Cucumber leaves are wrapped what to do. Cucumber leaves curl - what to do? The appearance of root rot

The main causes of leaf deformation are mineral deficiencies, care errors, and common diseases. Foliage curling rarely appears on its own, usually a symptom of an infection or a sign that something is wrong with the growing conditions. Timely elimination of the problem helps to save crops and get a good harvest.

Why do cucumber leaves curl

Leaf blades wrinkle and shrink for a variety of reasons. Mainly influenced by climate, diseases, nutrition and the presence of pests. Curling leaves in cucumbers signals problems with care, such as too much or insufficient watering. Most often, the reason becomes:

  • violation of temperature and humidity levels;
  • lack of mineral complementary foods;
  • the spread of weeds, the general weakness of the soil;
  • errors in the care of crops;
  • sloppy transplanting of seedlings into the ground, injured roots;
  • too close arrangement of plants in the garden;
  • pests and diseases;
  • ammonia burn.

Each reason has its own solution, so it is important to determine what exactly causes the deformation of the plants. Such a problem occurs at any stage of growth: leaves curl at seedlings on the windowsill, greenhouse crops, cucumbers in the ground. Leaves shrink from sudden temperature changes, direct sunlight. Of course, the human factor strongly influences: an ammonia burn is formed due to improper fertilization with manure, and the drying out of the soil is a consequence of inattention to the beds.

Inspect the plants regularly for pests and: often curling is a symptom of infection or shows nutrient drainage.

Weather

Temperature changes are dangerous for cucumbers. Therefore, they are most often grown in greenhouses or prepared in a warm place until the soil warms up. Cucumbers need high humidity, up to 80%, as well as a comfortable warm climate. Outdoors, seedlings are threatened by sudden downpours, wind, and the sun, which can burn green plants. This burn is a common cause of curled leaves. Long-term exposure to direct sunlight often causes wrinkling and drying. You can save cucumbers with a protective flooring. Try to arrange crops so that they receive enough light without suffering.

Cold for cucumbers is no less dangerous. From hypothermia, the leaves can also curl, and low temperatures destroy the immune system, causing disease and opening the way for fungal infections. In the open field, cucumbers can be protected by mulching the soil. Try not to plant them too early. For cucumbers in a greenhouse, these problems are less common, but in a greenhouse it is also important to control the climate. Ventilate the room in time, monitor the temperature.

If the leaves begin to curl around the cucumbers on the windowsill, remove the seedlings from the glass. It quickly heats up and cools down, burning plants or causing hypothermia.

Pests


Often, cucumber leaves curl and dry due to pests. A common problem: the melon aphid, which is also a carrier of infections. A spider mite can harm: colonies of these insects are located on the back of the leaf. Pests make it difficult for plants to feed by drawing nutrients from the leaves, causing them to curl and dry out. Therefore, anti-insect treatment is a must in your plant care program.

Pests reduce the resistance of plants to diseases, spoil the harvest. The leaves curl up, the edges turn yellow. Chemistry can be used only during growth and flowering, after which it is better to limit yourself to folk remedies, safe biological products. For example, onion peel solution works against aphids. It is diluted with hot water in a 1: 1 ratio, infused for a day, then filtered. The solution is poured into a spray bottle and sprayed on the plants. The finished analogue is ammonia. A mixture of ash and soap shavings diluted in water also helps. Soap is needed to fix the composition on the leaves.

Garlic infusion will help against ticks. A pound of garlic is poured with 3 liters of water and left for a week. The resulting concentrate is used for foliar processing.

Diseases and viruses


Leaves shriveled as a result of disease. Most often, plants are affected by powdery mildew, root rot, mosaic virus. Each disease has its own additional symptoms: yellowing, pale spots, characteristic color. But in almost all cases, there are twisted wrinkled leaves. For the prevention of diseases, you need to observe the humidity, the temperature in the room, if you grow cucumbers in a greenhouse, clean the soil of weeds in time. Weeds often store pests and viruses in a dormant state.

