Why do cucumbers grow into pointed-tip cucumbers?
When growing cucumbers, sometimes the cucumbers produced have abnormal, deformed shapes. There are many kinds of deformities, but in fact the pointed-tip cucumber is one type of deformity. So what causes pointed-tip cucumbers, how can they be prevented, and once they start appearing, how can the situation be improved to avoid growing more pointed-tip cucumbers? Let's now look at the causes and prevention methods together.
1. Weak root system
The cucumber itself does not have a strong root system and is easily damaged. The seedling stage is the maintenance period, and soil is the direct factor affecting root growth. If the soil environment is good and the structural layers are suitable for root growth, and some seaweed acid-type rooting agents are used, using rooting agents that contain no hormones, the roots will grow well, and pointed-tip cucumbers can be prevented.
2. Control excessive vegetative growth
During the seedling stage, pay attention to controlling excessive vegetative growth, reduce the amount of nitrogen fertilizer used, and apply phosphorus fertilizer early to avoid it becoming fixed and unavailable; early uptake can help root growth. Using high-phosphorus fertilizer at the seedling stage, dissolving it directly in water and applying it while maintaining temperature, is also a way to control excessive vegetative growth. Keeping vegetative and reproductive growth coordinated is the key to prevention.
3. Control fruit setting
Generally, a plant can keep several cucumbers: ones just pollinated, ones currently growing, and ones that can be picked very soon. This fruiting pattern can be maintained all along. In this way the plant will not set too many cucumbers, and while keeping yields stable it can also maintain cucumber quality, so pointed-tip cucumbers will not appear. You can also leave cucumbers according to growth vigor: leave fewer on weak-growing plants and more on strong-growing plants. With no nutrient deficiency, there will be very few pointed-tip cucumbers.
4. Poor pollination
During the flowering period, if the female flowers do not receive pollen, deformed pointed-tip cucumbers will result. Or it may be caused by poor pollination and fertilization. In this case, pay attention to carrying out artificial pollination during the flowering period, because cucumbers are not strong at self-pollination. By hand, on a sunny afternoon, collect pollen from male flowers and use a brush to dab it onto the stigma of the female flower. This can be done one more time to ensure pollination.
The causes of pointed-tip cucumbers all belong to the effects of poor growth and development, but the specific causes differ. You can prevent pointed-tip cucumbers, or improve the current situation, according to the different detailed causes.