How to properly grow cucumbers in a winter greenhouse?

Fresh cucumbers in winter - a real delicacy and a powerful vitamin bomb.

Delicious fruits are rarely found in stores, so experienced gardeners decide to grow them on their own, in conditions of capital heated greenhouses.

There are many varieties bred specifically for winter fruiting, they can be cultivated in cold regions, getting stable yields. The technology of growing cucumbers in a greenhouse in winter is successfully used in many regions of the country. It has been tried and tested with good results. From this article you can learn how to grow cucumbers in a greenhouse all year round.

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Fresh cucumbers from your greenhouse in the middle of winter - what could be tastier? With the development of modern technologies, growing vegetables in winter greenhouses has ceased to be a rarity. It's quite easy to get fresh cucumbers to your table or to sell. You just need to properly equip the greenhouse and follow the recommendations of experts on the choice of varieties and technology.

Growing cucumbers in a greenhouse in winter

Greenhouse requirements

Cucumbers are thermophilic and moisture-loving crops, so any drop in temperature or humidity will inevitably affect the yield and health of plants. A winter greenhouse for cucumbers must be insulated and equipped with a heating system.

Winter greenhouse for cucumbers

Best results can be achieved when the following conditions are met:

• correct design and placement of the greenhouse;
• complex heating of soil and air;
• adjustable humidity;
• additional artificial lighting;
• fertile loose soil.

These conditions can be created in a glass or polycarbonate greenhouse. Film greenhouses are poorly suited for winter use due to the low strength of the film: during heavy snowfalls, the film sags, snow lingers on it and can collapse the structure.

Polycarbonate greenhouse

Greenhouse construction

The main requirement for winter greenhouses is the protection of plants from the cold and maximum transmission of sunlight. The best performance is provided by double-glazed back-wall greenhouses with a sloping south wall.Glass or polycarbonate is used as a coating, the frame is made of a wooden bar or a shaped metal pipe. It is better to choose the height of the greenhouse so that the condition of the ratio of area and volume of 2: 1 is observed - for cucumbers it is optimal.

Wall greenhouse scheme

The slope of the roof and south wall in such a greenhouse depends on the angle of the sun above the horizon in your area. It is optimal if the midday rays pass through the glass at a right angle - the reflection coefficient in this case is minimal.

The angle of the sun above the horizon and the correct design of the greenhouse

The beds in the greenhouse are also made inclined or in the form of stepped terraces for better heating. This will allow the sun's rays to illuminate each plant unimpeded. It is recommended to paint the back blind wall white or sheathe it with foil - reflecting from it, the rays will illuminate the plants from behind.

The arrangement of ridges in the form of terraces

It is better to enter the winter greenhouse through the vestibule - this will save the plants from cold air currents. A storage tank for water and heating equipment can be placed in the vestibule. The ventilation system, unlike summer greenhouses, cannot be done through the vents - drafts are contraindicated for cucumbers. It is performed supply and exhaust and is made of plastic pipes.

Greenhouse with a vestibule

Heating

Cucumbers do not tolerate too dry air, therefore, it is not recommended to install heating devices in the greenhouse that dry the air: convectors, oil heaters, as well as metal stoves. It is better to mount a water heating system: the soil is heated using pipes laid in the beds, and the air is heated using radiators or registers stretched along the perimeter of the greenhouse.

Greenhouse hot water heating system

A furnace or boiler is used to heat the coolant. The second option is preferable: the boiler burning time is longer, and the level of automation is higher. The boiler for heating the greenhouse can be gas, electric or solid fuel. The power of the boiler for a greenhouse with a height of 2-2.5 meters is chosen at the rate of 1 kW per 8-10 m2 of area. So, for a greenhouse with an area of ​​30-35 m2, a 4 kW boiler is enough.

Heating boiler in a greenhouse

You can also connect the greenhouse to your home heating system if it is located in the immediate vicinity of your home. In this case, the boiler must have a power reserve sufficient to heat the greenhouse. There are other ways to heat a polycarbonate greenhouse in winter.

Greenhouse lighting

The winter day is short, and the sun's activity is low, so cucumbers require additional lighting in winter. This can be done using lamps of different types, while two parameters must be observed - the level of illumination and color temperature.

Plants need light that is as close to daylight as possible, that is, having a color temperature of 5000 ° K. Such light is possessed by fluorescent, mercury (MGL) and metal halide (DNaT and DNaZ) lamps. At the same time, in the growth phase, it is better to use lamps with a colder color - 6500 ° K, and in the flowering and fruiting phase - with a warmer one, that is, about 4000 ° K. At the same time, the plants do not stretch, remain strong and form ovaries well.

Color temperature of different types of lamps

In terms of light output, fluorescent lamps are far behind - much more of them will be required for the same area. At the same time, their price is lower, and they practically do not heat up. A comparison of the light output of different types of lamps is shown in the figure. The specified number of different lamps will provide a luminous flux of 50,000 lumens, which corresponds to the illumination of 4-5 m2 of a greenhouse for cucumbers.

