How to grow cucumbers at home outdoors?

If there is a vegetable garden next to the house, then cucumbers will certainly grow there. This vegetable is so good both fresh and in pickles and canned that the summer season is simply unthinkable without it. Therefore, experienced gardeners will always allocate not only the best place for a cucumber, but also additional time for leaving. Knowing the peculiarities of the culture, you can harvest good crops even from a very small area. We will reveal all the secrets of growing cucumbers in the open field in this article.

Content:

• What do cucumbers love?
• Features of growing cucumbers
• Techniques for increasing the yield of cucumbers
• Caring for cucumbers during fruiting
• Reproduction of the varieties you like

What do cucumbers love?

When planning to grow this crop, you need to take care of a number of points that will lead to success. Each of them is based on the characteristics of the plant and is quite important. Therefore, you cannot miss something, but you need to approach the cultivation of cucumbers in an integrated manner.

1. Cucumber is a thermophilic culture

It is necessary to sow cucumbers on a bed warmed by the sun, after the threat of return frosts has passed, and the topsoil warms up to + 13-15 ° С. If you sow seeds in cold ground, they simply will not sprout. However, this vegetable does not like high temperatures either - no matter how much the cucumber likes warmth, its best growth is observed at rates from +24 to + 28 ° С. If the thermometer rises higher, there is a stop in development. Therefore, it is advisable to sow crops in open beds from mid-late May (depending on the climatic zone) to the middle of the first decade of June.

It is necessary to close up cucumber seeds to a depth of about 2 cm, taking into account the planting density - 5-7 bushes per square meter. It is not worth thickening this culture, since it should receive enough light and be well ventilated.

2. Cucumber loves to eat well

The place for growing cucumbers must be prepared in advance by fertilizing the soil with rotted manure (under the predecessor), mullein or chicken droppings (directly under the crop). Thus, the garden bed will receive a sufficient charge of nutrients, it will be disinfected from a number of pathogens and enriched with carbon dioxide, and the cucumbers will be provided with adequate nutrition.

3. Cucumber - a culture with a superficial root system

Like any vegetable crop with a shallow root system, the cucumber loves structured soil, good oxygen access to the roots, and adequate moisture. But, it is this particular feature of the structure of its underground part that brings the greatest damage to the plant with illiterate human intervention.

The root system of the cucumber represents 1.5% of the total mass of the plant and extends in depth (mainly) up to 40 cm. The largest part of it lies only 5 cm from the soil surface and barely reaches 25 cm, so it is impossible to loosen the garden around the plant. Each time the top layer of the earth next to the cucumber stem is processed, its roots are injured and the plant needs more than a week to recover and recover. Based on this, the air permeability of the bed should not be ensured by constant weeding and loosening, but by a good predecessor, early introduction of organic matter and mulching.

The best precursors for cucumbers are lettuce, early cabbage, cauliflower, peas and green manure. Acceptable: potatoes and tomatoes. Beans, carrots, squash and other melons are not suitable as precursors for cucumber, since they have diseases in common with the culture.

4. Cucumber - moisture-loving culture

Based on the structural features of the root system, a cucumber needs a constant moisture regime for normal growth and development. Lack of moisture causes darkening and fragility of plant foliage, introduces it into a state of stress. Excessive moisture - reduces the amount of oxygen in the soil, makes the leaves of cucumbers pale green, inhibits the growth of lashes and the formation of greens. Constant jumps in moisture, combined with jumps in temperature, provoke the formation of bitterness in the fruit.

Not useful for this culture and watering with cold water. This is due to the fact that the cooled soil impairs the absorption capacity of the root system. Therefore, the temperature of the irrigation water must not be lower than + 18 ° C.

The optimal indicator of soil moisture for cucumber is 80%, the threshold of wilting is 30%.

