What are the causes of hollow cucumbers and how can they be prevented and controlled?

In our minds, cucumbers are plump and round, full of flesh and juice, with a smooth and refreshing taste. But if the growing environment is unsuitable, they can develop some physiological disorders. Many farmers are very troubled by the problem of hollow cucumbers, which seriously affects the quality and yield of cucumbers. So how should hollow cucumbers be prevented and controlled? Let's take a look.

1. Malnutrition

If the soil is poor in fertility and fertilizer is not applied in time, the plant will suffer from insufficient nutrients, grow thin and weak, have poor root development, fewer leaves, limited photosynthesis, and produce less synthesized nutrients, which cannot meet the needs of fruit growth, resulting in hollow cucumber symptoms.

Prevention and control methods: When planting cucumbers, if you want them to grow well, you must pay attention to fertilization. Apply sufficient base fertilizer before planting, and apply fertilizer reasonably during the growing period to ensure good root growth, strengthen the absorption of fertilizer and water, and help improve yield and quality.

2. Lack of certain elements

In addition to malnutrition, hollow symptoms can also occur in an environment with sufficient nutrients if boron or potassium is lacking. The main reason is that many farmers, in order to increase yield, fertilize blindly, applying too much nitrogen fertilizer or not applying organic fertilizer and farmyard manure. Excessive nitrogen fertilizer affects the roots' absorption of other elements, and not applying organic fertilizer leads to a lack of trace elements in the soil, thus causing hollowing.

Prevention and control methods: Fertilization must be scientific and reasonable. Base fertilizer should mainly be farmyard manure or organic fertilizer. The amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied must be controlled, especially during the flowering and fruiting stage, when the plant's demand for nitrogen fertilizer is relatively low. At this time, increase the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer or microelement fertilizer.

3. High temperature

In high-temperature weather, especially when the nighttime temperature is too high, cucumbers are very prone to excessive vegetative growth, causing uneven distribution of growth nutrients and resulting in hollowing. This is a common phenomenon in many greenhouse cultivations.

Prevention and control methods: During high temperatures, pay attention and cool the plants by improving ventilation or spraying water mist, keeping the temperature within the range suitable for cucumber growth, neither too high nor too low.

4. Moisture

When there are large rises and falls in moisture, because the ground temperature is too low or too high, the root system may be damaged, causing water shortage in cucumber cultivation and an imbalance in nutrient proportions. Another reason is that prolonged exposure to the sun causes the plant to lack water, which can also cause hollow cucumbers.

Prevention and control methods: Pay attention to temperature changes, water reasonably, and maintain a certain level of soil moisture, but also pay attention to drainage during the rainy season.

The above is an introduction to the causes of hollow cucumbers and prevention and control methods. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please keep following us.