How to cultivate Phytopharm for ticks on cucumbers in a greenhouse? - briefly
Apply Phytopharm as a soil drench at the recommended dosage 2 L per m³, ensuring even distribution before planting cucumber seedlings, and repeat the treatment after the first true leaf appears to suppress tick development. Maintain greenhouse temperature between 22 °C and 26 °C, humidity around 70 %, and provide adequate ventilation to enhance the product’s efficacy.
How to cultivate Phytopharm for ticks on cucumbers in a greenhouse? - in detail
Successful production of Phytopharm‑treated cucumber plants for tick control in a greenhouse requires precise management of environmental parameters, substrate composition, and product application. The following components constitute a complete protocol.
- Select a well‑draining substrate composed of peat, perlite, and vermiculite in a 2:1:1 ratio. Adjust pH to 5.8–6.2 using lime or sulfur as needed.
- Install climate control equipment to maintain temperature between 22 °C and 26 °C during the vegetative phase and 18 °C–22 °C during fruiting. Relative humidity should be kept at 70 % ± 5 % to prevent excessive fungal development while allowing adequate transpiration.
- Provide supplemental lighting delivering 300–350 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ of photosynthetically active radiation for a photoperiod of 16 h. Ensure uniform light distribution to avoid shading that could favor tick colonization.
- Sow cucumber seeds in trays containing the prepared substrate. After germination, transplant seedlings to the production area when the first true leaf appears, spacing plants 30 cm apart in rows 120 cm apart.
- Apply Phytopharm according to the manufacturer's label concentration, typically 0.5 L ha⁻¹ mixed with water. Perform the first spray at the onset of the 4‑leaf stage, ensuring complete leaf coverage. Follow with additional applications at 10‑day intervals for three cycles, adjusting intervals if tick pressure intensifies.
- Incorporate integrated pest‑management measures: monitor tick populations with sticky cards placed at canopy level, remove infested leaves promptly, and introduce predatory mites if thresholds exceed 5 ticks per leaf.
- Record environmental data and spray dates in a logbook to facilitate traceability and compliance with phytosanitary regulations.
- Conduct post‑harvest residue testing to verify that pesticide levels remain below the established maximum residue limits for cucumber.
Adherence to the outlined steps yields a stable environment that maximizes Phytopharm efficacy, reduces tick infestations, and supports high‑quality cucumber production in protected cultivation.