Clean the soil regularly after the season to get rid of plant debris. Additionally, it is worth disinfecting it and sprinkling it with fertilizers - for example, wood ash.

Leaves can curl when the plant is infected with powdery mildew. This disease often appears in the garden beds in the middle of summer. The leaves lose their color, are covered with a characteristic white bloom. The cause of the disease is temperature fluctuations, a decrease in plant resistance. Sometimes an infection is spread from leaves of one plant to another if they are too densely planted.


Powdery mildew can be treated with a solution of copper oxychloride: For this, 20 grams of the active ingredient are diluted in 5 liters of water. For each square meter, you will need about 100 ml of spray solution. Folk remedies are effective when the first fruits have already appeared. They act more gently, without harming plants and without saturating cucumbers with toxic substances. An infusion of mullein, a solution of soda or ash and soap is suitable.

Another reason why cucumber leaves curl inward is root rot. With this disease, the root system is weakened, at the lower levels. The culprits of rot are cold and dampness. It occurs when excessive watering with cold water, prolonged downpours in unprotected soil. As soon as you notice the first symptoms, treat the plant in stages with Previkur and Fitolavin. Then decontaminate the soil, dig up the soil and restore the nutritional balance.

During fruiting, it is better to use biofungicides: Trichodermin, Gamair, Glyocladin. They act more delicately on plants and do not harm the fruit. In addition, the normalization of the climate and humidity, especially in the greenhouse, helps. Ventilate the room so that the air does not stagnate. In the open field, watch the weather in order to cover crops with a protective film in time.

If the cucumbers are infected with a virus, then it is useless to treat them. It would be best to remove the affected bushes from the garden so that the virus does not spread to the rest, healthy cucumbers. Damaged vegetation must be burned in a separate place. The mosaic can be recognized by the characteristic yellow spots that appear in the form of an ornament on the leaves. They also dry out and curl, but these symptoms are secondary.

Remember that viruses can sleep for a long time. In weeds or soil, the mosaic can persist for three years.

Care errors

The most common reason why seedlings or cucumbers in the garden curl leaves are improper care. Too much watering, a deficiency of fertilizers or improper application of them can harm the plants and the future harvest.

Excess or lack of moisture


The first thing to remember is watering. Cucumbers need moisture regularly. In greenhouse conditions, an optimal climate is maintained by spraying. It is better to do this in the morning, so that the moisture has time to evaporate and does not cool the plants. Measure the humidity level: it should not exceed 85% and fall below 65%.

In the open field, you need to water the plants on schedule. In an optimal climate, one watering is enough every 3-4 days at the stage of germination and leaf formation. After the formation of ovaries, watering is increased, then the frequency is slightly reduced during the appearance of buds and resumed when the first cucumbers appear. During dry periods and heat, you can water the cucumbers every day, the main thing is to control the moisture level and not flood the crops. Loosen the soil before moisturizing. This will improve aeration and increase moisture absorption. The soil must be saturated to a depth of at least 10 centimeters.

Dryness and lack of moisture is a harmless cause of leaf curling, which can be solved by setting a regular watering schedule.

Excess water is also not helpful. High humidity and stagnation of water in the soil provoke the development of fungi, reduce the resistance of plants to diseases. In this state, it is more difficult for cucumbers to adapt to temperature extremes and resist infections. If you have watered the plants too much or have suffered from prolonged rains, stop watering until the soil dries out. When the soil and plants are back to normal, return to the usual regime.

Mineral deficiency


The shriveled leaves of cucumber seedlings often show a deficiency of nutrients. Most often, the plant loses color, becomes more stunted, grows more slowly. Before fruiting, cucumbers need to get enough nitrogen. He is responsible for the development of the green part, the strength of the whips, and disease resistance. Deficiency of this mineral can manifest itself at different stages: leaves curl even in cucumber seedlings before planting in the ground.

Lack of nitrogen is manifested by twisting inward or upward: the central vein is stretched, and the rest of the leaf does not keep up with it. Often the problem is accompanied by the appearance of light areas and spots on the leaves. You can eliminate nitrogen starvation with the help of ammonium nitrate, urea, or any nitrogen-based fertilizer: manure or peat is suitable.

Sometimes the plant is deficient in potassium, which can be seen by rolling down the leaves. This element is responsible for metabolism and water balance, saturating cucumbers with moisture and retaining it in cells. The deficiency leads to wilting of the bush, deformation of leaves and fruits. It is replenished with potassium salt fertilizer. Alternative - wood ash solution:

  1. 0.5 kg of ash is poured with 3 liters of water.
  2. Leave to infuse for 10-12 hours.
  3. Dilute with clean water in a 1: 5 ratio.
  4. Pour the resulting solution under the root or spray from a spray bottle.

Ammonia burn


Fertilizers are good for plants, but even with them, you can make a mistake. Excess manure in the beds leads to an ammonia burn. The same unpleasant effect can be obtained if you use fresh fertilizer instead of rotted fertilizer. The burnt leaves curl inward and outward, depending on a combination of factors. Follow the dosage and apply the fertilizer correctly to prevent the problem. If you have already burned the plants, remove the entire topsoil and replace it completely.

When changing soil, be careful not to damage the roots of the cucumbers.

Incorrect planting in the ground

Two common mistakes that are made when planting cucumbers are too tight placement and sloppy picking. Plants need space so they can feed and not harm each other. The optimal amount is 3-4 bushes per square meter of the garden. When planted too close, the leaves curl, turn yellow, diseases are transmitted more easily, and virus infection spreads faster. Remove excess plants or transplant them to a new location to make space for crops.


The root system is the weak point of cucumbers, especially young ones. A pick can seriously harm them, transplanting to another place may well cause the bush to dry out and twist the leaves. When transporting, watch the roots, use stimulating substances that will strengthen the root system. Plant the seedlings in separate containers or peat pots to avoid root damage when replanting.

When and how to feed cucumbers

For active growth, cucumbers need nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus in sufficient quantities. Usually these substances are obtained from the soil, but on poor soils or with a large number of plantings, additional complementary foods may be required. In the early stages, nitrogen is especially important, it helps the stems and leaves to develop, when fruit sets, phosphorus improves the taste of the fruit, and potassium is useful at any stage, since it retains moisture important for cucumbers in the cells.


The first feeding takes place even before planting the seedlings: the seeds are soaked in a solution that stimulates growth. It allows the sprouts to hatch faster. The second complementary food is carried out when the third leaf appears, and fertilization is continued every 1-2 weeks during the entire growth and fruiting phase. Chemicals and folk remedies are suitable for feeding. The first is better to use at the very beginning, the second - after the formation of buds, so as not to harm the plants. Superphosphate, nitrophosphate, mullein infusion, potassium sulfate, wood ash, ammonia, bread solution are often used. Fertilizers can be applied from a watering can, under the root, or by spraying from a spray bottle.

Preventive measures


The best way to deal with a problem is to prevent it from occurring. Many causes of leaf curling can be avoided by properly preparing the soil and caring for the plants.

  1. Observe the crop rotation: cucumbers cannot be grown in the same garden for years.
  2. Before planting seedlings, disinfect the seeds and soak them in a stimulating solution to strengthen them.
  3. Maintain a comfortable temperature for cucumbers in the greenhouse and a humidity of 70-80%.
  4. Repot the seedlings carefully, taking care not to damage the roots. Plant the seeds in separate containers.
  5. Dig up the soil after the season to get rid of excess debris and crop residues.
  6. Fertilize plants at the first sign of a mineral deficiency.
  7. Incorporate pest control into your mandatory plant care program.
  8. Loosen and moisten the soil regularly, but do not overfill the plants.
  9. Water the cucumbers with water at room temperature.

A timely response will prevent most problems and protect crops from the destructive effects of diseases and pests. If you notice that the leaves are curling, assess the soil moisture and temperature outside or in the greenhouse, and check the bushes for other signs of pests, diseases, or mineral deficiencies. Water the plants in time with warm water, apply fertilizers - and then the cucumbers will grow healthy and give a good harvest.

