Causes of white spots on cucumber leaves
It often happens that cucumbers begin to be exposed to various viral or fungal infections. Improper care is the reason. In order to understand why white spots form on the leaves of cucumbers and what to do to help the culture, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the peculiarities of its cultivation. Breeders have developed the basic rules that allow you to cope with such unpleasant situations.
Main reasons
Experts identify the most common causes of the formation of white plaque:
- powdery mildew is the main source of the formation of white bloom on the leaves;
- white mosaic;
- spider mite;
- ascochitosis or anthracnose.
There are different ways to deal with each cause. Experts are convinced that it is better to carry out preventive measures. Treatment will require great strength and material resources from you.
Powdery mildew
If you notice that white spots have appeared on the cucumber leaves, then most likely the reason lies in powdery mildew. Leaves turn white not in a certain part, but spread over the entire surface. Harm is caused not only to the leaves, but to all the shoots.
For the safety of the plant and the harvest, you need to do the following: prepare a special solution of topaz. It is prepared simply: 1 ampoule should be diluted in a 10-liter bucket of water. Spraying cucumbers should be carried out through a special device, which is characterized by a small spray. Make sure there is no wind before spraying. It will not allow all the substances of the solution to get onto the bush, respectively, the disease will not be removed.
A folk recipe based on a solution of cow humus is especially popular. When the leaves begin to become covered with a white bloom, take 1 kg of manure and stir it in 5 liters of water. The prepared solution should be infused for 3 days. After that, they can handle the infected bushes.
White mosaic
If your cucumbers are covered with white spots, the effect of the white mosaic is possible. This fungal disease is characterized by the fact that each neoplasm is star-shaped. If development is not immediately prevented, then the leaf begins to completely become covered with a white bloom.
Solution to the problem: you urgently need to remove the damaged hive. After that, all garden tools that touched this plant are disinfected. For these purposes, manganese must be used. As a preventive measure, do not plant the plant for 2 years in a row in the same place. You should also worry about treating the soil with a manganese solution.
Ascochitosis
White spots on the leaves of cucumbers can also appear due to a disease called ascositis. White bloom is characterized by the fact that they crack. The shade of such formations can be brown. This disease occurs due to high humidity.
To get rid of the initial signs of the disease, experts recommend using Bordeaux liquid. It is necessary to spray every bush with it. If you did not determine the presence of a disease in time, and it is not removed when processing with Bordeaux liquid, such plants should be burned away from the garden.
Anthracnose
Anthracnose is characterized by the fact that it affects not only the leaves or the stem. It can damage the fruit. The peculiarity of the disease is that the initial white spots gradually begin to acquire a brown tint. Brown depressions begin to form on the fruits.
The main cause of this disease is poor quality seeds. All planting material must be properly disinfected. You can get rid of this disease with the help of Bordeaux liquid or sulfur solution.
Spider mite
Often, white spots on the leaves of a cucumber or its fruits are formed due to the influence of a spider mite. Initially, white spots form on the surface of the sheet, and then it completely begins to dry out.
To combat this parasite, it is necessary, first of all, to remove the affected areas and burn them away from your site. After that, remember to regularly pull up weeds and other plants that sprout in the vicinity of the cucumbers. Otherwise, a spider mite will live in the weeds, constantly spoiling your crop.
Basic Rules
It is important to know the basic rules that will help avoid the occurrence of such a nuisance as white bloom:
- Please note that plant residues must be disposed of.
- An important point is to carry out preventive spraying, even in the absence of a disease or parasite.
- The greenhouse must be completely disinfected, including the walls and ceiling.
- The right conditions for greenhouse plants.
- The seeds need proper processing. Disinfection should be carried out with a solution of manganese or potassium permanganate.