With perfect care, cucumbers grow faster than tomatoes. Provided they receive sufficient heat, water and the right nutrients. Which minerals do cucumber plants need extra during the flowering period? When, with what and how often should you fertilize and provide additional care for cucumbers?
How should you fertilize and care for cucumbers?
Fertilizing cucumbers should be done when planting, during growth and flowering. Use stable manure, complex fertilizer, horn shavings and homemade nettle manure. Pay attention to magnesium and trace element requirements during the flowering period and avoid excess fertilizers containing nitrogen or chlorine.
Fertilize cucumbers when planting
Anyone who grows cucumbers and appreciates fresh, organic cucumbers from their own garden places high demands on the soil, climate and nutrient supply. Young cucumber plants also dream of loose, humus-rich soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7 and stable manure. A proven recipe for a cucumber substrate here for planting cucumbers. Basically, there are two variants when fertilizing cucumbers:
-
Basic fertilization with farmyard manure1 kg per square meter (plus nitrogen, phosphate and potassium).
- Basic fertilization without manure30 grams of complex fertilizer per square meter (plus horn shavings and horn meal).
Fertilize cucumbers while growing
Cucumber plants are heavy feeders and need a lot of food in the form of fertilizer so that they develop plenty of he althy fruits until harvest. Foliar fertilization with home-made nettle manure supports the cucumbers with minerals during their growth period and protects them from dangerous pests. Simply spray cucumber leaves all over with nettle liquid. Nettle manure is easy and free to make yourself. Here's how:
- Cut 1 kilogram of nettles into small pieces
- Add 10 liters of water
- Let it steep for 2 to 3 weeks
Place the nettle manure in a sunny spot in the garden and stir daily. After 2 to 3 weeks, pour the mixture through a sieve. Dilute the manure with water in a ratio of 1:10 and water and spray cucumber plants once a week.
Fertilize cucumbers during flowering
During the flowering period, cucumber plants need magnesium and trace elements. Additionally loosen the soil and incorporate some rock dust. After a short time you should notice the positive effect visibly through lush fruit formation.
Fertilize less is more
If you give too much fertilizer before fruiting, you will get bushy plants with lush leaves but few fruits. If long-term fertilizer is not used, add liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks when watering cucumbers. When the cucumber plants bloom and produce the first fruits, fertilize weekly.
Cucumber plants are sensitive to s alt. They require little nitrogen and chlorine. Therefore, avoid fertilizers with a high nitrogen or chlorine content. Blaukorn is particularly suitable for cucumbers in buckets. But beware! The artificial fertilizer is difficult to dose and increases the s alt content in the soil, which can burn the roots. Not every soil needs additional fertilization. If it is composted and nutritious, too much fertilizer will quickly cause damage. Since cucumbers are a food, it is better to give them organic fertilizer.
Tips & Tricks
Costs nothing and has a double effect: Use the full moon with a waning moon phase in the following constellations for:
Root development in Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn
Leaf development in Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn
Flower formation in Taurus, Virgo and CapricornFruit development in Aries, Leo, Sagittarius, Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn