Latest Causes of Acute Cucumber Seedling Death in Greenhouses and Preventive Measures

In the process of off-season cucumber cultivation in greenhouses, cucumbers that were growing well previously often suddenly show acute seedling death. This acute seedling death develops extremely rapidly, and large-scale seedling death often occurs before timely control measures can be taken. So how should acute cucumber seedling death in greenhouses be prevented? Let's take a look together.

I. Causes of Acute Seedling Death

There are many causes of acute cucumber seedling death in greenhouses, triggered by multiple factors. For example, weather-related causes: continuous overcast, rainy, or snowy days, or sudden clearing after rain, with excessively large temperature differences causing rapid seedling death. When cucumbers enter the flowering and fruiting stage, on sunny days with high temperatures, if ventilation is too strong, leaf transpiration increases greatly, and some plants with poor rooting begin to shrivel; severe water loss can cause the entire plant to wither. Cold damage or freezing damage can cause partial damage to the greenhouse film surface, and cold wind invasion can cause wilting and seedling death. In addition, if fertilizer concentration is too high, especially when chemical fertilizer is applied close to the root base, it is very easy for concentrated fertilizer to burn the roots and cause seedling death.

II. Preventive Measures

1. Water moderately

Cucumber roots are relatively well developed, but new roots mostly concentrate in the surface layer of the soil. To avoid inhibiting the root system itself due to watering mistakes, water less at transplanting and water the recovery seedlings as appropriate. When temperatures are low, soil moisture is high, or there are continuous overcast and rainy days, water less or do not water the recovery seedlings. After cucumbers enter the peak fruiting stage, combine fertilization with watering, generally applying water once every 10 days, and strictly prevent concentrated fertilizer from damaging the roots. Watering should preferably be done in the morning on sunny days; be sure not to water in the afternoon or evening. At the same time, do not use flood irrigation in the greenhouse on overcast and rainy days; instead, apply small amounts of water frequently.

2. Control humidity reasonably

Generally, do not ventilate in the early stage after transplanting. During the day, maintain greenhouse humidity between 25-30 degrees, and at night keep it between 12-15 degrees, not lower than 10 degrees. As the cucumber seedlings grow, adjust ventilation and control temperature in time. Generally, ventilate when the daytime temperature rises to 30 degrees, and close the greenhouse when it drops to 28 degrees in the afternoon. During the fruiting stage, the temperature must not be lower than 12 degrees.

3. Regularly maintain and clear

When cultivating cucumbers in greenhouses, pay attention to the surrounding ditches and pathways to ensure they are loose and unobstructed, so as to facilitate timely drainage and irrigation. Drainage must be convenient and smooth. Also check every day whether the greenhouse film is damaged or uncovered, and repair it as needed to preserve and increase temperature.

The above introduction to the causes of acute cucumber seedling death in greenhouses and preventive measures is hoped to be helpful to you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please follow us.