La spring-summer season It is perfect for those vegetables or plant species that need hours of sunshine and temperatures typical of these months of the year for their cultivation. Among the most cultivated vegetables and greens during these months, we would highlight:

    • Tomato
    • Pepper
    • Eggplant
    • Zucchini
    • Cucumber
    • Melon
    • Watermelon
    • etc.

El rational management of climatic factors jointly It is essential for the proper functioning of these crops, since they are all closely related and action on one of them affects the rest.

There is a great variability in terms of thermal needs among spring-summer crops. These are crops very demanding in daylight hoursLow light levels can negatively influence flowering and fertilization processes, as can relative humidities (HR) less than 60%. HR > 80% carries a higher risk of airborne diseases as well as fertilization and fruiting problems.

Regarding soil needs, there are crops that are more or less demanding than others, but generally, spring-summer vegetables prefer well-drained and deep soils, but above all rich in organic matter. These are crops sensitive to excess humidity and waterlogginglarvae, nymphs, and adults, so root asphyxiation conditions should be avoided.

As we just mentioned, Spring-summer vegetables are very demanding on soils rich in organic matter.At Cultifort we have the perfect complement to cover these needs, MICROVITAL – L. It is a Liquid formulation rich in organic acids, flavonoid molecules, magnesium

and micronutrients. MICROVITAL – L it's a  biological soil activator of plant origin that in addition to improve the physical-chemical parameters, acts as a prebiotic product, stimulating the growth and development of soil microfaunaThese effects are achieved thanks to:

  • organic acids, in forms directly assimilated by the plant (unlike other organic acids)
  • and flavonoid molecules, which as polyphenols that they are, possess antioxidant, helping the plant to remain photosynthetically more active, delaying leaf senescence and exercising a protective action against different types of abiotic stress, such as ultraviolet radiation. They also possess chelation properties of iron and other metals, so the use of MICROVITAL – L contributes to the nutrient mobilization present in the soil. Flavonols are also responsible for the coloration of many leaves, flowers and fruits.

What's more, MICROVITAL – L, Corrects and prevents deficiencies of magnesium, boron, iron, manganese and zinc. Making the plant stay greener, more metabolically active, with better development… in general, healthier and stronger.

To prevent or combat root asphyxia or excess moisture, the Cultifort Technical Department recommends the periodic application of OXIFORT, a fine granule solid formulation that when diluted in water releases oxygen slowly and continuouslyIn this way, we provide oxygen to the soil, also achieving:

  • Improve root development, respiration and metabolic functions of the plant
  • Stopping root asphyxia processes and the later disease development related to it, such as Phytophthora and certain bacterioses, in addition to controlling the algae development
  • Improve soil structure, porosity, and water and air circulation.
  • Promote the development of aerobic flora of the soil, benefiting the transformation of nutrients and their root assimilation.
  • Positively influence nitrification processes, which implies an increase in the performance of nitrogen fertilizers.

Broadly speaking and with some exceptions, the different stages of cultivation go through:

  • Germination:
    • Siembra: if the seed is planted directly in the field
    • Transplant: if sowing is initially done in a seedbed to transplant in the field a few weeks later
  • Vegetative growth
  • Flowering and fruiting
  • Ripening

At each of these stages, Nutritional requirements vary in terms of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium needs. (NPK). During germination, no nutrients are consumed, and the seedling will initially rely on the reserve substances and hormones contained in the seed. The vegetative growth stage requires a greater input of high nitrogen fertilizers., taking care not to exceed the contribution of the same due to the risk or sensitivity to cryptogamic diseases due to excessive vigor, in addition to other problems. In the flowering and fruiting stage, the NPK balance must be balanced towards a higher potassium content, increasing its contribution during the maturation stage. The match, for its part, plays a fundamental role in the rooting and flowering stages, being decisive in the formation of roots and on the size and quality of the flowers.

At Cultifort, we have a specific product line for fruiting, offering several formulations tailored to the specific needs of spring-summer vegetables during the flowering, fruiting, and ripening stages.

For flowering and fruiting stage, we recommend the use of FERTRAZ FRUIT or its version FERTRAZ FRUIT Molybdenum. It is a liquid formulation of phosphorus and potassium or phosphorus, potassium and molybdenum, respectively, easily assimilated, to improve the fruiting processes and initial growth of the fruits.

  FERTRAZ FRUIT 1lERTRAZ FRUIT MOLYBDENUM 1l

In certain spring-summer vegetables, some of the stages of  crops can coincide simultaneously, that is to say, in the same plant you can find fruits in full ripening at the same time as recently set flowers, flower buds and shoots in vegetative growth, so for the fruit ripening phase, Cultifort's recommendation would be the use of FERKOLOR, since its content in Nitrogen, potassium, calcium and boron, chelated with EDTA, making it especially suitable for this type of crops.

In addition to the nutritional needs of NPK, one should not neglect the contribution of other macronutrients such as magnesium and calcium, and micronutrients such as iron, zinc, manganese, boron or molybdenum.

