A new way to grow cucumbers - my feedback. Sow cucumbers with seeds or plant seedlings? Cucumber variety Courage - a great novelty for beds

• For the first time, we feed the cucumbers at the beginning of their flowering with the following solution: add 1 teaspoon to 10 liters of water, and mix and introduce a glass of mushy mullein. Instead of a glass of mullein, you can take 1 tbsp. a spoonful of sodium humate.

• During the fruiting period of cucumbers grown in open field, you need to feed them about 4 times. We make the first top dressing with a solution consisting of 10 liters of water, Art. spoons of nitrophoska and a glass of mushy chicken manure. And all the subsequent ones are like this: add 1 teaspoon of potassium sulfate and 0.5 liters of mullein to 10 liters of water, 4-6 liters of solution will be needed per 1 m². If there is no litter and mullein, they can be easily replaced with the compositions "Breadwinner", "Fertility", "Ideal" (all of them are natural humic fertilizers) or simply sodium humate.

The process of feeding cucumbers in the open field is shown in the following video:

Cucumber care is in tying shoots plants, which must be carried out regularly - as they grow.

After the formation of 6-7 leaves, the main stem of the cucumber should pinch, this way you stimulate the branching of the plant and increase the yield.

Do not forget about the regular collection of fruits (2-3 times a week), it will contribute to more abundant fruit formation.

There are more and more varieties and hybrids of cucumbers every year. At the same time, their composition is significantly updated annually - preference is given to the most, well, relatively resistant to various diseases.

Please be aware that all F1 hybrids do not retain their unique properties in the second generation, that is, it makes no sense to collect seeds.

"Farmer F1"

Mid-season productive bee-pollinated hybrid with a predominantly female type of flowering, relatively cold-resistant, extremely resistant to powdery and downy mildew and olive blotch. Cucumbers "Farmer F1" are grown in protected and open ground. The green fruit reaches 12 cm. The peculiarity of this hybrid is the intensive growth of the main lash and the rapid appearance of side shoots, with the growth of which the peak of mass fruiting begins.

"Othello F1"

A uniquely early hybrid: the ripening of small-tubercular fruits begins already 45 days after shoots have appeared.

Crispy cucumbers "Othello F1" have a pleasant taste (even overripe fruits remain sweetish), genetically devoid of bitterness. The fruits may long time maintain excellent taste and presentation. Resistant to powdery mildew, cucumber mosaic virus, downy mildew and. The hybrid is cultivated not only in open ground, but also in greenhouses, as well as using temporary film shelters.

"Regina F1"

Mid-season hybrid. It is used for growing under temporary film shelters and in open ground. Prone to parthenocarpy, quite resistant to cucumber mosaic viruses, root rot, powdery (true) dew pathogens and cladosporiosis. Graceful fruits are also devoid of bitterness and are distinguished by excellent palatability, ripening as early as 50-55 days after germination.

"Leandro F1"

Quite an early and high-yielding hybrid, resistant to stressful conditions and various diseases. It is distinguished by the female type of flowering, due to which it bears fruit well. Cucumbers with large pimples are great for.

"Evita F1"

Early ripe hybrid. Due to the predominantly female type of flowering, it is distinguished by high yields. Equally super-resistant to stressful conditions and diseases. Recommended for growing in tunnels and open ground. Fruits - dense pimply cucumbers are characterized by high pickling qualities: devoid of bitterness, with small seed chambers. Many vegetable growers consider it best hybrid for conservation.

In addition to the above, cucumber varieties such as:

• "Paris Gherkin";
• "Crane";
• "Desdemona";
• "Moscow gherkin".

Our market will help you - an illustrated catalog, which presents products from various online stores.

Cucumber Parisian gherkin 15 rub LOOK
Russian Garden

Cucumber F1 Othello 14 rub LOOK
Russian Garden

Cucumber F1 Crane 13 rub LOOK
Russian Garden

Cucumber Parisian gherkin, 0.5 g 15 rub LOOK
seedspost.ru

To make it more convenient to choose hybrids according to their qualities, we divided them into two groups.

AT first placed bee-pollinated: to obtain fruits, pollination by insects is required.

"Octopus F1"

Yielding early hybrid gherkin type. Cylindrical fruits are dark green, thorny, absolutely devoid of bitterness, reach a length of 5-10 cm.

"Octopus F1" is resistant to bacteriosis, cladosporiosis and relatively resistant to root rot and downy mildew.

"Spring F1"

Mid-season hybrid. The length of the main lash is about 3 m, with medium branching. The fruits are cylindrical, with a smooth base, slightly tuberculate, without bitterness. In one bunch, 3-4 fruits are formed simultaneously, the mass of greens reaches 100 g.

"Zozulya F1"

Early maturing hybrid, partially parthenocarpic. Fruiting occurs already 45-50 days after shoots have appeared. The fruits are cylindrical, rarely tuberculate, without bitterness, 13-25 cm long. Up to 25 kg of cucumbers are removed from 1 m².

In second The section includes parthenocarpic hybrids that set fruits without pollination by insects.

We have selected the best of the best.

Growing cucumbers in the open field has its own characteristics. If you want to receive good harvest follow our advice.

Cucumber bed

You need to start preparing the beds in the fall. The soil is dug up to a depth of 30 cm and organic and phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are applied at the rate of 5 kg per 1 sq.m. If it was not possible to prepare the bed before the onset of cold weather, this can be done in the spring. Then, when digging, humus and compost are added, as well as complex mineral fertilizers in accordance with the recommendations on the package.

