Cucumber's fertilizer requirements and fertilization techniques (what fertilizer to apply during the growth period to make it grow more)

Cucumber is a vegetable with high yield and relatively large fertilizer requirement. During its growth process, its demand for fertilizer is mainly concentrated in nitrogen fertilizer and potassium fertilizer.

Generally, producing 1,000 kilograms of cucumbers requires about 3 kilograms of nitrogen, about 1 kilogram of phosphorus, and about 4 kilograms of potassium.

Depending on the growth stage of cucumbers, the number of fertilization and fertilizers used in each period are also different. In order to improve the efficiency of fertilization, it is generally recommended to use water-soluble fertilizers with better absorption as the main fertilizer for cucumbers.

Base fertilizer requirements for cucumber planting

The base fertilizer for cucumbers is mainly organic fertilizer. Generally, 4,000-5,000 kg of organic fertilizer is required per acre of cucumbers. Microbial agents and balanced water-soluble fertilizers can be added at the same time as organic fertilizers are applied.

This can form an organic + inorganic combination, which not only regulates the soil, but also promotes the growth of cucumber seedlings.

Fertilization requirements for cucumber seedlings during the growth period

Cucumber seedlings do not require much fertilizer during the period, and fertilization during this period should be determined according to the conditions of the base fertilizer.

If the base fertilizer is sufficient and the cucumbers grow well, there is no need for additional topdressing. If the seedlings are weak, you can apply appropriate amounts of organic fertilizer and balanced water-soluble fertilizer.

Fertilization requirements for cucumbers during flowering

After the flowering period, the amount of fertilizer required for cucumbers gradually increases. At this time, fertilizers should be applied multiple times. The first time, slow-release organic fertilizers should be used mainly. In the later stages, the phosphorus content should be gradually increased, and high-phosphorus water-soluble fertilizers can be used.

During this period, the amount of nitrogen fertilizer needs to be properly controlled, otherwise it will cause the plant shape to be characterized by broad leaves, thick stems, long internodes, and long petioles.

Fertilization requirements for cucumbers during fruiting period

Fertilization during the fruiting period is a very critical period. At this time, in addition to fertilizing, attention should also be paid to water supply. During this period, top dressing is required once a week. In addition, top dressing should be carried out according to the harvesting situation. Basically, top dressing is required once every two harvests.

The fertilizer used for top dressing is mainly high-potassium water-soluble fertilizer , and trace elements such as calcium, iron, zinc and boron should also be supplemented. 1% urea and 0.5 potassium dihydrogen phosphate can be used for foliar spraying.

During the fruit expansion period, the amount of fertilizer required is relatively large. The amount of nitrogen fertilizer must be controlled . Excessive nitrogen fertilizer can easily cause the plant to grow too fast, affect fruit expansion, and even cause flowers to fall off and fruit to rot.

At this time, it is recommended to use low-phosphorus, medium-nitrogen, and high-potassium suspended carbon water-soluble fertilizer to supplement nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and not too much nitrogen fertilizer, which can supplement nutrition for fruit expansion.

Note : If cucumbers are to have good fruit growth and produce a lot of fruits, fertilization must be kept up so that nutrients are not lost