Universal fertilizer and at the same time a means of protection against diseases and pests for cucumbers grown in a greenhouse and in open ground is ash. Like other top dressings, it should be applied strictly dosed and in accordance with the growing season. The main nuances, proportions and combinations of ash with other fertilizers will be discussed below.

What is the benefit of ash for cucumbers?

Such top dressing can be started from the moment of preplant planting. When the seeds are soaked for a day in the ash solution, rapid growth activation is observed. In addition, the compounds contained in wood ash actively protect the seeds from the appearance of mold, even in conditions of high humidity.

The constituent elements of the ash:

• phosphorus;
• potassium;
• calcium.

The proportions of the elements will be different depending on the products of combustion. After the combustion of sunflower stems, ash is formed with a high content of potassium and calcium, and a minimum of phosphorus. When birch bark is burned, an ash rich in calcium is formed, which is suitable for deoxidizing the soil.The ashes of potato tops will be useful - it contains elements in a percentage ratio of 1: 2.5: 4.

Important! Ash is not useful for all plants. It is not used where acidophils grow, which include: azaleas, lingonberries, blueberries and cranberries.

• The benefits of ash at different stages of vegetation:
• after the appearance of the first full leaves - promotes the growth of the terrestrial part, increases the intensity of pigmentation, which positively affects the processes of photosynthesis;
• in flowering phase - increases the intensity of the formation of buds, saturating the plant with the necessary trace elements, contributes to the laying of a full ovary;
• in the fruiting phase - increases the strength of plant tissues, reduces the susceptibility of plants to diseases and pests.

How much and how often can I feed cucumbers with ash?

The probability of whether it is possible to feed cucumbers with ash depends on the condition of the soil on the site. Its application on calcareous soils is a gross mistake. Ash is a deoxidizer, and in combination with ash provokes alkalization of the soil, which leads to lower yields.

It is important to consider that the beneficial effect of this fertilizer lasts for 3-4 years. The introduction of ash under crops preceding cucumbers, is the reason to abandon its use for several years in favor of other feeding.An excess of fertilizer in the soil negatively affects the condition of the plants. In total for the season you can perform about 6 top dressings. If ash is introduced as a deoxidizer at the time of autumn tillage, then it is better not to use it throughout the growing season.

Root top dressing with ash (powder and in solution) is carried out once a month. Foliar spraying with a solution of ash on a leaf begins to be carried out from the moment of active fruiting every 10 days. In greenhouse conditions, it is advisable to fertilize with dry ash; in the open, a solution is often used.

Did you know? At the end of the XVIII century. soap was too expensive a pleasure for the inhabitants of Russia. Instead, they used potatoes cooked until half cooked and balls from the ashes of fern.

How to dilute ash for feeding cucumbers?

The technology for preparing the ash solution and its proportions will differ depending on the goals:

• preparation of planting material;
• top dressing at different stages of the growing season;
• protection of adult plants from pests.

Proportions

The ratio of water to ash, depending on the purpose of processing:

• soaking seeds - 1 tbsp. l (8 g) in 2 liters of water;
• at the stage of formation of the second pair of leaves and during flowering - 10 tbsp. (80 g) per 5 l of water;
• in the phase of active fruiting - 3 tbsp. (300 g) in 3 liters of water;
• protection against diseases and pests - 3 kg per 10 liters of water.

Step-by-step cooking instructions

When soaking the seeds, ash should be added to warm water (+ 30 ° C) and mixed. After this, the solution is infused for 48 hours, stirring occasionally. Before use, the liquid is filtered through cheesecloth and used as directed.

To make root dressing at the stage of formation of the 2nd pair of leaves and at the time of flowering, the liquid is prepared according to the same principle. Infusion of the solution lasts 7 days with periodic stirring. After infusion, the solution is filtered and used as water for irrigation.

For sheet spraying, the solution is prepared differently. After dissolving the ash in water, the liquid is boiled for 30 minutes. When the solution has cooled, it is drained and water is added to obtain a total volume of 10 liters. Before each spraying, a new solution is prepared.

To protect and control diseases, pests, prepare a solution with ash and soap:

1. Sift the ash and pour 10 liters of water.
2. Set the container under direct sunlight for 10 days and stir occasionally.
3. As soon as the surface of the water is covered with an oily coating, it must be drained and mixed with water in a ratio of 1: 1.
4. In the resulting liquid, mix 100 g of household or baby soap.

How to feed cucumbers with yeast?

Fertilizers of the same type are harmful to plants, so the ash must be supplemented with another top dressing.

Yeast is considered an ideal natural fertilizer. Thanks to active microorganisms, yeast can accelerate the growth of cucumbers, enrich the soil with minerals and trace elements that are not in the ash.They are equally effective in all phases of cultural development.

Important! If you cannot find the yeast, you can use any bakery products prepared using them instead.

