Experienced farmers use siderates to increase the yield of cucumbers. What is it, which ones are best used specifically for cucumbers, how to grow them and much more - further.
The best siderates for cucumbers
Siderata (or green fertilizers) are “tamed” weeds. They saturate the soil with nutrients, improve its structure and inhibit the growth of weeds.
Fertilizers are selected for cucumbers, quickly gaining green mass, and completely rotting over the winter. These are mainly representatives of legumes and cruciferous.
White mustard
Belongs to the crucifer family. This annual grows green mass quickly, leaves no room for weeds, inhibits the development of fungal diseases and repels slugs, moth and wireworms. A plant is sown in autumn or spring, but autumn sowing nullifies the appearance of a cross flea.
White mustard
Mustard enriches the soil with nitrogen and phosphorus, prevents the leaching of nutrients by rain. However, each culture has its drawbacks. So, although mustard enriches the soil with nitrogen, it does not accumulate it in the soil.
The plant is an excellent prophylactic against many diseases of the cucumber, but is itself not resistant to certain diseases - keel, white rust, powdery mildew and dry spotting (alternariosis). She transfers these fungal diseases to the following plants during crop rotation.
In addition, it contributes to the acidification of the soil, so dolomite flour, lime or ash must be added. White mustard can withstand frosts of -6 ° C, it can be sown in March. With spring sowing of mustard seeds, there is no need for watering, because after the snow melts, the earth is well moistened. Grass is sown in the ground a week before planting the following crops.
During autumn sowing, it is not buried in the ground. This gentle grass manages to overtake during the winter, so it is only enough to knock it down.
Vika
It is a representative of the legume family, and therefore, it contributes to the accumulation of nitrogen in the soil. The root system is deep and digging is not required. Rotting in the ground, the roots leave behind them voids that are filled with air and water - improve the structure of the soil.
Vetch plant
Vika disinfects the soil, prevents the appearance of a nematode and wireworm. The plant is very sensitive to drought. With a lack of moisture, it quickly coarsens and woods. Such shoots rot for a very long time and delay the planting of the main crops.
In addition, the culture does not grow on strongly acidified and sandy soils. Plant vetch with cereals well. For example, with oats. Varieties of spring and winter wikis are grown. Winter varieties are sown in autumn. The emerged seedlings go away in the winter, and in the spring they begin to quickly gain green mass. Spring varieties are sown in early spring, and as soon as the buds begin to appear, the grass is cut.
Lupine
It is an annual bean family. There is also a perennial species of lupine, but most often annual crops are grown as siderat on the beds.
Usually for this purpose use:
- Lupine is yellow. One of the lowest representatives of lupins, in height it rarely reaches 1 m. It prefers to grow in warm conditions, although it can withstand a slight cooling. His flowers are yellow or slightly orange. Sow it on sandy soils.
- Lupine is blue or narrow-leaved. One of the most unpretentious species. It tolerates small frosts and does not require maintenance. Flowers can be not only blue, but also white, pink, and lilac. The plant does not exceed 1.5 m in height.
Lupine
Lupine has a very long root system, which penetrates 2 m deep into the earth. At the same time, it raises nutrients in the upper layers of the soil, and does not use substances in the sod layer, that is, the plant does not deplete the soil.
He perfectly loosens the soil, saturates it with nitrogen. The culture grows on different soils, including acidic and depleted. And since most varieties of lupine contain alkaloids, very soon acidic soils alkalize to a neutral reaction.
Thanks to the same alkaloids, the wireworm leaves the site, and the soil microflora heals. But lupine does not grow on alkaline soils, it does not like peat bogs and heavy loams. Lupine is cut before mass flowering. The site does not need to be dug up - the green mass is mown, and the roots are chopped and sprinkled with earth.
Phacelia
This is a beautiful flowering cold-resistant annual belonging to the aquatic family. The plant reaches a height of 1 m. Its flowers are blue, blue or gray-blue, depending on the species. This flower is an excellent honey plant, and since it does not contain toxic substances, it can go to livestock feed.
As a siderat, phacelia also has advantages - the plant does not allow weeds to grow and heals the plot, helps fight soil and ground pests - wireworms, nematodes and locusts, prevents the development of root rot, late blight, due to actinomycetes that settle on the roots of the plant and have bactericidal properties .
Phacelia protects the soil from erosion. When its leaves decompose, a large amount of nitrogen is released. It is not susceptible to any disease and regulates the acidity of the soil.
Phacelia
The culture grows on any soil. It feels great on slightly acidic soils, while alkalizing them to a neutral reaction and thereby creates adverse conditions for perennial weeds - horse sorrel, wheatgrass, woodlice.
It is not worth planting phaselia on strongly acidified and saline soils, marshy areas - it does not tolerate stagnation of water.
It is undemanding to the place of cultivation - it can grow in sunny areas or in the shade. As a siderat, it is sown in early June or late October. Mow before flowering. The plant must not be allowed to turn into a weed.
