Long gone are the days when city dwellers who did not have a summer house envied those they had. Today, even a resident of a skyscraper can afford to feast on fresh herbs and vegetables, using windows, balconies and loggias for growing them.
Today, any lazy city dweller can please his relatives with fresh crispy green stuff, having made the right choice of a variety of cucumbers for growing on a windowsill. The same applies to tomatoes, and strawberries, and peppers - modern breeders have specially created types of vegetables that can be grown in pots and get decent crops.
Characteristics of "home" cucumbers
In order to enjoy your own crop of Zelentsy all year round , you should familiarize yourself in advance which varieties of cucumbers exist for growing on the windowsill. They should have a different set of qualities than those that are sown in greenhouses or in open ground:
- Firstly, it should be self-pollinated hybrids, so as not to waste time on manual pollination.
- Secondly, it is desirable that the plant is shade-loving, since not every window is suitable for it. In order not to additionally illuminate with lamps in the winter, it is better to look in advance at varieties of cucumbers for growing on the windowsill, which easily tolerate a lack of light.
- Thirdly, it is preferable to purchase a frost-resistant variety, especially for planting on a balcony or loggia, where there is no additional heating.
If earlier varieties of cucumbers for growing on the windowsill of the house consisted of only one species - “indoor Rytova”, today there are dozens of them. It is important to evaluate the conditions in which the vegetable will grow, and, based on them, to purchase the most suitable, since all the characteristics are indicated by the manufacturers on the packaging.
Cucumbers for the windowsill
For many “home gardeners,” the highest priority is a high yield. In fact, it is more important that the plant grows strong and healthy in a balcony or window, then picking fruits will be a pleasant event. To date, the best varieties of cucumbers for growing on the windowsill are recognized:
- "Prestige f1" - parthenocarpic species, bearing fruit for a very long period. The first greenbacks can be harvested as early as 40 days after seed emergence. Cucumbers are 6-8 cm in length and are distinguished by excellent taste.
- “Masha f1” is a very early species, bearing fruit on the 35–40th day. Also from the category "varieties of cucumbers for growing on the windowsill." Caring for it allows you to achieve the formation of up to 7 greens on one brush. The fruits are dark green with excellent taste.
- "Ant f1" - one of the most productive species of cucumbers. It is also parthenocarpic, matures in bunches, in each of which up to 7 fruits are formed.
- "Balcony" - a universal variety, gives a crop on the 41st day after seed germination. Relatively frost-resistant, making it the best contender for growing on a glazed balcony. Productivity - up to 10 kg / m 2 .
When buying varieties of cucumbers for growing on a windowsill, be sure to check that this property is indicated on the package. Also, all its qualities should be spelled out there - from productivity and maturity to conditions for their maturation.
Capacity selection
Cucumbers love space, even when they grow in the garden, so you should take care of the container for them in advance. When choosing a container, it should be borne in mind that the optimal volume for one plant is 5 liters. It can be individual pots made of ceramic or a one-piece long container made of plastic.
Some “home gardeners” fit five-liter plastic water bottles, having previously cut off their neck. You can also use dense plastic bags if there is no other container at hand.
Some nuances should be taken into account when choosing a suitable container for any variety of cucumbers for growing on the windowsill. The peculiarities of this plant are that it does not tolerate both dryness of the earth and stagnation of water, so there should be openings in the tank for its drain.
If you adapt the boxes to the "garden", then they must first be covered with dense cellophane, making holes at the bottom. Any of these containers will fit in order to grow and harvest a good crop of cucumbers.
Soil preparation
For those who do not want to spend time preparing the soil mixture, a ready-made one, which is sold in specialized stores, is suitable. For those who want to personally participate in the process from beginning to end, experienced gardeners recommend creating the soil with their own hands. This will require:
- 1 part of garden or sod land;
- compost - 1 part;
- sand - 1/5 part;
- sawdust - 1/5;
- wood ash - 1/5.
So that the soil does not harm the plants, it should be calcined, for which you can use a conventional oven. Ready and mixed soil is poured into a baking sheet with a layer of up to 5 cm and placed for 20-30 minutes in an oven warmed up to 100-110 degrees.
After calcination, the soil needs to be fertilized, for which it is enough to add mineral fertilizers for pumpkin seeds in a couple of matchboxes. You can purchase special additives for cucumbers. Ready soil is packaged in five-liter containers and carefully watered a day before sowing seeds. Whatever cucumber varieties are used for growing on the windowsill, the soil preparation is the same.
Seat selection
An important role in a good harvest is where exactly the cucumbers will grow. This plant loves sunlight and warmth, so either it will be windows or a balcony on the south side, or a window sill on the other side, insulated and equipped with phyto- or fluorescent lamps.