Luminous flux of various types of lamps

The number of lamps required for full illumination of winter greenhouses of different sizes is shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Calculation of winter greenhouse lighting for cucumbers.

5	1	5	10
10	2	10	20
15	3	15	30
20	4	20	40

You can also use LED lights designed specifically for growing plants to illuminate your plants.These lamps are distinguished by a red-blue spectrum, which allows for faster growth and improved fruiting.

LED phyto-lamps in the greenhouse

Note! Prolonged exposure to the red-blue spectrum can be detrimental to vision. Working in a greenhouse is best done in natural light.

Soil preparation

The soil in the greenhouse for cucumbers should be loose, fertile and moderately moist. This can be achieved by preparing a soil mixture suitable for plants and a drainage device.

Greenhouse soil

The beds in winter greenhouses can be of two types:

• insulated or heated from below box;
• trench filled with biodegradable organic matter.

Both types of beds help protect plants from freezing of the roots. Insulation is performed using polystyrene or polyurethane insulation plates laid on the bottom of boxes and trenches. Heating can be water, in the form of heating pipes, or electric (heating cable).

Heating of the ground with a cable

Soil heating with heating pipes

Warm beds with biodegradable organic matter are filled with wooden chocks, branches, straw, dry foliage and grass, and on top - with fertile soil. At the same time, large chocks and branches are placed on the bottom - they additionally play the role of drainage.

Cooking a "warm bed"

Types and arrangement of warm beds

After the beginning of organic decomposition, the components of a warm bed contain all the elements necessary for plants; it is enough to carry out regular feeding during the entire growing season. The soil for the heated beds must be properly prepared.

The composition of the soil for growing cucumbers:

• last year's hardwood sawdust - 1 bucket;
• humus - 2 buckets;
• peat - 2 buckets;
• wood ash - 1.5 cups;
• nitrophoska or nitroammophoska - 150 grams.

The specified amount is enough to fill a garden bed 30 cm high and approximately 1.5 m2. The components are mixed in a separate container or directly in the box, the bed is watered with a warm solution of potassium permanganate to disinfect it from bacterial infections. Then the soil is treated with a solution of "Fitosporin" against fungal rot.

After holding for two days, the bed is watered with an EM-preparation diluted in warm water ("Baikal", "Emochka", "Shining") and covered with a film or covering material for a week. During this time, the soil is structured, the active work of soil bacteria begins, and fertilizers pass into a form that is well absorbed by plants. The greenhouse is ready for planting seeds or seedlings.

Variety selection and seed preparation

Not all varieties of cucumbers are suitable for growing in winter greenhouses. In order not to be disappointed with the result and get a decent harvest, it is important to follow several rules when selecting a variety.

1. In winter, there are no bees or other pollinating insects in the greenhouse, so self-pollinating (or parthenocarpic) varieties and hybrids should be chosen. When choosing bee-pollinated varieties, it is necessary to carry out manual pollination, as well as plant several roots of cucumbers with a male type of flowering - they will give the necessary pollen.

   Cucumbers for winter cultivation must be self-pollinated.

2. Natural illumination in the winter months is insufficient, and it is quite difficult to create artificial illumination in a spectrum close to the sun. For this reason, light-loving plants will not yield a decent harvest in winter. Shade-tolerant varieties should be chosen.
3. It is quite difficult to maintain natural humidity in a winter greenhouse: due to heating, the air dries up, you have to humidify it with the help of frequent watering or spraying. At the same time, fluctuations in humidity occur and conditions are created for the rapid development of diseases. You should choose varieties that are resistant to bacterial and viral infections, fungal rot.
4. Forming plants in a greenhouse is necessary - thickening of plantings leads to disease. To facilitate this task, it is worth paying attention to hybrids with limited branching - these do not give long lateral lashes, directing all forces to the growth of the main stem.It is convenient to form them vertically, with a garter to the supports.

Hybrid varieties of cucumbers for greenhouses

For a guaranteed result, it is better to plant two or three varieties; all the described requirements are met by the following hybrids:

• Cupid F1;
• Cheetah F1;
• Dynamite F1;
• Berendey F1;
• Garland F1;
• Courage F1;
• Ant F.

After purchasing the seeds, it is necessary to prepare them - this will allow you to achieve friendly shoots and uniform growth of seedlings, as well as simultaneous fruiting. The preparation consists of several stages.

Preparing cucumber seeds for sowing

Step 1. Seed calibration. A teaspoon of salt is diluted in a glass of cool water and the seeds are lowered there for 10-15 minutes. The floating ones are removed - they will not sprout or give weak plants. In a winter greenhouse, it is inappropriate to spend time and place on them.

If the seeds are expensive and it is a pity to throw them away, rinse and dry them, and then use them for summer planting.

The remaining heavy seeds are washed in running water. Seeds can also be calibrated by size, choosing the smoothest and largest.

