Cucumber ovaries turn yellow in a greenhouse: identifying and eliminating the causes. Why do cucumber ovaries turn yellow? What to do if cucumber ovaries turn yellow? Why do small cucumbers turn yellow and not grow?

It is believed that this is one of the most unpretentious crops that can be grown in a greenhouse, on open ground and even on your windowsill. You don’t need to pay much attention to cucumbers, but in some situations yellowing of both the plant and the fruits themselves occurs. It is necessary to understand why this happens in order to save the harvest.

Why do cucumber ovaries turn yellow?

The first difficulty that a beginning gardener may encounter is why do the ovaries on cucumbers dry out in a greenhouse or open ground? The cause of this condition is disease or pests, then it will be difficult to save the crop. There are other options for this condition that can be corrected:

There is not enough space for the plant. Trying to get a rich harvest, some plant seedlings very densely, but there are not enough nutrients for all. For example, the “Zyatek” variety is recommended to be planted at a distance of 50 cm. This means that yellowing may occur with denser planting.
Sometimes the ovaries of cucumbers in a greenhouse turn yellow due to improper feeding. In the first stages, fermented manure, which is rich in nitrogen, will be enough for growth. When fruits begin to set, the plant begins to need phosphorus and potassium.
Lack of plant formation. Beginning vegetable growers let the growth of cucumbers take its course; too many greens are formed with large leaves, which prevent the penetration of sunlight, and because of this the ovaries turn yellow and fall off.

Why do cucumber seedlings turn yellow?

Often foliage begins to deteriorate even at the growth stage, which indicates the development of a disease or improper care of seedlings. Here are the main reasons why cucumbers turn yellow:

Bay of plants. Moisture is one of the components that is necessary for the active growth of seedlings. When there is an excess of water, the foliage begins to turn yellow. Vegetable growers need to carefully monitor the watering process.
Lack of nitrogen. This is an extremely important element for the plant; if it is deficient, the leaves turn yellow and fall off. The problem can be solved with the help of fertilizers.
Disease. The disease manifests itself in the form of powdery downy mildew, which leads to damage to the tops; the cucumber embryos turn yellow and fall off. You can cope with this disease by spraying the seedlings special compounds that kill harmful bacteria.

Why do cucumbers turn yellow and fall off?

The main reason for yellowing of fruits is the usual lack of water. This crop generally requires only a certain amount of moisture and heat. You can understand that the problem is in the water if, along with the fruits, the leaves begin to dry out and wither. In open ground, sudden cold snaps and early frosts can cause color changes. Even too cold water can cause a stressful temperature change. If cucumbers grow in open ground, then covering material can save them from frost, and in a greenhouse - a heater.

Cucumber fruits may turn yellow due to lack of nutrients. It is recommended to alternate different cultures, which are grown on the same soil. You can use phosphorus and potassium mixtures for fertilizer. Be careful when “feeding”, because along with it fungi and viruses can penetrate into the soil, for example “tobacco mosaic”. It is worth remembering that when the cucumber is fully ripe yellow is normal. You can no longer eat it, but you can leave it for seeds.

Why do cucumber fruits turn yellow and dry out in open ground?

Many gardeners prefer to grow these fruits outside of a greenhouse, but they often encounter the same problems as in a greenhouse. Here are some of the main reasons why cucumbers turn yellow in open growth conditions:

Infection. Diseases of this plant lead to the fact that the fruits turn yellow and are destroyed. root system, for example: peronospora or fusarium. You can cure cucumbers of them with the help of chemical spraying, but you can no longer eat such fruits, because pathogenic bacteria have penetrated inside. Changing crops that are grown on the same land will help to avoid this situation.
Lack of water. This was discussed above; the statement is equally true for both plants in the open ground and those growing in a greenhouse.
Lack of oxygen. It is important for the root system to receive it in sufficient quantities. The lack of oxygen immediately manifests itself in appearance fruits Weed regularly so that your cucumbers can grow healthy.

Why do cucumbers turn yellow and dry in a greenhouse?

Many vegetable growers grow fruits in a greenhouse, which allows them to harvest their crops longer (sometimes year-round). The rules for caring for the crop are no different from those described above, so the main reasons why cucumbers turn yellow in a greenhouse are also relevant here. They can be roughly divided into two groups:

Violation of cultivation technology:

Violation of watering rules: temperature too low, large or small volume of water.
Abundant but irregular watering can cause harm.
Effect on fruits and plants low temperatures due to frost. The greenhouse must be additionally heated.
Lack of nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium in greenhouse soil.
Violation of the recommended dosage when using factory-produced fertilizers.

