Technology of fertilizing cucumbers with chicken manure and timing of fertilization

When growing cucumbers, many vegetable growers try to use organic fertilizers that don't contain chemical micronutrients. Chicken manure is the most common fertilizer used for cucumbers, as it's considered the most affordable and safest.

The benefits of chicken manure for cucumber plants

People new to vegetable growing often wonder whether it's possible to fertilize their plants with chicken manure. Some plants are incompatible with this fertilizer due to its high urea content. However, for tall shrubs and trees, manure is considered an excellent way to improve growth and increase fruit production.

Chicken manure is as beneficial as cow manure. It's used when growing cucumbers to strengthen the plants' immune system and accelerate their growth. The fertilizer also contains numerous mineral components that promote fruiting in cucumber seedlings.

Microelements contained in chicken manure

To understand how bird droppings affect vegetable crops, you need to familiarize yourself with the main components that make up their composition:

• Nitrogen. Considered the most essential micronutrient for the normal growth of cucumber plants, it promotes the growth of green mass and prolongs fruiting.
• Potassium. It improves the taste of ripe cucumbers. Potassium strengthens the cucumber's immune system and prevents the development of many diseases.
• Phosphorus. This micronutrient is essential for plant growth and increased crop yields.
• Magnesium. Magnesium fertilizers are added to the soil to promote photosynthesis. This component is also used to improve pectin synthesis and mitosis.
• Calcium. Needed to strengthen the stems and leaves of cucumber plants. If cucumbers don't get enough calcium, the plant will wilt.

Advantages and disadvantages of application

Before fertilizing vegetable crops with poultry manure, it's important to understand the pros and cons of using such fertilizers. The main advantages of fertilizers made from poultry manure include:

• Accelerating the development of the above-ground portion of the plant. Regularly fertilizing the soil with these fertilizers will accelerate the growth of green mass in cucumber plants.
• Protection against insects and dangerous diseases. Fertilizers made from bird droppings improve the defenses of vegetables.
• Increased yield. Thanks to the high phosphorus content of the fertilizer, all fertilized seedlings experience a significant increase in yield.

The disadvantages of fertilizing cucumbers with manure become apparent if they are fertilized with it too frequently. Excessive use of this compound slows root development and stem growth.

How to dilute and apply fertilizer

It is recommended to understand in advance how to properly feed cucumbers and prepare the feeding mixture.

Compost

Compost is considered the most effective solution, used by many vegetable growers. The solution is prepared immediately after collecting the chicken manure. To do this, add 2-3 kilograms of excrement to a ten-liter bucket of warm water. The solution is left to steep for 4-5 days, after which it can be used to water the seedlings.

Granules

Many gardeners use granulated manure, which must be diluted with water before use. When mixing granules with liquid, maintain a ratio of 1:20. The mixture should be left to infuse for 40-50 hours. Water cucumbers with this mixture no more than twice per season.

If liquid gets on the surface of a leaf during watering, it should be washed to avoid burning.

Liquid chicken manure: fermentation and soaking

To create a fermented mixture for watering the seedlings, dry manure is added to water. The container with the mixture is then transferred to a dark room for 3-4 weeks to infuse. Once the fermentation process is complete, the liquid is strained and used to water the cucumbers.

Soaking is used when using very fresh feces, which contain a lot of uric acid. The bird droppings are soaked in water for 1-2 days, after which the liquid is drained. The process is repeated 3-4 times.

Timing of manure application

It is necessary to determine in advance when it is best to feed the cucumber with organic fertilizers.

Experienced gardeners recommend adding fertilizer to the soil in the spring or fall. In the fall, fertilizer is applied in early September, before the ground has frozen solid from overnight frosts. In the spring, manure is added to the soil during pre-planting cultivation. Cultivation is done 2-3 weeks before planting vegetables.

Technology of application of ready-made fertilizer

To properly use manure, you need to familiarize yourself with the specifics of using this fertilizer in open ground and in a greenhouse.