Seed calibration

Step 2. Disinfection. Selected seeds for the prevention of bacterial infections are dipped for 20-30 minutes in a bright purple solution of potassium permanganate or three percent hydrogen peroxide.

Potassium permanganate treatment

Step 3. Treatment for fungal infections. From fungal rot, the seeds are soaked for 2-3 hours in a solution of "Fitosporin", which is prepared according to the manufacturer's recommendation indicated on the package. The seeds are washed and dried.

Seed treatment in Fitosporin solution

Step 4. Warming up. It is carried out to prevent viral diseases and increase female flowers on the plant. It is most convenient to warm up the seeds in a thermos - a constant temperature is maintained there. Water with a temperature of + 60 ° C is poured into a thermos, the seeds are lowered there and kept for 4-8 hours.

Warming up seeds in a thermos

Step 5. Hardening. For winter greenhouses, it is important to grow plants that are resistant to temperature changes and short-term drops in temperature in case of severe frosts or interruptions in heating. The seeds are placed in a napkin, moistened and placed on a saucer. Quenching is carried out on the lower shelf of the refrigerator at a temperature from 0 ° C to + 2 ° C for 2 days.

Seed hardening

Step 6. Stimulation. This technique allows you to accelerate germination and activates plant immunity. Stimulation is carried out in a solution of the drug "Epin" or "Zircon" according to the instructions on the sachet. A popular recipe gives good results: the aloe leaf is torn off, cut in half lengthwise, the seeds are placed on the cut, covered with the cut part and wrapped in a napkin. Leave overnight, and in the morning they are planted without rinsing.

Stimulation of seeds in "Epin"

Note! Most of the purchased seeds have already been processed! Follow the manufacturer's information on the packaging!

Planting cucumbers

You can plant cucumbers in winter directly in the ground or in seedlings. The second method has its advantages: you can plant plants with a stock, and then choose the strongest and healthiest. In addition, it is much easier to provide the necessary conditions for germination at home.

Scheme of planting a cucumber in a greenhouse

To make the plant easier to transfer the transplant, it is necessary to choose the right seedling cups. The root system of cucumbers in the first phase of the growing season does not develop in depth, but to the sides, so the glasses should be wide enough. The volume of the cups is not less than 0.5 liters.

For planting seedlings, you can use the soil prepared for the greenhouse or a purchased mixture. It is advisable to disinfect a mixture of your own production by heating to 80 degrees for an hour.

Step 1. Prepare seedling cups. The glasses are treated with a solution of potassium permanganate and filled with soil mixture to half, lightly crushed and watered. Withstand at least 2-3 hours so that moisture is evenly distributed throughout the volume.

Preparing seedling cups

Step 2. Landing. The treated seeds are placed flat on the soil. Often in the literature, there is a recommendation to plant 2 seeds in each glass, so that later you can choose a stronger sprout, and pluck the second one. However, for expensive hybrid seeds, this technique is rarely used: they usually germinate well, and it is a pity to throw away healthy shoots. 1-2 cm of dry soil mixture is poured onto the seeds on top. There is no need to water the planted plants - there is enough moisture from the lower soil layers for germination, and the upper dry layer will allow the seeds to breathe.

Planting seeds

Step 3. Germination. Cups with seeds are covered with foil or glass and placed in a warm place. The temperature before germination should not fall below 25 ° С, optimally 28-30 ° С. Light at this time is unimportant, the seeds germinate in the dark. The cups are inspected twice a day, at the same time removing the film for airing for 10-20 minutes. When shoots appear, the cups are immediately removed under the lamp.

Germination

Step 4. Phase of cotyledonous leaves. The most important stage during which the strength and productivity of the plant is laid. When a loop appears, the sprouts are placed under a lamp and for the first 2-3 days they are illuminated for 18-20 hours a day. This will prevent the plants from stretching. If the sprouts are still stretched out, they sprinkle the earth along the very cotyledons.

Seedlings under the lamp

Step 5. Phase of the first two or three leaves. Plants get stronger and grow rather quickly. The backlight is reduced to 14-16 hours a day. In the phase of the second or third leaf, fertilizing is carried out with a complex fertilizer with microelements ("Kemira", "Zdraven") .A few days after feeding, the plants can be planted in the greenhouse, choosing the strongest ones.

Greenhouse landing

Note! If you plant cucumbers directly on greenhouse beds, they need to provide the same conditions.

Planting a cucumber directly into the ground

Video - Winter planting of cucumbers

Care during the growing season and fruiting

Cucumbers are planted in prepared and warmed soil. To do this, prepare holes, water them and wait for moisture to be absorbed. Carefully remove the plant from the cup, set it together with an earthen lump in the hole, deepening it to the cotyledon leaves, and sprinkle it with earth.

Planting cucumbers in warm beds in a greenhouse

After planting cucumbers in the greenhouse, it is necessary to provide them with conditions for the best growth and development. Cucumbers do not like strong changes in day and night temperatures: rot of various origins appears, growth is inhibited, ovaries fall off, and the fruits become bitter. The optimal conditions for cucumbers in the greenhouse are shown in table 2.