El Calcium It is a fundamental mesonutrient, mainly of a structural nature. It prevents apical necrosis and affects the elasticity of the fruit wall. With its correct supply, It helps the fruit to achieve a larger size and prevents cracking..

Among the most important microelements in nutrition is iron, which plays a fundamental role in the photosynthetic activity of the plant, Together with Magnesium that forms the nucleus of the chlorophyll moleculeIts deficiency causes interveinal chlorosis in young leaves and, consequently, a loss of the plant's photosynthetic capacity. This results in reduced development and difficulty in ripening the fruit properly, in addition to affecting its coloration.

As for the rest of the microelements mentioned:

  • Manganese: It is essential as enzyme activator and intervenes in the photolysis of water during the photosynthesis, as well as in the synthesis of sucrose in the plant. Its deficiency causes chlorosis in young leaves, which quickly deteriorate and become necrotic. In many cases, a deficiency of this element is often associated with a zinc deficiency.
  • Zinc: intervenes in the synthesis of some amino acids although the most relevant function of this element is that of metal activator of numerous enzymes. It is related to the auxin synthesis, hormones responsible for cell multiplication and elongation (longitudinal growth of plant tissues). Its deficiency also causes chlorosis in young leaves, whose tips eventually become necrotic. In this case, the leaves also develop abnormally, and the plant generally stops growing longitudinally, with short internodes and rosette-shaped shoots.
  • Boron: is a multifunctional element. It is involved in the transport of sugars and starches across the membrane and phloem ducts, intervenes in the synthesis of the cell wall and in carbohydrate metabolism, plays an essential role in the formation of amino acids and in protein synthesis, Act like hormonal regulator, but the best known thing about this nutrient is its influence on the pollen quality and pollen tube germination capacityIts deficiency manifests itself at the leaf level with necrotic tips and normally colored blades, separated by a chlorotic halo between the two parts, in addition to malformations in the fruit and, of course, poor fruit set.
  • Molybdenum: acts as cofactor of enzymatic reactions related to oxidative stress in plants, favors the reduction and fixation of nitrogen for the subsequent synthesis of amino acids and proteinsThese functions would be negatively affected by a deficiency of this element.

Meso and micronutrient contributions are essential for proper nutrition.The market offers a wide range of products, both solid and liquid, as well as soluble, chelated, or complexed. Obviously, not all are equally effective, as some of them It is essential to promote its stability and mobility in the culture medium and its absorption by the plant.

En Cultivator we have a wide range of deficiency correctors to cover all the nutritional needs described. Our formulations are manufactured following the highest standards and with high quality raw materials, to be able to offer the farmer specific nutritional solutions. All our products are zero residue and many of them also have certification as inputs for use in organic farming.

To cover the calcium needs, we recommend two formulations, depending on the phase of the crop. AMINOPLEX CALCIUM, which formulates calcium along with amino acids, and CULTIFORT CALCIUM, formulated from Calcium complexed with lignosulfonic acid, carbohydrates and organic polyacidsThe first of them is specifically developed for the initial stages of cultivation, since its formula with amino acids stimulateto vegetative development while calcium acts as a fundamental element in the formation of cell walls in plant tissues. The second is more focused on the flowering, fruiting and ripening phases, since the calcium complex it formulates, It moves directly to the fruits and growing areas, more sensitive to the lack of this nutrient during these stages.

 

To prevent a possible deficiency of manganese and zinc, MANZIFORTECO It is the right formulation. It is a high-rich liquid corrector Manganese and zinc chelated with EDTA, polycarboxylic acids and reducing sugars, which makes it easy to apply, fast acting and effective and high systemicIts use is recommended throughout the vegetative cycle and during the last days of ripening, to accentuate the color of the fruits

MANZIFORT 1l

 

CULTIBORO PLUSECO It would be our recommendation in the event of a possible boron deficiency or simply to cover the needs of this element. It is a liquid formulation of boron complexed with ethanolamine and reducing sugars, easy to assimilate and high translocation in the plant. The boron supply in demanding soils and crops in order to cover the main vegetative stages: beginning of vegetative activity, beginning of flowering and beginning of fruiting.

CULTIBORO PLUS 1l

We have seen how many of these nutrients participate in the synthesis of some amino acids and proteins, so they could be applied in amino acid-based formulations in conjunction with deficiency correctors. Their function will be focused on their mere action as precursors to the synthesis of amino acids by plant metabolism, to help the plant at critical moments of development or to 

face and/or overcome certain abiotic stress situations, such as unfavorable environmental conditions. For these cases, the Cultifort Technical Department recommends the application of BVC EVOLUTION (Formerly BVC 2021). Its formulation, enhanced by the synergistic action of amino acids and algae in emulsion, also includes nitrogen, potassium and reducing sugars, which They provide energy and facilitate the assimilation of nutrients by the plant. BVC EVOLUTION helps the plant to remain physiologically and metabolically active even under adverse conditions. We have recently improved its formulation by “CULTITEK Activating Biotechnology” achieving faster and more powerful effects compared to other biostimulants on the market, thanks to the contribution of precursors of natural substances and the improvement of the profiles of active substances