5. Cucumber - short day culture

Based on the fact that the cucumber is a short-day plant, the best time to grow it is the beginning and end of summer. This fact, with a competent approach, allows not only to get high crop yields, but to use the useful area of ​​the garden with maximum benefit, filling the beds that were empty after early vegetables with summer (June) crops of cucumber.

It is also worth knowing that this plant, despite the love for the sun and warmth, needs only 10-12 hours of the photoperiod and works well not only in open areas, but also in light shade.

Fruit ovary on a cucumber

So, based on the characteristics of this culture, aiming to grow a good harvest of cucumbers, it is necessary to tune in not only to regular watering, but also to regular feeding, regular mulching, regular collection of fruits, since it is the consistency in caring for this vegetable that plays a key role in success.

Preparing the soil for planting cucumbers

Planting a cucumber begins with site selection and soil preparation. This is important because this culture loves light and responds well to fertility. Therefore, if possible, then the beds must be organized from north to south, under the predecessor, apply organic matter or fill the soil with fertilizers just before planting the vegetable.

The best fertilizer for cucumber is cow dung. Under the predecessor, it should be applied in rotted form, at the rate of 4-6 kg per square meter, and immediately before sowing - as a tincture of mullein (1 part of fresh manure to 5 parts of water). If there is no manure, it can be replaced with chicken manure (diluted with water 1x20) or any available complex mineral fertilizer.

The most successful option for growing cucumbers is warm beds with a height of at least 25 cm. Having an organic pillow inside, they not only provide the plants with the necessary nutrients, but also saturate the roots with carbon dioxide, produce a warming effect.

Planting cucumbers in open ground

Many believe that in order for a cucumber to give a high yield, it must be planted exclusively in seedlings.However, if the conditions of the climatic zone in which you are gardening are quite mild, it is good to sow a cucumber directly on the beds.

It is better to do this in several stages, and in order not to miscalculate with the timing of crops (suddenly the cold will return unexpectedly) and in order to prolong fruiting. You can start sowing from mid-May (in the south) and continue until mid-June. There is no point in planting cucumbers later, since long daylight hours and high summer temperatures do not favor its normal development.

Due to the fact that modern breeding has taken care to bring out not only zoned varieties for each separate climatic zone, but also disease-resistant hybrids, it is worth choosing them. This will protect you from unnecessary hassle and will allow you to get a really high-quality rich harvest.

In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to the ripening time of the selected variety, and to its purpose, since it can be early ripening, mid-ripening or late cucumbers, as well as universal, pickled or salad cucumbers.

If the last fact is not indicated on the seed label - look at the picture: cucumbers intended for conservation have black pimples, those that are good only fresh are white.

For sowing, it is better to choose seed at least two years ago. This is due to the peculiarity of melon seeds to increase germination with each additional year of storage (from 2 to 6 years, then germination drops and by 9 years the seeds become unsuitable for sowing), and to form a larger number of female flowers on the plants obtained from such sowing material, from which the fruits are formed.

Watering cucumbers

Regular high-quality watering is a fundamental factor in growing a decent harvest of cucumbers. It should be carried out in the holes between the rows and often enough to keep the soil in a constantly moist state. It is better to water the cucumbers in the evening, or at the same time in the morning, preferably before the start of the heat, with warm water (from +18 to + 25 ° C), without moisture getting on the leaves. Watering should be moderate before flowering, and abundant during fruiting.

Top dressing for cucumbers

If the soil is not filled with a sufficient amount of organic matter for the predecessor or in the pre-sowing preparation of the beds, the cucumbers must be fed regularly. Feeding begins after the formation of 2-3 true leaves and continues throughout the entire fruiting period.

Cucumbers are most responsive to nitrogen, however, for their full development, they need both phosphorus and potassium. Therefore, most often experienced gardeners alternate the application of mineral fertilizers with organic matter. The best choice in this matter would be ammofoska (10-15 g per 1 sq. M) and mullein solution, or chicken droppings. But if the weather is cold outside, feeding is useless.