A place for cucumbers is chosen sunny and protected from cold northern winds. These are very heat-loving plants, and if the temperature drops below +10°C, cucumbers completely stop growing. Therefore, it is very important to place them in comfortable conditions.

If you want to get a crop of cucumbers three weeks earlier than usual, you can build for them warm bed or a bed-box. Such designs can definitely protect plants from return frosts and other adverse climatic conditions.

Seed preparation

Before planting, warm and soak the seeds. The process of soaking the seeds is simple. It is carried out approximately 12 hours before sowing. It will take a little longer to warm up. To do this, hang the seeds in a gauze bag. It is advisable to hang it near the battery or in the room where the temperature does not drop below +20°C. Warming is necessary for the resistance of the plant to various diseases. This has a positive effect on the quality of the crop. Seeds germinate at a temperature of +12-13°C.

Sowing seeds in the ground

When the bed is ready, you can start sowing. First, rows are marked at a distance of 65-75 cm from each other. In each row, at a distance of 20 cm, holes are made up to 4 cm deep. Water is poured into each of them and they wait until it is absorbed. After that, the seeds are laid out in the holes, they are covered with soil and tamped a little.

So that the soil evaporates less moisture and does not form a crust on it, the aisles of the cucumber beds are mulched with sawdust or humus.

Immediately after sowing the seeds, the bed should be covered with a film or spunbond. When the first shoots appear under it, you need to install arcs or other supports and spread covering material on them so that the shoots do not touch it.

Proper care of cucumbers

In order for your cucumbers to please you with a good harvest, follow simple rules.

1. Cucumber beds should always be free of weeds.

2. Throughout the growing period, loosen the soil between the rows.

3. As you grow, tie the shoots to vertical supports.

4. After the formation of 6-7 leaves, pinch the main stem - this stimulates the branching of cucumbers and increases their yield.

5. At night, be sure to cover the bed with a film or spunbond (especially while the plants are still young or a cold snap is expected).

6. Harvest regularly (at least 2-3 times a week). This promotes the formation of new ovaries.

How to water cucumbers

During growth and development, as well as during the fruiting period, cucumbers need a huge amount of water (every 2-3 days 0.5 l per young plant and 1 liter of water per adult). Even short-term drought leads to bitterness.

Before flowering, cucumbers are watered every 5-7 days, when the first inflorescences appear - every 2-4 days, during fruiting - every 3-4 days.

Remember that cucumbers are watered warm water and pour not on the plant itself, but under the roots or between the rows. Cucumbers are not watered from a hose with running water!

Before flowering, cucumbers are watered every 5-7 days.

If the water is poorly absorbed, the soil in several places can be pierced with a pitchfork.

This will help the water to penetrate deep to the roots and at the same time will not disturb the root system.

How to feed cucumbers

For the entire growing period, cucumbers must be fed 3-4 times.

• The first top dressing is carried out at the stage of the appearance of the first true sheets with a solution of 1 tbsp. nitrophoska and 1 tbsp. mushy chicken manure per 10 liters of water.
• The second feeding is carried out when the second true leaf appears, with a solution of 1 tsp. potassium sulfate and 0.5 liters of mullein per 10 liters of water. For 1 sq.m. 4-6 liters of solution are consumed.
• The third top dressing is carried out according to the same scheme after 15-17 days.

It is worth noting that foliar top dressing allow plants to absorb nutrients faster. Therefore, spraying cucumbers with 5 g / l of water ammonium nitrate and urea solution will bring great effect. In order not to burn the leaves, spraying is carried out in the evening.

Harvesting cucumbers

The growing season for cucumbers depends on the variety and ripeness and ranges from 40 to 70 days. Timely harvesting significantly increases fruiting. With regular harvesting, the fruits have a good appearance and excellent taste, fruiting continues for a long time.

The most optimal interval between harvests is 3-4 days. If the fruits grow on the bushes for a very long time, they outgrow, lose their taste and turn yellow. In addition, they deplete the plant and prevent the formation of new fruits.

When harvesting, it is important not to damage the cucumber lashes. It is best to remove the fruit by pressing on the stalk, while leaving part of it on the cucumber in order to prevent damage to the lash.

Experienced gardeners advise picking cucumbers early in the morning, before the fruits have warmed up, and immediately take them indoors to protect them from the sun's rays.

It is necessary to collect all the fruits from the lashes, especially the overgrown ones, because it is they who stop the growth and development of other fruits, and are also the spreaders of diseases.

How to collect cucumber seeds

The F1 designation on the seed package indicates that this is a first generation hybrid. Such crops are obtained by crossing two or more varieties.

To collect seeds, choose the most beautiful cucumbers from the strongest bushes. This is necessary in order to get cucumbers with the most the best set genes. Seeds are collected only in those bushes that give the most delicious fruits.

Cucumbers intended for seed production are left hanging on the bush. They should swell, become yellowish and even a little brown - all this indicates that the seeds in them are ripe.

To collect seeds, an overripe cucumber is plucked and left in the sun for several days, until it becomes completely soft. After that, it is cut lengthwise, the seeds are taken out with a spoon and transferred to some container.

Fermentation will help separate the seeds from the pulp. It will also slow down growth. Spend it in the following way: the seeds should be left in a jar of water so that they float freely, and cover the jar with gauze so as not to attract small insects. After 2-3 days, fermentation will be completed, sunken seeds will testify to this. It is not worth leaving the seeds in this state for a longer period - they may begin to germinate.

