Cucumber is a common vegetable crop in rural areas. Depending on different regional climates and cultivation methods, it can be planted all year round. Now is the fruiting period of summer cucumbers. In order to increase the yield of summer cucumbers, let's learn together about the management key points during this period.
1. Proper Fertilization
Cucumbers require plenty of fertilizer, especially nitrogen and potassium during the fruiting period. Therefore, after the first harvest, fertilization should be applied again, with 30 kilograms of nitrogen and potassium fertilizer per mu. During the vigorous fruiting period, fertilization should be applied approximately every 10 days by opening trenches in the middle of the ridges, with 15 kilograms of compound fertilizer per mu, followed by covering with soil. In the later stage of fruiting, combined foliar spraying should be conducted with phosphorus, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, magnesium sulfate, boron, or urea solution to prolong the functional period of leaves, prevent premature aging, promote cucumber growth, and increase later-stage yield.
2. Water Management
During the flowering and fruiting period, which coincides with hot summer weather, plants transpire vigorously. To ensure an adequate water supply for flowering and fruiting, sufficient water must be provided. During prolonged sunny or hot and dry conditions, small amounts of water can be irrigated in the morning and evening. During the peak fruiting period, water should be irrigated approximately every 5 days. If necessary, water can be sprayed in the morning or evening to reduce temperature and increase the number of female flowers.
3. Disease and Pest Control
For wilt disease, spray with 70% dichlorvos 800 times solution or 20% thuringiensin 800 times solution for prevention. For powdery mildew, spray with 58% mancozeb 600 times solution or 72% chlorothalonil 750 times solution for prevention. For downy mildew, spray with 20% rust toxin 2000 times solution or 10% sega 2000-3000 times solution for prevention. For bacterial angular leaf spot, spray with 200 ppm agricultural streptomycin. For aphids, spray with 1.8% imidacloprid 3000 times solution or 2.5% acetamiprid 3000 times solution for prevention. For cucumber moths, spray with 50% cypermethrin 800 times solution or Bacillus thuringiensis preparations for prevention.
4. Timely Harvest
Cucumbers can be harvested 8-10 days after flowering. Harvesting should be done in the morning, as harvesting in the afternoon not only tends to make the fruits bitter and affect quality but also because fruits are less tolerant to storage and transportation due to high temperatures. During the cucumber fruiting period, nutritional needs should not be neglected. Management should aim to prevent excessive vegetative growth of plants and excessive reproductive growth leading to premature aging.