Hilling cucumbers

It is good to spud the bare roots of cucumbers several times a season. This will allow the plants to grow additional roots and protect the stem from fungal diseases.

Shaping, or pinching

A separate component of cucumber care is the formation of plants. It is necessary in order to provoke the development of lateral shoots, on which more female flowers are formed. Formation is made by pinching the central stem of the cucumber over 5-6 leaves. At the same time, early ripening varieties can not be formed, but the development of late and mid-ripening varieties can be adjusted.

Techniques for increasing the yield of cucumbers

Based on the peculiarities of the culture, experienced vegetable growers have long found out that high-quality care and pinching of lashes are far from all the tricks in terms of increasing the yield of cucumbers. There are other ways to enhance the formation of female flowers. One of them is to temporarily stop watering just before the flowering of the crop.This technique makes the plants “think” that they may soon die and provokes intense fruit formation.

Another option for increasing yields is mixing different varieties and hybrids of crops in plantings, which enhances the cross-pollination of cucumbers.

You can also make ringing of the stems - make a shallow circular incision under the first pair of leaves of the plant (the procedure is performed only in dry weather), which will complicate the outflow of nutrients to the roots and contribute to the formation of more ovaries.

At the time of the decline in the formation of zelents, foliar feeding of cucumbers with urea can be made (at the rate of 20 g per 10 liters of water), but only either on a wet evening or in cloudy weather.

Increases productivity and removal of the first ovary. This technique allows the plant to strengthen the root system and gain strength for the formation of a large number of fruits. You can also try attracting bees to your area - either by planting melliferous plants, or by arranging drinking bowls with aromatic syrup.

A separate word must be said about supports. Since the cucumber is a climbing plant, the best option for growing it is vertical. Supports can be of different options: inclined, vertical, arranged along the garden bed or round - here as it is convenient for anyone. The main thing is that the plants on them will not touch the ground, they will be better ventilated, it will be easier to harvest from them, which means they will hurt less and bear fruit more abundantly.

The peak of fruiting in cucumbers begins in July. It is important to continue watering and harvest on time. It is better to collect the collection every other day, a maximum of two, in the early morning hours, since the cucumbers harvested in the evening wither faster and are stored worse. It is necessary to remove everything, including twisted and ugly fruits, since each cucumber left on the plant delays the laying of new ovaries. At the same time, the cucumbers should not be tugged or twisted, but carefully trimmed with garden scissors, or pinched with nails, since the injured lashes get sick and form the harvest worse.

Along with the greens, at each inspection of the garden, it is good to remove yellowed and diseased leaves - this will keep the plants strong and healthy, and prolong their fruiting.

Reproduction of the varieties you like

If the variety of cucumbers purchased this year actually made you happy with the harvest, then it is advisable to collect seeds from it. To do this, on several plants, it is necessary to leave a certain amount of large healthy fruits (no more than three per bush) and let them ripen. However, it makes sense to do this if it really is a variety, since the hybrid does not repeat the mother plant from the seeds, so it is useless to leave it for propagation.

Cucumbers are a popular vegetable in our country, so every gardener, regardless of the size of the plot, likes to grow cucumbers in his garden. But even with the same climatic characteristics, the yield is different for everyone. The whole secret lies in the care when growing cucumbers, it is necessary to plant according to the rules.

If you follow the correct agricultural techniques, plant according to the advice regarding the predecessor crops and take care of it properly, then it will not be difficult for a beginner to get a good harvest even from seeds.

Basic requirements for growing cucumbers in the open field

In general, caring for a culture cannot be called difficult, but taking into account the climate of regional characteristics, there are many nuances that you need to know.