Good cucumber seeds will sink to the bottom, while empty ones will float.

The next step is to remove the formed layer of mold, add water and shake the jar - empty seeds, along with debris (husks), will float up, and good ones will settle at the bottom.

Finally, place the seeds in a colander and rinse under running water.

At the last stage of preparation, the seeds are dried and laid out in paper bags or fabric pouches. They should be sown no earlier than in 2-3 years - only then the plants grown from them will give the highest yield.

Follow the rules described above, and then success is guaranteed to you.

Have a rich harvest!

What plants should be grown on the windowsill so that the flowers are beautiful, and the leaves freshen the air with oxygen, and the fruits can be used to make salads? Moreover, to have all this all year round? This miracle plant is called cucumber. In order to have the expected effect, theoretical knowledge is needed, a small practical experience growing any indoor plants and great desire. The proposed article is intended for those readers who, after receiving new information do not forget it, but try to use the theory in practice. What you need to know to have cucumbers on the windowsill all winter?

Let's start with pure theory. To produce fruits, the vast majority of flowers must be pollinated by insects, this natural process has many features and differences. In the rooms, as you might guess, flies, bees, butterflies and other insects do not fly in swarms. Especially in winter.

Conclusion. For growing on the windowsill, you need to take only special hybrid varieties of cucumbers that do not require natural pollination. Such plants are scientifically called parthenocarpic, they do not need pollination. This is a very important factor, do not even try to plant ordinary cucumbers intended for growing in beds on the windowsill. Whatever yield you are promised on a bag of seeds, it will be zero in your apartment.

In stores you can find quite a few varieties of cucumbers intended for indoor cultivation, it is not worth listing them. Pay attention to this feature when buying.

When to sow seeds

This issue should be considered in more detail. The fact is that you want to have cucumbers all winter, and not just a few days. And for this, theoretical knowledge is again useful.

It takes about 45-50 days from germination to the start of fruiting, the fruiting period of one plant is about a month and a half. This means that one-time sowing of cucumbers is not enough. If you want to have fresh fruits for 4–5 months, then you will have to deal with seedlings of plants at least four times. The gap between crops is a month and a half. As soon as the first wave ceases to bear fruit, the fruiting of the “second stage” begins, and so on.

Over time and the multiplicity of sowing sorted out, excellent. But now you need to take into account the "number of window sills" for placing cucumbers. If you have enough for each "queue" for one bush, then there should be no problems. You can always place 5-6 cucumber bushes in an apartment. And if you want to collect a relatively large number of cucumbers, then one bush for each “queue” is not enough. Here you will have to choose between the number of short-term picking of cucumbers and the duration.

Practical advice. No more than 6 cucumber bushes can be placed in one standard box for indoor plants 70 centimeters long. Keep this in mind when calculating total bushes and planting periods.

Seeds can be sown from September. In this case, at the end of October, beginning of December, there will be first fruits. Then, after a month and a half, plant new plants again. At the same time, you need to know that daylight hours for cucumbers should last at least 14–15 hours, in winter period artificial illumination is indispensable.

Temperature and watering during cultivation

The temperature in the room during the day should be within + 21–24 ° С, at night + 18–19 ° С. In most apartments, this is the temperature maintained in the winter. If not, you need to heat the plants a little with any devices, including incandescent lamps. They will both illuminate and warm at the same time. As for energy losses, there are no problems here. It will always take less energy to heat a window sill with cucumbers than for the entire room. Of course, it is desirable to place plants on the south side.

Soil moisture has a significant impact not only on yield, but also on plant health. Not enough moisture - there are few cucumbers and their appearance leaves much to be desired. A lot of moisture, and even at insufficient temperatures, will certainly lead to decay of the horse system and the death of cucumbers. Water the plant should be timely, but without excessive fanaticism. It should also be borne in mind that on the windowsills the earth quickly loses moisture, this is unacceptable for cucumbers. Experienced growers strongly recommend spraying the leaves daily with clean, warm water. And so that the roots do not rot, all containers must have an effective drainage system.

Land Requirements

The best option is to purchase a ready-made universal mixture in specialized stores. This is a clean land, in terms of fertility it is excellent for cucumbers.

You can also prepare the mixture yourself.

Self-prepared land must be disinfected. This can be done by heating in the oven to + 120 ° C for 30-40 minutes or using liquid solutions. A weak solution of potassium permanganate or any purchased chemicals will do. Some gardeners recommend spilling the ground with boiling water, but the effectiveness of this method is insufficient, and cucumbers are very afraid of pests and diseases in the ground.

Preparation and sowing of seeds

If you bought expensive seeds, then they have special shells made of nutrients, underwent dressing and growth stimulation. They can be sown immediately, no additional preparation is required. If the seeds are ordinary, then they should be prepared for germination. Preparation consists of several stages.

1. Disinfection. You can use a solution of potassium permanganate color pink. In it, the seeds are soaked for 2-3 hours. No potassium permanganate - use hydrogen peroxide or boric acid. Of these, a solution of 3-4% concentration is made, the soaking time is up to thirty minutes. Decontaminants are sold in stores, you can use them. The field of the procedure, the seeds are washed with clean running water.

   

2. Stimulation of growth. Can be bought in the store special composition, but you can make it yourself from aloe juice. To do this, dilute 20 ml of juice in 100 ml of water. Seeds should be in the solution for approximately 4-5 hours.