Diseases of cucumbers in a greenhouse:

More often than others, the plant is affected by powdery mildew, which first appears in the form of spots on the leaves, then they turn yellow and dry out. The disease is caused by a fungus that interferes with photosynthesis. They fight it using pollination with special preparations.
Not less often, yellowing occurs due to the occurrence of fusarium wilt.
Due to a sharp temperature change, the root system may be damaged by rot. With this disease, the plant turns yellow first from below.

Video: why the ovary of cucumbers turns yellow and does not develop

From this article you will learn what to do if cucumbers grow poorly, do not set, and the leaves turn yellow.

Why cucumbers grow poorly, slowly or not at all in a greenhouse, hotbed, or garden bed in open ground: the main reasons

There are many reasons why cucumbers grow poorly in open ground.

Cucumbers grow poorly and stand still in a greenhouse or open ground the following reasons:

Poor soil, lacking nutrients
Poor quality seeds
The plants are sick
Incorrect or insufficient watering
Plants are densely planted
Pollination does not occur

If you have been planting cucumbers in one place for several years in a row, in a greenhouse or greenhouse, then one of the reasons why cucumbers grow poorly may be soil depletion. This situation can be corrected late autumn, when there are no more plants, as follows:

Remove a layer of soil from above (20-25 cm).
Sprinkle new ground, a little sand and fertilizer (peat, chicken droppings or humus), and dig everything up.
In the spring, before planting cucumbers (2 weeks before), add nitrogen fertilizer to the soil where the cucumber bed will be.

Poor soil in the garden or cottage, before planting cucumbers, you also need fertilize with chemical fertilizer with nitrogen. Often experienced summer residents cost folk remedies, which are applied dry before planting or watered plants during flowering and fruiting:

Manure
Chicken droppings
Dried and then ground banana peels (when rotted, they will add potassium and nitrogen to the soil)
Green weed infusion

Let's cook green weed infusion

Soak the weeds torn from the ground in water.
Let it ferment for 10 days.
Add 1 liter of infusion to 1 bucket of water
Water the cucumbers when you need to feed them

Video: Why don't cucumbers want to grow? Causes and solutions

Why do cucumbers sprout, but then don’t grow and stand still: the reasons, what folk remedies and fertilizers to use, and how?

One of the reasons why cucumbers do not grow well is improper watering

To ensure that the plants grow well, seeds you only need to buy good quality , in trusted stores.

After the first leaves appear on the plants, so that they grew and took root faster, they need to be fed. Suitable for feeding:

Nitroammophoska solution (1 tbsp per 1 bucket of water)
Infusion cow dung, diluted several days before use in water (0.5 l per 10 l of water)
Nettle infusion
Barely pink solution of potassium permanganate

Cucumbers love moisture, but cannot tolerate excess water., air humidity is not less than 85%, and the heat is not more than 35ᵒC. If the weather is cloudy, we water the cucumbers in the garden every 2-3 days, and if it’s hot, then every day, not with tap water, but with settled water. Water should not get on the leaves; water it at the root.

How often and how much should I water? We taste the cucumbers that appear; if they are bitter, then we increase the watering.

Cucumbers lack moisture

If cucumbers lack moisture, and it’s hot outside, then the following happens to the plants:

Plant growth slows down
Leaves turn yellow and may wilt completely

How to find out what cucumbers are too much moisture?

The cucumber stalk at the base is brownish and glassy.
The roots of the plant are yellowish-brown, have not grown, but stand still.

If plants are densely planted, they also grow poorly and produce little fruit. For normal height between plants you need to leave a distance of 20 cm or more.

If good weather With pollination There are usually no problems with cucumbers in the garden; insects do this. But if the fruits do not set, the cucumbers can be helped to pollinate. To do this, take a brush and move it, first along male flower(it contains pollen), and then on the female flower (a small cucumber already emerging).

If you have a large bed of cucumbers and pollination cannot be carried out, then we stress the plants: we stop watering for a while - and the growth of female flowers increases.

What about pollination in a greenhouse? Now scientists have developed varieties of cucumbers with female flowers that do not require pollination; it happens on its own, just a small draft is enough. Only self-pollinating varieties should be planted in the greenhouse.

