How to get rid of spider mites on cucumbers, the main control measures
Spider mites appear more often on cucumbers in a greenhouse than on open, unprotected beds. Inside greenhouses and greenhouses, the most favorable conditions are created for its development and reproduction. Therefore, it is necessary to protect the vegetable crop from the attack of a dangerous pest that can destroy the crop.
What does a spider mite look like
It is very difficult to spot a spider mite on cucumbers. The size of this insect is about 1 mm. The color can be different: milky whitish, yellowish green, reddish orange. After entering the greenhouse, the tick first approaches the bushes, which have the largest and juiciest greens. Sucking the juices from the cells of the plant, leads to its drying out and death.
Can the signs of a pest be recognized? The pest is most often localized on the inside of the leaf, since it is there that most of the nutrients are located. You can recognize a tick on cucumbers in a greenhouse by the appearance of the plant. Moving along the leaf, they leave gray-white spots, which eventually turn into white stripes. The mite, destroying the cells and blood vessels of the plant, stops its growth. The cucumber leaf turns yellow and curls.
After 2-3 days, the female pest begins to lay eggs, the number reaches up to 400 pieces. And after 7-8 days, the number of insects increases significantly. If a cobweb began to be observed on cucumbers in a greenhouse, then this is a sure sign of the appearance of a whole colony of insects.
Ticks are active when warm and dry. For the winter, the tick buries itself in the foliage, in the remains of the tops after harvesting, hiding in the corners of the greenhouse or manure. It can be carried by gusts of wind. For the human body, this small insect cannot do harm, but it can destroy all cucumber beds. The insect, devouring the insides of the leaves, leads to a decrease in immunity.
Various diseases of cucumbers in the greenhouse develop. Their treatment begins with the complete destruction of pests.
Most often, a tick becomes the cause of the development of gray rot. Large brown spots are found on the leaves, and a gray bloom appears on the fruits. It is possible to treat rot in a greenhouse with chemical preparations (Hom, Oxy), you can use biological products (Sodium humate, Stimpo) or use alternative methods (iodine or soda solution, composition with milk whey).
How to deal with spider mites on cucumbers
Getting rid of it is quite difficult. Sometimes, the methods that helped before, cannot cope again. Therefore, when answering the question of how to save the harvest, it is easier to carry out preventive control methods.
The spider mite reduces the yield or leads to its complete loss. The taste of ripe fruits deteriorates, the shape is deformed. The cucumber beds in which the tick has settled are more likely to get sick, so it is so important to know how to deal with it.
- Before sowing seeds, it is recommended to dig up the ground, since mites can hibernate in the surface layer of the soil.
- It is best to choose varieties of cucumbers that are resistant to diseases and pests.
- During planting of seedlings, it is recommended to alternate the beds of cucumbers with tomato bushes. A tomato bed will protect you from the rapid spread of the pest.
- Weed control is imperative.
- The watering regime should be observed. Moisture prevents insects from breeding.
- It is useful to loosen the soil. The procedure that makes the plant strong is best done after watering. Loosening will allow better supply of oxygen and nutrients to the roots.
- It is necessary to apply fertilizers on time. This will increase resistance to disease and resist pest infestations.
- Fight pest infestation and mulching.
- Be sure to periodically inspect the plants. What to do if a spider mite is found on cucumbers? If a small number of leaves with mites are found, they must be plucked and burned, and the beds must be treated with any prophylactic agent.
- The tick loves asters, so this type of flowers cannot be planted with cucumber beds.
Measures to combat spider mites on cucumbers in a greenhouse are as follows:
- it is recommended to observe high air humidity; for ticks, a humidity of about 80% is considered an unfavorable environment;
- be sure to disinfect the equipment and the entire structure;
- it is recommended to replace the topsoil in the fall, after harvesting;
- fertilization of the soil with phosphorus elements.
Prevention of spider mites is also carried out using folk formulations. The formulations will help not only protect plants from ticks, but also help enrich the soil with nutrients.