Table 2. Microclimate in a winter greenhouse for cucumbers.

Day temperature, ° С	23-25	Below 8, above 37
Temperature at night, ° С	17-18	Below 8, above 37
Soil temperature, ° С	20-22	Below 15, above 35
Humidity, %	75-80	Below 40
Illumination, lx	10000-15000	Continuously below 2500

Watering cucumbers

The soil for cucumbers should ideally be moderately moist. This can be achieved using drip irrigation or regular watering at the root. Cucumbers are watered only with settled warm water with a temperature of 25-27 ° C until the ten-centimeter soil layer is moistened. To reduce the amount of watering, the beds are mulched with rotten sawdust, peat or straw.

Watering cucumbers from a watering can

To soften the water, you can add a minimum amount of organic fertilizers to it - 5-10 ml of mullein or bird droppings infusion per bucket of water. With such watering, root fertilization with organic fertilizers is not needed, the plants will receive nitrogen fertilizers with watering. Soft water is better absorbed by the roots.

The best varieties of cucumbers for polycarbonate greenhouses

The choice of varieties depends on what cucumbers you plan to cultivate and what expectations you have for the future harvest. Now there are many such varieties on the seed market, but in order to choose the most suitable option, we recommend reading this article.

Fertilization and disease prevention

It is necessary to fertilize the plants regularly - cucumbers build up a large vegetative mass and quickly consume useful elements from the soil. Lack of nitrogen affects the growth of bushes and the process of photosynthesis, lack of phosphorus and potassium affects the shape and size of the fruit.

For feeding, use an infusion of mullein 1: 5 or chicken droppings 1:15. To enrich the infusion with potassium, calcium and trace elements, wood ash is added to the solution - a glass on a bucket. Stir the components in water and leave for two or three days.

Preparing chicken droppings solution

You can also use complex fertilizers for melons and gourds for feeding cucumbers. They are bred according to the instructions and watered at the root or sprayed on the leaves.

Note! When infusion of fertilizing from organic matter, carbon dioxide is released. It is useful for plants, so a bucket of infusion can be left in the greenhouse near the ridges.

Video - Feeding cucumbers

For the prevention of diseases, the plants are sprayed with "Fitosporin" three times during the growing season with an interval of 15 days. It helps to avoid the appearance of fungal diseases. You can also use watering the soil with warm solutions of potassium permanganate and boric acid.

Spraying with Fitosporin - prevention

Forming and collecting fruits

To prevent plants from shading each other, they must be properly formed. In greenhouses, cucumbers are grown vertically to provide ventilation, reduce the likelihood of disease and facilitate access to plants. In addition, with a vertical garter, more plants can be placed on one meter of area.

Cucumber molding rules

After planting the plants and the appearance of the first peduncles, the main stem is tied with twine to the supports or structures of the greenhouse. The first peduncles are immediately cut off - they mainly consist of barren flowers, but at the same time they inhibit the growth of cucumbers. After the appearance of the first lateral shoots, they begin to pinch according to schemes depending on the variety.

Cucumbers with a bouquet-bearing type of fruiting tie many fruits in each internode. The main crop for such varieties and hybrids is obtained from the main stem. They pinch the side shoots, allowing the plant to give the crop as much as possible.

Forming cucumbers of bouquet type flowering

Cucumbers with a small number of ovaries in each internode are formed differently. On the fifth and sixth side shoots, one leaf and an ovary are left, on the next - two leaves and two ovaries. This will maximize the yield of the crop.

Forming parthenocarpic cucumber hybrids

Video - Forming and garter cucumbers

After the start of fruiting, picking cucumbers is carried out regularly, ideally daily. Even one large fruit left on the plant inhibits the setting of new cucumbers and the growth of the bush. Harvesting is carried out in the morning or evening. It is more convenient to do this after watering - this way the cucumbers prick less.

Picking cucumbers

Winter greenhouse cucumbers will delight you throughout the cold months. To prolong the period of active fruiting, they can be planted in several stages, constantly updating the planting. With proper agricultural technology and selection of varieties, fresh vegetables will always be on your table.

Growing cucumbers in winter is a simple process. If certain conditions are met, even a beginner can get a good harvest of cucumbers in winter.

Is it possible to get a harvest of cucumbers all year round

Greenhouses sell their products in markets, shops and supermarkets all year round. The abundance of vegetables and fruits no longer surprises anyone.

The variety of fruits and vegetables on the market has become a familiar picture

Some gardeners are not limited to growing vegetables in the summer on their backyard and grow vegetables in the winter in heated greenhouses, basements and apartments.

Complete care guarantees a good harvest in winter

How many cucumbers bear fruit in winter

At any time of the year, cucumbers ripen four weeks after planting. The average harvest time is three months. These dates are not influenced by the planting time or the external environment. The main thing is quality care.

The volume of the crop is influenced by the correct formation of the plant, as well as the timely removal of ripe fruits. The number of zelents from one bush is on average from 10 to 40 pieces.