Why do cucumbers grow poorly and do not bear fruit: reasons, what folk remedies and fertilizers to use and how?

Cucumbers don't grow well

The reason why cucumbers bear fruit poorly may be the following: The plant spends all its energy on growing the main trunk, and, as you know, cucumbers generally produce more fruit from the side vines. You need to pinch the main trunk of the plant when it reaches 1 m in length, and the side branches - 0.4-0.6 m. You also need to tie up the plant.

Regular greenery or iodine can speed up the growth of cucumbers in swampy areas., they contain a lot of copper needed for cucumbers. Add 10 drops of brilliant green or 5 ml of iodine to 1 bucket of water and water the cucumbers. Such a solution, moreover, treats plants from root rot.

Iodine with milk can cure cucumbers from powdery mildew . Take 9 liters of water and 1 liter of low-fat milk, add iodine (10-12 drops), and you can spray the plant.

You can increase the yield of cucumbers with ash. The ash contains many microelements, the main of which are: calcium - for growth, potassium - for the formation of the ovary. Ash can be sprinkled on the ground around the bushes, or an infusion can be prepared in advance.

Cooking ash infusion:

Pour 1 glass of ash into 5 liters of water.
Leave for 10 days, stirring.
When you need to feed cucumbers (up to 6 times per season), take 1 glass of ash infusion per 10 liters of water and pour it under each bush.

Important. To prepare ash, you need to burn tree branches or dry grass, not paper, any garbage and plastic.

You can increase the amount of ovary on cucumbers using leftover dried bread. Yeast in bread activates the growth of cucumbers.

Cooking sourdough bread:

We take 2 parts of crackers and 3 parts of water, pour it into a pan with a lid, and put a weight on top so that the crackers do not float.
Leave in a warm place for 1 week.
Strain and can be used.
To feed, take 1 part starter to 3 parts water.
You can feed cucumbers in a greenhouse or garden with diluted starter once every 10 days.

Important. Bread starter is acidic, so it is well suited for alkaline soil, and if your soil is acidic, then you need to add a little chalk or dolomite flour to the starter before watering.

You can also increase the number of cucumbers on a bush and make the plant more hardy using baker's yeast. Pour a packet (100 g) of yeast into 10 liters of water, let it stand for 3 hours, and pour over the cucumbers.

Important. You can feed cucumbers with yeast 2 times per season, no more.

A good harvest of cucumbers can be harvested if you use manure diluted in water for feeding.. Fresh manure is diluted with water 1:20, dry manure 1:4, left for 10 days, and then can be used.

Video: Types, forms, feeding regime of cucumbers. Folk recipes

Why do cucumbers grow poorly, leaves turn yellow, and wither: reasons, what folk remedies and fertilizers to use and how?

Folk recipes will help bring cucumbers that are starting to turn yellow back to life.

If the leaves of cucumbers begin to turn yellow and wither, the plant can be brought back to life by an infusion of onion peels. We make an infusion from 8 liters of water and 1 cup of husk. Fill the husk with water, boil it, set it aside, let it cool and use it as a top dressing.

A solution will help stop further yellowing of leaves on cucumbers. baking soda (1 tbsp soda per 10 liters of water), if you spray it on plants.

If the leaves on the cucumbers begin to turn yellow, you can also use this method: pour 2 liters of kefir into 1 bucket of water and water the plants.

Also If the leaves begin to turn yellow, you can feed the plant with a solution of chicken manure. We do it like this:

Take 1 part of the litter and fill it with 3 parts of water.
Leave for 5 days, stirring.
Add another 4 parts of water and water the cucumbers.

How to use fertilizers correctly?

You can feed cucumbers at the root only in warm weather, after watering.
In cold weather, we feed cucumbers by spraying on the leaves.
You cannot apply nitrogenous fertilizers and ash at the same time, since a lot of ammonia is released and the cucumbers can dry out.

Why are there so many ovaries on cucumbers, but the fruits are small and grow poorly: reasons, what folk remedies and fertilizers to use, and how?