The basic requirements for growing cucumbers include:

• to plant are selected only healthy seeds, trained;
• the soil to sow must be loose and slightly acidic;
• planting of seeds and seedlings is carried out at a strictly allotted time in compliance with the temperature regime;
• during the growing season 3-4 weeding and loosening soil;
• the beds are regularly watered with warm water (10-14 liters per 1 m2);
• fertilizers and fertilizing are introduced according to the schedule, the rates of nutrient consumption cannot be changed;
• the beds should be located on the sunny side, but not in a draft;
• when planting seedlings, avoid thickening;
• timely control the condition of plants and the degree of soil moisture;
• in case of identified problems, instantly carry out the processing of the culture.

Cucumber beds should be located on the north side

Growing methods

There are quite a few options for growing greenery. Among the most well-known methods: outdoors, in a greenhouse, on a balcony, in a barrel, etc.

When cultivating a vegetable in open beds, the method of seeding and planting seedlings is used.

How to plant seeds in the garden

It is necessary to sow seeds at certain temperature indicators, otherwise seedlings may not appear. An important point is soil and seed preparation... The quality of the work performed depends not only on how they can germinate, but also on the intensity of the development of seedlings.

After the formation of 3-4 leaves, the frequent bed is thinned out, leaving the strongest seedlings. At the stage of germination and growth of shoots, it is important to ensure sufficient moisture, good light and fertilization with any nutrientshelping the plant to grow.

Seedlings

The seedling method is used to obtain early harvest and in order to protect young shoots from spring frosts. The grown seedlings in greenhouse or at home are transferred to the garden bed, which is already strong. Their root system, although weak, takes root quickly in a new environment.

It is important not to damage the sensitive root when transferring seedlings to the hole.

Before planting sprouts in open ground must be adapted on the street, a sharp change in habitat and temperature can destroy them.

The lashes can be placed in the spreading and on the trellis. Depending on the method chosen, the spacing between bushes and rows must be observed. In the absence of a garter, there should be enough room for the stems to spread over the garden.

Garter cucumbers on a trellis net

Where is it better to plant cucumbers to get a good harvest

The culture is native to India, so a hot, humid climate is ideal for it. The very structure of the whip indicates the need for a garter on the trellis.

The garden bed arranged in this way is protected from fungal infections with an abundance of rains and from the scorching rays of the sun. The fruits find shade under the massive leaves of the plant. However, it is worth remembering that the scorching sun is also dangerous for cucumbers, burns may appear on the greenery.

Given the climatic features, it is necessary to provide partial shading of bushes or partial shade. This is easy to do by planting corn, sunflower or undersized grapes in the aisle area. Diffused light will be more beneficial to the plant.

With all the love for moisture, you should not choose a site in the lowlands for sowing cucumbers. With heavy rainfall and a high level of groundwater, plants are threatened with fungal diseases due to waterlogging. Much better is a place on a hill, where it is much easier to control the degree of soil moisture.

Preparing the land for planting

It is better to prepare a place for a cucumber garden in advance in order to exclude unpleasant surprises.

Digging up the beds in the fall is a mandatory procedure

At the end of the season from the site all plant residues and debris are removed... For larvae of pests and other microorganisms, they are of great interest. In such an environment, the parasites hibernate and by the spring they are already replenishing the colonies with a new generation.

To eliminate this possibility, it is recommended in addition to cleaning be sure to dig up the ground (immersion depth at least 25 cm). It is better to do this just before the frost to prevent the parasites from finding a new shelter. Also, autumn work includes the introduction of fertilizers to increase soil fertility. This process can be combined with digging.

In the spring area dug up again and necessarily disinfected... To do this, use a weak solution of potassium permanganate or boiling water.

Cucumbers respond very well to this type of fertilizer such as manure... It can be administered both in autumn and spring 2-3 weeks before disembarkation (8-10 kg per 1 m2). To stimulate the growth of young shoots, nitrogen and potassium-phosphorus substances (25 g of potassium salt, 40 g of superphosphate) are introduced into the soil.

To protect cucumbers from pests, the soil is treated with Aktellik before planting.