Cucumbers are one of the most common vegetable crops that can be found at their summer cottage. In the process of growing them, summer residents may encounter some problems, in particular, with curling of leaves. This phenomenon may indicate vitamin deficiency, viral disease, pest infestation. Let's take a closer look at these reasons.

Why do cucumber leaves curl? Illustration for the article is used under a standard license © ofazende.ru

Leaf curling is often the result of inadequate crop management. If you do not water it on time, they will begin to dry and curl into tubes. It is easy to solve the problem: it is necessary to restore the water balance in the soil. Timely watering of cucumbers in the greenhouse is the key to the correct development of the plant. Moisten the soil to a depth of at least 10 cm.

Another factor that can affect leaf curl is excessive dryness in the air. You can solve the problem by spraying the bushes and the inside of the greenhouse. It is advisable to carry out the procedure in the first half of the day, so that by the evening the drops of water will dry out. The optimal indicator of air humidity in a greenhouse for cucumbers is 80-90%.

Watering cucumbers. Illustration for the article is used under a standard license © ofazende.ru

Nutrient deficiency

Cucumber leaves can begin to deform due to lack of nutrients. If they were found to have lost their brightness and curled inward, it is most likely that the plant is deficient in nitrogen. To activate the growth of the leaf mass, the culture must be fed with urea, ammonium nitrate or any other fertilizer based on nitrogen.

The upward curling of the leaves indicates that the soil needs to be fed with potassium. In this case, a solution of potassium salt must be added to the soil (3 tablespoons per 10 liters of water).

Burn or hypothermia

Cucumbers do not tolerate sudden changes in temperature. A cold snap causes their leaves to shrivel and begin to turn yellow. The same consequences can occur in the heat.

Read also:

Growing strong cucumber seedlings

If the cultivation of cucumbers is carried out on a balcony, windowsill or glass greenhouse, the seedlings should be planted in such a way that the leaves do not stick to the glass. The thing is that it quickly heats up and cools down, and this can harm a young plant.

Illustration for the article is used under a standard license © ofazende.ru

Invasion of pests

One of the most common causes of leaf deformation is the invasion of pests. Finding them is easy: you just need to inspect the underside of the leaves. If aphids or spider mites have eaten them, they can be seen with the naked eye.

If pests have been identified, it is necessary to immediately begin to combat them, since they slow down the process of plant development and can be carriers of viral diseases.

For the extermination of aphids, treatment with insecticides ("Aktara", "Arrivo", "Barguzin", "Decis", "Inta-Vir", etc.) will be required. Acarcides can destroy the tick (Aktellik, Aktofit, Fitoverm).

Most pest control drugs pose a risk to human health, so they must be used before ovaries form. Otherwise, the fruits will absorb the chemicals.

Folk remedies are distinguished by a milder effect. Garlic infusion will help to cope with cucumber pests. To prepare it, you need to chop 500 g of garlic, pour 3 liters of water and put in a dark place for 5 days.

Pests on cucumbers. Illustration for the article is used under a standard license © ofazende.ru

Powdery mildew damage

Preventing powdery mildew on vegetables is not easy. This disease makes itself felt in the middle of summer. If it is not recognized in time, the leaves will begin to deform and curl.

Leaves can be deformed as due to a deficiency of substances, which can be easily corrected by feeding. But sometimes a disease or a virus becomes the cause: in this case, it is often too late to save the plant, and you need to remove it so as not to harm the rest of the crops. We analyze the main reasons why cucumbers have leaves curling inward and how to deal with it.

Even care according to all the rules does not guarantee that the crops will grow flawless. Often external factors, infections and pests interfere with the growth of cucumbers. But the human factor should not be disregarded. Improper watering, lack of complementary foods or lack of sunlight also lead to problems. Leaves curl at seedlings on the windowsill, greenhouse crops and cucumbers in the ground. All reasons can be divided into four categories:

  • weather;
  • pests;
  • infections and viruses;
  • care errors.

It is important to correctly determine the cause in order to eliminate it in time and not harm the landings. Assess the condition of the plants as a whole: folding can indicate serious problems if combined with discoloration, the appearance of spots and other symptoms.