There are many flowers on the plant, but cucumbers do not set

If the plants bloom well, but the cucumbers grow small and twisted, which means there is not enough nitrogen in the soil. People recommend feeding these cucumbers:

Diluted humus
A weak solution of regular baker's yeast
Onion peel infusion
Chicken droppings
Ash mixed in water
You can also use chemical nitrogenous fertilizers, except ammonium nitrate (accumulates in fruits), but only at the very beginning of growth, when there are no fruits yet

If the plants have enough moisture, but the cucumbers grow crooked, it means there is not enough nitrogen in the soil

Cucumbers should be watered with fertilizer 4 times per season.:

2 weeks after germination
During flowering
When do they begin to bear fruit?
And again during fruiting to extend the cucumber season

More signs when there is not enough nitrogen in the soil:

On one side the cucumber is thinner than on the other
The leaves of the plant are pale green
The plant's lashes are thin, tree-like

But also excess nitrogen is also harmful to the plant. Here are the reasons when there is a lot of nitrogen in the soil and little phosphorus and potassium:

The leaves are large, lush, dark green, but the cucumbers do not set.

Will solve the problem of lack of phosphorus and potassium by fertilizing with diluted wood ash , there are many missing elements in it.

Cucumbers have stopped growing because it’s cold - what to do: tips

During spring frosts, some gardeners cover cucumbers using metal arcs and modern textiles

In cold weather, plant growth is inhibited and the roots do not absorb nutrients well. In order for cucumbers to grow, experienced vegetable growers advise after watering, in the morning or evening, in cloudy weather, to spray the cucumber bushes completely with aqueous solutions (10-15 g of product per 1 bucket of water) of “Kemira”, “Crystallion”, “Solution” " When it's cold, it's better to feed cucumbers through the leaves.. You can also spray the bushes with water with a growth stimulant added to it (Epin).

Other lovers of growing vegetables in garden beds, during cold weather, install arcs and cover with film, but under the film the plants are cold and damp, so it is better to cover with a special material (agrotex, lutrasil), which appeared not so long ago. It is also known that plants in the dark tolerate cold better, so experienced plant owners cover the plants with a tarpaulin, rags and straw during frosts.

We dig a groove 30 cm deep
We spread it with a thin layer of tops, potato peelings, grass without seeds, and cover it with earth.
In the spring we plant cucumbers; they are much warmer in such a bed than in a regular bed.

So, now we know what to do if the cucumbers grow poorly, the leaves turn yellow, and the cucumbers do not set.

Video: Why do the ovaries of cucumbers turn yellow?

It happens that the ovary on greenhouse cucumbers, which seems to be developing normally, for some reason begins to turn yellow and wither. This reduces fruiting, and the vegetable grower does not reap the harvest. The reason for this phenomenon is often mistakes in agricultural technology, which some gardeners may make. Let's find out why the ovaries of cucumbers growing in a greenhouse turn yellow and what to do to help the plants.

The reason for yellowing and drying of the ovary of cucumbers is often the young age of the plants. Such bushes do not yet have time to form a sufficiently strong leaf apparatus that will fully nourish the ovary, so young plants are forced to get rid of it, since they themselves are not yet strong enough.

While the cucumbers are growing and forming, it is necessary to remove all the flowers, since they will not produce full-fledged greens anyway.

Violation of the optimal temperature regime of air and soil

Cucumber ovaries turn yellow and dry out from too high or low temperatures in greenhouse air or soil, or from sudden temperature changes over a short period of time. Plants suffer greatly when it gets cold during the day and especially at night, since their ovaries grow at night. Under such conditions, the root system of cucumbers does not develop, or this process goes poorly and may even begin to die. In cold soil, healthy roots lose their ability to normally absorb nitrogen from the soil, and the ovaries lack the essential nutrient they need.

There is an ideal temperature that must be maintained in order for cucumbers to grow and develop normally. Before fruiting it is:

22-24 °C – in clear weather;
20-22 °C – in cloudy weather;
17-18 °C – at night.

When the cucumbers begin to bear fruit, the temperature needs to be increased slightly:

23-26 °C – in clear weather;
21-23 °C – in cloudy weather;
18-20 °C – at night.

For varieties pollinated by bees, all temperature indicators should be 1-3°C higher.

The maximum temperature that cucumber plants tolerate well is up to 36 °C, the minimum is 13-15 °C. Temperature conditions above and below these limits have a negative effect on vegetating cucumbers; they either overheat or become overcooled. All this has a very negative effect on the growth and development of the ovaries; they begin to turn yellow.

Sudden temperature changes most often occur in greenhouses. During the day, the air and soil in them become very hot due to the fact that excess heat cannot escape, and at night they cool sharply. No crop welcomes such temperature changes, but cucumbers are most sensitive to them.