In the process of preparing the soil for the new season, in order to prevent it, it is necessary to treat the future bed with wood ash or special preparations that protect the bushes from pests (Fitoverm, Aktellik).

How to plant in soil

Growing greenery with the help of seeds provides for the observance of the following rules:

• sowing time is selected taking into account the favorable temperature conditions (late May - early June);
• seeds must be processed before planting;
• the soil should be disinfected and fertilized;
• the beds are best positioned from east to west;
• landing pattern - 20x100 or 60x80 (depending on the cultivation method);
• the depth of immersion of seeds is 2-3 cm.

Seedling growing rules:

• the seed must be prepared (sorting, soaking, disinfecting);
• soil is also needed disinfect and enrich with nutrients;
• it is ideal to use a substrate of sod land, mullein and humus for cultivating seedlings (2: 1: 7);
• to fertilize the soil, substances are introduced (30 g of ammonium nitrate or urea, 20 g of superphosphate, 6 g of potassium salt, 30 g of lime per bucket of soil);
• temperature regime after sowing - 12-15 degrees; after the seedlings had time to ascend, at first, for several days, 20-25 degrees are observed, then the temperature is reduced - in the daytime to 20-22 degrees, at night to 15 degrees;
• 10 days after the emergence of seedlings, the seedlings are fed with slurry (1: 1) with the addition of 20 g of superphosphate per bucket of mixture;
• a week before transferring shoots to open ground, spend daily outdoor hardening;
• for prophylaxis, seedlings are treated with epin or immunocytophyte.

Correct seedling care

The rules for caring for a cucumber bed are very clear. Among the main conditions - creating a humid environment... This is regulated by watering.

Ideal for seedling care sprinkling or drip irrigation... The use of a hose can damage fragile roots with a strong jet. A small area can be spilled with a spray bottle. The water norm per 1 m2 is 10-14 liters.

Regularity of procedures - 1 time in 7 days with average air humidity, 1 time in 5 days at temperatures over 28 degrees.

To water the beds, only warm settled water is used. The use of cold liquid negatively affects the development of the plant.

When caring for cucumber seedlings, it is ideal to use drip irrigation

The intensity of development and the formation of a large lash requires a lot of nutrition, so it is impossible to ignore the feeding regime. After the first shoots appear on the surface of the soil, first feeding: 10 g of potassium salt, 10 g of ammonium nitrate, 30 g of superphosphate are taken for 10 liters of water.

The second feeding the garden bed is enriched after 2 weeks, doubling the amount of dissolved fertilizers. When applying fertilizers, contact between the working solution and the green part of the crop should be avoided.

To protect cucumbers from decay and pests, it is recommended to periodically carry out weeding... This procedure is usually combined with loosening, which provides free access of oxygen to the soil and prevents the formation of stagnant moisture in the soil. The first weeding is done after the formation of 4-5 leaves on the shoots.

Spring weather is often unpredictable, so after sowing the garden covered with film or agrofiber.

The film needs to be removed during the day, and the shelter must be restored again at night.So late frosts will not cause the death of seedlings.

Based on the information provided, we can conclude that it is not difficult to create favorable conditions for growing cucumbers. Timely prevention will prevent damage to the plant by pests and various diseases. And thanks to complementary foods and irrigation, cucumbers will be endowed with high taste.

Homemade cucumbers, grown with their own hands on their own plot, are much tastier and more aromatic than those bought in the store. And how nice it is to pick crispy greens from the whip on a hot day and enjoy its fresh taste! Although this vegetable crop is quite demanding on conditions, loves warmth, moisture and a certain microclimate, nevertheless, with the help of growing cucumbers in the open field, you can achieve no less results than in a greenhouse or in a greenhouse.