In the greenhouse

Some vegetable growers prefer to grow vegetables in polycarbonate greenhouses. In this case, a fertilizer solution made from bird droppings should be applied during transplanting. Add 1-2 liters of the solution to each hole.

The next time you apply fertilizer, water all the plants beforehand. This is done because the fertilizer contains many active ingredients that can burn the roots. Pour 2-3 liters of liquid under each cucumber plant.

Experts recommend using bird fertilizer during the budding stage of the vegetable. The solution is applied between the rows, not at the base of the stem. The next application is done after the new fruit appears on the bushes.

In open ground

If cucumbers are grown outdoors, fertilizing with manure can begin three weeks after planting. You can also add the fertilizer before fall so it has time to decompose and enrich the soil with nutrients over the winter. At least 500-600 grams of the substance is used per square meter of garden space.

How often should cucumbers be fertilized with the substance?

The manure should be used at least three times during the entire period of growing cucumbers:

• First feeding. Chicken manure can be used as fertilizer for the first time 2-3 days after the first true leaves appear on the seedlings. In this case, a solution diluted with water is applied to the roots.
• Second feeding. Fertilize again during the flowering period. In addition to bird droppings, add wood ash with potassium nitrate to the soil.
• Third feeding. The third time, cucumbers are fertilized when the first fruits begin to form.

Precautions when using chicken manure

Before using fresh manure to fertilize vegetables, it's important to familiarize yourself with basic safety precautions. Experienced gardeners recommend wearing rubber gloves, as dried chicken manure contains worms. A respirator should also be worn to prevent inhalation of manure particles.

Protective equipment should be used not only when creating a working solution, but also when spraying or watering cucumbers.

What fertilizers should not be combined with manure?

Some gardeners believe that bird droppings can be combined with any fertilizer, but this is not true. There are several fertilizers that should not be added to open ground along with bird droppings. These include:

• lime;
• saltpeter;
• diammonium phosphate;
• ammophos;
• ammonium sulfate;
• nitrophoska.

If you use manure with the above mentioned fertilizers, the fertilizer will become less effective. The interval between using these substances should be 2-3 weeks.

When and what effect to expect from using fertilizer

Gardeners who have never used chicken manure before are unsure what effect to expect from this fertilizer. Regularly watering cucumbers with chicken manure will help them grow faster and produce more fruit. Chicken manure mixtures also strengthen the roots of cucumber seedlings, making them less susceptible to fungal and infectious diseases.

How long can bird droppings be stored?

Sometimes gardeners are unable to use the collected chicken manure immediately, which is why it has to be stored.

For long-term storage, it's recommended to compost the feed and allow it to ferment. This will preserve all the beneficial components found in bird droppings. When composting, add a little straw and peat to the mixture. Some gardeners mix the compost with superphosphate to enrich it with minerals. This infusion will keep for up to a year.

Alternatives to chicken manure

There are several fertilizers that are often used instead of chicken manure:

• Pigeon manure. An effective fertilizer used to improve the yield of many vegetable crops. The manure can be used to make a fertilizer infusion or compost for watering shrubs.
• Quail manure. Quail excrement is much better quality than other fertilizers because it is worm-free. This fertilizer is also rich in organic components.

Experienced gardeners' reviews of chicken manure fertilizer

Andrey, 40: "I've been growing cucumbers in a greenhouse for ten years. Over that time, I've used various fertilizers, but I find chicken manure to be the best. Compost made from chicken waste increases yields and makes the cucumbers much tastier."

Anna, 45: "I've only recently started growing cucumbers, as I didn't have a garden before. After buying a garden, I decided to grow cucumbers in the garden so I could enjoy fresh vegetables in the summer. At first, I was disappointed because of the poor yield. However, after I started using a mixture of bird droppings, the yield increased several times over."

Conclusion

Cucumber gardeners periodically fertilize their soil. Bird droppings, which contain many nutrients, are often used for this purpose. Before using any fertilizer, it's important to familiarize yourself with its advantages, disadvantages, and specific application requirements.