Measures to combat overheating of plants include:

ventilation of greenhouses in hot weather;
whitening the walls and roofs of shelters with chalk;
shading plants with white reed shields or mats;
abundant watering in the evening;
mulching the soil under cucumbers with hay, straw, fresh sawdust, black film or agrofibre of the same color.

To avoid a drop in temperature at night, low greenhouses are covered with another layer of film and dark-colored containers filled with water are placed in them. During the daytime, the liquid will heat up and accumulate heat, and at night, it will release it into the air space. In large greenhouses, if electricity is supplied to them, electric or infrared heaters, Such structures are perfectly heated by stoves that burn wood, sawdust and pellets, for example, such as Buleryan.

Nutrient deficiencies or imbalances

Often the reason that cucumber ovaries turn yellow and do not grow is insufficient nutrition, that is, a lack of basic elements and microelements in the soil. This picture can be observed when plants have exhausted the supply of nutrients in the soil, and there are no additional feedings. Varieties and hybrids with a bunched ovary type suffer especially from insufficient nutrition. In this case, it often turns out that 1-2 cucumbers grow, and the rest wither.

Cucumber embryos can also turn yellow due to an excess of nutrients or improper application of fertilizers without observing the required proportions.

When the flowering phase begins, cucumbers need phosphorus, and during fruiting - nitrogen and potassium, so you can save the bushes and the harvest if:

reduce or stop feeding with fresh manure;
replace it with wood ash (300 g per 1 m2 of planting area);
feed them with solutions of complex fertilizers: Kristalon, Master, Mortar, Kemira, Agricola, etc.

Such fertilizing is needed both for greenhouse cucumbers and for those growing on open beds, but they are especially relevant for plants planted in closed ground, since in such conditions the need for nutrition is greater.

Improper watering - excess or lack of moisture

Cucumbers, as humid tropical plants, are very partial to moisture, but in order for them to grow and bear fruit, they need to be watered correctly. Before fruiting begins, watering should be moderate, and with its beginning - more abundant. The optimal frequency of watering is every 1-2 days, in hot weather - daily (or even 2 times a day - morning and evening). In general, you need to look at the condition of the soil - if it is dry, you definitely need to water the beds. If the ground is wet, you can skip the next watering. The main thing is to maintain a balance, since a lack and excess of liquid in the soil is equally unfavorable and can lead to yellowing of the ovaries.

Water for watering this crop in a greenhouse must be free of chlorine and warm (23-25°C); cold water is not allowed (such liquid causes temperature stress to the roots, which ultimately affects the condition of the entire plant, including the ovary).

The best time for such events is evening or early morning. There is no need to do this during the day: the water will quickly evaporate, this will only increase the air humidity, while the plants themselves will be able to receive moisture in a minimal amount.

Insufficient air humidity

Dry air is another reason for the yellowing of cucumber ovaries. These plants have an increased need for high relative air humidity (85-95%). If this indicator is lower in the greenhouse, transpiration will be more intense, so the absorption of moisture from the soil by cucumbers will also increase. If there is not enough of it in the soil, the leaves and ovaries will begin to wither and the flowers will fall off.

The necessary measures to prevent yellowing of the ovary are to irrigate the soil between the rows (but not the plants themselves). Water evaporating from the ground will increase the air humidity in a closed greenhouse.

Thickened plantings

Cucumbers need a lot of light for normal growth and fruiting. Despite the fact that the beds for growing them and the greenhouses are always located in a sunny place, the plants themselves can shade each other. This happens if the seeds or seedlings were planted too densely.

On initial stage There is enough development for plants and small area. But with the growth of the bushes and the increase in green mass, the fruits find themselves in dense shade, which provokes yellowing of the ovaries and their subsequent falling off. Bee-pollinated varieties and hybrids throw out barren flowers, delaying fruiting.

Correct placement of plants can correct the situation. When choosing planting schemes and calculating the number of cucumber bushes per 1 m2, it is worth considering:

sizes of beds in greenhouses and on the ground;
design of shelters and trellises;
whether the cucumbers being grown belong to one or another variety or hybrid;
the degree of climbing of the plant;
method of forming a bush;
timing and place of cultivation.

On average, 3 to 6 cucumbers are placed per 1 m2. A gardener can obtain basic recommendations regarding the selected variety or hybrid from the manufacturer’s instructions on the seed packet. They must be adhered to in order to prevent thickening of the plantings and yellowing of the fruits.