Variety selection

Open field cucumber varieties you need to choose the appropriate:

• ideal for salting Nezhinsky and Muromsky,
• drought-resistant Steppe,
• early ripening Altai early and Moscow pickling,
• universal Rural Fair,
• excellent in combination of yield and taste Cascade, Graceful, Irresistible,
• bee-pollinated hybrids Santana, Spring, Othello, Octopus, Annushka, Libelle, Nightingale, Crane, Farmer,
• self-pollinated hybrids of the Red mullet, Crispina, Blizzard, Herman, Blizzard, Laplandia, Claudia, Buyan, Ant, Zyatek, Matilda, etc.

Homemade cucumbers grown with your own hands on your own plot are much tastier and more aromatic than those bought in the store.

Growing cucumber seedlings at home

Most summer residents grow seedlings at home on the window in advance, so that the cucumbers in the open field quickly grow and begin to bear fruit earlier. To obtain seedlings, cucumber seeds are sown during April in pots or cups filled with a nutritious soil mixture (from sawdust, humus and peat with the addition of nitrophoska and ash).

Video about growing cucumber seedlings at home

Optimal conditions for growing seedlings at home: daytime temperature + 20 degrees, night temperature + 14 degrees, if the temperature rises, you can open the window. Water the sprouts once a week in the morning using warm water. To obtain ready-made seedlings, one month is enough, no more.

Preparing the beds for planting seedlings

Growing cucumbers in the ground works best in illuminated places, artificially closed from the wind. Beds where tomatoes, root vegetables, cabbage, bell peppers or onions have grown are suitable. Keep in mind: if the garden is not transferred for several years, the decline in yield will not stop even the application of fertilizers.

The best option for cucumbers is a warm bed created in early spring from branches, fallen leaves, needles, sawdust, straw, peat, vegetable tops will not work. Mix all the garbage well and form a high bed (up to 50 cm). Pour hot water over the bed, walk around it to tamp it better, and then disinfect it with a solution of copper sulfate. After finishing the disinfection, pour a 12-centimeter layer of soil mixture from turf soil, peat, sawdust and humus on top of the garden bed. Fertilize the soil with mineral fertilizers (urea, ash, superphosphate) and spill it with a strong solution of potassium permanganate. The soil for the cucumbers is ready, you can close the warm bed with plastic wrap and leave it until mid-May, when the time comes to plant cucumber seedlings.

Pour hot water over the bed, walk around it to tamp it better, and then disinfect it with a solution of copper sulfate

Technology for growing cucumbers in warm beds

The scheme for planting cucumbers with seedlings can be any. A hole is dug under each plant, ready-made fertilizer is poured into it, a bed with holes is watered with warm water and the planting of seedlings begins. There should be a distance of 60 cm between the holes.If you chose the non-seedling method, you yourself collected the seeds from the cucumbers and germinated them before planting, then it is better to sow the seeds into the grooves two at a time, so that you can then remove the weaker sprouts. The groove is made in the middle of the bed, the distance between the seeds should be about 50 cm.

At first, cucumber beds will need to be covered in cool weather and at night when the air temperature is less than +15 degrees. For this purpose, install arcs over the bed and fix a double film on them - one film can be removed in warm weather. The film will also come in handy in the summer, since the greens will be poured during fruiting only if it is at least +18 degrees at night.

Video about growing cucumber seedlings

Growing cucumbers in the garden will be successful if you consider the following important points:

• make sure that the soil is not covered with a crust, otherwise it will be difficult for the sprouts to grow;
• weeds must be removed immediately, but try not to damage the cucumber lashes;
• direct the growing cucumber plants along the ground across the garden bed in one direction, then in the other, and it is better to tie it immediately to a wire stretched over the bed or fix it on a trellis;
• you need to water only with warm water and loosen the soil immediately after watering;
• it is recommended to feed cucumbers every 10 days;
• when collecting greens, try not to turn or lift the whips, separate the cucumbers by pressing on the stalk with a thumbnail.

Carefully look after the cucumbers, pick the greens on time and do not forget to water them regularly - then a good harvest will not take long!

