Whey is the liquid left after curdling milk. It is used in cooking, but I am not a culinary specialist, but a gardener - and therefore I feed cucumbers to her.
Why is it necessary
Feeding cucumbers with whey is a strange technique, but, as I have seen, it is very effective. The point is not only that plants need organic matter: this liquid is also rich in trace elements. It has:
- zinc;
- phosphorus;
- potassium;
- calcium.
Additionally, it contains lactic acid bacteria, vitamins and amino acids. They are not absorbed by plants in the same way as animals, but they also need them. As a result, roots develop better in cucumbers, stems are stronger, ovaries are better formed. I also noticed that on those beds that I sprayed with whey, there are fewer empty flowers - but experiment until all hands reach.
How to apply
I do not use pure whey: it is too acidic and can ruin the soil. Therefore, I always prepare a solution. I usually use two proportions:
- 1 part whey to 10 parts water - for watering under the root (root top dressing).
- 1 part to 3 parts of water - for spraying the leaves (foliar top dressing).
In the second case, I sometimes add a little medical iodine - about 1 drop per 5 liters of solution. Iodine is also needed, but it can burn cucumbers, so you should be careful with it.
There is a slight subtlety in the preparation of the solution: the whey must be warm, the water too, otherwise a uniform composition will not work. I first let both the serum and water stand in the room and warm up to 20-22 degrees, and only then I pour them into one container and mix thoroughly.
When to spray
I spend the first dressing at the stage of 2-3 true leaves. It is important here to strengthen the immunity of the plant, but not to overdo it so that the seedlings do not outgrow. Therefore, for root dressing at this stage, I do not use the usual proportion of 1:10, but diluted by half.
The next time I spray a week and a half after planting seedlings in open ground. Then I repeat the procedure approximately every 2-3 weeks until the beginning of fruiting - then I no longer feed with whey.
How to use the solution
I carry out root feeding of plants in the ground as follows:
- I fill a 10 liter watering can with the sprinkler removed.
- Carefully pour in a small stream of top dressing at a distance of 40-50 cm from the root of the cucumber.
- I distribute the solution to 10 cucumber bushes.
I alternate foliar processing with root processing. To do this, I add to the solution, in addition to iodine, also a little sugar - about 10 g per liter. Sugar is useful for plants in itself, but in addition it makes the working composition sticky, and the whey rolls off the leaves more slowly. After each spraying, the sprayer must be thoroughly rinsed: the whey, having dried, can clog holes, and particles of cottage cheese always remain in it.
I met the opinion that yeast or wood ash should also be added to the solution for foliar feeding. In my opinion, this is not entirely correct. It is better to work with yeast compositions separately, and it is better to powder the soil and leaves with ash in a dry form: this is both top dressing and protection from pests and fungi. But if someone prefers to add ash to the solution, I won’t argue, it’s also possible.
But iodine must be added starting in July. Just at this time, pathogens of fungal diseases are activated - and the iodine film on the leaves not only feeds, but also kills spores.
Little tricks
Finally - a couple of subtleties that gardeners often forget:
- During flowering, serum must be worked so that it does not get on the flowers. The solution may interfere with pollination.
- Foliar top dressing is best done a couple of days before the next watering. Then the composition is better absorbed into the leaves and stems.
- Spraying should be carried out in the morning: at night, the metabolism of plants slows down, the solution does not work as efficiently.
It’s not always possible for me to feed cucumbers with whey: we don’t make homemade cottage cheese so often in the family. However, when there is liquid, I use it. Did you fail to use whey for feeding? Did she benefit your beds?
Read also: Cucumbers Gunnar F1: variety description. Important characteristics, advantages and rules of agricultural technology
Another related article: Cucumber seedlings: which cups to choose for convenience and benefit
Friends, do not forget to subscribe to the channel and leave a LIKE if the article is useful!
#milk serum#cucumbers#feeding cucumbers