How and how to feed cucumbers on the windowsill
Residents of multi-storey buildings do not always have the opportunity to grow vegetables in their own garden. But they found a solution - planting food on a windowsill or balcony. The most popular are tomatoes, cucumbers, lemons. They also require good care and proper conditions for germination. Top dressing of cucumbers on the windowsill is one of the main activities when growing this vegetable.
Top dressing of cucumbers on the windowsill
Fertilizers stimulate the growth of vegetable crops. Increase yields, improve taste and appearance of fruits. You can buy ready-made ones or make yourself at home according to a prepared recipe.
Fertilizing before planting
The first feeding is carried out before planting the seedlings. Its purpose is to enrich the soil with useful and nutritious minerals.
Soil fertilization mixtures:
- humus;
- sawdust;
- leaves;
- peat.
An effective remedy is a combination of 30 grams of nitrophoska, 200 grams of ash, 15 grams of ash. This is enough for 10 kg of land. The mixture activates seedling growth. Remember that for 1 cucumber bush you need at least 5 kg of soil. At the initial stage, it is better that each bush is in a separate container.
Fertilization during the seedling period
Cucumbers are an early, early ripening culture. They require timely feeding. After fertilizing the soil, the sprouts are transplanted into containers. This is the seedling method.
The composition of the fertilizer depends on the stage of growth of the cucumbers on the windowsill. Plants that have not yet begun to bloom are fed with nutrient solutions. Nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus are their main components. At the fruiting stage, potash, magnesium and nitrogen mixtures are used.
The main rule is that a month after the appearance of the first shoots, feeding is carried out three times. Its purpose is to enhance leaf growth and flower formation.
Stages of feeding cucumbers on the windowsill:
- 14 days after seed germination. You will need urea and superphosphate in the amount of 10 grams. Dissolve them in 3 liters of warm water. For one plant, 60 g of solution is enough.
- 10 days after the first feeding. A solution is made based on any organic components (manure, urea). If there are several components, take them in equal amounts of 25 grams. You need 100 grams of fertilizer for 1 bush.
- Do 10 days after the previous feeding. Take 30 grams of wood ash and 10 grams of nitrophosphate. Mix with 3 liters of water. Enough 150-200 grams of liquid.
Between stages 2 and 3, it is advisable to feed the soil with peat. This is necessary to prevent acidification and improve the quality of the soil. For this, trace elements available in the solution are responsible.
Yeast feeding
Yeast is a unicellular fungus. They consist of vitamins of group B and D, carbohydrates, minerals (magnesium, potassium, zinc). Accelerates the growth of the root system. They have a positive effect on the development of bushes.
Can be fed with dry or wet yeast. Features 2 ways:
- Yeast solution from a "live" mixture.You will need 1 kg of fresh yeast and 5 liters of warm water. Mix thoroughly and put in a warm place for at least a day. The room temperature should be at least 25 degrees. For greater efficiency, the container with the mixture can be wrapped with a blanket. Before applying the cucumber solution on the windowsill, adhere to a 1:10 ratio. That is, 1 liter of fertilizer and 10 liters of liquid. For 1 bush, 1 liter of top dressing is needed.
- Dry yeast mixture. Dissolve 100 grams of baker's yeast in a 3-liter jar. The water should be exactly 2.5 liters. Dissolve yeast in warm liquid. Add half a glass of sugar (about 150 g) to the jar. We place the jar in a warm place. It is important to stir the solution regularly. After the completion of the fermentation process, dilute 1 glass of fertilizer in 10 liters of water. For one plant, 1 liter of solution is sufficient.
Yeast will protect plants from disease
Yeast top dressing is applied not only at the root. Liquid mixtures can be sprayed on leaves and stem. Such preventive measures will protect cucumbers from pests and diseases. The foliage will be green for a long time, and the fruits will be healthy and of high quality.
Foliar dressing
They are used at the stage of ovary formation. Necessary due to a lack of nutrients, which negatively affects the development of the fetus. Subsequently, the plant dries up, the yield decreases.
Boric solution
Cucumbers lack the chemical element boron. Boric solution is made. It will need 1 gram of boric acid and 1 liter of water.