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Cucumbers are one of the most beloved vegetable crops by the people. And it seems like an unpretentious plant, simple, but no, and to grow it you need to know a few secrets. Just by considering them, you will get healthy, seasoned seedlings, and then - a rich harvest of crispy, sweet cucumbers. So, read on about growing cucumber seedlings at home.

Features of growing seedlings

Cucumbers can be successfully sown in open ground, but still the highest and earlier harvest can be achieved if ready-made seedlings are planted in the soil. Moreover, seedlings can be grown in different ways, which we will discuss below in the article. The main principles are correct preparation of seeds, soil and good care.

Seed preparation

Purchased seeds are pre-processed well, so they are easy to prepare for sowing. It is another matter if the gardener decided to reproduce in the beds the same variety of cucumbers that grew with him in the previous year.

Here it is already more difficult with the preparation of seeds: they need to be disinfected by soaking in a solution of potassium permanganate (1%) in order to protect future seedlings from diseases. Further steps will be the same for both your own and purchased material.

Selection

Seed preparation begins with the selection of empty seeds. To do this, carry out the following procedure: dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in a glass of water, dip the seeds in this solution: good seeds will sink to the bottom, and hollow ones will float.

Hardening

First place the moistened and swollen seeds in the refrigerator for 10 hours, then warm them up by the battery for 6-8 hours: this increases their endurance.

Soak

In order for the seeds to germinate earlier, they need to be soaked. To do this, spread the seeds on the fabric, cover it with it, then immerse the fabric in water. It is necessary that the fabric remains moist, but the seeds do not float in the water. Germination of seeds ends their preparation.

Note! At home, the easiest way to germinate seeds is three years ago. Germination is facilitated by a procedure called bubbling, when a bag of seeds is first placed in the aquarium and the compressor is turned on, and then soaked.

Sowing dates

Sowing times vary by region. In the southern regions of the Russian Federation, sowing of cucumbers for seedlings begins in April, in more northern parts of Russia - in May. Seedlings are planted in open ground after 3-4 weeks, when the ground warms up to 18 ° C.

Soil selection

It is better to buy soil for seedlings in the store, but you can prepare it yourself. The composition is as follows:

• sod land - 40%;
• low-lying peat - 40%;
• sawdust - 10%;
• manure -10%.

Another version of the composition:

• rotted manure - 60%;
• sod land - 30%;
• sand - 10%.

Fertilizers must first be applied to the soil. For 5 liters of soil, a mixture of:

• superphosphate - 7 g;
• potassium sulfate - 4 g;
• urea - 3 g;
• magnesium sulfate - 1 g.

Landing

Seeds pre-soaked in a damp cloth germinate rather quickly. As a rule, after 3 days you can already see a sprout half a centimeter long. This is enough to start planting seeds for seedlings. It is better to plant germinated seeds in a container with a diameter of about 7 cm. The most popular and traditional method is planting in plastic cups.

Beforehand, a hole must be made in each cup to drain excess water. Then pour drainage on the bottom, then fill the glass with prepared soil, leaving a fifth empty. As the sprouts mature, the earth will have to be filled up a little.

Make a 2 mm depression in the ground with your finger and place the seeds in them, then sprinkle with soil on top. This completes the sowing of cucumber seeds for seedlings.

After, they need to be watered and covered with polyethylene. This will create a greenhouse effect. Keep the cups under the plastic for 3 days at a temperature of about 25 ° C. As soon as the cotyledons open, lower the temperature by 5 ° C and ensure proper care.

Cucumber seedling care

The right temperature, proper lighting and proper watering are 3 basic principles on which good care of seedlings at home is based.

Temperature

Create the required temperature regime for the cucumber seedlings within 20-23 ° C. If the temperature values ​​are slightly higher, then spray the seedlings more often, and ventilate the room during the day. If the temperature is below normal, then the phytolamp will save the situation.