Improper watering


Cucumbers are moisture-loving plants. For good growth, they need to get enough water, and the humidity in the room, if you grow vegetables in a greenhouse, should be at the level of 70-80%. In hot dry weather, it is worth watering cucumbers regularly, you can even water them every day. Dryness and lack of moisture is the most common but harmless cause of leaf curling. The solution to the problem is simple: you need to water regularly and monitor the humidity of the air and soil.

Don't limit yourself to surface watering. The soil should be moist at a depth of at least 10 centimeters.

Under normal conditions, watering cucumbers is worth no more than once every 4 days. The water should be at room temperature, the approximate consumption is 4-5 liters per square of plantings. After the formation of the ovaries, watering becomes more frequent, now the soil needs to be moistened 3-4 times a week and twice as much water should be spent. The same goes for the harvest season. Be sure to loosen the soil before watering so the water will have more access to the roots. Curling of leaves in cucumbers in a greenhouse often appears due to a lack of moisture not in the soil, but in the air. In order to increase the level to the norm, spray the plants and the walls of the room with clean water from a spray bottle. It is better to do this in the morning, so the moisture will have time to evaporate during the day.

At the same time, pouring plants is also harmful: an abundance of water causes the development of fungal infections and reduces immunity. Moisture stagnation also causes leaves to curl and lose their shape. If you haven't noticed other signs of infection or pests, then over-watering is most likely the cause. Stop wetting the plants until the soil is dry, and then go back to normal. The abundance of moisture leads to waterlogging of the soil, crust formation and salinity.

Mineral deficiency

Another reason why the leaves of seedlings or cucumbers curl inward or outward is the lack of necessary elements in the soil. In this case, curling is often accompanied by a blanching of the leaf. The loss of color is caused by nitrogen deficiency, which is especially important in the early stages of growth. Nitrogen starvation is accompanied by elongation of the central vein and a lag in the development of the main part of the leaf plate. To cope with the problem will help ammonium nitrate, urea or nitrogen-based fertilizers. Sometimes the edges of the leaves turn yellow or light spots appear.

Twisting also causes potassium deficiency. In this case, the leaves curl downward. You can replenish it with potash salt or wood ash. The ash is diluted in a ratio of 1 to 6, insisted for 10 hours and diluted with clean water to a weak consistency. The ash solution is poured into the root of the plant or, if the cucumbers have already appeared, sprayed from the spray bottle.

Temperature changes

A warm, humid environment is comfortable for cucumbers; abrupt climate changes harm crops. Too cold weather forces the leaves to curl, and sunburn causes discoloration and shriveling. Protect crops from direct sunlight with an awning or film canopy. Sunburn often causes leaves to wrinkle. Control the temperature outside, in case of a sharp cold snap, cover the beds with decking or mulch the soil. When growing seedlings at home, for example on a windowsill, try not to let the leaves come into contact with the glass. It quickly changes temperature: it instantly cools at night and heats up from the sun.

Pests


Plants shrink due to insects that actively occupy fresh plantings. This problem can be seen with the naked eye: most pests concentrate on the back of the leaf and some cause active deformation and color changes. Cucumbers are often attacked or melon aphids. Ticks can be recognized by their characteristic cobweb-like bloom.

It is necessary to get rid of pests as quickly as possible: they deprive cucumbers of nutrients, carry viruses, reduce immunity, and spoil the fruits. Insecticides help against aphids. You can use drugs such as Aktara or Inta-Vir. Acaricide Aktofit helps against ticks.

Chemistry is effective, but it should be used with caution so as not to harm the crop. The accumulation of toxins will negatively affect the taste and health of the cucumber.

Safe pest control methods are folk remedies. They can be used at any stage of growth without fear of a toxic crop. A solution of ash with the addition of soap or garlic infusion is good against pests. It is prepared from a kilogram of garlic, filled with 6 liters of water. The mixture is infused for 5-6 days, and then the crops are sprayed. You can also use ammonia: its smell repels pests, so the product is suitable for preventive measures.