To prevent spider mites on cucumbers in a greenhouse, you can use the tops or stepsons of tomatoes. Pour greens, put on fire, bring to a boil and then cook for another 30 minutes. 50 g of crushed laundry soap is added to the finished solution. Before watering or spraying, the resulting solution is diluted with water.
Popular chemicals
Spider mites on cucumbers can be controlled with store-bought chemicals. There are proven and effective chemicals than to treat cucumbers from spider mites.
A proven remedy for spider mites on cucumbers is Aktara. Within 30 minutes, the parasites lose their ability to suck out juices and begin to die. For watering cucumber beds, you will need to dilute 3 g of the drug in 10 liters of water, if it is supposed to spray, then take 8 g.
The Fitoverm drug will help answer the question of how to deal with spider mites on cucumbers. Add 10 ml of the drug to a bucket of water. Protective properties remain for three weeks, provided that there is no heavy rain. The only drawback is that the solution is addictive, so they cannot remove pests several times per season.
Iskra-Bio is considered a safe preparation for spider mites in a greenhouse. It is not addictive and is able to quickly destroy the spider mite. The composition contains potassium components that help the damaged plant recover. After processing with a solution, you can enjoy the cucumber in two days. In 1 liter of water, dilute 1 ml of the drug.
Plant-Pin or Ethisso sticks are used against spider mites. They are placed in the soil next to the cucumbers. During watering, substances that destroy insects begin to get into the ground.Drug protection is provided for 1.5 months.
Karbofos is a highly effective agent for controlling spider mites on cucumbers in a greenhouse. Can be applied many times, but within a weekly interval. It is imperative to spray not only the outer, but also the inner part of the leaves. Take 40 g of the drug and dilute in 10 liters of water.
Insecticide control methods are considered the most reliable, but care must be taken. When diluting drugs and using them, instructions and safety rules must be strictly observed. Vapors of solutions can lead to poisoning of the body. Therefore, when treating the beds with chemical solutions, you need to use personal protective equipment.
The processing of vegetable beds should be carried out in clear, dry weather, without wind or in the evening, but only if there is confidence that it will not rain in the next hour. The last chemical treatment is carried out two weeks before the expected mass harvest. During this period, all poisonous vapors will have time to disappear from the plant.
How can you prepare the composition yourself
How to get rid of spider mites on cucumbers without chemical additives using folk remedies? Independently at home, you can prepare compositions from natural and safe ingredients for cucumber seedlings, following the recommendations of well-known recipes.
The remedies for spider mites on cucumbers based on onion peels help. It is poured with water and left to infuse for the whole day. The resulting solution can be sprayed on the green part of the vegetable crop.
To completely get rid of insect pests, folk remedies are used with the inclusion of an alcohol solution. For ticks, ammonia is often used. In a bucket of water, dilute with 30 ml of ammonia. The resulting solution can be used to wipe the leaves of the plant and process the greenhouse structure. You can spray the leaves on both sides. Ammonia is harmless to the plant and is perceived as nitrogen fertilizer.
How to deal with cobwebs on cucumbers in a greenhouse
Dandelion or calendula will help. Calendula flowers in the amount of 400 g are poured with two liters of water and left to infuse for five days. Before use, the infusion is diluted with water. Dandelion leaves need to be poured with 10 liters of water and it is enough to insist for two hours.
Cucumbers in a greenhouse can be processed with yarrow infusion. You need to collect the yarrow and dry it. For 2 liters of boiling water, you need to take 1 kg of dry grass. It should be insisted for two hours. After that, you need to dilute the resulting infusion with 10 liters of water and leave for another two days.
Garlic is able to remove spider mites for a long time. Garlic cloves (100 g) must be chopped and covered with boiling water (10 l) for 30 minutes. After insisting, you can use the composition as directed.
How you can fight a tick on cucumbers in a greenhouse will help a simple recipe for a pest based on healing aloe leaves. The fleshy leaves are crushed using a meat grinder, the resulting mass is diluted with water. In order for the solution to stay on the leaves longer, it is useful to add soap. You can use it once a week. Helps not only heal the plant, but also protect against insect attacks.