   

3. Soak. Experienced growers recommend not to skip this operation. It will take a little time, and the result will be very positive. Thanks to soaking, it is possible to select the strongest sprouts, to completely eliminate the sowing of unviable seeds. In addition, soaking avoids diving, which plants are negative about. Dive significantly slows down growth, small roots are necessarily damaged.

   

Sowing seeds

You can sow both germinated after soaking, and ordinary seeds. First, consider the technology of sowing germinated seeds.

After small roots have appeared on the seeds, they can be transplanted into the ground. Make small holes in the ground about two centimeters deep, lower the seeds with the root down and gently sprinkle them. It goes without saying that the soil must be moist, and after sowing, it must be watered with a sprinkler. Cover the container with a film or thick cloth and place in a warm place for germination.

Without soaking, the seeds are sown in this way, only at least two pieces need to be sweetened into one hole. No one knows how many seeds will eventually germinate, it's not worth risking time and re-sowing in case of problems.

After two true leaves have appeared, the earth in pots is filled up by two to three centimeters. This operation improves the conditions for the development of the root system.

Growing cucumbers

At the stage of 5-6 leaves, you need to consider supports for the stems. To do this, you can use the semblance of wooden stairs, tie ropes or use any material at hand.

How they are made:

Very important. In no case do not tighten the knot on the stem, the distance between the rope and the plant should ensure its unhindered growth.

Cucumbers are sprayed twice a day with clean settled water. When the plants bloom, it is recommended to shake the bushes a little to improve pollination.

One more nuance. Cucumber can have a stem up to two meters long. Such a plant cannot be placed on the window, and this negatively affects the yield. To give the bush density and regulate the length of the shoots, cucumbers need to be pinched, this should be done after the appearance of the first five leaves. Due to pinching, it will be possible to approximately halve the length of the shoots and double the number of fruit-bearing shoots, the bush becomes lush. Instead of one long lash, two much shorter ones grow. During pinching, the ovary is removed up to the pinching point, everything above is left.

Features of watering and top dressing

During the growing season, plants require moisture to varying degrees and respond to violations of irrigation regimes. The first months of growth, cucumbers need a constant amount of moisture, but react extremely negatively to its excess. If seedlings are transfused, they may appear various diseases, the most dangerous of them is the black leg. This disease always stops the development of cucumbers, and in many cases causes their death.

When the vegetation speed slows down a little, the watering intensity should be reduced. During this period, you need to use the rule: it is better to underfill than overfill. Of course, underfilling should not cause the death of the plant. With the advent of flowers, watering increases slightly, and the appearance of the ovary becomes a signal for a sharp increase in the amount of moisture. Fruits significantly increase water consumption, its lack has a negative impact on their development, appearance and quantity. In extreme cases, the ovary may crumble, experienced gardeners never bring cucumbers to such a sad state.

To increase the fruiting time, cucumbers need to be fed. It is better to buy top dressing in specialized stores, at a price it is affordable for absolutely all consumers, and in terms of quality and balance of nutrients it is fully suitable for cucumbers. The methods and frequency of feeding are indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging, you don’t have to invent anything, you need to follow the instructions exactly. If you try to feed the plants yourself with various organic and mineral fertilizers, it is very difficult to calculate the dose. Excess quantity mineral fertilizers degrades fruit quality.

Video - Cucumbers on the windowsill

Have you seen a garden where cucumbers would not grow? This doesn't happen. If not in the garden, then they are definitely in the greenhouse, even in the smallest one. And no one hides the secrets of growing cucumbers in our area, summer residents willingly share with each other the features of caring for their favorite vegetable crop.

We also did not stand aside and prepared for you answers to the most common questions related to the selection of seeds, conditions for growing cucumbers and the possibility of increasing their yield.

How to choose the right variety of cucumbers?

Even novice gardeners manage to grow a decent crop if they do not rely on a simple coincidence of circumstances, but choose the seed wisely. We focus on the desired ripening time (early, mid-ripening, late-ripening varieties), planting site (greenhouse or garden), methods of use (for use in fresh or for processing), artenocarpic (self-pollinated) or bee-pollinated. On average, it is enough to have no more than 3-4 different types seeds.

To increase the yield of cucumbers, we select the largest seeds for sowing

Everything goes on sale every year. large quantity new seed names, but we advise you to stick to well-tested samples for your latitudes.

The best varieties of cucumbers for open ground for the Middle lane:

• Early ones - Masha F1, Moscow dude F1, Zozulya, Muromsky 36, Rzhavsky, Universal, Sphinx, Competitor, Bush, Altai early 166, Alekseich F1, Golopristansky, Jazzer F1, Zizinka F1, Little finger F1, etc.
• Mid-season - Barrel salting, Real man F1, Rodnichok, Relay F1, Rafael F1, Nerosimy-40, Stork 639, Runner F1, Antey F1, Zelenoplodny 47, Rafael F1, Samba F1, Success 221 F1, Miracle of soil F1.
• Late-ripening - Donskoy 175, Nezhinsky, Nezhinsky 12, Gift of Altai.

Regular seeds or F1? Why are hybrid varieties better? F1 - these are first-generation hybrids, characterized in that there will be practically no male flowers, a cucumber will be tied from each female flower.

The advantages of F1 seeds are immunity to cucumber diseases, increased yield and no pollination required. Minuses - high price and there is no guarantee that the harvested seeds will produce fruits of the same excellent quality the following year.

Sow cucumbers with seeds or grow seedlings?

