What to Do About Deformed Cucumbers? Causes and Control Methods
Everyone is certainly very familiar with cucumbers; they are seen everywhere in our daily lives and are grown in all parts of our country. But many friends will find during the growing process that, whether growing at home or on a large scale, deformed cucumbers appear. Although deformed cucumbers do not have much effect on taste or flavor, their appearance is extremely ugly and reduces the commercial value of the cucumbers, so how do we solve the problem of deformed cucumbers? Let's take a look together below!
1. Pruning
The growth of cucumbers is closely related to the growth of their vines. We need to make corresponding adjustments to the direction of cucumber growth to prevent growth from being hindered by the direction of growth. Before the main vine has topped out, all the surrounding side branches can be removed so that nutrients are concentrated on the main vine, improving the cucumber's fruit-setting rate. After pinching off the growing tip of the main vine, an appropriate number of side branches should be retained to promote fruit set on the secondary vines.
2. Leaf removal
In the later stage of cucumber growth, some leaves on the lower part of the plant have already aged and gradually turned yellow and withered, no longer serving much purpose for its growth. But they are still consuming nutrients, so in order to save nutrients, the aged leaves should be removed promptly. Then the excess male flowers should also be removed at the appropriate time, to prevent too many male flowers from affecting pollination, hindering the growth of the fruit, preventing it from absorbing nutrients in time, and causing deformed growth.
3. Fertilizer and water
Before planting, the base fertilizer should be applied generously, and fertilizer should be applied at the right time according to the growth of the cucumbers and the characteristics of the soil, with more organic fertilizer and trace elements. Pay attention to the application of nitrogen fertilizer; it must not be excessive, otherwise it will cause excessive vegetative growth of the branches, affect the normal growth and development of the plant, lead to premature aging and then deformed growth. It is necessary to ensure sufficient nutrients for cucumber growth. If high temperatures and drought occur, replenish water in time and keep the soil moist at all times. If there is too much standing water, drain it promptly as well, creating a good growing environment for cucumbers.
4. Pests and diseases
Pests and diseases are very harmful to cucumbers. Common diseases include phytophthora blight, anthracnose, and so on. To effectively prevent diseases, the humidity in the orchard can be reduced to lessen pathogens. To reduce humidity, the smoke method can be used: burn chlorothalonil around the orchard and let the smoke drift into the orchard to sterilize it, once a week, which can effectively prevent diseases. A common pest is aphids; for pest control, imidacloprid can be used.
5. Harvesting
Cucumber is a vegetable that is grown for more than one year, so any mature cucumbers must be harvested promptly, and if any deformed cucumbers are found, they should also be removed promptly. Only in this way can the subsequent new cucumbers grow normally; if they are not removed in time, they will affect the growth of the vines and leaves and the absorption of nutrients, consuming a large amount of nutrients. Therefore, timely removal can preserve enough nutrients and space to supply the growth of subsequent cucumbers.
The five points above are the methods for solving deformed cucumbers. Deformed cucumbers not only reduce commercial value but also harm the growth of subsequent new cucumbers. So when deformed cucumbers appear, they must be dealt with promptly. You can also spray an appropriate amount of growth regulator in the early stage of fruit set to promote the growth rate of cucumbers and ensure their quality. That is all for today's introduction; if you want to learn more related information, please continue to follow us!