Cucumbers are one of the most common vegetables. They were grown by our grandfathers and great-grandfathers. Over the years, considerable experience has been accumulated. In combination with modern technology, the old landing methods give very good results. Cucumbers are quite heat-loving plants, but methods for growing them in cold regions have long been invented. To do this, equip special beds for cucumbers. There are several types of them, each of which has its own characteristics.
For regions with a cold climate,
growing cucumbers on a high manure bed is better than others. To do this, in the greenhouse they arrange a bed one meter wide, the length is at your discretion. Fresh manure (preferably cow, but you can add a little horse) is laid on the bottom of the bed, 25 centimeters (not less) of fertile loose soil are poured on top. Abundantly watered. A bed for cucumbers is ready. You can plant seeds. Note that germinating them is not always necessary. If in doubt of germination - put two in one hole. There should be four plants per square meter. If you have grown by two, then the weaker one will have to be cut. The bed is covered with a film or a covering material of light color. Inside the garden, due to decomposition of manure, the temperature rises significantly. In such conditions, shoots appear for 3-5 days. In order not to burn the plants, you need to open the greenhouse during daylight hours, but watch the temperature. Under the film, it should be in the range of 18-30 ° C. The heating is valid for a month, then the temperature begins to gradually decrease. When calculating the bookmark time of such a bed, take this into account.
For a little warmer regions, a compost bed for cucumbers is suitable. It can also be a good way out if you are unable to find fresh manure. In a
high bed 1 meter wide, plant and food residues are laid. Suitable fall leaves, last year's tops, vegetable or fruit peelings, all that usually goes into a compost pit. It’s advisable to put a little manure on top, but if it’s not there, it’s okay, you can use special tools to speed up compost formation (for example, Baikal EM-1). Now you need to pour 20 centimeters of fertile soil. In such a bed for cucumbers, it is recommended to plant already germinated seeds or young plants directly in peat cups or on tablets. Further agricultural technology of cucumbers is no different from growing in open ground. You just need to monitor the temperature inside the greenhouse, removing the covering material (if any) in the warm time of the day.
Another warm bed for cucumbers is straw. But you need to cook it in the fall. The width of the beds is standard - 1 meter, length - as you wish. Dig a groove with a width of 80 cm, a depth of 15-20 cm, lay straw nearby, the bed is covered with a film. Leave until spring. When the snow melts, a dense
non-woven material is laid over the entire area of the grooves
. The straw lying nearby is bundled and laid at the bottom so that it rises 40 cm above the ground. Everything! The straw bed for cucumbers is ready. It must be plentifully moistened with warm water and condensed. Now, to accelerate the decomposition of the masses, it is necessary to pour it with a solution of mullein or one of the preparations for accelerated compost formation. Then the bed should be covered with a film. After a week, the temperature should be 40-45 ° C. If the heating is insufficient, you need to remove the film and pierce the straw with a fork several times. A week after reaching the required temperature, the covering material is removed, a recess is made with a thick stake, into which (according to the first real leaves) the cucumber seedlings are buried. Plants are sprinkled with humus or peat, watered abundantly. Above the garden bed, arcs are installed, covered with a non-woven waterproof fabric. Plants need to be watered and aired more often than usual, otherwise there is a threat to burn them. The rest of the agricultural technology is ordinary.