Each method has its own advantages. Thanks to seedlings, vegetables will be on your table much earlier. But in plants obtained by sowing, more powerful roots and fruiting last much longer, so it is better to sow cucumbers intended for pickling and rolling into jars.

In order not to injure the roots, it is ideal to grow seedlings of cucumbers in peat pots.

The best option is to provide for both, and sowing seeds in open ground. Seedlings do not need a lot, 5-7 bushes are enough for early ripening. If bears rage in your garden, then you can only wait for the harvest with the help of seedlings.

Folk trick for safety: if the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe beds allows, always sow seeds next to the seedlings. If the seedlings die due to a cold snap, you will still be with the harvest, although a little later.

When to plant cucumbers?

The plant does not tolerate low soil and air temperatures:

• In cold soil, the seed does not germinate and it makes no sense to wait for seedlings after warming, since the seeds rot in unheated soil.
• At a long-term air temperature of less than 10 ° C, the seedling practically does not grow, and a short-term frost - 1 ° C and completely leads to death.
• Optimal temperatures: during the day - 20-28 ° C, at night - 16-18 ° C.

Approximate sowing dates for the Non-Black Earth Region in small film structures and directly into the ground: southern regions - after May 20-25, northern ones - closer to June 10. In greenhouses without heating, seedlings are planted approximately on May 10, in order to be with Zelentsy by July 1.

How to grow seedlings of cucumbers at home?

Seedlings ready for planting should have 3-6 true leaves and a shortened cotyledon knee (the part of the stem between the root and the cotyledons). This development occurs in about 25-30 days, therefore, it is necessary to be guided that cucumbers for seedlings must be sown a month before planting.

If sown earlier, the seedlings at home will greatly outgrow, which will negatively affect the future harvest. Overgrown seedlings on permanent place develops poorly: the bush is poorly formed, the plant blooms early, ages quickly, few fruits are tied.

More secrets of growing cucumbers from seedlings in the following video:

How to prepare cucumber seeds before planting in open ground?

You can just throw the seeds into the ground and hope that they will all give healthy sprouts, but in order to get a good crop of cucumbers for sure, we will make sure and prepare the seeds for planting:

• We will sort them either manually - we will select the largest and healthiest specimens, or we will immerse them in saline solution (2 tablespoons of table salt per 1 liter of cool water). After about 10-15 minutes, all empty and small seeds will float, and only high-quality seeds will remain at the bottom of the jar.
• Next, we warm up in order to actually get more female flowers and speed up fruiting. Warming up can be either extreme (for example, in an oven at a temperature of 50 ° C for no more than 3 hours), or unhurried - for a month at 25-28 ° C.
• We disinfect the heated planting material for 15-20 minutes in a saturated solution of potassium permanganate in order to remove pathogens of cucumber diseases from the surface of the shell to the maximum. At the end - do not forget to rinse thoroughly in plain water!
• The next step is soaking the seeds either in a purchased growth stimulator or in a homemade solution prepared from potato juice, melt water, mushroom broth, wood ash, etc. According to reviews, the most effective honey solution is enough 1 teaspoon of honey per 250 ml water. The procedure lasts 8-12 hours and ends with a thorough washing.
• After top dressing - seeds swell during the day on moistened gauze (cotton swabs, fabrics) at 25 ° C. It is important to prevent germination, it is necessary that the seed only hatch slightly.
• At the end - the swollen seeds are placed overnight in the refrigerator for hardening. We make sure they don't dry out.

All these preparations carried out if you yourself harvest the seed. If you have purchased hybrid seeds (there is a mark on the pack - F1), then for their planting in open ground, only soaking is required.

At what temperature do cucumbers grow?

Both for open ground and for a greenhouse, it is necessary to focus on a temperature in the range of 22-26 ° C. It is optimal for active growth and stem development. Abrupt changes are undesirable, even a small, short-term frost can lead to the death of the plant, therefore, when the greenhouse is ventilated, the entrance opens slightly.

Growing cucumbers in barrels

Long-term temperatures below 12-14 ° C and above 40 ° C are not allowed, as the development of the seedling will completely stop. It is important to focus not only on folk, lunar calendars, but also on the average temperature data for your region, long-term weather forecasts.

Is cucumber a light-loving plant or can it be sown in the shade?

An important condition for growing cucumbers is the presence of lighting for at least 10-12 hours a day. This time is enough for development to proceed normally and a decent harvest was obtained. Even slight shading weakens the plants: they start to get sick, rapid aging occurs.

Growing cucumbers on a trellis

In greenhouses, it often happens that the development of the main shoot, on which they grow, is going well. male flowers, a side shoots with female flowers do not differ in height. The problem is the lack of light. Even the right thing artificial lighting it will not help if the plants are planted too densely and will shade each other.

It is an erroneous opinion that the solution to the problem is hybrid varieties with a predominantly female type of flowering. Any cucumbers are photophilous and the lack of lighting will still lead to shedding of the ovaries.

Is it possible to grow a cucumber in winter on a windowsill?

Cucumbers are good because they can be planted at home at any time of the year, and after about 45-50 days after germination, it will be possible to pluck the first greens. But one can only hope for a harvest if good seeds are sown. indoor seeds and all conditions for growing cucumbers will be met, especially - temperature regime and lighting.

Winter garden: cucumbers on the windowsill

What is the best soil for growing cucumbers?

Due to the fact that the cucumber has a short growing season and root system superficial, increased requirements are imposed on the soil. Before planting, the soil must be thoroughly loosened to enrich it with oxygen and fertilize with mineral and organic fertilizers, if this was not done in the fall.