They will also help ensure a good level of illumination. With a lack of light at home, the seedlings are strongly stretched, then it is inconvenient to plant, you have to do this only under a slope, while the survival rate decreases. That is why it is so important to have a lot of light.

In cloudy weather, you can use a 60-watt lamp for additional lighting, but on a sunny day, there should be enough natural light.

Watering

Water the seedlings correctly, only with warm water, striving for its temperature to be about 25 ° C. The soil must always remain moist, and the seedlings must not be poured, otherwise the roots will rot and it will die.

Advice from experienced gardeners: Take a small lump of soil, roll a ball out of it with your fingers. If it turns out to be a ball - good moisture, if the soil crumbles, there is not enough moisture, but if it spreads, it is excess moisture.

Fertilizer

As the sprouts mature, you should pour the earth into the cups. It is recommended to do this 2 times after the sprout is noticeably extended. In addition, little plants need feeding, without which care for seedlings is unthinkable.

Fertilize seedlings 2-3 times. The very first feeding is introduced when the first leaf appears. If a second leaf appears, it's time for secondary fertilization. The third time the cucumber seedlings are fed 12-15 days after the second fertilization.

Finished fertilizers are sold in specialized stores, but they can be prepared at home.

Preparation of the composition:

• liquid - 5 l;
• bird droppings - 100 g;
• superphosphates - 7 g;
• ammonium nitrate - 3 g;
• potassium sulfate - 4 g.

This composition is ideal for the first feeding.For subsequent applications, the concentration of the listed components is doubled.

Alternative cultivation methods

Inventive gardeners have developed many other ways to grow cucumber seedlings. At the same time, the costs of funds and efforts will be minimal.

Peat tablets

You can grow seedlings at home not only in plastic cups, but also in peat tablets. Recently, this method has become widespread.

For cucumber seedlings, tablets with a thickness of 5-8 mm are suitable. Water them and, after waiting for swelling, plant seeds in them. It is best to place the tablets in a plastic container at a minimum distance from each other.

Sawdust

To plant seedlings in sawdust, you will need a container, a plastic bottle cut lengthwise, or a shallow flower pot. Lay polyethylene at the bottom, and pour sawdust on it, previously scalded with boiling water. The layer thickness should be 6 cm.

Make grooves in the sawdust at a distance of 5 cm from each other. Place the seeds in them every 2-3 cm. Water the sawdust periodically to keep them moist. Feed the seedlings with a mullein diluted with water 1:10. After 2-3 weeks, transplant the seedlings into the ground.

Seedlings "in swaddling clothes"

Cellophane, cut into squares, acts as a diaper. Pour a small amount of soil into the upper left part. Place the seeds on it. Fold the bottom of the film up.

Then fold the left edge and roll the film into a roll. This "swaddling" ends with the fastening of the film with a thin elastic band. Moisten the substrate in the diapers a little and place the rolls in a plastic container, leaving no distance between them. Seedling rolls are easy to care for.

Landless way

This will require toilet paper and polyethylene. On pieces of polyethylene cut to the width of the paper, the seedlings are placed in 2 layers and well moistened with a spray bottle. Seeds are laid out along the top edge at a distance of 4 cm from each other.

From above, they are covered with another layer of toilet paper. Then everything is rolled into rolls, which are fixed with elastic bands. The rolls are placed in a container filled with water. Its level should be a maximum of 2 cm.

Growing seedlings in shell

This method is not much different from growing seedlings in plastic cups, but it has one important advantage: before planting, you will not need to remove the seedlings from the shell, you just need to split it. True, this must be done carefully, without damaging the roots.

So, growing cucumber seedlings at home is within the power of everyone. However, the result will be only if the seed is properly prepared and the sowing is carried out at the right time.

After that, it remains only to carefully take care of her. Grow cucumber seedlings in traditional and creative ways. The main thing is to get a wonderful harvest, with which every seed will thank you for good care.