How to prevent and control low-temperature injury in cucumbers? Key technical points explained clearly in one article

Low-temperature injury in cucumbers

Because cucumbers have weak tolerance to low temperatures, continuous low temperatures can trigger a variety of symptoms, mainly manifested in the following aspects:

1. If the soil temperature is too low during sowing, seed germination and seedling emergence are delayed, resulting in yellow, weak seedlings, rotted seeds, or the occurrence of damping-off, root rot, etc. Some emerged seedlings show white edges on the cotyledons, yellowing leaves, and no root growth.

2. If the soil temperature remains below 12°C for a long time, the root tips turn yellow or root drowning and root rot occur, and the aboveground part begins to turn yellow.

3. After chilling injury or freezing injury occurs following planting, the leaves become dark green, the leaf margins curl slightly outward, and yellow-white spots appear between the veins of large leaves; as the freezing injury worsens, these spots expand and merge into patches. Alternatively, the plant roots slowly or not at all, or flower buds do not differentiate, the whole plant grows thin and weak, flower topping appears, and even the leaves wither to the point that the entire plant dies.

Prevention and control methods

1. Select low-temperature-tolerant varieties that germinate quickly, emerge rapidly, and grow fast as seedlings.

2. Place seeds that have been soaked and are about to germinate at 0°C for 24-36 hours before sowing, which can enhance cold resistance.

3. Avoid raising seedlings and planting during cold periods. In the greenhouse, use measures such as lighting a stove or adding ground heating wires to raise the temperature.

4. Apply compost fermented with enzyme bacteria or fully decomposed organic fertilizer.

5. Before a cold wave strikes, spray plant cold-resistance agents: 100-200 ml per mu of a 400-fold solution of 10% Baolifeng anti-freezing agent, or a 7500-fold solution of 3.4% Bihu wettable powder, or 50 g brown sugar mixed with one bucket of water plus 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate.

6. If the temperature is too low and freezing injury has already occurred, adopt measures to raise the temperature slowly, such as using straw curtains to shade light after a long cloudy period followed by clear weather, so that the physiological functions of the cucumber can gradually recover. Do not rush the process.