Soil suitable for cucumbers

Although the formation of the crown and fruits requires a large number of nutrients, cucumbers grow best in neutral soils. Well suited sandy soil (80-90% sand, 10-20% clay) with a high concentration of organic matter and loamy soil (70% clay, 30% sand). It's the perfect land to grow vegetable crops in the middle lane.

An important rule for caring for cucumbers! You can not constantly plant them in one place. To always have a high yield, every few years move the cucumber bed to where tomatoes, cabbage, onions, and potatoes grew last year. We will not allow the area where melons, zucchini, pumpkins, squash used to ripen.

Is it possible to water cucumbers with cold water?

Water straight from the well is not good. Watering cold water in hot weather plants will be shocked. They will stop growing as the roots lose their ability to absorb moisture. In addition, it may spread root rot and disease occurs.

Be careful, wilting leaves can be a signal that the water is not warm enough. Make it a rule: water for irrigation is suitable if its temperature is not lower than the ambient temperature.

How to achieve this? Schedule watering for the second half of the day. Pump water into the water tank in advance so that it has time to warm up. Or defend in barrels, buckets, cisterns, any other suitable utensils under the sun during the day.

The secret of how to care for cucumbers in the open field: a drip irrigation system

Although this vegetable is moisture-loving, the regularity of watering and the amount of water needed depend on the stage of growth. Young cucumbers, which have not yet grown, do not need much moisture, 5-10 liters per 1 sq. m. At the very beginning of flowering water procedures stop and resume when fruiting in an increased volume, when 15-20 liters are already required for the same area.

Is it possible to determine by the appearance of a cucumber what it lacks?

If the care of cucumbers is carried out correctly, then the appearance of the plant and fruits will meet the standards. If there is a shortage of some elements in the soil, for experienced summer resident the problem is immediately apparent.

• Magnesium deficiency is manifested by complete yellowing of the leaves with the preservation of green veins (chlorosis) in the lower and middle parts of the stem. A common example: during intensive fruit ripening, there were cloudy weather for several days, followed by sunny days As a result, the plants get sick.
• Potassium deficiency is visible on the yellow edges of the leaves and brown spots on them, uneven ripening of fruits (too soft core, narrowing at the stalk).
• Lack of nitrogen - the plant develops poorly, the fruits ripen slowly, narrowed in the upper part and do not reach the desired size. Most often, the leaves turn pale, and the stems do not gain mass at the beginning of the season, when the earth has not yet warmed up.
• Calcium deficiency is common in peaty soils. Symptoms - young leaves partially brighten, in the upper parts of the stems they do not fully unfold, but the deficiency does not affect old leaves. The problem arises due to poor watering, soil compaction, poor ventilation.
• Iron deficiency is detected by yellowing of shoots and leaves, falling fruits.
• The lack of boron can be seen by the crimson leaves, increased growth of lateral stems, drying top points growth.

What to do if you are not attentive or because of inexperience it is difficult to figure out the situation, how to properly care for cucumbers? In the open field, in a greenhouse, treat plants not for a specific problem, but fertilize them with a complex remedy with trace elements and protection against diseases (phytosporin).

Why do cucumbers pinch and remove the lower flowers?

To understand the process, let's learn a little about the "anatomy" of a cucumber bush grown from a regular seed (not a hybrid one). Lateral shoots grow from the main stem - branches of the second, third and other orders. Only barren flowers bloom on the main stem - male flowers, while female flowers are on the side ones.

Pinching stops the growth of the plant in height for the sake of the formation of shoots on which the greens will tie. Do not confuse pinching with pinching, when unwanted side shoots are removed.

It is better to cut the fruits so as not to damage the stem

Pinching is done without a tool using nails or sharp knife, scissors. The procedure is planned for the morning, so that during the day the places of the cut have time to drag on. Pinching is not required on hybrid seedlings, as female flowers also predominate on the main stem.

Now about the removal of the lower flowers. The first flower appears in the axil of the first leaf, when the seedling is still very young and the bush is actively forming. It is not yet the time to spend all your energy on the ripening of the fruit, therefore, in the axils of the lower 3-4 leaves, all flowers are destroyed without regret.

When and how to loosen the soil under the cucumber?

Cucumbers are stunted and the ovary begins to crumble, if the earth is too compacted, a crust has formed on it, and air does not penetrate inside. The problem occurs after rain and every watering, so loosening is necessary whenever the soil has been moistened.

Mulch perfectly protects cucumber beds from weeds.

Due to the fact that the plant has a superficial root system, the procedure is carried out to a shallow depth - only 3-4 cm and begins immediately, as soon as the earth on the surface dries out slightly. The tool is selected depending on the type of soil: the chopper is suitable for loamy soils, while the peaty one is simply pierced with a pitchfork.

Hilling is usually not required, although there are supporters of such actions. Efficiency from hilling is minimal. If the plant is damaged in the lower part, it can be saved by large-scale hilling - the stem is folded into a ring and more fluffy earth is poured on it. Thanks to this, at good conditions a new root system develops.

Why can a bitter cucumber grow?

Bitterness is mainly due to lack of watering and stressful situations for plants during their growth, but just a variety with such taste qualities is not excluded.

Activities that help not to make a "bitter" harvest:

• landing in a well-lit place, without direct sunlight;
• maintaining a distance between vegetable bushes of about 0.25-0.3 m;
• daily watering, on hot days - in the morning and in the evening;
• arrangement in the garden drip system glaze;
• mulching;
• providing the soil with looseness and acidity pH 6-7.

