Growing cucumbers in a greenhouse is not difficult if you approach the process carefully and prepare the place, soil, seeds and seedlings in advance. The advantages of the greenhouse include fewer pests and diseases, as well as the presence of optimal conditions for the active growth of the crop.
Deadlines
The time for planting cucumbers in a greenhouse is determined by the climatic conditions of the region in which the gardener lives, as well as a number of other factors. Key dates:
- the last days of April or the first days of May – the middle band;
- the first days of May or the beginning of June – Siberia, the Urals, the northwestern regions;
- end of March or beginning of April – south of the country.
More accurate landing dates in spring or summer are determined by the lunar calendar.
In an unheated greenhouse, gardeners advise planting cucumbers when frosts pass and warm weather sets in.
Prepare
To begin with, it is worth talking about what greenhouses can be. There are three main types.
- Polycarbonate. The most common option is polycarbonate greenhouses, which are ideal for planting and growing cucumbers.
- Film. The second most popular option, the disadvantage of which is poor heat retention. Also, such greenhouses are considered unstable to adverse climatic conditions.
- Glass. Rare structures that require special efforts for erection. In addition, such structures heat up quickly, which causes the cucumbers to burn.
Regardless of the type of structure, it must be carefully prepared before planting cucumbers. This should be done about 2-3 weeks before the main procedure.
Preparation stages:
- cleaning ropes from previous garters and debris;
- removal of any plant debris that was not harvested in the fall;
- washing the walls of the greenhouse from the inside and outside with detergents.
It is also worth taking care of tying new ropes on which cucumbers will be held.
Place
When choosing a place for a greenhouse, you should give preference to sunny and warm areas. It is also recommended to consider crop rotation. Cucumbers will grow well where they were previously grown:
- bow;
- cabbage;
- tomatoes;
- pepper;
- garlic.
It is not recommended to plant cucumbers in places where any types of pumpkin plants have previously grown. Otherwise, cucumbers will be subject to various diseases and be destroyed by pests. In addition, pumpkin seeds do not leave behind the required amount of minerals and useful components in the soil that are useful for cucumbers for active growth.
Ground
An important procedure is the preparation of the soil. Timely application of fertilizers, loosening improve the quality and structure of the soil, making it more fertile and ensuring high crop yields.
The main stages of preparation are as follows.
- Soil excavation.
- Fertilization, if previously top dressing was not carried out. It is better to use organic compounds in the form of compost or humus. Up to 1 kg of organic matter per 5 square meter of soil.
- Bringing a bucket of sand. This stage is necessary if you plan to plant cucumbers in heavy soils.
Gardeners are advised to plant cucumbers in the so-called warm beds. To do this, special organic elements are introduced into the soil, the fermentation process of which increases the temperature of the soil, which favorably affects the condition of the roots of cucumbers.
Stages of creating a warm bed:
- first, a small trench is dug in the greenhouse, the depth of which does not exceed 60 cm, and the width is only 30 cm;
- a mixture of manure and pre-chopped grass is introduced into the finished trench;
- water organics with hot water;
- fill the trench with soil with fertilizers.
After that, the bed is re-watered with warm water and herbal infusion, which you can prepare yourself. If there is no time to prepare the composition, you can use the special Baikal EM-1 tool. A warm bed is best done 2-4 weeks before planting the crop.
Technology and landing patterns
You can plant cucumbers both with seeds and seedlings. It is worth considering the landing technology of both options.
Seedling
When the time for planting cucumbers in the greenhouse approaches, you can start transplanting seedlings. However, gardeners recommend waiting a bit in case of frost so that young plants do not die. Planting seedlings is usually carried out a month after the appearance of the first shoots in a glass. The main steps will tell you how to plant cucumbers.
- Prepare. It is carried out by hardening young sprouts, which are gradually put on a balcony or in a greenhouse for a short period of time. This stage allows the seedling to get used to new conditions, strengthens the immune system. It is recommended to start from 1,5 or 2 hours, and then increase the time by an hour.
- Hole formation. The procedure is carried out on the day of transplantation, the depth of the hole should not be more than a seedling. The optimal distance between the notches is 30 cm.
- Watering of seedlings. It is carried out 1-2 hours before placing the seedlings in the ground.
- Disembarkation. It is necessary to pull out the seedlings from the containers together with a clod of earth and so as not to break the roots or the aerial part. Landing is carried out according to the transshipment method.
- Backfilling. The voids that remain in the hole are covered with fertile soil.
At the end, the cucumbers are carefully watered with warm settled water.
seed
Before sowing the seeds, they must be prepared.
- Sampling or calibration. First of all, whole and large seeds that can give a good harvest are selected from all seed material. Small and moldy specimens are rejected, the same happens with irregularly shaped seeds.
- Soaking. After selection, whole seeds are soaked in a solution, where the growth stimulator is first poured.
- Germination. The next step involves placing the seeds in cotton cloth or gauze soaked in special solutions. The seed in this state is kept for a week until it germinates.
Before planting, it is recommended to dry the seeds thoroughly so that they do not rot in the ground. The landing pattern is as follows.