Sunflower
An annual plant in the aster family. It is used infrequently as siderates, since it takes a lot of nutrients from the soil. The coarse stem decomposes very slowly, which creates a number of problems when digging the site.
Usually it is planted to protect plants from direct sunlight and wind, or it serves as a support for other crops. When using sunflower as a green fertilizer, you will have to sacrifice its flowers, they must be cut in the bud phase.
The plant grows on any soil, including acidic and alkaline.
Oil radish
This is an annual belonging to the crucifer family. It is also a fodder and honey plant. The plant has a powerful root system, a long root raises nutrients to the upper layers of the soil.
Rotting, the plant turns into fertilizer, which is rich in humus and organic matter. Radish can grow on heavy clay soils, while it loosens the soil well, improves its air and moisture permeability.
Pancake week radish
Left for the winter, it retains snow and does not allow the soil to freeze much.
This culture contains a lot of essential oils and emits a specific smell, which prevents the propagation of various pests in the soil - nematodes, wireworms and the development of diseases of fungal origin.
The culture tolerates cooling, drought and humidity, and prevents the spread of weeds and their development. Rotten radish is an ideal medium for breeding worms and other beneficial microorganisms.
Oil radish does not grow well on acidic soils, so the earth must be preliminarily calcified, and it requires constant watering.
Rape
Another representative of cruciferous. By the amount of accumulated nitrogen, it is second only to bean siderates. In a short time, the plant grows a large amount of green mass, after which it is embedded, the soil is saturated with micronutrients and its fertility is restored.
Rapeseed is rich in essential oils, and therefore protects plants from harmful insects and pathogenic microflora, which causes various diseases. It inhibits weed growth, prevents soil erosion.
Rapeseed does not grow on heavy and acidic soils, and does not tolerate stagnation of water. It can not be grown in one place more often than 1 time in 4 years. Winter and spring rape is grown. Spring varieties are less demanding in care, but winter is more effective as a soil supplement.
Buckwheat
This is a herbaceous plant of the buckwheat family, which has a short growing season. Depending on the variety, it ranges from 70 to 85 days. A powerful root system loosens the soil perfectly. And the roots, penetrating to a depth of 35 cm, secrete citric, oxalic and formic acids, which help the following cultures absorb the insoluble phosphorus compounds.
After decomposition of the residues, the soil is enriched with potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus. Buckwheat heals the soil, improves its microflora, inhibits the growth of weed grass. The advantage of this crop as siderate is that it can grow on poor, heavy soils with a slightly acidic environment.
What siderates are best grown before planting cucumbers?
Depending on where the cucumbers are grown - in closed or open ground, experts recommend the use of certain green manure.
In the spring, cold-resistant types of green fertilizer are planted in open ground:
- oil radish;
- spring rape;
- phacelia;
- mustard.
In the fall, green manure is sown, which quickly gain green mass and rot well during the winter:
- white mustard;
- phacelia;
- oil radish.
In the spring, legumes are planted in the greenhouse:
- beans;
- peas;
- vetch.
They quickly saturate the soil with minerals. For the winter, oilseed and white mustard are sown.
Cucumbers do not plant after different types of cabbage and carrots, as well as after related cultures of the pumpkin family - zucchini, squash, pumpkins, zucchini, watermelons and melons!
Siderata Growing Technology
The technology for growing green manure in open ground and in a greenhouse varies.
In the greenhouse
Siderata is sown in film in March-April, in polycarbonate greenhouses - in late February. 3-4 weeks before the cucumbers are planted, they are cut and planted in the ground or cucumbers are grown directly in green fertilizers. To do this, make small holes in the plantings of green manure, sprinkle a little humus and plant cucumber seeds or seedlings. Overgrown herbs are cut and laid under the bushes.
After harvesting in late summer or autumn, oil radish and white mustard are sown on loose beds. After germination, the aerial part is mowed, and the roots are left in the soil. During the winter, they will decay and improve the structure of the earth.
Open ground
Siderata is sown as soon as the snow has melted, it is not worth delaying with crops. To accelerate the germination of seeds, they are covered with a film. After the first shoots appear, the shelter is removed. In warm spring, when the grass grows 10-15 cm, they make ditches and sow the seeds of cucumbers. Green fertilizers are regularly pruned so that they do not obscure the cucumbers.
Watch in the video below how to plant cucumbers with a cone directly in green manure in open ground:
After harvesting (on empty beds), green manure seeds are sown in late August or early autumn. This option is preferable, since next year cucumbers will grow already on fertile loose soil.
Siderata is an excellent way to restore nutrients, but in order to saturate the soil with all the necessary minerals, several types of green fertilizers should be planted at once. The main thing is to choose them correctly, taking into account the type and acidity of the soil on the site, as well as the crops that will be grown after them.