Diseases and viruses


In high humidity, plants are often affected by fungal infections that can cause leaf deformation and curling. To prevent the development of diseases, take care of the crops, do not overfill them with water, maintain the temperature regime and pull out weeds in time - they, like aphids, often become carriers of infection. Common diseases of cucumbers:

  • powdery mildew;
  • root rot;
  • mosaic virus.

Powdery mildew appears in July. If you notice that the leaves turn yellow, shriveled and wrinkles appear, then the reason may lie in a lack of nitrogen, as well as powdery mildew. This disease affects plants during sudden changes in temperature and weakening of the immune system. Also, the reason can be too dense planting, the disease can migrate from bush to bush. The following recipe helps against powdery mildew. Take 40 grams of copper oxychloride, dilute in a bucket of water. Spray plantings at the rate of 100 ml per square of plantings. An alternative is a 20% solution of colloidal sulfur, with which leaves are wiped from all sides. Traditional methods also help:

  1. Infusion of mullein in a ratio of 1 to 3 is infused for 3 days, and then diluted twice with clean water and sprayed on crops.
  2. A liter of sour milk is diluted with a liter of water, filtered and used with a spray bottle once a week.
  3. 100 grams of baking soda is combined with 100 grams of soap shavings, diluted in a bucket of warm water and sprayed on the plants once a week.

Leaves shrink, wrinkle, and curl up the outside when the root system declines. This is often due to root rot. It causes the appearance of yellowness on the green part of the plant, especially underneath. Cold water for irrigation is often the reason: it destroys the immune system and interferes with the absorption of moisture and minerals. The following scheme will help to cope with the disease:

  1. When the first symptoms are detected, water the plants with a solution of Previkur.
  2. After 5 days, pour 20 ml of Fitolavin diluted in a bucket of water over the cucumbers.
  3. Disinfect the soil against fungi.
  4. Restore the content of nutrients in the soil with the help of fertilizers.

Plants can be treated with Trichodermin or other biofungicides. Cucumbers in the greenhouse can be treated with the fungicide Gamair. Two tablets of the substance are dissolved in a bucket of water and the decayed part of the plant is treated. The microbiological fungicide Glyocladin also works well, which helps with an overdose of organic beds. You can avoid the appearance of root rot if you disinfect the soil with a manganese solution before planting cucumbers in the ground. Compliance with the regime and conditions of irrigation helps, and in the greenhouse - regular ventilation.

The most unpleasant option is the infection of the cucumbers with a virus. Most often, ordinary mosaic is found, which can be recognized by the characteristic ornament that forms on the sheet. Bushes affected by the virus need to be burned to protect other plants. The virus is insidious and can hibernate in soil, weeds, or plant debris. Renew the soil regularly, dig it up and remove the remnants of past crops before planting the next.

There is no point in treating viruses, the most correct way out is to destroy the damaged plant and its traces.

Ammonia burn


You can get a burn not only from the sun. Sometimes it happens that the leaves on the cucumbers dry and curl due to improper fertilization. Excess saltpeter or not rotted manure can lead to chemical burns. To avoid this problem, do not use fresh manure and follow the dosage. Since such dressings are usually applied directly to the soil, a change of soil will help against trouble. Peel off the top layer as much as possible and replace it with a new one.

Picking

Cucumbers do not have a very strong root system, which can negatively react to transplantation. During the movement, the plant may suffer or even wither away. If the roots were damaged during transportation, then the leaves may begin to curl, and the stem of the plant will sag. It is important to protect cucumbers from such risks from the very beginning. To do this, the seedlings are planted in separate containers, for example, peat pots, and transplanted carefully. During the pick, you can additionally use stimulating substances by dipping the rhizomes in them before planting in the ground.

Violation of the landing pattern

Cucumbers should not be planted tightly. The optimal amount outdoors - 4 bushes per square, in a greenhouse - 3. If the plants are too dense, the roots grow and experience a deficiency of elements, taking them away from each other. As a result, cucumber leaves curl up, dry, turn yellow. You can cope by thinning the beds. It is better to prevent such problems by choosing a planting scheme in advance and distributing the seedlings evenly.

