Clever management of cucumbers: closely observing the growth of the growing tip is key
The top of the cucumber plant (the growing point) is called the growing tip. Under normal conditions, the cucumber growing tip is upright and spreading, looks like a flower bud from the side, and is surrounded by two tender leaves. Under conditions such as unsuitable temperature and poor root development, abnormal changes in the shape of the growing tip will occur. As growers, you should, based on the different symptoms shown by the cucumber "growing tip," identify the cause, treat the symptoms accordingly, and obtain a relatively ideal yield.
1. If the growing tip shows small leaves, tendrils, and female flowers tightly clustered together in a fist-like shape, it indicates low temperature and little water; if the growing tip is overly loose, it indicates high temperature and much water; if the growing tip spreads open and the flower buds protrude in a blooming state, it indicates that both night temperature and soil temperature are relatively low; if the growing tip retracts, it indicates that the root system is especially weak or has been severely damaged.
2. If the growing tip stops growing, and the old leaves have local white spots that later turn brown and die, it indicates that the night temperature has been around 5°C for a relatively long time; if the growing tip becomes smaller, small young fruits press above the growing tip, the tendrils become curved, and the petals are small and pale, it indicates a lack of water; if the growing tip closes together, the leaves wilt, the leaf margins curl downward and become brittle in texture, and there are white spots on the leaves, it indicates high temperature and insufficient water; if the lower leaves of the plant are basically normal, but the upper leaves become smaller and the stem becomes thinner, the uppermost first unfolded leaf bends forward, the growing point becomes smaller and shrinks, and the fruit-setting position moves upward or does not move upward, it indicates that the plant's growth vigor is weak.
3. After planting, if the plant grows slowly or does not grow, has few and small leaves, and the growing point shrinks, or in severe cases the growing point disappears, it indicates that it was planted too deep at transplanting, or that improper watering caused it (such as watering too late or too early, or insufficient watering amount, or low water temperature with a large amount of water, etc.); if after planting the plant's leaves are small, the fruit-setting position moves upward, the growing point shrinks and becomes smaller, and in severe cases flowers top the plant, it indicates that the concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil are too high, or that the plant is suffering from nutritional deficiency.
4. If the growing tip and the tips of the side branches die, and the tender leaves curl and die, this is a manifestation of boron deficiency in cucumbers; if the growing point at the growing tip disappears, it may be caused by low-temperature freezing injury, or extreme nutritional deficiency in the plant, or mite damage, or disease; if spring cucumbers in greenhouses are harvested too late for the first fruit, it can also easily lead to the disappearance of the growing point.
Wangdu County Agriculture Bureau Liu Zhenghua