Planting cucumbers in the greenhouse

It is not difficult to grow cucumbers in a greenhouse if you approach the process carefully and prepare the place, soil, seeds and seedlings in advance. The advantages of a greenhouse include fewer pests and diseases, as well as the presence of optimal conditions for the active growth of the crop.

The time of planting cucumbers in the greenhouse is determined by the climatic conditions of the region in which the gardener lives, as well as a number of other factors. Key terms:

• 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 north-western 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.

For a start, it's 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 to build. In addition, such structures heat up quickly, which causes the cucumbers to burn.

Preparation stages:

1. cleaning ropes from previous garters and debris;
2. removing any plant residues that were not harvested in the fall;
3. 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 the cucumbers will hold.

When choosing a place for a greenhouse, you should give preference to sunny and warm areas. It is also recommended to consider the crop rotation. Cucumbers will grow well where they were previously grown:

• onion;
• cabbage;
• tomatoes;
• pepper;
• garlic.

It is not recommended to plant cucumbers in places where any types of pumpkin plants previously grew. Otherwise, cucumbers will be exposed to various diseases and destroyed by pests. In addition, pumpkin seeds do not leave behind the required amount of minerals and useful components in the soil, which will be useful for cucumbers for active growth.

An important procedure is soil preparation. Timely application of fertilizers, loosening improves the quality and structure of the soil, making it more fertile and providing high crop yields.

The main stages of preparation are as follows.

1. Digging the soil.
2. Fertilization, if no fertilizing was carried out earlier. It is better to use organic compounds in the form of compost or humus. For 1 square meter of soil there are up to 5 kg of organic matter.
3. Adding a bucket of sand. This stage is necessary if you plan to plant cucumbers in heavy soils.

Stages of creating a warm bed:

1. 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;
2. a mixture of manure and pre-chopped grass is introduced into the finished trench;
3. watering organic matter with hot water;
4. fill the trench with soil with fertilizers.

After that, the garden is watered again with warm water and herbal infusion, which you can prepare yourself. If there is no time to prepare the train, you can use a special tool "Baikal EM-1". A warm bed is best done 2-4 weeks before planting the crop.

You can plant cucumbers both with seeds and seedlings. It is worth considering the landing technology of both options.

When the timing of planting cucumbers in the greenhouse comes up, you can start transplanting seedlings. However, gardeners recommend waiting a little in case of frost so that young plants do not die. Planting of 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.

1. Preparation... It is carried out by hardening young shoots, which are gradually exhibited 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 with 1.5 or 2 hours, and then increase the time by an hour.
2. Formation of holes. The procedure is carried out on the day of transplantation, the depth of the hole should not be greater than the seedling. The optimal distance between the grooves is 30 cm.
3. Watering seedlings... It is carried out 1-2 hours before placing the seedlings in the ground.
4. Disembarkation... It is necessary to pull out the seedlings from the containers together with a lump of earth and so as not to break the roots or the aerial part. Landing is carried out according to the transshipment method.
5. Backfill... The voids that remain in the hole are covered with fertile soil.

Before sowing seeds, they need to be prepared.

1. Sampling or calibration... First of all, whole and large seeds that can give a good harvest are selected from all sowing material. Small and moldy specimens are discarded, the same happens with seeds of irregular shape.
2. Soaking... After selection, whole seeds are soaked in a solution, into which a growth stimulant is poured.
3. Germination... The next stage involves placing the seeds in a cotton cloth or gauze soaked in special solutions. The seed is kept in this state for a week until it germinates.

Before planting, it is recommended to thoroughly dry the seeds so that they do not rot in the soil. The landing pattern is as follows.

1. When the required time comes, the beds are prepared, loosening and fertilizing the soil.
2. Dig holes, the depth of which reaches 2-3 cm.The distance between the holes is maintained at a distance of 30 cm, between the rows - at 0.6 m.
3. Place a germinated seed in each hole and carefully cover them with earth.
4. Pour with melted warm water.

At the end, the finished seed beds are covered with polyethylene film or special dense material. When the first shoots appear, the fabric can be removed.

In order for cucumbers to start active growth and give a rich harvest, it is necessary to take care of timely care, which implies regular watering, feeding and weeding of plants. In addition, it is worthwhile to provide for the protection of the crop from pests and diseases, since a warm and humid environment attracts pathogenic microorganisms.

An obligatory procedure through 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 foliage;
• shedding of ovaries;
• decrease in yield indicators;
• deterioration in the quality of the fruit.

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 soil near the roots and worsen the condition of the plant. The best solution for irrigation is to use a watering can or a special system capable of organizing 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, it is recommended to water the cucumbers 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.

The culture accepts both organic matter and mineral fertilizers well. It is recommended to feed the plant 3-5 times per season.

1. The first fertilizer is applied before the plant begins to bloom. Agricola is usually used by creating a solution of 2 tablespoons of fertilizer per 10 liters of water. Superphosphate and sulfuric acid compositions are also suitable.
2. The second time the soil is fertilized during the flowering period, resorting to the use of a boric acid solution. Also, gardeners recommend adding potassium sulfate and urea under the root.
3. The third feeding is carried out during the fruiting period.... Here, preference should be given to mineral fertilizers or mullein solution.

The procedure is mandatory, since with its help it is possible to organize the timely receipt of moisture and nutrition by 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 old varieties, side lashes are often left. Forming options may look like this.

• For new varieties after the stem reaches a length of 50 cm, gardeners are advised to leave 2 ovaries next to every fourth leaf.
• For old varieties when forming 2-3 stems, it is worth making sure that the lateral 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.
• Bouquet-bearing varieties deprive the shoots in the lower part, forming one stem in the plant.

Correct formation of cucumbers is a guarantee of obtaining a high-quality and abundant harvest.

By means of a garter, it is possible to prevent tangling of the cucumber lashes during growth, as well as to accelerate the ripening of lateral fruits. Finally, gardeners use garters to facilitate harvesting and crop maintenance. To make a high-quality garter, you should use individual wooden, plastic or steel pegs. A popular option among gardeners is trellis, to which they tie stems and shoots using fabric tapes or special hooks.

The garter is recommended to be carried out when the cucumber stalk has overcome the 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, keeping a distance of 25 cm above the ground.
• Vertical... Available in tall greenhouses. For the garter, a trellis structure is used, consisting of two strips. The first is attached to the ceiling, the second goes into the ground. The planks are connected to each other using ropes, to which the stems are then tied.

Errors in care sometimes lead to the appearance of various diseases or pests. Frequent "guests" of cucumbers:

• rot;
• mealy growth;
• peronosporosis;
• anthracnose.

Most diseases occur when a plant is exposed to pathogenic fungi. One of the common symptoms of the presence of pathology will be spots, bloom, 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 the pests. Among the popular will be the following insects:

• aphid;
• spider mite;
• black flea.

Insects not only destroy plants on their own, but also carry fungal spores and viruses.