Spray the plant with a small amount of liquid. Repeat the procedure every 7-10 days.
Manganese solution
Enough 10-15 crystals of potassium permanganate. Soak them in 3 liters of warm water. It is better to spray it in a drip method.
The task of this fertilizer is to consolidate the effect of the boric solution. This will increase the palatability and activate metabolic processes.
Ash solution
The product is harmless to fruits and plants. According to gardeners, it is quite effective when growing cucumbers at home.
You need 100 grams of funds. Insist it in 1 liter of water. An important clarification - before feeding the vegetable crop, water it. For 1 bush, 1 cup (220-250 ml) of solution is enough.
Azofoska
It is a multi-component product. Contains nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus. It contains 50% of nutrients and 16% of mineral elements.
The frequency of fertilization is 10-15 days. Dilute 10 grams of azophoska in 3 liters of heated water. To feed the plant, 200 ml of liquid is enough.
Fertilizers
The developers have created different types of dressings. They allow you to eliminate various diseases of cucumbers. There are mineral and organic products. Both are quite effective, especially when combined.
Organic remedies
They are inexpensive, a huge assortment is provided on the market. There are no harmful additives, all components are natural, of natural origin. But they must be tested for infections before use.
Banana peel
Banana Peel Tincture Promotes Rapid Growth
Contains a lot of potassium. It promotes the rapid growth of the plant.
Algorithm of actions:
- Dry the peel slightly before use. To do this, use an oven or battery.
- Detail finely. Best chopped to a powdery finish.
- Add to soil.
You can make a banana peel tincture. It should stand for at least 2 days.
Eggshell
The composition contains many trace elements: copper, fluorine, iron, zinc, sulfur, manganese, phosphorus, silicon. In total, there are at least 27 of them. With the help of eggshells, the vegetation of cucumbers is increased.
The shells from under 4 eggs need to be cut and filled with 3 liters of warm water for several days. She will begin to give off an unpleasant odor. It is hydrogen sulfide, which is an excellent stimulant for the growth of vegetable crops. Store in a dark place. Leave the lid of the jar slightly open.
Darkened water is the main sign of the readiness of the infusion. Water the soil and spray the leaves daily.
Coffee grounds
Coffee beans make the soil permeable.After the coffee infusion, the soil is easy to loosen.
The main requirement is to use only roasted grains. Otherwise, they will have a negative effect on the seedlings. It must be dry. The solution can be used to fertilize roots and leaves.
Onion peel
It has a double effect - it gives useful substances to the whole plant and makes it resistant to diseases. Unwanted pests will not appear.
Preparing is elementary - add 20 grams of husk to 5 liters of boiled water. Leave to infuse for 4-5 days. You need to feed after straining.
Potato peelings
Contains starch, potassium, vitamin C, glucose, fats. They are readily available and can be stored for a long time at home.
For cooking potato peelings are boiled. Strain and get a potato broth. They can fertilize the roots or spray the entire plant.
Sugar
You can fertilize the soil with regular sugar. For 1 bush, 1 teaspoon is needed. Sprinkle it on the surface of the soil and fill it with heated water.
For watering, you can take sweet water. Sugar is rich in glucose, which is often lacking in cucumbers that grow near the window.
Mineral fertilizers
They are necessary to improve the condition of the soil. Stimulates the growth of bushes. They are rarely used at home - in cases where organic fertilizers are not enough.
For the first feeding, use 5 g of ammophos. At the next stage, an ammonia-superphosphate solution is needed, 30 grams of each substance. You can also add 5 g of potassium nitrate per 250 ml of water.
Each substance is enough for 4-5 bushes. Advice - the less mineral fertilizers, the better. They contain chemicals. In large quantities, they make the fruits harmful to the human body.
Conclusion
Growing cucumbers and their f1 hybrids on a window is a common practice for residents of multi-storey buildings. But feeding is important in this matter. After all, minerals, vitamins are not enough. It is not necessary to buy them in the store. Banana peel, coffee grounds, eggshells - you can fertilize with improvised means.
Experts advise to limit the amount of mineral fertilizers. They will not be very effective and may have a negative impact. Perform root and foliar feeding depending on the state of the cucumber bushes and get delicious fruits!