Top dressing for cucumbers


Shriveled leaves are often the result of improper feeding. Growth stimulants and fertilizers also need to be applied on time, otherwise it will harm the plants. Cucumbers need different nutrients during the growing season. Nitrogen helps the stems and greens grow, potassium and calcium are responsible for metabolism and water retention in cells, and phosphorus is good for fruits.

Before planting on seedlings, cucumbers are soaked in a growth stimulator, having previously been disinfected. For the first time, the sprouts are fed after the appearance of the second pair of leaves: nitrophoska, infusion of mullein and potassium sulfate, as well as other nitrogen-based fertilizers are suitable. Further crops are needed every 7-14 days, depending on the condition. If you notice that the leaves are curled, dry and wrinkled, add food. At the first stages, you can safely use chemistry, and closer to fruiting, it is better to switch to folk methods. Watering is also well suited for the initial period, and spraying for the final period.

Prevention


Most leaf curling problems can be avoided. To do this, you must strictly follow the recommendations for a particular variety, maintain optimal humidity and temperature. Cucumbers love moisture, but its excess also harms them, so watering also needs to be regulated. Basic tips to avoid curled leaves:

  • maintain an optimal climate in the greenhouse;
  • observe the crop rotation, in one place you cannot plant one crop for too long;
  • regularly disinfect and disinfect the soil before sowing;
  • grow seedlings in separate containers and transplant carefully;
  • make up for the deficiency of minerals on time;
  • loosen and moisten the soil, do not let it dry out;
  • process seeds before planting;
  • remove the remnants of previous crops from the soil;
  • Inspect the plants regularly for irregularities.

It is important to react in time if the leaves curl up or down, wrinkle and dry out. This happens not only in open areas, but also in a greenhouse, and with cucumbers in seedlings on the windowsill. In most cases, the problem can be eliminated in the early stages and not harm the crop. Prevention plays an important role. Proper care, timely, but not too abundant watering, soil preparation, protection from direct sunlight and fertilizing will help to grow beautiful and tasty cucumbers.

Domestic cultivated plants require precision in the level of watering, lighting, humidity. Deviation from the norm of any factor leads to fruit setting. The reasons for leaf curling are:

Methods to prevent foliage from collapsing cucumbers

Treatment methods directly depend on the cause of the collapse. If the seedlings, thus, react to insufficient watering, then the soil should be loosened and the soil should be well saturated with warm water. In addition, biostimulants will help bring the culture back to its previous state, such as:

If the leaves of the cucumber curl inward due to lack of nutrients, then the appropriate dressing should be applied. The best option would be to use the complex remedy Diammophos, Agricola, Master. To get rid of pests (ticks, aphids), a popular method is widely used - spilling the beds with a solution of laundry soap. 200 g of soap shavings are applied to a bucket of water. Special insecticides include Metaphos, Dephis, Kinmiks, Fitoverm.

Observing all the rules and regulations for caring for a vegetable crop, you can grow a high-quality crop. Disease prevention will prevent the death of cucumbers and contamination of other crops in the garden. Mindfulness and care are the main principles in gardening.

Curling leaves of cucumber plants can indicate serious problems - from vitamin deficiency to a virus. We know how to identify the problem and solve it.

Many summer residents prepare seeds for sowing and care for seedlings, it would seem, according to all the rules.

But as a result, they wonder why the leaves of the cucumbers curl after the pick, on the windowsill or in the greenhouse. The point can be both in cultivation errors and in the invasion of pests. And yellowing of the leaves, in addition to their deformation, may indicate more severe "misfortunes".

Let's take a look at six of the most likely causes and how to fix them.

1. Insufficient watering

Most often, cucumber leaves curl due to an oversight: they did not have time to water it in time, dry weather. The result is that the leaves of the plant dry up and curl into tubes.

To fix the problem is simple: you need to restore the water balance in the soil. Competent watering of cucumbers in the greenhouse - when the soil is moistened to a depth of at least 10 cm.