How cucumbers are pollinated when grown in winter

In summer, cucumbers pollinate insects. Parthenocarpic varieties are used for cultivation in winter, which do not require pollination. Popular indoor cucumber varieties:

• Lilliput F1;
• Emelya F1 (pickling);
• Swallowtail F1;
• Zozulya F1;
• F1 picnic;
• Hercules F1 (salad);
• Hummingbird F1;
• Dynamite F1 (universal);
• Anyuta F1;
• F1 calendar and others.

If varieties that need to be pollinated are selected for planting, you will have to do this work for the bees. A male flower with dangling petals is applied to a female flower, or pollen is transferred from a male flower to a female flower using a brush. This procedure is performed in the morning with high humidity.

Photo gallery: methods of pollination of cucumber flowers

Ways of planting cucumbers in winter

In winter, cucumbers are grown in heated greenhouses, basements and apartments. Cultivation of cucumbers consists of the following stages:

• seed processing;
• seedling care;
• preparation of the premises;
• watering;
• top dressing;
• bush formation;
• harvesting.

Agricultural technology is the same for all types of buried ground structures. Differences will be only at the stage of preparation of the premises.

Seed preparation

Having chosen the hybrid varieties you like, they check the seeds for germination. They are poured into a glass, poured with water, mixed. Leave for planting specimens that have settled to the bottom. Then the seeds are placed in a solution of potassium permanganate (1 gram per 0.1 liter of warm water) for 20 minutes and washed in cold water. After disinfection, the seed is soaked for 12 hours in one of the nutrient solutions of your choice:

• 1 teaspoon of liquid fertilizer Agricola-Start per liter of water;
• 3 teaspoons of bacterial fertilizer Barrier for one liter of water;
• 1 tablespoon of organic Barrier fertilizer per liter of water.

The seeds are germinated for one to two days. Recently, Dutch seeds have appeared on the market, which due to special processing have a high germination capacity and are protected from many diseases. During the preparation of these seeds, heat treatment, dressing and calibration were carried out. They can be embedded in soil after two days of soaking. Popular Dutch hybrids:

• Angelina F1;
• Hector F1;
• Bettina F1;
• Dolomite F1.

Growing seedlings

Seedling preparation takes 4 weeks and is as follows:

1. 8x8 or 10x10 cups are filled with prepared soil (2 parts of peat and humus, 1 part of old sawdust) or ready-made soil.
2. Sprinkle with a solution of liquid fertilizer Ideal and sow germinated seeds. During the preparation of the seedlings, make sure that the temperature does not drop below 12-15 ° C.
3. They are fed with a solution of organic fertilizers. For example, dissolve the Ideal fertilizer in a bucket of water. Solution consumption - half a glass per plant. The appearance of the second true leaf is a signal for the first feeding.
4. When the fourth true leaf appears, it is fed a second time. To prepare the solution, take a teaspoon of urea, superphosphate and potassium sulfate per 10 liters of water.

The seedling is ready for planting if there are already five or six true leaves. The root system must be well developed. Seedlings are planted in a permanent place according to the 50x50 scheme in heated greenhouses and basements. If cucumbers will be grown in an apartment, a separate five-liter pot is used for each seedling.

In the apartment, plants can be planted without growing seedlings. With this method, the roots of the cucumbers will not be damaged during transplantation. The seeds are placed directly into the pots where the cucumbers will be grown. To preserve moisture, the pots are covered with foil. After emergence, the film is removed, the pots are placed closer to the light.

Temperature and humidity

For the cultivation of cucumbers, the optimum air temperature is 25-30 ° C. At a temperature of 12-15 ° C, the process of plant development is delayed, and at zero temperatures, they die. Temperature fluctuations are harmful for a cucumber. The optimum air humidity should be maintained at 80–95%; therefore, it is necessary to spray the plants and install containers with water in the room.

Luminaire selection

In winter, the plants need to be supplemented. For these purposes, different types of lamps are used.

Table: types of lamps for lighting and heating greenhouses

For growing cucumbers in winter, you can use different lighting options. It depends on which fixtures are already in stock. If a new room is being equipped for growing cucumbers, you need to buy LED lamps. Although their price is high, their high cost pays off with their low power consumption and long service life.

LED lamps do not affect the microclimate of the room, the spectrum of their radiation mostly corresponds to the spectrum of photosynthesis.

Regardless of where the cucumbers are grown (in the greenhouse, basement or on the windowsill), install such a number of lamps to provide lighting of 50 thousand lumens for 4-5 square meters. m. For lighting 10 sq. m of the room will require 5 LED lamps with a power of 45 watts.

Table: calculation of the number of lamps for lighting cucumbers in the greenhouse

Preparation of heated greenhouses

Growing cucumbers in heated greenhouses is the most common way to grow cucumbers in winter. To get a large harvest, you need to properly equip the greenhouse. It is important to choose the optimal location, provide water supply and heating.

