring bee pollination and modern hybrids that can grow independently on adjacent beds in the open field or in the same greenhouse.
- You should pay attention to the varietal characteristics of cucumbers before planting. Almost five percent of hybrid cucumber varieties such as "Othello" and "Twiskey" for some reason suffer from an irregular shape. An even more significant amount - about thirty percent - falls on the Pasadena and Pasamonte varieties. Almost fifty percent of cucumber varieties "Primadonna", "Talisman" and "Emelya" are bent in the process of growth. The record holders for the late harvest of "freaks" are the varieties "Buyana" and "Prestige". It is the above varieties that require strict adherence to planting dates, which will allow harvesting before the average daily decrease in temperature.
- Do not forget to timely apply top dressing containing enough potassium.
Preventive measures
The most effective preventive measures are simple, but effective measures:
- , on the lashes of which twisted fruits grow, with fertilizer of the "Pikaly" type and a solution of potassium sulphate;
- root dressing of plants in open ridges and in a greenhouse with preparations with potassium or a solution of ordinary wood ash;
- protection of plants from cold snaps in the evening and at night by any convenient way, including accommodation under cover plastic bottles filled with hot water.
- If the curvature of Zelentsov is due to varietal features cucumbers and external changes are a reaction to a decrease in daylight hours or temperature changes day and night, it is advisable to remove such plants from the beds in August.
- It is recommended to sow the seeds of radish, dill, leaf mustard, lettuce or any other early ripening in the vacated place. garden culture, which grow well from the second decade of summer.
- Even on warm, but cloudy days, it is advisable to add to the irrigation water not a large number of boiling water, which will prevent the formation of sick and ugly fruits.
- If it is necessary to produce late sowing of cucumbers, preference should be given to early-ripening varieties, the crop of which will be harvested before they change. weather and the degree of illumination of plants will decrease.
- If a decision is made to plant some new, yet untested variety in the greenhouse, then for safety reasons it is advisable to allocate several beds for time-tested and well-proven cucumbers, taking into account varietal compatibility.
When and how to feed cucumbers in a greenhouse (video)
In order to minimize the appearance in the greenhouse or open field of cucumbers with irregular shape, all basic agricultural practices and rules. It is required to properly and regularly feed such plants and not plant several varieties on the same ridge. In addition, you should make it a rule to water vegetables with exceptionally warm water and correctly calculate the timing of planting. Subject to such simple recommendations, cucumbers will delight with their correct shape and a consistently high yield.
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The formation of twisted or pear-shaped cucumbers is a common problem in growing this crop. There are several reasons why cucumbers grow irregularly.
A similar problem may be associated with a violation of the rules of planting or poor-quality care, deformation also occurs against the background of a deficiency of certain elements in the soil. If measures are not taken in time, most of the crop may be spoiled, have a non-marketable appearance.
Photo of a crooked cucumber:
During the formation of fruits, the plant needs a number of macro- and microelements. With their lack in the soil, there is a curvature and other deformations of the fruit, the flowers can fall off without even starting to tie. If the cause of the problem lies precisely in the deficit, then funds must be deposited as soon as possible so as not to spoil the entire crop.
Potassium
This macronutrient directly affects the formation of cucumbers. With a lack of potassium, the fruits have a characteristic pear-shaped shape - a wide lower part and narrowed base. In addition, the color of the skin also suffers, it becomes yellowish, the edges of the leaf blades fade.
To avoid this, potash fertilizers must be applied to the soil even during the growing season.
As an emergency, root top dressing with ash is used. To prepare it, you need to mix 200 g of wood ash in 10 liters of water and let it stand for 2-3 days in a cool room. Greater effectiveness is demonstrated by feeding cucumbers with potassium sulfate.
Nitrogen
This macronutrient is considered the most important for plant health and growth. Nitrogen is important for almost all processes of growth and development. With its deficiency in the soil, cucumbers form a characteristic hook-shaped shape, less often a wide base is formed, characteristic of a pear-shaped form.
Even at the planting stage, it is important to introduce nitrogen compounds and organic matter into the soil, which contains a large amount of this mineral. As an aid, watering plants with an aqueous solution is used. chicken manure in a ratio of 1: 1, in order to avoid root burns, a little peat or sawdust should be added to the composition.
The second popular way to feed plants with nitrogen is to water and spray with a concentrated infusion of nettle leaves. To create it, you need to grind fresh leaves plants and pour warm water in a ratio of 1:10, let it brew for 7 days. Top dressing is carried out twice a week with an interval of 14 days.
Wrong care
This is the most common cause deformation of cucumbers as they ripen. Improper care can lead not only to a deterioration in yield, but also to the death of the plant. Against the background of improper watering and non-compliance with the thermal regime in the greenhouse, the risk of infection with infectious diseases also increases.
Temperature regime
This is especially true when growing cucumbers in closed ground - a greenhouse or greenhouse. If too low or high temperature the susceptibility of the plant to potassium worsens, which leads to the appearance of hook-shaped fruits.
To avoid this in hot weather, especially during the day, it is necessary to fully ventilate the greenhouse. It is recommended to put a barrel of water in the room, which serves as a temperature regulator.
If you are growing cucumbers outdoors, you should install a shelter to avoid hypothermia at night. Installing agrofibre or fabric during the day allows you to hide the planting from excessive exposure to direct sunlight.
Watering
During the formation of fruits, sufficient soil moisture is mandatory requirement for the formation of cucumbers. In drought, they can grow crochet or dry out.
In addition, with regular use of too cold water, there is a risk of the formation of pot-bellied fruits. Plants should be watered in a timely manner and taking into account the characteristics of the climate and precipitation. The optimum water temperature should be in the range of 16-18 o C.
late harvest
If you miss the moment of harvesting, cucumbers overripe, their taste characteristics deteriorate and the quality of ripening of young fruits decreases. It is necessary to check the planting during the harvesting period every day, remove all ripe and formed vegetables in time.
Dried, overripe and rotting cucumbers must be removed as they appear, as they are a source of disease and provoke infection by pests.
Violation of agricultural cultivation
Improper cultivation of cucumbers can also lead to the formation of fruits of the most bizarre shapes. Agrotechnics comes down not only to the care and method of cultivation, but also to the choice of a place, quality planting material.
Compliance with crop rotation and the proximity of plants
To improve the condition of the soil and increase its fertility, it is advisable to plant green manure plants (green fertilizers) at least once every two seasons, for example, oats, clover, alfalfa.
Some gardeners practice growing pollinated and parthenocarpic varieties in a limited area of \u200b\u200bthe greenhouse or open ground. This leads to disruption of the pollination process and the formation of twisted or round fruits.
If it is necessary to plant different types of crops, an insulating shelter between plants can be used, for example, from agrofibre or fabric material. When growing hybrids in a greenhouse next to parthenocarpic varieties, it is necessary to limit the opening time of the windows in order to reduce the number of insects.
Variety selection
There are dozens of varieties of cucumbers with different periods maturation, climate tolerance, adaptation and immunity. When choosing planting material, you should carefully read the instructions, check the zoning of a particular variety of culture.
Early varieties prefer a lot of light and heat, so they are not recommended to be grown next to late types of cucumbers. In addition, you cannot do joint landing gherkins and classic varieties, because they need different conditions for fruit formation and care.
Deformation of cucumbers during ripening is considered a reversible problem if everything is taken in time necessary measures. Sometimes by appearance you can determine what the plant lacks, which allows you to quickly adjust the care and make the necessary top dressing.