Soda For Cucumbers: Watering For Feeding In The Greenhouse And In The Open Field. How To Properly Handle Cucumbers In The Garden With Baking Soda And Water?

2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-09 13:15

Each summer resident does his best to collect the richest and most environmentally friendly harvest. However, on the way to this goal, various diseases, pests or too high acidity of the soil can become. You can solve such problems using one of the most affordable tools . This is sodium bicarbonate, also known as baking soda.

Why do you need it?

Today, more and more summer residents refuse to use chemicals in their areas, preferring more gentle, natural products. Many found their salvation in the use of funds that have been popular for several hundred years . One such universal fertilizer is baking soda, which has been proven to be effective and safe. With proper use, such fertilizer will become a real assistant in the process of growing delicious and high-quality cucumbers.

Regular use of baking soda can improve crop health as it boasts unique antibacterial and antiviral properties.

Soda is an inexpensive remedy that can be found in anyone's kitchen. Due to the presence of unique trace elements in its composition, sodium bicarbonate has a positive effect on the development of plants. The following advantages of using such a tool in the garden for growing cucumbers can be distinguished:

• promotes the disinfection of seed material, which has a positive effect on the quality of the future fetus;
• Fertilizes plants and greatly improves the taste of cucumbers, which favorably distinguishes baking soda from other fertilizers;
• the composition of sodium bicarbonate contains unique components that help repel pests from the crop;
• prevents yellowing and withering of foliage, which also has a positive effect on the health of cucumbers;
• provides reliable protection against a number of diseases (in addition, the use of baking soda allows cucumbers to cure when affected by certain diseases).

One of the advantages of using this fertilizer is that it contributes to a significant decrease in the level of soil acidity, which has a positive effect on the condition of cucumbers and their ability to withstand a number of diseases. Experienced summer residents have long noticed that soda top dressing not only protects plants from pests, but also allows them to achieve excellent yields . The fact is that sodium bicarbonate includes unique trace elements that help strengthen the immunity of cucumbers.

It is necessary to resort to the use of soda with the slow development of bushes, a large number of barren flowers, and serious problems with the health of the culture . It should be noted that cucumbers that are processed with baking soda differ slightly in taste. Due to its unique properties, this substance protects the surface of cucumbers from fungus, which leads to the accumulation of sugar and makes the product sweeter.

Preparation of the solution

In order for soda to be able to maximize the condition of the cucumbers and provide reliable protection against the effects of pests and diseases, it is necessary to pay close attention to the preparation of the solution. In this case, the indicated proportions should be strictly followed so as not to harm the culture . To feed plants, it is usually sufficient to dilute three tablespoons of baking soda in 10 liters of water. It should be noted that the ideal solution is to use separated water at room temperature.

It is best to filter it out, especially if the water contains heavy metals . The proportions must be monitored as carefully as possible, since overfeeding can harm the fruit. Usually, using too much sodium bicarbonate will result in reduced yields and may also lead to fruit curling. A high concentration of the agent can also negatively affect the acidity of the soil.

The capacity used is also important . It is better to refuse to dilute the soda solution in polystyrene or aluminum containers, since they react with the substance and can adversely affect the condition of the cucumbers.

The solution should not be stored for too long. You need to use it within 3 hours after preparation.

For feeding

Competent feeding of cucumbers with soda allows you to achieve maximum fruiting, and also has a positive effect on the taste of the product. Usually, one tablespoon of soda is used for such purposes, which is diluted in 10 liters of water at room temperature . It is impossible to use concentrated solutions, as this can negatively affect the condition of the leaves.

Ideal processing is carried out on a cloudy day, so that there is no direct sunlight . It is better to carry it out after six in the evening, when there is no scorching sun and there is a shadow in the garden. It is too often impossible to feed cucumbers with a soda solution, as this can cause a complete stop of fruiting due to too much sodium in the soil.

From disease

Soda is a completely natural and effective product that also boasts a relatively low price. That is why experienced gardeners usually choose it, avoiding chemicals. The use of soda allows you to achieve maximum protection for cucumbers from a number of diseases, as well as cure them from various diseases . Today, soda is actively used in the fight against gray rot. A distinctive feature of this disease is that it can appear even on leaves, which significantly complicates the process of struggle. The leaves under the influence of this fungus begin to turn white, which leads to the complete rotting of the fruit. To prepare an effective solution for combating fungus, it is necessary to dilute 80 g of baking soda in 4 liters of water. Spraying of crops continues until it is possible to completely get rid of the disease.

Baking soda has also worked well in the fight against powdery mildew . It can be recognized by the characteristic white bloom that is present on the cucumber foliage. It should be noted that this disease is one of the most common and dangerous for cucumbers, as it can affect the entire vegetable garden in a short period of time. In the process of preparing the solution, 50 g of soda per 10 liters of water is used. To make the solution as effective and efficient as possible, you can add a little laundry soap to it. It is necessary to spray cucumbers no more than three times a week, otherwise an overdose may occur.

Soda can also be used against downy mildew . It should be noted that this disease gives summer residents a huge amount of trouble, but no remedy shows you as effective as sodium bicarbonate.

