Cucumber ovaries turn yellow, dry up and fall off, what can be done to save the harvest

  • Aug 27, 2021

The yellowing and falling off of the cucumber ovaries signals the gardener that a bad situation has arisen. You cannot wait for the harvest if you do not provide the culture with timely assistance. Experienced gardeners have their own secrets of dealing with such a nuisance.

Cucumbers. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com
Cucumbers. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com
Cucumbers. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com

Causes of yellowing and drying of the ovaries

In most cases, cultivation problems are caused by inadequate care. The ovaries are very capricious: they react strongly to mistakes, to external circumstances. In addition, each variety has its own characteristics: a strictly defined planting density, the need for pinching and the intensity of pollination.

Violations in agricultural technology

Errors in agrotechnical actions are considered one of the most common factors in the wilting of ovaries. Inexperienced gardeners often plant bushes without forming. Some varieties accumulate abundant vegetative mass, in this regard, they just need to be pinched. The procedure is performed for all young stepchildren growing from the axils of 3-4 leaves, and then for all shoots that grow after the second leaves. This is necessary so that the sun-loving culture receives enough sunlight, and the ovaries do not crumble.

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The thickening during planting also belongs to the grossest agronomic mistakes. For 1 sq. m should be no more than four plants, and when cultivating self-fertile varieties - only two. Otherwise, the ovaries will wither and dry out due to insufficient lighting.

The appearance of ovaries on too young lashes is also considered an unfavorable signal. A weak shrub with leaves that are not fully formed can produce cucumbers, but without an optimal, satisfying nutritional requirement. In this regard, inflorescences on such fragile bushes should be removed.

Cucumbers. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com
Cucumbers. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com

External circumstances

Cucumbers are a rather capricious and demanding plant. If all the rules are not followed, a good harvest cannot be expected. External factors can also adversely affect the formation and development of ovaries:

  1. Improper irrigation. The culture is moisture-loving, but watering should be carried out according to a special scheme - three times every seven days before flowering and during fruiting, and on dry and hot days - every day.
  2. Unsuitable temperature conditions are the most difficult factors to control in open beds. A suitable daytime temperature for good ovary formation should be between + 22-26 ° C and at least + 18 ° C at night.
  3. With sudden changes in temperature, the plant experiences stress.
  4. Overheating of the soil leads to drying out of the roots.

When cultivating cucumbers in a greenhouse, the structure should be constantly ventilated, since with a lack of fresh air, the ovaries turn yellow and are affected by infections.

Diseases

With rapid drying and yellowing of the ovaries, diseases appear. First, weak and thickened plantings of bacteriosis are affected. They develop well with temperature fluctuations.

Wilting often occurs against the background of root rot. The crop looks healthy, but begins to dry out from the top. Putrefactive formations interfere with the full flow of nutrients to the shrub.

Parasites

Biological factors can also provoke wilting of cucumber ovaries.

Popular pests affecting young seedlings:

  • whitefly;
  • aphid;
  • spider mite;
  • black flea.

Most of the appearance of insects was recorded in the middle of summer. The spider mite is not immediately noticeable, its presence can be judged by the cobwebs that have entangled the plant. Aphids overwinter in the root parts of the weed foliage, and with the onset of spring they crawl out onto the site.

Cucumber processing. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com
Cucumber processing. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com

The most dangerous pest is a black flea, it can quickly destroy all plantings of cucumbers. And after the invasion of the whitefly, the foliage turns yellow and fruiting stops.

What should be done to save the harvest

First of all, you need to understand the true reasons for the wilting of vegetables. More experienced gardeners apply fertilizer first to alleviate nutritional deficiencies. To do this, use complex preparations:

  • "Potassium sulfate";
  • "Ammofoskoy";
  • "Diammophos".

You can use folk remedies, for example, take urea (1 tbsp. l.), ash powder (3 tbsp. l.) and dilute all the ingredients in a bucket of liquid. Spray the foliage late in the evening to avoid burning the leaves.

To save the harvest, arrange for full pollination for the flowers. In the greenhouse, transfer pollen with a soft brush from male to female inflorescences. In an open area, bees should be summoned by placing dishes filled with sweet liquid or honey in different places. Plant chamomile, fennel, calendula nearby.

It is necessary to carry out reanimation work in the fight against pests. To handle them, use the following tools:

  • onion peel tincture;
  • a solution that includes baking soda and grated laundry soap, one tablespoon per liter of water;
  • means consisting of 3 tbsp. l. ammonia and liquid (1 l);
  • chemical preparations "Aktara", "Commander" or "Alatar" used for fruiting.

You can also use less dangerous biological agents, for example, "Biotlin", "Fitoverm" or "Kleschevit".

Cucumbers. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com
Cucumbers. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com

Preventive actions

Before landing, you should carry out preliminary actions. First of all, choose the right varieties that are recommended for greenhouses or open beds.

Use self-fertile hybrids for growing in a greenhouse, as there are too few natural pollinators in the room.

The area for planting should be sufficiently lit, the soil well fertilized and free from drafts. A canopy can be made over the garden to protect it from heavy rain and hail. During heavy rains, dig in grooves to drain excess water.

Water with settled liquid.

Some helpful tips from experienced farmers

Cover the bushes with film or agrofibre from sudden temperature changes at night.

Roots germinate to a depth of 40 cm, and watering should be abundant so that the root system does not end up near the surface of the earth in search of moisture.

Before planting, it is necessary to harden and warm up the seed to increase its germination. When treated with potassium permanganate, disease resistance will increase.

Outcome

Plants will not yield a crop if timely measures are not taken to get rid of the yellowing of the ovary. The methods completely depend on factors: the appearance of diseases or pest infestations, as well as non-compliance with agrotechnical rules.

Monitor the state of summer cottage crops constantly. If you follow all the advice and follow preventive procedures, then you will not need to save the dying ovaries and ripening fruits.

Read also: How to say goodbye to ants in the garden

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