The bush grows without formation

In a greenhouse, one of the reasons why cucumber ovaries turn yellow is the lack of formation of the bushes. On the ground, this problem manifests itself less, when walking and here, when growing crops vertically, the bushes need to be looked after.

Most varieties and hybrids intended for cultivation in greenhouses intensively increase green mass. This is facilitated by a special microclimate, as well as enhanced nutrition of the plantings. While the bushes are occupied with leaves and shoots, they do not bear fruit. In addition, greens also suffer greatly from shading.

Shaping the plants will help speed up the ripening process. It consists in removing the first ovaries, side shoots and leaves from the cucumber, forming a so-called blind zone at the bottom. Depending on the timing of cultivation and the characteristics of the variety or hybrid, it may vary. On average, from 3 to 8 first nodes are subject to blinding.

for specific conditions (heated or unheated, high and low greenhouses);
growing time (early spring, spring-summer, autumn-winter);
type of cucumbers (bee-pollinated, parthenocarpic);
growing location (open or closed ground).

When using molding, the fruits receive enough nutrients and light and do not turn yellow.

Pollination problems

When growing insect-pollinated varieties and hybrids, the reason that the ovary turns yellow and falls off may be that there is insufficient fertilization of the female flowers. Risk factors include:

weather;
early or late dates cultivation;
improper microclimate in the greenhouse;
absence of plants with a pronounced male type of flowering.

Bees, which are the main pollinators for cucumbers, do not fly in rain, cloudy and cold weather. They also do not show much interest in hot greenhouses and greenhouses, so they need to be attracted there. For insects to do their job, it is worth opening the windows and doors. Spraying the plants with a solution of water and honey and boric acid will help.

If there are no bees, the gardener will have to work for them. To prevent cucumbers from turning yellow, hand pollination is used. Work is carried out in the morning when the female flower is blooming, in warm and dry weather. Use a soft brush or male flower stalks.

Growing several varieties or hybrids of cucumbers in a greenhouse also helps to increase the number of fertilized ovaries. If the main crop is a plant with a predominantly female type of flowering, it is worth planting bushes that consistently form male inflorescences. They will act as good pollinators for green plants. Usually, to solve the problem of yellowing of cucumber ovaries in a greenhouse, the presence of 10% of such plants is sufficient.

Too many ovaries

Small cucumbers also turn yellow if the fruit load on the bush is too high. Then the plant itself regulates the number of fruits it can grow. Isolated cases are not the reason for intervention on the part of the gardener. Measures to save the crop should be taken only when cucumbers shed their ovaries en masse.

The main reasons for such sabotage are:

insufficient nutrition of bushes;
incorrect formation;
bunch type of fruiting plants.

High-quality soil preparation will help correct the situation, regular feeding, the use of optimal formation schemes, the removal of part of the ovaries so that the rest of the greens can receive sufficient nutrition and grow.

Over-ripening cucumbers

Often, cucumbers turn yellow and do not grow in the upper nodes when the fruit is collected irregularly and inattentively. This happens because most of the nutrients go to the greens hanging below. They become larger and larger and enter the biological stage of maturity.

At the same time, the plant itself no longer needs to grow new ovaries. The seeds he has are enough for him. He does not need to spend resources on forming new cucumbers.

For getting good harvest Fruit harvesting is carried out regularly. During the period of mass fruiting - every day. They pick off all the greens that have reached the size characteristic of the variety or hybrid, preventing them from overgrowing. The only exceptions can be specimens that gardeners specifically leave for seeds.

Some summer residents are familiar with the problematic situation when, for no apparent reason, the ovaries of cucumbers turn yellow and fall off. What factors contribute to the development of such an unpleasant phenomenon, and what must be taken into account to avoid it?

As observations show, most often summer residents who grow this crop in film greenhouses face the problem of drying and falling of cucumber ovaries (this aspect will be discussed in more detail below). Moreover, most often, favorable conditions for the occurrence of this problem are created, oddly enough, by the gardener himself.

Why the ovary of cucumbers turns yellow and falls off: reasons

According to experts, the ovary of cucumbers begins to turn yellow and fall off for several main reasons, namely:

1) Violation of the light regime;
2) Violation temperature regime soil and air;
3) Violation of mineral nutrition;
4) High yield of hybrids;
5) Deficiency or excess of moisture in the soil;
6) Poor performance of bees due to cloudy or, conversely, very hot weather.

