How to deal with aphids on cucumbers: effective ways and folk remedies

Aphids are a real scourge for our gardens and vegetable gardens! Already starting in spring in the greenhouse and since July in the open field, summer residents invariably face the problem of combating this extremely voracious and prolific pest. And this must be done in a very short time, literally in a week, since it is in such a minimum time that the melon aphid can finally drive into trouble, destroying a significant part of the crop. It was then that thoughtful and time-tested folk remedies, as well as rather constructive biological and chemical methods of struggle, acquire great importance.

Well, then we will talk in detail about how to get rid of aphids on cucumbers in a greenhouse and open field.

What is aphid and how is it dangerous for plants, including cucumbers

There are many varieties of aphids. For everyone pumpkin crops, including cucumbers, as a rule, settles melon aphid... Also, beets suffer from its invasion, cabbage and legumes (beans, peas). Although a pest such as aphids is small in size (body length no more than 2 mm), it very fertile and reproduces in a matter of days, instantly occupying all garden beds.

Harmthat the melon aphid inflicts on cucumbers is that it pierces leaves and young shoots, thereby sucking out plant sap... Shoots slow down growth, fruit formation drops significantly, plants wither and die.

Also, aphids are dangerous because they can carry dangerous viral diseases, which can lead to even more extensive damage.

The difficulty in detecting aphids is that they settles on the underside of leaves, which is why it is not very easy to spot.

Most often, the first sign of aphids on cucumbers is curling the edges of the leaves to the bottom, and curvature and deformation of the tops of the shoots. Accordingly, the growth of the whole plant slows down and gradually stops, the internodes become shortened, and fruit formation decreases significantly. If you do not take measures to combat aphids, the plant will wither and eventually die.

How to deal with aphids on cucumber leaves: various methods and prevention

There are a sufficient number of various chemicals and biological agents, as well as folk methods of fighting aphids on cucumbers.

Note: aphids can attack cucumbers both outdoors and in a greenhouse.

Important! When you start fighting aphids on cucumbers, it is quite logical at the same time take action against ants, which are located near the beds or directly on them.

The thing is that ants transfer wingless females to plants, and winged females fly by themselves. Moreover, ants love honeydew - the sticky juice that aphids secrete. Therefore, they protect it from predatory insects: in winter they hide it in anthills, and in spring, with the beginning of warming, they transfer it to young seedlings.

As a matter of fact, it directly follows from this that the same chemical agents can be used to control ants as for the destruction of aphids, for example, Inta-vir. Or water and sprinkle the ground next to the anthills with something smelly: garlic, cinnamon.

To prevent the appearance of aphids on cucumbers, you can take some preventive measures:

• thickening of the beds should be avoided;
• weed regularly;
• perform regular plant nutrition.

Advice! As for preventive measures against the appearance of aphids on cucumbers in a greenhouse, one of the most effective ways is spring and autumn processing of the greenhouse.

The main thing is to detect the pest in time and begin to fight it right away, so as not to be left completely without a crop.

Folk ways to combat aphids on cucumbers: 16 remedies against pests

Note! To completely get rid of melon aphids on cucumbers, you need at least 2-3 treatments with an interval of 3-4 days, and each time it is optimal to use various folk remedies so that it (aphid) cannot adapt.

The treatment itself from aphids is optimal in the evening after sunset and necessarily on the underside of the sheet.

And here in the greenhouse - best early morning.

Mustard powder

Mustard powder works well for killing aphids on cucumbers. The solution can be prepared as follows: dissolve 100 grams of the product in 3 liters of boiling water, insist for 5-6 hours (stirring occasionally).When the mustard settles to the bottom, pour the clear yellow liquid of the solution into the sprayer (it should be 10 liters), and add 5 tbsp. spoons of liquid laundry soap, 3 tbsp. tablespoons of sunflower oil and another 7 liters of water.

Soda

An effective way to get rid of aphids is soda. The solution is prepared as follows: dissolve 50 grams of soda in 10 liters of water (this is about 3 tbsp. Spoons), again you need to additionally add 5 tbsp. spoons of liquid laundry soap and 3 tbsp. tablespoons of sunflower oil.

By the way! Spraying with baking soda will also effectively help fight powdery mildew and all kinds of rot.

Ammonia (ammonia solution)

A good result in the fight against aphids on cucumbers is given by the use of 10% ammonia. To prepare the solution, you need to: add 50 ml to a bucket of water (10 liters). 10% ammonia (usually 1/2 pack), add 5 tbsp. spoons of liquid laundry soap and 3 tbsp. tablespoons of sunflower oil.

Video: ammonia against aphids

Interesting! The need to add to spray solutions liquid soap and vegetable oil due to the fact that soap helps to retain the solution on the leaves, and oil is an additional agent in the fight against the pest.

Vinegar

One of the effective folk remedies in the fight against aphids on cucumber leaves is vinegar. To prepare a solution for processing plantings, you need to take 1 tbsp. spoon of acetic acid and dissolve in 1 liter of water, add 1 tbsp. a spoonful of grated laundry soap or other detergent (7-10 drops).

Video: vinegar and soap against aphids on cucumbers

No less popular means against aphids on cucumber leaves are the following solutions, infusions and decoctions, to which soap must be added, but you can do without oil.

Wood ash

Ash infusion recipe: 2 glasses wood ash (200 grams) dissolve in 10 liters of water. Let it brew for half a day. Add 2-3 tbsp. tablespoons of grated soap.

Laundry or tar soap

The solution is prepared as follows: rub a 100-gram bar of soap and dissolve in 10 liters of water.

