As the second half of summer rolls around, gardeners start picking cucumbers from their gardens. These veggies grow in abundance, but sadly, not for long. Typically, by the end of August, the fruit is small and tasteless, and it’s discarded. But don’t fret! There’s a way to prolong the harvest of cucumbers and enjoy the bounty at home even in October.
How to Extend the Cucumber Harvest in the Garden
These plants do not like night frosts and cold dew. It is advisable to cover the bushes overnight with braided bandages, agricultural film, or foil. In the second half of August, use warm water, not cold, to water the plantations.
Cucumbers will also grow longer if fertilized. During the fruit ripening phase, the plant needs nitrogen, boron, and phosphorus. Boric acid solution is a good solution for watering cucumbers to keep them growing.
Foliar fertilization of cucumbers prolongs the harvest for a long time. The recipe is as follows: Add 2 tablespoons of potassium humate. Water the cucumbers with this mixture once a week from the end of August.
How to Prolong the Fruiting of Cucumbers in the Greenhouse
Cucumbers are heat-loving plants and do not react well to frost. In greenhouses, they will bear fruit for much longer. However, it is important to ventilate the room only during the day and close the windows at night.
Diseases also reduce the yield of cucumbers. In the greenhouse, we can fight them by fumigating the room with burning tobacco or wormwood leaves. Use this method when the leaves show signs of disease.
Do Not Allow the Plant to Age
Regular harvesting of vegetables is an essential part of preventing plant senescence. Cucumbers, like all living plants, tend to reproduce. As soon as we stop picking cucumbers, the fruit grows to its maximum and the seeds begin to ripen. In this case, the plant stops flowering.
By following these methods, you can enjoy a prolonged cucumber harvest and have fresh cucumbers at home even in October.
