Unfortunately, in the vastness of our country there are not so many areas that can boast of the presence of conditions for planting a plant such as cucumbers in a reckless way. Growing seedlings for the greenhouse is necessary if you want to get the crop early, because most of the Russian regions are in temperate climatic zones.
Therefore, planting heat-loving crops immediately in open ground is impossible. Therefore, the preparation of greenhouses and the initial sowing of cucumbers for seedlings for greenhouses in special containers is a necessary condition for obtaining a good harvest. We will talk about when to plant cucumber seedlings for a greenhouse, we will focus on soil preparation in a greenhouse, fertilizing and the intricacies of caring for seedlings and adult crops.
Greenhouse preparation
Planting cucumber seedlings in a greenhouse is accompanied by preliminary soil preparation. Experienced gardeners advise starting it in the fall. It is necessary to remove all plant debris from previous plants and the top layer of soil with a thickness of 3-5 cm, in which pathogens accumulate. The greenhouse and soil floors are treated with a solution of copper sulfate, and then, under digging, 25 kg of fresh (unripe) manure are added, 40 g of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers per 1 square meter. If the preparation is carried out in the spring, then instead of fresh manure, humus is added in the same amount. Do not forget to add spring nitrogen fertilizing.
The ridges in the greenhouse are made 20-25 cm high, and they are arranged in a way convenient for the gardener. Usually, with a greenhouse width of 2 m, the longitudinal arrangement of ridges with one path between them is considered optimal, and a width of 4 or more meters opens up various possibilities without limiting the imagination of the gardener.
But basically they arrange 2 paths along the ridges and subsequently plant 4 rows of plants: one on the side beds, two on the central part. This is very convenient: an unhindered approach is provided. When it comes time to plant cucumber seedlings in the greenhouse, the plants will be correctly placed and begin to develop without interfering with each other.
Rules for planting seedlings
Cucumbers are distributed by seedlings in the greenhouse according to the interval between plants of at least 35 cm.Cucumbers not only do not like planting density, they can get sick, stop the formation of ovaries or give the gardener an insignificant crop of ugly hooked greens. Therefore, it is so important to remember the first rule of planting cucumbers - to maintain the required distance.
Seedlings of cucumbers for the greenhouse
They plant seeds in seedlings and contain them either at home or in an already prepared greenhouse with additional heating. Novice gardeners often care about when to plant seedlings of cucumbers for the greenhouse. It is impossible to answer it unambiguously due to the extent of the areas and the change of climatic zones.
If in the area before the end of May there is a chance of frost, then you will not plant seedlings in a greenhouse until the end of this period. This means that seedlings must be sown in late April or early May. In temperate latitudes, it is not recommended to plant seedlings of cucumbers in unheated greenhouses before May 12-15. The soil in the greenhouse at the time of planting should warm up to 15-18 ° C. This is a prerequisite. And to decide when to plant cucumbers on seedlings for a greenhouse, only a gardener can adapt to the area in which he lives. Since cucumbers are heat-loving plants, spring return frosts can be fatal for them, so it is important to plant seedlings at a time when the sharp cooling will not return, or to have means at hand for protection and emergency heating of the crop. Modern covering materials, all kinds of heaters, stoves or even plastic bottles filled with water that heat during the day and at night give heat to the plants between which they are located are very effective for such situations. But, since we have not yet reached the questions about the intricacies of planting, we’ll talk about the necessary seed preparation measures.
Pick the seeds
Cucumber seedlings for a greenhouse can be grown exclusively from seeds of self-pollinated varieties. When buying seed, you should pay attention to this. Plants intended for open ground sown in a greenhouse can bring an unpleasant surprise to a beginning gardener - a meager crop or its complete absence.
By the way, notes on the characteristics of the variety are always present on the packaging of seeds. Sowing cucumbers for seedlings for greenhouses in different areas begins at different times - from early April to early May.
We prepare seed
Strong and friendly shoots provide excellent quality cucumbers. Growing seedlings for a greenhouse begins with the rejection of seeds. They are placed in slightly salted water for 20-30 minutes - they should get wet well. Empty seeds will float on the surface, they will be removed. And sunken seeds are quite suitable for sowing. Now they can be etched by placing it for half an hour in a solution of potassium permanganate or a biostimulant (Epin, Zircon), and then put it in a moist environment for germination for 2-3 days, after washing it under running water. It is very convenient for this procedure to use a container with a lid. Seeds are placed between layers of a damp cloth or paper towel and the container is closed. In this case, it is not necessary to additionally wet the material, moisture condenses and, circulating in a confined space, returns to the fabric. Two or three days are enough for seeds to activate growth processes under such conditions. Swollen and slightly opened seeds are ready for planting, which means that the time has come to plant cucumbers for seedlings for the greenhouse. Having disinfected the dishes for sowing seeds, we begin work.
We plant seedlings in a greenhouse
A transplant for cucumbers is a great test, often very poorly tolerated. Therefore, it is better to sow them not in seedlings, but immediately in separate containers. Cucumber seedlings for the greenhouse grow well in the substrate, which can be purchased at the store or prepared from equal parts of peat, sawdust, humus and sod land.
The seeds are deepened by 1.5-2 cm, watered with settled warm water. Warm watering is another rule for growing cucumbers. Throughout the season they are watered with exceptionally warm water. This significantly increases fruit production.