Let's try to look in more detail at each of the above reasons why the ovaries on cucumbers dry out.

1) Violation of the light regime

As you know, cucumbers are plants that are extremely demanding of light, the lack of which has a detrimental effect on their growth and development. Therefore, if you intend to grow this crop in greenhouse conditions, even at the stage of constructing a cultivation structure, learn how to properly install a greenhouse on the site so that the building is fully illuminated.

Light deficiency can also be caused by the abundance of green space grown in the greenhouse. Often, beginning gardeners try to plant as much as possible in the greenhouse space. more plants, completely overlooking the fact that after a while they will begin to obscure each other. Therefore, before you start growing cucumbers for seedlings, try to calculate with maximum accuracy how much will be needed, adding about 10% more so-called to the resulting amount. "insurance" bushes.

Do not forget that modern cucumber hybrids (especially parthenocarpic hybrids) have a developed vegetative system, so they should be planted taking into account the recommended nutritional area for each individual plant. Thus, parthenocarpic hybrids are planted one (less often two) plants per 1 square meter. m, and bee-pollinated hybrids - 2-3 plants per 1 sq.m. By not observing the prescribed frequency of planting, you can further provoke the fact that the grown plants will shade each other, and the formed cucumber ovaries will begin to turn yellow and fall off.

The absence of periodic pinching, due to which the correct formation of the bush, can also lead to drying of the ovaries. If you do not pay attention to this in a timely manner, the branching side shoots, growing, will obscure each other. It is necessary to pinch top part shoots, not allowing their length to exceed 20-25 cm (such long shoots weaken the plant as a whole and cause the ovaries on cucumbers to begin to turn yellow and fall off).

The process of forming a cucumber bush begins with the so-called. procedures for “blinding” the leaf axils, in which the buds of flowers, tendrils and lateral shoots are located. As these parts of the plant grow, they will require more and more nutrition, which will lead to a weakening of the mother bush. Timely removal of the rudimentary elements hiding in the leaf axils will ensure that the mother bush will not waste its resources on the development of unnecessary shoots and will be able to develop a strong vegetative system.

The number of “blinded” axils depends on the variety - for example, in relation to cultivation in film greenhouses, it is recommended that on bee-pollinated varieties there should be at least three of them (on one specimen), on parthenocarpic varieties - at least eight.

2) Violation of the temperature regime of the soil and air

The optimal air temperature for growing parthenocarpic varieties before fruiting is considered to be +22..+24° in clear weather, +20…+22° in cloudy weather and +17°…+18° at night. When the plants begin to enter the fruiting phase, these indicators should increase to approximately +23...+26°, +21°...+23° and +18°...+20°, respectively. In turn, for the cultivation of bee-pollinated varieties, the presented temperature indicators increase by approximately 1-3° for both phases.

Most comfortable temperature The soil range for growing this crop is considered to be +22°…+24°. The critical point is considered to be the interval +13...+15° - if the soil cools to this temperature, the tender ovaries of the cucumbers will turn yellow and fall off.

Here we should talk about why cucumber ovaries dry up and fall off in film greenhouses. Most often, this occurs as a result of overheating of the plantings and sudden temperature changes that occur due to the fact that the polyethylene coating perfectly transmits heat, as a result of which the interior of the greenhouse can heat up to 40° (and higher) in hot weather. At night, the film coating releases heat, which leads to strong cooling of the air inside the building, and this inevitably leads to the fall of the ovaries.

3) Violation of mineral nutrition

Cucumber ovaries can also turn yellow and fall off as a result of a violation of mineral nutrition, and this reason may be not only a deficiency of certain elements, but also their incorrect ratio. In addition, this may be due to a violation of temperature, air-gas conditions and air and/or soil humidity.

Parthenocarpic varieties and hybrids are more dependent on this factor, since developing a powerful vegetative system, they need abundant watering, which, in turn, can provoke the leaching of potassium and nitrogen from the soil. With an acute deficiency of these elements in parthenocarpic varieties and hybrids of cucumbers, the ovaries begin to turn yellow, dry out and fall off. Therefore, during the fruiting period, do not forget to periodically feed the plantings with nitrogen-potassium fertilizers.

4) High yield of hybrids

Modern hybrids are characterized by high yields - especially parthenocarpics. In the axils of almost every leaf they have an ovary (sometimes even several), and it is natural that a plant that spends all its resources on full development ovaries, will get rid of excess load. To influence this process, it is necessary to remove the ovaries in a timely manner - even before the flowers bloom.