How to increase the yield of cucumbers?

The yield will increase by 1.5-2 times if the cucumber beds are mulched. Mulch can be any organic matter - sawdust, hay, peat, but not fresh grass (so that weeds do not take root). The procedure is carried out simultaneously with the planting of seedlings or with the emergence of seedlings. If geotextiles are used or polyethylene film, then the seeds are sown directly in covered beds.

Mulching cucumbers is useful because the plants are protected from temperature fluctuations and weeds, the soil is not depleted, it takes a lot less water for watering and the fruits spoil less.

Growing Secrets: Timely Harvest Prolongs Fruiting

Cucumbers also bear fruit well if:

• Seeds before sowing went through all stages of preparation - sorting, heating, disinfection, top dressing, swelling, hardening.
• Experiments are being carried out with artificial pollination using a soft brush, when pollen from male flowers is transferred to female ones.
• Extra side shoots are removed (usually 6 lower ones) at the beginning of growth and the ovaries are removed from the axils of the first four leaves.
• Plant tying is practiced. Thus, the lashes are less likely to be damaged, grow better and less disease occurs.
• Feeding takes place weekly.
• There is constant monitoring appearance plants to avoid dangerous pests.
• Watering is carried out with non-cold water and only with a watering can. Pour water directly into the holes so that it does not fall on the leaves.
• Harvesting takes place regularly - once every 2 days. Otherwise, overgrown cucumbers can interfere with the emergence of new cucumbers.

Theoretical knowledge of how to grow cucumbers is good, but it is always interesting to know the opinion of summer residents with different regions. Write in the comments, share your growing secrets, ask questions. Let's help each other be summer with excellent harvest! Good luck!

Cucumber is an annual plant of the Cucurbitaceae family. This is perhaps the only culture whose fruits we eat in an unripe form.

Africa, Greece, warm India are the countries where cucumbers were first grown. To date, many hybrid varieties of this plant, resistant to adverse weather conditions, diseases, etc. Therefore, growing cucumbers in open ground is almost always a successful and justified process.

Not every gardener knows the secrets of growing cucumbers in the open field, so the information in this article will be very useful for many.

Cucumber variety Courage - a great novelty for beds

Cucumber Courage is one of the most suitable varieties for planting in open ground. This is a high-yielding hybrid, resistant to diseases and pests, characterized by rapid growth and fruit ripening. Therefore, it is grown not only for personal consumption, but also for sale in large volumes. The fruits of this variety have high taste and excellent presentation. Ways of growing cucumbers Courage in the open field: seed and seedlings. Seed cultivation of cucumbers is possible throughout Russia, with the exception of the northern regions. In cold climates, this crop is cultivated by seedlings.

Agrotechnics of the Courage variety provides for a standard technology for growing this crop in open ground:

• Landing site preparation.
• Pre-sowing preparation seed material.
• Growing seedlings and caring for them.
• Transplanting cucumbers in open ground.
• Harvesting.

Landing area preparation

The plot for growing cucumbers should be sunny, flat, with a deep passage ground water where there are no winds and drafts. This culture does not grow well on acidic soils. You can deoxidize them and bring them to a neutral level of acidity using lime or dolomite flour.

Courage cucumber variety, like other varieties of this crop, does not develop on alkaline, heavy and infertile soil. The future harvest of Courage cucumbers will depend on how well seasonal soil preparation is carried out.

Autumn tillage consists in cleaning the site of weeds and garden debris. All this must be done before the start of the seasonal rains. After that, the site is digged with the introduction of organic fertilizers, for example, rotted manure. Digging depth - no more than 15 cm.

With the advent of spring begin seasonal work loosening the soil and removing young weeds. A cultivator or rake is used to cultivate the soil surface. Before sowing seeds and planting seedlings, it is necessary to level the surface of the soil. This layout is very important for the successful cultivation of this crop. On the flat surface without lumps, the seeds will be sown at the same depth and will sprout together.

The complex of spring measures for preparing the site for planting cucumbers includes the preservation of soil moisture that has accumulated over the winter and spring period. Repeated surface loosening of the soil allows you to retain moisture as much as possible.

Seed preparation

Preparing cucumber seeds for sowing in open ground or for growing seedlings at home is one of the milestones. The quality of the seed material will determine the growth and development of plants, as well as the future harvest. Seeds must be healthy, without damage and with good germination - about 90%.

Before sowing, the seeds are culled and calibrated by soaking in sodium chloride - a solution of 3% concentration. Floating seeds are removed, and seeds that have sunk to the bottom are used for planting. Selected seeds are washed in water and dried on a dry surface.

To prevent the appearance of diseases and mold, the seeds are treated with Fentiuram - 0.4 g of the substance is added to 5 kg of seeds. TMTD can be used instead of Fentiuram. After that, the seeds are heat-treated. They are laid out on a baking sheet and placed in the oven for 1 hour at a temperature of 70 degrees.

Planting seeds in open ground

Correctly, cucumber seeds must be sown with special seeders that provide accurate sowing into the ridges. But most gardeners do it by hand in their area. Seeds are sown when the last frosts have passed and the soil warms up to 15 degrees Celsius. In regions with a cool climate, the sowing time falls at the end of May or the beginning of June.

In the south, the approximate date for sowing seeds is the first half of April. If spring early timing landings are speeding up. In late spring, seeds are sown later than usual. It is worth remembering that in well-warmed soil, the risk of seed rotting and death is significantly reduced.