When choosing a place for building a greenhouse, take into account the illumination of the site, protection from the prevailing winds, the relief of the site, the direction of the greenhouse to the cardinal points. The area for the greenhouse should not be shaded by trees, it should be flat and located in such a way that the illumination is maximum. The winter greenhouse should be built on a foundation, consisting of a roof and a frame. It is recommended to install the structure in a north-south direction. The beds are placed along the greenhouse. Electricity and water must be close to the greenhouse.
When using a water heating system, pipes are laid for heating the soil and radiators for heating the air. Gas, electricity or coal are used as fuel for the boiler. The boiler is selected in such a way that its power is 1 kW for 8-10 sq. m greenhouses. Cucumber beds can be of two types:

• box heated from below;
• "Warm" bed.

When heating beds with pipes, heating elements are placed at a depth of 20–25 cm. Metal pipes with a diameter of 75 to 150 mm are used. Uniform heating of the soil is achieved by using pipes of a smaller cross-section, laid at a higher frequency.

Beds with subsoil pipes allow for uniform heating of the soil

The beds can be heated with an electric cable, reliably protected by a sheath.

The cable must be reliably protected by a sheath

For beds on biodegradable organic matter, a box is built and filled with layers. The first layer is branches, leaves, straw, grass. The second layer is compost, the third layer is soil from the garden. The soil is spilled with a solution of potassium permanganate, then with a solution of Fitosporin. Two days later, treatment is carried out with a solution of the drug Baikal, covered with a film and left for a week.

For beds on biodegradable organic matter, a box is built

Video: secrets of winter growing vegetables in a greenhouse

Preparing the basement for growing cucumbers in winter

Already from the end of the nineteenth century, people began to use cellars to grow vegetables. The basement for growing cucumbers must first be prepared:

• to carry out sealing to prevent flooding;
• insulate the floor and walls with insulating materials;
• organize heating with electrical appliances or hot water;
• provide basement lighting;
• get rid of fungus, rats and other pests.

The optimum air temperature for cucumbers during the day is 25-30 ° C, at night - 18-20 ° C warm. It is easier to maintain the desired temperature in the basement than in a greenhouse. The air temperature under the building is constant throughout the year. The basement heating system can be shared with the home heating system. In this case, radiators are installed in which power regulation is provided.

If there is no central heating in the basement, infrared heaters can be installed. They are installed on the ceiling. Infrared heaters do not dry out the air. Their number is selected so that for every 10 sq. m of the room had 1 kW of heater power.

Winter cultivation in an apartment

For planting cucumbers in an apartment in winter, it is better to use south-facing windows. If there are gaps in the window, it is better to glue them. To protect the roots of plants from cold air, you need to put foam plastic or several layers of cardboard under the pots.

For additional illumination of cucumbers, you can use energy-saving, fluorescent or LED lamps, which are placed at a distance of 30-40 cm from the plants. To enhance the effect, light-reflecting foil sheets and mirrors are installed.

Props are used to form bushes. A wooden rail with ropes tied to it is attached to the top of the windows. The lower ends of the ropes are tied to the shoots. The attachment point should not interfere with the growth of the plant.

For props, you can use a net that is installed between the glass and the plants. As the bush grows, the cucumber clings to the net with tendrils, keeping it upright.

Video: tips for growing cucumbers at home

Care for cucumbers during winter cultivation

Regardless of which variety you grow, it is important to observe the temperature regime, water the cucumbers often and feed them. Only then will the harvest be rich.

Watering

The most necessary step in caring for any plant is watering. Lack and excess of moisture adversely affect the taste of the fruit. Cucumbers love to be watered with warm water. It is good if it matches the temperature of fresh milk.
Before the inflorescences appear, the cucumbers are watered after four to five days, in moderation. During the formation of ovaries - in two to three days. During fruiting - twice a week.

Feeding cucumbers

As the plants develop, fertilizing is carried out according to a certain scheme.

Table: scheme for feeding cucumbers

Cucumber bush formation

Plants are tied to a support after the appearance of 8-9 true leaves. One stem 1.5–2 meters long is left on the bush. The lowest shoots are removed completely along with the flowers; from the fourth to the seventh, the shoots are pinched, leaving 1 leaf and 1 ovary; all the following shoots leave 2 leaves and 2 ovaries.

Photo gallery: schemes for the formation of a cucumber bush

Harvesting

Fruits must be removed as they ripen so that the remaining ovaries ripen. The best time to harvest is in the morning.

Timely harvest will save the lash from brittleness

Using the hydroponic method to grow cucumbers

Using the hydroponic method allows you to grow plants without soil. An artificial environment is used instead of soil. Expanded clay, crushed stone, vermiculite are used as a substrate. The nutrient solution is delivered to the roots by drip or by flooding according to a specific schedule.

Mineral solutions are best purchased in specialized stores. The purchased solution contains everything the plant needs.