5) Deficiency or excess of moisture in the soil

When growing cucumbers, it is necessary to take into account that the soil moisture before fruiting should be slightly lower than during the fruiting period. At the entire stage of fruit ripening, the soil should be as saturated with moisture as possible. However, do not forget that watering the plants cold water(10°-15°) is strictly forbidden - otherwise, this will lead to massive falling off of the ovaries.

Speaking about watering, we should mention one technological trick that is often resorted to in order to increase the number of female flowers - for this, during the period of flower formation, cucumbers are not watered for several days in order to dry out the soil.

6) Poor performance of bees due to unfavorable weather conditions

Often, the ovaries of cucumbers dry out and fall off due to the poor performance of bees, which do not fly in cloudy weather, and in hot weather they rarely fly into a stuffy, sun-heated greenhouse. At temperatures above 35°, even if an insect transfers pollen to a flower, it will become sterile. As a result, the unfertilized cucumber ovary will dry out and fall off.

Why do cucumber embryos turn yellow in a greenhouse?

In most cases, cucumber embryos in a greenhouse begin to turn yellow due to a violation thermal regime when the temperature environment either too low or too high. If cucumbers are grown in open ground, then yellowing occurs precisely because of the low temperature; when growing the crop in a greenhouse, it occurs because of the high temperature. It is worth noting that cucumbers are a heat-loving crop, its ovaries can turn yellow and fall off at temperatures below 15 degrees Celsius (with a long stay in such conditions), in order to avoid such a disease, every effort must be made to ensure that the temperature does not fall below the specified mark and does not fluctuate within night and day hours by more than 10 degrees.

Yellowing and falling off of the ovaries of greenhouse cucumbers is also a common ailment. The fact is that at temperatures above 32 degrees, pollen loses its former activity, flowers simply are not pollinated. Another reason for non-pollination of flowers in a greenhouse is incorrectly selected plant varieties. The fact is that bees rarely fly into greenhouses, so for growing plants in such structures, preference should be given to self-pollinating hybrids.

Improper watering can also have a detrimental effect on the development of ovaries. Use for watering is unnecessary cold water can provoke the development of only “male flowers” in cucumbers, while the female ovaries will simply fall off. The time of watering is also important, for example, on cool days it is not advisable to do it in the mornings and evenings, optimal time- day, on hot and sunny days, on the contrary, watering during the daytime hours will negatively affect the development of plants, in this case watering must be carried out either before nine in the morning or after 18 in the evening.

The ovaries on cucumbers can also turn yellow due to a lack of microelements. Most often, gardeners use nitrogen and potash fertilizers thinking that this is enough for normal development culture. However, it is not. The absence of a sufficient amount of boron, zinc, copper and other things in the soil will inevitably lead to yellowing and, subsequently, falling of the ovaries.

Bacteriosis is a disease that quite often attacks cucumbers, and it is with this disease that the embryos of the crop turn yellow. The disease manifests itself as follows: small yellowish sores appear on the ovaries, after a short period of time the embryos rot and fall off.

Why do cucumber embryos turn yellow in a greenhouse and

First of all, you need to find out the reason why the ovaries turn yellow, and then eliminate it. If yellowing occurs due to a violation of the thermal regime, then it needs to be adjusted: when growing cucumbers in open ground, cover the crop with special materials at night; when growing in a greenhouse, close the windows and doors of the structure at night, and do not forget to ventilate it during the day.

If cucumbers of a non-self-pollinating variety are planted in a greenhouse, then in this case you must take care of attracting bees to the greenhouse or contribute to the pollination of female ovaries yourself. The easiest way is to pick a few male flowers and gently rub the female flowers with them.

If the reason for the yellowing of the embryos is improper watering, then it needs to be adjusted: water the plants daily, with warm water and only at the root. If the weather is cool and the soil in the greenhouse is moist, then it is advisable to reduce the watering regime.

If there is a shortage of microelements, as you might guess, it is necessary to feed the plants. For feeding, you can use both purchased complex fertilizers and homemade ones based on weeds and ash.

If the cucumbers are affected by bacteriosis, then it is enough to treat the crop with either 1% Bordeaux mixture or any other fungicide, for example, Quadris, Topaz, Allette, etc. And to prevent this disease, before planting you need carry out a set of measures against fungal infections.