- When the required time comes, the beds are prepared, loosening and fertilizing the soil.
- Holes are dug, the depth of which reaches 2-3 cm. A distance of 30 cm is maintained between the pits, and 0,6 m between rows.
- A germinated seed is placed in each hole and carefully covered with earth.
- Watered with melted warm water.
At the end, the finished beds with seeds are covered with a polyethylene film or a special dense material. When the first shoots appear, the fabric can be removed.
Planting and germinating cucumbers in a greenhouse is not so difficult if you carefully approach the preparation of the site, soil and seed. A good harvest will ensure that the listed schemes and recommendations are taken into account.
Further Care
In order for cucumbers to start active growth and give a rich harvest, it is necessary to take care of timely care, which includes regular watering, feeding and weeding of plants. In addition, it is worth considering the protection of the crop from pests and diseases, since a warm and humid environment attracts pathogens.
Watering
A mandatory procedure by which cucumbers will be able to grow powerful stems, leaves and fruits. Violation of regular watering will lead to not the most pleasant consequences in the form of:
- falling leaves;
- shedding of ovaries;
- decrease in yield indicators;
- deterioration in fruit quality.
Watering cucumbers is recommended with warm and preferably settled water. Do not use a hose where water flows under pressure, as it can erode the ground near the roots and worsen the condition of the plant. The best solution for watering is to use a watering can or a special system that can organize drip irrigation.
The regularity of watering is determined by the age of the plants and the air temperature. If it is hot in the greenhouse, then cucumbers are recommended to be watered 1-2 times a day. The volume of water for young bushes is 5 liters per 1 m2, for adults – 8-10 liters per m2. When the first fruits appear on the cucumbers, the volume should be increased to 15 liters.
Additional fertilizing
Culture well perceives both organic and mineral fertilizers. During the season it is recommended to feed the plant 3-5 times.
- The first fertilizers are applied before the plant begins to bloom. Usually they use “Agricola”, creating a solution of 2 tablespoons of fertilizer per 10 liters of water. Superphosphate and sulfate compounds are also suitable.
- The second time the soil is fertilized during the flowering period, resorting to the use of a solution of boric acid. Also, under the root, gardeners recommend adding potassium sulfate, urea.
- The third feeding is carried out during the fruiting period. Here, preference should be given to mineral fertilizers or a solution of mullein.
Additionally, cucumbers can be fed at a young age and at harvest time.
Formation
The procedure is mandatory, since with its help it is possible to organize the timely receipt of moisture and nutrition by the cucumbers in the required volume for the formation of fruits. Hybrids of new varieties with a female type of flowering are capable of producing 1 stem, while on the old versions, side lashes are often left. Form options might look like this:
- For new varieties after the stem reaches a length of 50 cm, gardeners advise leaving 2 ovaries next to every fourth leaf.
- For old varieties when forming 2-3 stems, make sure that the side shoots are located at an angle of 60 degrees. All excess ovaries and shoots are also removed so that the root system receives the necessary supply of nutrients.
- Varieties with bouquet fruiting deprive the shoots in the lower part, forming one stem in the plant.
The correct formation of cucumbers is a guarantee of obtaining a high-quality and plentiful harvest.
Garter
By means of a garter, it is possible to prevent the entanglement of the lashes of cucumbers during growth, as well as to accelerate the ripening of side fruits. Finally, gardeners use garters to facilitate harvesting and crop maintenance. To make a quality garter, you should use individual wooden, plastic or steel pegs. A popular option among gardeners is trellises, to which they tie stems and shoots using fabric tapes or special hooks.
The garter is recommended to be carried out when the cucumber stem has overcome a height of 30 cm. If you start the procedure later, there is a high probability of damaging the plant. There are two most popular ways.
- Horizontal. Option for low greenhouses. In this case, several rows of wire or twine are pulled between the pillars of the structure, maintaining a distance of 25 cm above the ground.
- Vertical. Available in tall greenhouses. For the garter, a trellis structure consisting of two slats is used. The first is attached to the ceiling, the second goes into the ground. The planks are connected to each other with the help of ropes, to which the stems are then tied.
Timely garter will accelerate the growth of cucumbers and will allow you to get a quality crop.
Fighting diseases and pests
Mistakes in care sometimes lead to the appearance of various diseases or pests. Frequent “guests” of cucumbers:
- rot;
- powdery growth;
- downy mildew;
- anthracnose.
Most diseases occur when the plant is exposed to pathogenic fungi. One of the common symptoms of the presence of pathology will be spots, plaque, yellowness on the leaves and the gradual drying of the stems. If a disease is detected, it is recommended to remove damaged shoots and carry out preventive treatment. For this, special formulations are mainly used.
Now about pests. Popular insects include:
- aphid;
- spider mite;
- black flea.
Insects not only destroy plants on their own, but are also carriers of fungal spores and viruses.
So that the cucumber does not shelter such pests, it is recommended to carry out regular preventive treatment of plants with Fitoverm or Bitoxibacillin preparations.