You can add chopped hops to the solution, about 30 g. It promotes rapid fermentation and nitrogen production. When using such fertilizer, bird droppings and juicy greens cannot be used simultaneously. These components neutralize the action of yeast.

Once in the soil, the yeast actively multiplies and rebuilds the soil microflora in the process, enriching it with potassium and nitrogen. This feature of the vital activity of the fungus favorably affects the development of the terrestrial part of plants, and also reduces the risks of the spread of harmful microorganisms in the soil.

It is worth considering the fact that during the life of yeast bacteria, along with the release of nitrogen into the soil, the calcium content in it decreases. That is why, together with yeast, they are fed with ash or crushed egg shells.

Seed treatment before planting

Before planting, the seeds can be immersed in a solution of water and yeast. A package of dry yeast 25 g is added to 1 liter of water.

Important! Sugar can not be added to the dough for soaking seeds, otherwise the germination process will stop.

Water temperature should be within + 36 ° С. Yeast activation lasts 5-6 minutes. The fact that the solution is ready for use will be evidenced by the characteristic smell of fermentation and bubbles on the surface of the liquid. Then the seeds are immersed in a liquid and kept for 3-4 hours.

Fertilizer seedlings

Fertilizing seedlings is carried out with the appearance of 2-3 full leaf plates. 50 g of yeast are added to 1 liter of water and incubated for 2 hours. After that, the solution is diluted with water 1: 5 and irrigation is carried out under the root using a spray gun.

Watering cucumbers

For watering cucumbers during flowering, use the following solution preparation scheme:

1. In 5 l of warm water (+ 36 ° C) dilute 12 g of yeast.
2. Add 100 g of sugar and mix.
3. Leave to insist for 7 days in a room where the air temperature is maintained within +25 ... + 30 ° С.

The resulting mixture was diluted with water at the rate of 1 tbsp. for 10 liters This composition is watered under the root. For each plant contribute 1 liter of working fluid.

Foliar top dressing

Spraying on the leaf is carried out in the phase of active fruiting. For this, the solution is diluted according to the above scheme. Then, about 1 kg of fresh nettle is added to it. The solution is infused in the sun for 3 days.After that, the greens are removed and used as mulch, and the resulting mass is diluted in 10 liters of water. This composition is equally good for spraying, and for root dressing.

Features of the use of dry ash

In dry form, ash is used in the following cases:

• when cultivating cucumbers in a greenhouse;
• in the preparation of holes for planting seedlings;
• if necessary, treat slices of lashes damaged mechanically or by diseases;
• when preparing soil on the site in the fall.

In the greenhouse, root dressing is carried out 2 hours before watering. To do this, sprinkle the topsoil abundantly with ash (about 2 tbsp. Per bush) around the main stem at a distance of 20 cm. In open ground, this variant of feeding is different. Ash is embedded in the soil to a depth of 7 cm a day after watering.

Did you know? Cucumbers, not all cultures in cooking are classified as vegetables. For example, in Iran they are considered fruits and served as a dessert in combination with honey, nuts and raisins.

In preparation for planting ash contribute 1 tbsp. in the landing hole in its purest form. Mixing with compost is possible. On 1 tbsp. ash will need a glass of compost.

To process plant sections, the ash is mixed 1: 1 with foundationazole and the damaged area is dusted with a mixture.Application rates of ash per 1 m² depending on soil quality:

• neutral sandy and sandy loamy soils - 100-200 g;
• acidified peatlands and podzolic soils - 400–500 g;
• acidified light and medium loamy soils - 700 g;
• neutral light and medium loamy soils - 400–700 g;
• acidified heavy loamy and clay soils - 1 kg + 10 kg of sand.

Useful Tips

Some useful recommendations will help optimize the work on your site:

1. Affected branches and green plants are not suitable for compost. But they are excellent for the production of ash, which can then be used as fertilizer.
2. So that the ashes retain their nutritional properties, It must be collected immediately after cooling the fire and placed in sealed bags. The shelf life in a darkened room with a relative humidity of not higher than 50% is about 2 years. The temperature of the air during storage of ash should not be lower than 0 ° С.
3. Ash can be added to compost. It neutralizes the organic acids generated by the overheating of sawdust, peat, and needles.

Common mistakes gardeners

Possible errors during the use of ash:

• combination of ash with manure - any nitrogenous fertilizers are not combined with ash, as it neutralizes the action of the main element;
• non-compliance with the feeding regimen and dosages - In total, you can feed the plants up to 6 times a season;
• a combination of ash with other mineral fertilizers - leads to a saturation of the soil with one of the components, which slows down the development of plants and reduces their immunity.

Did you know? The Pacific islands used to have very little food, so local Aborigines wrapped cucumbers in banana leaves and dug them in soil. The man who had the most cucumbers was considered an enviable groom.

It is better to combine combustion products with yeast, alternating top dressing. The main task of the farmer when making nutrients is to observe the regime and proportions.