On a plot of 1 m 2 spend 50 g of dry seeds of Courage cucumbers. Sprouted seeds for the same area will require 2 times less. Optimal distance between seedlings - 12-15 cm. The thickening of plantings can provoke the appearance of diseases due to insufficient ventilation of seedlings.

Plants for growing seedlings

Cultivation of Courage cucumbers through seedlings is used in the regions middle lane. In addition, using this method, the risk of soil downtime in the area with unsprouted seedlings is reduced.

For planting seeds, seedling containers with a nutritious and loose substrate are used. Modern seedling facilities for growing seedlings of cucumbers are mobile small nurseries with heating. They have low cost, good illumination, the possibility of using mechanized equipment for sampling and hardening seedlings.

Only under conditions of optimal temperature conditions, lighting, air and soil humidity, you can get a strong and healthy seedlings cucumbers. It is not difficult to create such conditions in nurseries. To ensure correct light regime, it is necessary to choose right place for the location of the seedling structure. At home, this is due to the location of the windows in relation to the south.

It is possible to provide the necessary air humidity and temperature for planting with the help of ventilation and special system heating, nutrition - with special fertilizers and nutrient substrates, soil moisture - with regular moistening.

During the emergence of seedlings and in the second phase of growing this crop, it is very important to observe the same temperature regime inside the nursery. To grow seedlings without top dressing, the seeds are planted in a peat-dung or manure-earth mixture. When planting seed material in poor soil, seedlings are fed twice with superphosphate of low concentration.

Ideally, peat blocks divided into cells are suitable for growing seedlings from seeds. First they are soaked, then seeds are planted in each cell. Peat blocks are expensive, however, they are very convenient and practical.

Growing seedlings at home

For planting seeds for seedlings at home, it is best to use soil that is similar in composition to the garden soil on the site. So seedlings quickly and easily adapt in open ground.

You can plant the seeds of the Courage variety in a home-made nutrient mixture. Mix sod, peat soil and sand in equal proportions. Can be bought already ready mix called "Violet" in any gardening store. Suitable for planting seeds plastic containers small size, for example, cups. A drainage layer is laid at the bottom of the cups from any absorbent material - expanded clay, sunflower husks or vermiculite.

Planting pre-treated and disinfected seeds according to the above technology is carried out to a depth of 1-2 cm. 2 seeds are planted in one planting container. The subsequent care of the seedlings consists in frequent spraying, providing stable heat and good lighting. After the seedlings emerge and the plants release one pair of leaves, they are transferred to a cooler place to prevent the risk of stretching the plantings. The optimum temperature for keeping seedlings is 15 degrees. Of the two plants, a stronger specimen is chosen, and the weak one is carefully cut with a sharp object.

With good lighting in coolness, a strong root system will form at the seedlings. Use for watering young plants warm water, spraying is carried out in the morning, when the sun is less active. In conditions of sharp changes in air temperature, in low light, plants are struck by a black leg. Infected instances are removed. The remaining seedlings are treated with fungicides for prevention.

Caring for cucumbers in the open field

Agrotechnics for growing cucumbers of the Courage variety involves planting seedlings in open ground only after the threat of the last frost has passed.

By this time, the plants will have time to grow green mass and form flower buds. It is recommended to cut off the first flowers on seedlings, since it is at this moment that plants need energy and strength for the growth and development of the aboveground and underground parts. Flowering interferes with this process. In addition, seedlings with flowers planted in open ground take root much worse to new growing conditions.

Courage cucumber, like other hybrid forms of this crop, is demanding on the level of air humidity. However, from excess moisture on the leaves, the plant can get sick. powdery mildew. Therefore, proper planting should be watered only in the morning, so that in the evening above-ground part plants have dried out.

At each stage of growth, this culture requires a certain amount of moisture. At the beginning of the growing season, plants are provided with humidity in the range of 60-70%, during the fruiting period - about 80%, at the end of the growing season - 75-80%. The optimal frequency of watering is 1 time in 10 days; in the summer heat, moisture is increased up to 1 time in 5 days. Irrigation is the main method of watering this crop.

Cucumbers respond well to dressings that are applied throughout the growing season. The first nutrition is carried out with nitrogen-containing fertilizer at the stage of the appearance of the first pair of leaves (1.5 kg of the substance is spent on a plot of 10 m 2). Second top dressing nitrogen-potassium fertilizers contribute during the formation of lateral shoots - 2 kg of top dressing is used per 10 m 2 of area.

The thinning procedure is carried out in the area where the cucumbers were planted by seed. Courage cucumber variety has a delicate root system, so it does not tolerate this procedure. To do without thinning, it is enough to plant 2 seeds in each hole. From two grown seedlings, a strong bush is chosen, and a weak one is pulled out.

Loosening, weeding cucumbers and removing weeds begins from the moment the seedlings appear or immediately after transplanting the seedlings into open ground. At the first loosening, young bushes lightly spud.

Harvesting

Harvest on initial stage carried out every 3 days to prevent overripe fruits. The number of cucumber harvests in the regions of the southern strip can reach up to 50 for the entire season.

Cucumbers are easily damaged, so you need to collect them carefully in the morning or evening. harvested cucumbers are transferred to a cool place. In such conditions, they do not lose their presentation and taste. Courage cucumbers, like the fruits of other varieties, are not stored for a long time. To extend the shelf life, they are placed in refrigerators.

The technology for growing cucumbers in open ground is quite simple. Adhering to the above recommendations, success in this matter is guaranteed to everyone.