Landings are covered with a film and set in a warm, bright place. The optimum temperature for seed germination is 25-28 ° C. When sprouts appear, the covering material is removed, and the air temperature in the room is reduced to 20 ° C. This will help to avoid drawing seedlings. If there is a lack of daylight (if it is very cloudy), additional lighting should be provided. The best option in this regard is fluorescent lamps located at a height of 8-10 cm above the shoots. Seedling care consists in timely watering, one-two-time pouring of soil into pots with sprouts and top dressing. A good fertilizer is a group of special top dressings "Agricola for seedlings." It is good to improve the soil in pots by irrigation with a solution of peat-humic fertilizers. In addition, plants must be protected from drafts.
Planting seedlings of cucumbers in the greenhouse on the ridges is carried out when 3-4 real leaves appeared on the bush, a strong root system has developed and weekly hardening has been carried out, for which the temperature is lowered to 16-18 ° C, and at night to 13-15 ° C. If possible, seedlings are put on the balcony, somewhat shading from bright sunlight.
When to plant cucumbers on seedlings for a greenhouse
Sprouts from the germination of which 23-28 days have passed, as a rule, are ready for transplantation into the greenhouse. Now it’s worth considering when to plant cucumber seedlings in a greenhouse.
Dates vary depending on the territorial features of the climate zone, so we will not name specific dates. The main criterion for planting seedlings in a greenhouse is a stable soil temperature. Planting seedlings of cucumbers in the greenhouse is carried out when the soil temperature in the greenhouse is not lower than 15-18 ° C.
Landing technology
Seedlings of cucumbers for the greenhouse are planted in prepared holes, previously spilled with a warm solution of manganese or phytosporin. Thus exclude the possibility of infection of the seedling. A little compost or well-rotted manure is added to the wells and mixed with the ground. Seedlings are planted with extreme caution, because cucumbers do not tolerate transplants, the plant structure is fragile, the roots also break from a careless touch. Before planting, seedlings are lowered into a bucket of water with a pot. A lump of earth gets wet, well slides out of the tank, without crumbling at the same time, and the seedling tolerates the stressful situation painlessly. The subcotyledonous knee is left above the surface of the soil, as it is prone to root rot and does not tolerate contact with the ground. After planting, the bushes are once again watered and mulch the soil. Much has been said about the need for this procedure, we repeat only that mulch creates a microclimate that is excellent for a young plant, inhibits the growth of weeds, retains moisture and eliminates the hassle of loosening the soil under plants. Once again, do not thicken the landing. The distance between the bushes should not be less than 35 cm, and between the rows - 85-90 cm. Each bush needs its own support, so from the root of the plant to the top of the greenhouse they pull a rope that serves as a support for the plant climbing up. At a height of 1.7-2.0 meters, several ropes are pulled along and across the greenhouse, twisting them together, or a special net.
Bushes of cucumbers form in one lash. After planting, a few days later, the seedling is tied to the trellis, and as it grows, the stalk is twisted around the support through each internode. When the height of the stem outgrows the length of the support by 20-30 cm, pinch the crown. Lateral shoots (sometimes called otpletki) are also pinched according to a certain pattern: the lower shoots and flowers up to 3-4 leaves are completely removed, since the ovaries below are usually unproductive and only pull off the food. In the next 4-6 sinuses, pinch the lateral lower shoots so that one fruit remains on each of them, 2 fruits in the middle part of the stem, and 3 cucumbers in the upper part.
Necessary feeding
Cucumber growth is accompanied by the pulling of nutrients from the ground. These strong plants significantly deplete the soil. Therefore, they need to be fed constantly. Foliar top dressing is faster. Sprayed with a nutrient solution, the leaves begin to be used immediately. While the plant is building up green mass, periodic feeding with urea or ammonium nitrate is mandatory . Complex mineral fertilizers, in particular, Kemira-Lux (5 g / 1 l), have an excellent effect on the development of cucumbers.
It is important to remember that foliar application can not be carried out in sunny weather - there is a danger of leaf burns, since the solution in the sun evaporates instantly, and the active substance remains on the foliage. But do not neglect the introduction of fertilizers into the soil, which traditionally help during the growth period, and during the formation of the ovaries.
Increase fruiting
Improving the yield of cucumbers is greatly facilitated by their correct content in the greenhouse. The following conditions must be observed:
• Never allow drafts. Cucumbers are afraid of them. If the temperature in the greenhouse exceeds 30 ° C, then it should be opened only on one side. If there are ventilation windows, they can also be opened alternately on one or the other side of the greenhouse.
• Avoid extreme temperature extremes. They sharply inhibit the development of the plant and can even provoke diseases.
• Planting seedlings of cucumbers in a greenhouse is carried out with maintaining the distance. To provide seedlings with sufficient nutrition, no more than 4 plants are planted per 1 square meter. This will allow them not to oppress each other, develop normally, eliminating the possibility of developing diseases, often resulting from excessive thickening.
• Avoid excessive soil moisture. The optimal irrigation rate is 10-20 liters per m 2 . During flowering, it is reduced by a third, and when the first ovaries and fruits are formed, the amount of water is restored to its original level.
• In the midst of fruiting, regularly, once a day or two, you need to remove the green leaves, since unpacked fruits significantly inhibit the formation of new ovaries and reduce the quality of future cucumbers.
• It is necessary to form lashes correctly. At the beginning of development in the sinuses of the lower 4 leaves, the shoots and ovaries are completely removed. Above the 4th leaf, the ovaries are left, pinching the lateral shoots.
• Cucumbers - gourmets, like timely top dressing.
We have listed the main stages of growing a crop - from the time when to plant cucumber seedlings for a greenhouse to the period of active growth and plant formation.