The solution is prepared according to the same principle as in the case of ordinary powdery mildew. The only difference is that you can process the garden much more often: about 2-3 times a day.

From pests

Oddly enough, baking soda shows itself perfectly not only in the process of combating various diseases that affect cucumbers, but also in the destruction of pests. One of the most dangerous pests for cucumbers is aphids . The main feature of this pest is that it multiplies rather quickly, so if you do not take any measures in time, then the whole culture will be affected in a short period of time.

To prepare the solution, it is necessary to dilute 50 g of soda in 10 liters of water . In addition, you can strengthen this solution with ash or laundry soap. The use of the solution (especially in the hot season) will provide reliable protection of the fruit from aphids or get rid of it if the culture is already affected. In this case, it is necessary to spray the cucumbers once every 3 days.

In addition to aphids, cucumbers are often attacked by spider mites . To create an effective solution, 100 g of soda must be diluted in 5 liters of water and sprayed not only the plants that are covered with cobwebs, but also all those present nearby. This should be done once a day until all the fruits are rid of the tick.

How to deposit?

The effectiveness of the sodium bicarbonate used for cucumbers depends not only on the rules and literacy of the preparation of the solution itself, but also on the characteristics of its use.

Watering

Watering cucumbers with a soda solution is necessary in the evening or at night, when there is no direct sunlight. The fact is that in too hot weather, the unique trace elements that are contained in soda become unusable and do not have any positive effect on the condition of the cucumbers . That is why it is recommended to spray and process after six in the evening, when the garden does not receive sunlight.

Spraying

Spraying cucumbers with a soda solution must be extremely careful, since an overdose can lead to serious consequences and cause the complete destruction of the fetus. To properly spray a crop, you should adhere to the following recommendations:

• the ideal solution is to apply top dressing simultaneously with watering, as this allows you to achieve maximum efficiency from the use of soda solution;
• in no case should the concentration of sodium bicarbonate be exceeded, as this negatively affects the condition of the plants;
• if top dressing is applied immediately under the root, then thanks to this it is possible to moisturize the entire hole, which contributes to an increase in yield.

Spraying with a baking soda solution can also be carried out for preventive purposes. For this, the ideal solution would be to use a finely dispersed spray gun, which allows you to process all sides of the cucumber leaves.

In addition, the use of such a device greatly simplifies and speeds up the processing process.

Application rules

It is necessary to use a soda solution extremely carefully, because the health and yield of cucumbers depends on it.

In the greenhouse

The greenhouse is distinguished by its unique microclimate, and this must be taken into account when processing cucumbers with a soda solution. As in the process of treating human diseases, when treating cucumbers, it is worth remembering that an overdose does not do anything good . That is why it is extremely important to observe all precautions and accurately dose the product used. It is not necessary to create overly concentrated solutions, since they have a detrimental effect not only on bacteria, but also on the plant itself. As a result, the yield will suffer, and the fruits may generally become completely unusable. In addition, it negatively affects the taste of cucumbers.

In the greenhouse, spraying is not allowed too often, as the plant gets used to it, and the acidity of the soil only increases . It is best to alternate such solutions using other folk remedies, for example, onion peel tincture. The combination of these two substances has an excellent effect in the fight against a huge number of diseases, as well as when used as a preventive measure. Care must be taken to ensure that the soda does not accumulate in the soil, as this will cause it to alkalize, which will negatively affect the plants.

Feeding is best done using a 5% sodium bicarbonate solution . The first time this is done immediately after the seedlings have been planted, the second - after three weeks. Top dressing is allowed to be carried out no more often than once every 10 days, so that there is no excess of substance in the root system. It is worth remembering that cucumbers are moisture-loving plants, so they need to be watered every other day with warm water, especially when using a soda solution. Failure to comply with this rule can cause rotting of the root system. If there are too many barren flowers on the bushes, then you can fertilize the cucumbers with a concentrated soda solution. To prepare it, you need to dissolve one teaspoon of the product in a liter of water.

In the open field

Unlike greenhouse conditions, it will not be possible to control the microclimate in the open air, so you need to carry out all your actions depending on weather conditions. It is worth remembering that soda as a fertilizer is not the main top dressing, but only an additional tool that should be used in conjunction with other dressings.

It is best to process cucumber seedlings even before diseases and pests begin to appear . No one will argue with the fact that preventive agents are much more effective in preventing insect and disease control. Getting rid of some pests is much more difficult than preventing them from appearing. In addition, this has a positive effect on the quality of the product and its taste. In no case should you independently increase the dose of baking soda, especially for preventive treatments. Ideal feeding should be done no more than once every 7 days. For spraying, it is best to choose the driest day possible.

Thus, Baking soda is one of the most effective ways to protect cucumbers from various diseases and pests . The competent use of this substance will provide additional feeding of cucumbers, prevent damage from many diseases, and also cure plants when some diseases appear. The main thing in this process is to strictly follow the established concentrations, since an overdose of baking soda can negatively affect the condition of the cucumbers and cause a loss in yield. Soda is extremely useful for cucumbers, however, in order to properly feed the crop, you need to follow the recipes and spray it correctly.