By the way! It is very popular and effective to spray cucumbers from aphids using strong-smelling plants, such as celandine, onion peel and others.

Garlic

Garlic infusion is quite simple to prepare: you need to take 150 g of chopped garlic cloves, pour 10 liters of boiling water, and then let it brew for a day. Strain before use.

Onion peel

The infusion is prepared similarly to garlic, but this time 150-200 g is taken onion peel, is also poured with a bucket of boiling water and infused for about 4-5 days (on average 2-3 days). Remember to strain before spraying.

Coniferous extract

To prepare this solution, you will need 1 tbsp. spoon of pine extract per 10 liters of water, as well as 2-3 tbsp. spoons of liquid soap.

Tobacco dust

By the way! This remedy for combating aphids can rather be attributed to biological than to folk.

The infusion of tobacco dust is done as follows: 2 glasses of tobacco dust are taken, filled with 10 liters of water, infused for 24 hours. Then the resulting infusion is filtered and 50 grams (2-3 tablespoons) of grated laundry soap is also added to it.

In addition to infusion, you can prepare a decoction of tobacco dust in the same way by boiling it for half an hour.

In general, tobacco dust is a fairly reliable means of combating many other garden pests.

Tomato or potato tops

To prepare the infusion, take a 3-liter jar, fill it halfway with the tops of potatoes or tomatoes and pour boiling water over it. Let it brew for a day. Before use, add 1 tbsp to the infusion. a spoonful of grated laundry soap.

Celandine

Another remedy against aphids is celandine infusion. It is prepared like this: take 3-4 kg of green grass or 1 kg of dry grass, fill it with a bucket of water and infuse for 1-2 days. Then it is filtered and 2-3 tbsp is added. tablespoons of grated laundry soap.

Yarrow

An infusion against aphids from this seemingly weed can be made as follows: take about a kilogram of grass (flowers and leaves), put in a bucket and pour boiling water. Let it brew for 4-5 days. Strain and add 2-3 tablespoons of grated laundry soap.

Chamomile

The infusion against aphids is prepared as follows: take 1 kg of leaves and inflorescences of pharmacy chamomile, pour 10 liters of boiling water and infuse for 1/2 day. Then the solution is diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 3, 40 g of laundry soap is added for every 10 liters of solution. The resulting solution is sprayed with plants affected by aphids in the garden or vegetable garden.

Sorrel

An infusion of horse sorrel can be prepared as follows: take 300 g of plant roots and pour 10 liters of boiling water. Let it brew for a couple of hours. Strain and spray.

Natural enemies

Plant next to cucumbers dill and mustardthat will attract ladybirds - natural enemies of aphids.

Video: folk recipes for fighting aphids

Biological aphids on cucumbers

If aphids simply flooded the cucumber beds, then treatment with special fungicides of biological or chemical origin is already necessary.

Of the biological preparations for controlling aphids on cucumbers, the following are very effective (the active substance, the method of penetration, and also the chemical class of the agent are indicated in parentheses):

• Aktofit (Aversectin C, enteric contact insecticide, class Avermectins + biological pesticides);

• Fitoverm (Aversectin C, enteric contact insecticide, class Avermectins + biological pesticides).
  

• Spark BIO (Avertin N, enteric insecticide, class Avermectins + biological pesticides);
  
• Akarin (Avertin N, enteric contact insecticide, class Avermectins + biological pesticides);
• Bitoxibacillin (Bacillus thuringiensis var. Thuringiensis, intestinal pesticide, bacterial insecticide + biological pesticide class);

Note! The convenience of using biological products against aphids is sufficient short waiting time - only 2-5 days, that is, you can quickly start eating cucumbers again.

Aphid chemicals on cucumbers

As a rule, after applying several treatments against aphids with folk or biological means, pests disappear. But if suddenly the cucumbers are still contagious, and you do not want to be left completely without a crop, you will have to use chemical insecticides.

The most justified chemical agents in the fight against aphids on cucumber leaves have shown themselves (the active substance, the method of penetration, and also the chemical class of the agent are indicated in parentheses):

• Aktara (Thiamethoxam (Aktara), a systemic intestinal insecticide, neonicotinoid class);
• Biotlin (Imidacloprid, systemic insecticide of intestinal action, class of neonicotinoids);
  
• Tanrek (Imidacloprid, systemic insecticide of intestinal action, class of neonicotinoids);

• Spark gold (Imidacloprid, systemic insecticide of intestinal action, class of neonicotinoids);

• Spark - Double effect (Permethrin and Cypermethrin, an intestinal-contact insecticide, pyrethroid class);

• Inta-vir (Cypermethrin, insecticide of intestinal action, pyrethroid class).

• Cyperus (Cypermethrin, insecticide of intestinal action, pyrethroid class);

• Fufanon (Malathion (Karbofos), an enteric-contact insecticide, organophosphorus compounds (FOS) class;
• Karbofos (Malathion (Karbofos), an intestinal-contact insecticide, organophosphorus compounds (FOS) class;

It is believed that the disadvantage of using chemicals is the fact that the waiting period is noticeably longer (chemicals are removed longer), and after processing them for 2-4 weeks, the fruits are absolutely unsuitable for food, they can only be plucked and thrown away.

Note!However, the waiting period for the above drugs 3 days, except Karbofos and agents of the chemical class organophosphorus compounds (FOS), they have - 20 days.

Try various means and preparations, and you will definitely find for yourself the best ways to rid the cucumber beds and greenhouses from the formidable enemy called the melon aphid. And then you will certainly have a rich harvest!

Video: the best means and ways to combat aphids on cucumbers