When is the best time to plant spring cucumbers?

It is spring now, the temperature is suitable, and there is sufficient rainfall. Many crops can be planted, such as spring cucumbers. So when is the best time to plant spring cucumbers?

When is the best time to plant spring cucumbers?

The best time to plant spring cucumbers is usually in early spring, but the exact time varies depending on geographic location and climatic conditions. In northern regions, the suitable sowing time for spring cucumbers is mostly from late April to early May, because the temperature is suitable and the sunshine is sufficient, which is conducive to the normal growth and development of cucumbers. In the southern region, due to the warm climate, the sowing time can be slightly earlier, starting around mid-March.

What are the common diseases and pests of cucumbers?

Downy mildew: caused by Pseudocona cubaniensis, it mainly harms leaves. The lesions are limited by leaf veins. When it is humid, the lesions on the back of the leaves are prominent. Later, the leaves turn yellow and the whole plant dies. The preventive and control agents include armor frost·mancozeb, frost urea·mancozeb, etc.

Fusarium wilt: caused by cucumber wilt fungus, the disease may occur throughout the growing period and is more common during the fruiting period. The plants wilt due to dehydration, the stems change color and shrink and crack, and eventually they wither and die. In the early stage, you can use carbendazim or Bacillus subtilis to irrigate the roots.

Powdery mildew: caused by Erysiphe graminis, it can occur from seedling to harvest stage, mainly harming leaves. Small white circular spots appear on the front and back of the lesions. In severe cases, the entire leaf is covered with white powder. The control agents include ethidium bromide, tetrafluthrin, etc.

Blight: Caused by melon phytophthora, it can occur in both the seedling and adult stages. The leaf spots are irregular and water-soaked, the stem spots will constrict, the fruit spots will become soft and rotten, and white mold will grow. The control agents include chlorpyrifos, methocarb, copper oxychlorvate, and metalaxyl.

Gray mold: caused by Botrytis cinerea, it mainly harms the melons, causing the petals to shrink and fall off. Diseased melons or fallen rotten flowers come into contact with leaves, causing leaf infection. The control agents include pyrimethanil, flutolanil, etc.

Anthracnose: Caused by the spores of the Cucurbitaceae family, it harms leaves and melon strips. The lesions on the leaves are nearly circular, and the lesions on the melon strips are dark brown and sunken. The control agents include fenpropimorph, bromomycin, etc.

Bacterial angular leaf spot: caused by Pseudomonas syringae, it mainly harms leaves. The spots are small and polygonal and crack after drying. The control agents include Chunlei Wangtong, Huo Tujun Bacillus subtilis , etc.

Stem rot: caused by soft rot pectinobacterium, it harms fruits, stems, and leaves. After the fruit becomes diseased, the internal tissue turns brown and rots. Control agents include kasugamycin, copper hydroxide, etc.

Viral diseases: such as zucchini yellow mosaic disease and tobacco mosaic disease, symptoms include wrinkling, deformity, and mottled appearance. There is currently no cure for the disease. The plants should be kept in good condition and protected from transmission vectors such as aphids.

Root-knot nematode disease: affects the roots, causing stunted growth, common in spring cucumbers.

American leafminer and aphids: As pests, they affect cucumber leaves and fruits, causing quality decline.

The above is an introduction to the key points of cucumber cultivation. Cucumber is a vegetable that many people like to eat and has a large market demand. It is very easy to achieve high yields as long as you master comprehensive planting techniques.