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If you are looking forward to your own cucumber harvest and suddenly notice the leaves starting to yellow, that’s not a good sign. Unfortunately, it does not mean that the crop will be destroyed and there are effective ways to deal with this problem.
Sometimes small brown spots appear on the leaves or entire leaves begin to yellow. When the leaves are dry, the flowers or fruit set start to wither and the crop is at risk.
Why do cucumber leaves turn yellow?
Lack of light
It’s possible that the leaves yellow due to a lack of sunlight. In that case, you only need to cut off the yellowed leaves.
Pests
The most common cause of leaf yellowing are mites and aphids that suck the sap from the plant, causing the leaves to dry out and yellow.
Excess / lack of moisture
Ideally, cucumbers should be watered two to three times a week. However, if the summer is hot, they need to be watered every day. If cucumbers lack moisture or the soil is too wet, yellowing of the leaves will occur.
Fungal disease
Another reason for leaf yellowing can be a fungal disease. The first symptoms are brownish spots and as soon as they appear, immediate action is required. Prepare one of the homemade sprays and save the crop while there is time.
Damaged roots
This most often occurs through careless handling, for example when weeding around the cucumbers. To prevent mechanical damage to the roots when the plants are small, do not pull weeds out, only trim them close to the root.
First aid for yellowing leaves
It is recommended to use effective homemade sprays and watering mixes that you can easily prepare.
1. Milk and soap
Dilute one liter of milk in 10 liters of water. Add 30 drops of iodine and 20 g of ordinary laundry soap. Treat the leaves with the solution every 10 days.
2. Onion
Place 700 g of onions in 10 liters of water and bring to a boil. Let stand for 14 hours. Then dilute 1 liter of the solution with 4 liters of water and thoroughly water each plant.
3. Bread and iodine
Soak a loaf of stale bread in 10 liters of water, add a teaspoon of iodine and let stand overnight. Then strain and dilute 1 liter of such concentrate in 10 liters of water. Use this watering on the cucumber every 14 days.
4. Kefir
At the first signs of leaf yellowing, dilute 2 liters of kefir in 10 liters of water. Spray the plant with this solution. To speed up the process you can also add 1 cup of sugar.
The best thing about homemade recipes is that they can also be used for prevention. Unlike aggressive chemical sprays, they will not have a negative impact on crop quality. Follow every tip and enjoy a fresh, healthy cucumber crop.