It should also be borne in mind that for cucumbers, especially when grown in greenhouses, dry air is destructive. Do not forget to regularly spray the bushes and the inside of the greenhouse (this should be done in the first half of the day so that the drops of water have time to dry in the evening). The optimum humidity in the greenhouse for cucumbers is 80-90%.

2. Deficiency of nutrients

Another possible cause of leaf deformation is plant starvation.

If you notice that the leaves of the cucumbers have turned pale and curled inward, it is possible that the problem is a lack of nitrogen. In such plants, the rachis (central vein) is elongated, and the leaf blade "did not ripen" behind it. Feeding with urea, ammonium nitrate or any other nitrogen fertilizers (according to the instructions) will help to stimulate the growth of the leaf mass.

If the leaves of the cucumber curl upward, this is most likely a signal of potassium deficiency in the soil. Such plants need to be fed with a solution of potassium salt (3 tablespoons per 10 liters of water).

3. Burn or hypothermia

Cucumbers, like any living organism, react equally badly to both an excessive decrease and an increase in temperature. As a result of a sharp cold snap, the leaves turn yellow and wrinkle. The same thing happens as a result of sunburn.


If you are growing cucumbers on a balcony, windowsill, or glasshouse, plant your seedlings so that the leaves do not come into contact with the glass. It heats up and cools quickly, and the young plant has no way to "dodge".

4. Invasion of pests

Let's say you water your cucumbers regularly, do not allow them to overheat or hypothermia, do not forget about feeding, but the leaves still curl. What can be wrong?

Another common cause of deformation of the leaf plate is the "attack" of insect pests. It's easy to check - just look at the back of the sheet. Aphids or spider mites, malicious enemies of cucumbers, will be visible to the naked eye.


If your fears are confirmed, do not waste time - insects not only inhibit the development of the plant, drawing out all the juices from it, but can also carry viruses.

To get rid of aphids, cucumbers are sprayed with insecticides (Aktara, Arrivo, Barguzin, Decis, Inta-Vir, etc.). The mite is fought with acaricides (Aktellik, Aktofit, Fitoverm).

Many of the pest control drugs are dangerous to humans, so they should be used with caution - until ovaries form, if you do not want to get a dose of insect poison along with a fresh summer salad.

From folk remedies for pest control of cucumber, infusion of garlic is often used. For its preparation, 500 g of cloves are crushed, 3 liters of water are poured and insisted for 5 days.

5. Damage with powdery mildew

In the middle of summer, the appearance of powdery mildew on vegetable crops is not easy to avoid. It is worth missing the moment - and the leaves begin to turn yellow and curl.

The factors that provoke the development of this disease are thickening of plantings, poor ventilation of greenhouses (or balconies where you grow cucumbers), watering with cold water, sharp temperature fluctuations.


It is possible to understand that the leaf is curled precisely because of the defeat of powdery mildew by the characteristic whitish bloom.

The easiest and most effective way to deal with this scourge is to spray the plants with a 1% solution of Bordeaux liquid.

6. Root rot

Often, cucumber leaves curl around the edges and turn pale as a result of root rot. However, the most characteristic symptoms of this disease are wilting, yellowing of the leaves starting from the lower ones. In this case, the stem near the ground becomes brown.

To avoid this problem, disinfect the soil with a pink solution of potassium permanganate before planting, do not water the plants with cold water, and regularly ventilate the greenhouse to prevent overheating of the air. At the first sign of illness, treat cucumbers with Trichodermin.

7. Ammonia burn

A common reason for curling cucumber leaves along the edges of the leaf plate is an ammonia burn. This happens if unripe manure or an excessive amount of ammonium nitrate is applied under the plant.


In this case, it is worth trying to remove the introduced manure from the plant roots and water the cucumbers abundantly several times so that the ammonia is washed out of the soil.

8. Defeat by the virus

If your cucumbers do not show any of the above problems, and the leaves still curl, most likely the reason lies in the defeat of the virus.


Unfortunately, in this case, you will have to quickly dig up and burn the plant in order to prevent the virus from spreading through the garden.