Recently, the use of corks, cubes and mineral wool mats as a substrate has become popular. When preparing seedlings of cucumbers, the following order of operations is observed:

1. Seeds are planted in seedling plugs to a depth of 1 cm. Seeds germinate in 2–3 days, provided the temperature is maintained at 20–25 ° C and humidity at 75–80%.
2. After a week, the corks with sprouts are placed in cubes.
3. In cubes, seedlings develop from 3 to 5 weeks, then they are placed in mats soaked in nutrient solution.

Preparing cucumber seedlings using the hydroponic method

Watering is carried out through droppers installed in the mats.

The principle of feeding nutrients by the flooding method is as follows: the tray with plants is fixed at an angle, under the tray there is a reservoir with a mineral solution. With the help of a pump, the tray is filled with solution to the maximum level. The excess solution flows back into the reservoir. A certain amount of solution remains in the tray at all times.

The supply of a mineral solution when growing cucumbers is carried out by the method of periodic flooding

Pros and cons of hydroponics

Benefits of using the hydroponic method:

• the ability to control all processes of plant development, use solutions of different compositions for each stage of growth;
• saving water;
• saving nutrients, all nutrients are absorbed completely, nothing goes into the ground;
• no weeding is needed, no weeds;
• the yield increases, as the plants are healthy;
• the ripening time of cucumbers is reduced.

Hydroponics is suitable for small spaces. First, the roots take up less space, so you can place more plants in a small area. Secondly, hydroponics does not require a lot of renewal after each harvest, as when using soil.
Disadvantages of the hydroponic method:

• there is a high probability of killing all plants when preparing the wrong solution;
• strict temperature control is required; when overheating, plants die;
• it is an expensive cultivation method, high energy consumption for lighting and climate control.

Features of growing cucumbers all year round in various regions, including the Krasnodar Territory

In our country, they love cucumbers; a festive feast cannot be complete without it. Salads are made from fresh cucumbers, they are crunching with pleasure with pickled or sauerkraut. Cucumber yields are low in most Russian regions. This is due to the peculiarities of the climate. A short summer with return frosts does not allow cucumbers to create comfortable conditions for growth and fruiting.

Only in the southern regions, the entire growth cycle of a cucumber is provided with sun and warmth. One of these areas is the Krasnodar Territory. The climate there as a whole is characterized by an excess of solar radiation with moderate moisture, so the vegetable growers of Krasnodar periodically face the problem of a lack of water. But there is a solution to this problem, such as mulching the soil to retain moisture. Interestingly, in the Krasnodar Territory, cucumbers can be grown all year round even in unheated greenhouses - for this purpose, structures with foil walls are used, which allow the maximum heat to be retained inside.

In other regions, especially in Siberia, in winter and autumn, the length of daylight hours is not sufficient to obtain a good harvest. When growing this vegetable in Siberia and other regions, it is better to think over methods of additional lighting and heating in a greenhouse or in a garden bed, for example, supplementary lighting with various lamps.

Video: building a greenhouse in the harsh conditions of Siberia

When growing cucumbers in closed ground conditions, the plants create the necessary microclimate. Plants are provided with the necessary amount of light and heat. It does not matter in which region the greenhouse is located, a good harvest can be obtained in any weather conditions.

It is possible to grow cucumbers in winter. It is important to observe the water regime and provide plants with sufficient light. We see the results of industrial greenhouses on store shelves in winter. At home, knowing the peculiarities of growing cucumbers and using modern agricultural technology, you can get a good harvest and please yourself and your friends with your own cucumbers in the middle of winter.

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Climatic conditions in central Russia do not allow growing cucumbers from seeds in open beds without additional film shelters. This popular vegetable crop is very demanding on heat and light. With frosts down to -1 degrees, young seedlings can easily die, and when shaded, adult plants will bear fruit poorly. Therefore, growing cucumbers in a greenhouse is the most popular and widespread option among Russian vegetable growers.

Popular varieties of cucumbers

Cucumbers in a greenhouse in winter and summer are capable of producing high yields if the conditions are suitable for the plants. This means that if you have a heated greenhouse, even in the winter months you will be able to please your loved ones with fresh vegetables grown without chemicals.

Before you start planting, you need to select varieties of cucumbers for greenhouses, because not every variety is suitable for growing in such conditions. For example, bee-pollinated varieties will have to be manually pollinated every day (insects are reluctant to fly into the greenhouse, and in winter they are not at all), otherwise the ovaries will fall off. Most popular:

• Self-pollinated high-yielding cucumber hybrids: Hercules F1 (salad), Emelya F1 (pickling), Dynamite F1 (universal), Zozulya F1, Anyuta F1, Picnic F1, Lilliput F1, Hummingbird F1, Machaon F1, Calendar F1, April F1, Courage F1, Lukhovitsky F1 and others.
• Yields and at the same time quite unpretentious varieties: Moscow hothouse, Zarya, Manul, Pomegranate, Surprise 66.
• The varieties Marfinsky, Relay, Domashny, NK-mini, Iva, Regata, Rykovsky, Rossiysky are distinguished by special shade tolerance and adaptability to low humidity.