It must be remembered that the usual variety of cucumbers requires up to 12 hours of light in order for the seedlings to grow evenly. This is especially true for the period from November to the end of January. If seeds specially bred as shade-loving ones are used, then this period can be shortened.
It is very important that the plant is not exposed to drafts during ventilation. It is necessary that the frame does not let cold air through. Some gardeners even with high-quality glazing use additional insulation or stretch a plastic film between the plant and the window frame. It transmits sunlight quite well, but at the same time it saves from the cold.
Each grower has small tricks that help the plant become strong and healthy (for example, using mirrors or foil to reflect sunlight and increase lighting). It is also advisable not to put the pot directly on the windowsill, but it is better to put a layer of polystyrene under it or just wooden blocks. This is an additional measure to protect cucumbers from the cold.
Seed preparation
To avoid further problems with seed growth, it is better to prevent them. For this, a weak solution of potassium permanganate is used, in which the planting material is aged for a couple of hours. By the way, this is also a check of their quality - only those that have sunk to the bottom should be planted. Seeds floating on the surface either will not sprout at all or will not yield a crop.
After potassium permanganate, the seeds must be left for a couple of days in a humid environment for germination. To do this, gauze moistened with water or natural fabric is suitable, which must be sprayed as they dry.
When the seeds “hatch”, they can be planted in prepared cups for this. Some gardeners prefer to sow immediately in pots, which saves them time, but it is important to cover such a container with a film until the first leaves appear at the seedlings.
Whatever the types of cucumbers for growing on the windowsill, in the first week before emergence they need to provide a temperature of +22 ... + 24 degrees. After they ascend, they can be transferred to a cooler place where the air warms up to +18, but good lighting is provided.
Seedling Care
In order to collect from 10 to 25 greens every day from each plant, he should provide appropriate care. For this:
- watering should be carried out daily, but care must be taken that the water does not stagnate;
- you need to provide the plant with the appropriate moisture, for which it is enough to spray it from the spray 1-2 times a day;
- if the plant is under artificial lighting, then watering can be done in the morning and evening.
To save time, some gardeners put pallets with gravel under the pots with seedlings, where they pour water. This contributes to the constant moistening of the soil and air. In summer, the soil should be constantly wet, and in winter watering can be reduced, but air humidity should be monitored at any time of the year.
Top dressing
In order for the varieties of cucumbers to be healthy for growing on the windowsill and picking fruits to become a real holiday, they need to be well-fed. To do this, 2 weeks after the emergence of seedlings, you must make and make the first mineral solution:
- add 3 tsp to 3 l of water mineral fertilizers for cucumbers or pumpkin crops, water at the rate of 1-2 glasses per 1 plant during the growth period and 3-4 - during fruiting.
- to extend the life of the plant every 2-3 weeks, it is recommended to pour a solution of 1 cap of "Growth" into 2 liters of water.
A good help is adding fresh biohumus every 3-4 weeks.
Vine formation
In order for the stem of the plant to grow strong and bear fruit well, the first pinching of the top is carried out when 4-5 leaves have appeared. This will “provoke” lateral branches to growth. When they give their shoots, pinching is carried out on the third or fifth sheet. The mustache must also be removed, making sure that no rotting appears in their place.
When the main vine begins to rise, it should be tied up, for which you can insert sticks 1 m long directly in the container with the plant or pull the fishing line along the window. Liana needs to be clipped over the 11th or 12th sheet. When fruiting begins, it is necessary to ensure that the green leaves do not overripe. The more often the fruits are picked, the higher the yield.
Sowing cucumbers in winter
The main distinguishing feature of any variety of cucumbers for growing in the winter on the windowsill is the need for additional lighting. It is better if special phytolamps are used for this. Otherwise, the care conditions are simple:
- moderate watering;
- increased humidity, for which it is better to use containers with water or spray plants several times a day;
- timely formation of a bush;
- daily harvest during fruiting.
Cucumbers need no less nutrition in winter than at other times of the year. The size of the crop directly depends on this. If the plant is "malnourished", then it will tell you this by slow growth and yellowed greens.
Sowing seeds can be carried out in any month, but take into account the temperature and illumination of the selected place. Since cucumbers can produce crops in 4-5 weeks, their planting depends only on the preferences of the host. For example, this can be done 5-6 weeks before the New Year holidays to please guests with a salad of fresh cucumbers.
Sowing cucumbers in the summer
If in winter it is important that there is additional lighting, then varieties of cucumbers for growing in the summer on the windowsill do not need this. On the contrary, you can slightly shade the plants with a grid if the southern window is selected. The main requirements for a good harvest during this period:
- frequent watering;
- regular spraying with water;
- timely harvest.
In general, growing cucumbers at any time of the year is not a burdensome task, which brings joy when harvesting.