Before you start planting, you need to select varieties of cucumbers for greenhouses.

Detailed technology for growing cucumbers in a greenhouse

For germination of cucumber seeds, a temperature of + 22 + 25 degrees is recommended. Therefore, if the greenhouse is unheated, of the film type, the seeds are sown at home in the first half of April in order to transplant ready-made seedlings into the greenhouse by mid-May. In heated greenhouses, you can sow cucumber seeds at any time of the year.

Soil preparation

Cucumbers love fertile soils saturated with organic fertilizers. In order for the cultivation of greenhouse cucumbers to bring good results, prepare the soil mixture in advance: humus and peat in 2 parts, 1 part of sawdust (preferably old), wood ash 3 tbsp. and nitrophoska 1 tbsp. You can buy ready-made soil with fertilizers. Level the soil surface and sprinkle mineral fertilizers on top. Then cover the surface with plastic wrap and let it sit for a couple of weeks to absorb the fertilizer. This will help protect seedlings from diseases of cucumbers, increase the yield and improve the palatability of the fruit.

Video about growing cucumbers in a greenhouse

Calibration and disinfection of seeds

It is best to grow cucumbers in a greenhouse from seeds that are 2-3 years old, as they will provide the highest yield. Calibrate the seeds manually by removing diseased and empty seeds. Then you should disinfect the seeds from diseases and pests by putting them for 12 hours in a cloth moistened with aloe juice or a solution of trace elements (add boric acid and copper sulfate at the tip of a knife to a liter of hot water, as well as a teaspoon of nitrophoska). Then rinse the seeds in running water and place them between layers of damp gauze to place in the refrigerator for hardening. Hardening is carried out at a temperature of about 0 degrees for a week, do not forget to moisten the gauze from time to time.

Growing seedlings

It is recommended to grow seedlings in small pots or plastic cups.Each seed is placed one at a time in a pot to a depth of 2 cm, covered with a layer of soil and covered with a damp cloth on top so that the top layer of soil does not dry out. You can sow seeds for seedlings for 10-15 days - planting cucumbers in a greenhouse using a conveyor method will provide you with a continuous harvest throughout the year.

It is recommended to grow seedlings in small pots or plastic cups.

Until the first shoots appear, the temperature in the greenhouse should be maintained at +25 degrees, and with the appearance of sprouts for 5 days, the daytime temperature should be reduced to +15, and the night temperature to +12 degrees. Seedlings should be watered every 2 days, periodically feeding the mullein solution (at a rate of 1: 6). After feeding, wash the seedlings with clean warm water.

Transplanting seedlings and caring for cucumbers

A month later, transplanting seedlings begins. In shelving greenhouses, seedlings are planted on shelves covered with soil, while in other types of greenhouses they simply form even ridges. Plants can be planted in beds directly in pots, buried in the ground by ¾ of the height of the pot. The distance between plants should be at least 20 cm, and between rows - at least 90 cm.

In shelving greenhouses, seedlings are planted on shelves covered with soil

During the day in the greenhouse, the temperature should be maintained at + 25 + 30 degrees, with mandatory ventilation on sunny days, and at night - within +15 degrees. When the third true leaf appears, the first fertilizing is done with fertilizers, the second feeding is carried out at the beginning of flowering. During fruiting, you can feed the cucumbers 4 times with a solution of a mullein, or a solution of chicken droppings. Before flowering, it is recommended to water the cucumbers every 5 days, after flowering - every other day, but if you notice that the leaves have begun to wither, this is a signal for urgent watering. As the plants grow, they will need to be carefully tied to two wires stretched across the top of the greenhouse.

Features of growing cucumbers in greenhouses in winter

Before growing cucumbers in a greenhouse, it is worth considering the most likely difficulties that you will have to face. The first problem is the lack of moisture in the air due to stove or water heating of greenhouses. Since cucumbers are very moisture-loving, you will have to constantly take care of maintaining a comfortable air humidity. Arrange baking sheets, barrels of water, moisten floors, pipes, spray plants with a spray bottle, etc.

Video about growing cucumbers in a greenhouse in winter

If you are interested in growing cucumbers in winter, in December-January, then start sowing seeds at the end of September, and planting seedlings at the end of October. But keep in mind that due to the lack of sunlight in January-February, growing cucumbers in a greenhouse in winter is almost impossible without additional artificial lighting. With an increase in lighting, the quality of the fruit improves and the content of ascorbic acid and sugars in the fruit increases. It is advisable to hang the lamps first at a height of 50 cm above the plants, and as they grow, raise the lamps higher, up to 1.5 m.

Be sure to monitor the temperature regime in the greenhouse: there should be no sudden daily temperature changes and temperature drops below +10 degrees, otherwise the leaves will actively grow, but the fruits will stop pouring, and the root system will not be able to absorb water.

Now you know how to grow cucumbers in winter, which means that by the New Year's table you will have your own harvest of delicious homemade cucumbers!

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