How to grow cucumbers on a windowsill all year round?

Growing cucumbers in an apartment: seeds, varieties, place, containers

Let's describe in detail all the stages of how to grow cucumbers at home in winter?

The right seeds

For growing cucumbers in the winter at home, the seeds must meet stringent requirements. Homemade cucumber should be:

• Short-fruited, with a length of zelents from 6 cm to 25 cm.
• Shade tolerant, not afraid of temperature changes.
• Early or mid-season, with a fruiting period of 4 to 6 months.
• Harvest.

Parthenocarpic F1 hybrids are preferred... These self-pollinating plants only have female flowers. For growing cucumbers at home, the early and ultra-early ones are most popular:

• April;
• Benefit;
• Zozulya;
• Carmen;
• Goosebump;
• Sail;
• Regina;
• Shchedryk;
• Crunch.

Of the medium early varieties of cucumbers for growing at home, the following are preferable:

• Athlete;
• Full house;
• Balagan;
• Bianca;
• Berendey;
• Urban;
• Far Eastern;
• Claudia;
• Courage;
• Marinade;
• Masha;
• Pallas' cat;
• Romance;
• Solar.

IMPORTANT! Late-ripening cucumber hybrids are not suitable for home cultivation.

Bee-pollinated cucumber hybrids, in indoor and greenhouse cultivation, require manual pollination.

The process requires certain skills and additional investment of time.

But despite this, vegetable growers grow at home bee-pollinated cucumber hybrids:

• Gribovsky 2;
• Zarya;
• Pallas' cat;
• Surprise;
• Khutorok;
• Relay race.

Grow and bee-pollinated varieties of cucumbers:

• Room Rytov;
• Marfinsky.

Advice! Manual pollination of cucumbers is carried out in the morning... With a cotton swab, a soft brush, they transfer pollen from a male barren flower to flowers with an ovary (female). You can touch the pistil of a woman with a male flower with torn petals.

Female single flowers grow separately. The males form groups in the leaf axils.

Pollination of cucumbers continues throughout the entire flowering period, up to the appearance of the first ovaries. To increase the yield of cucumbers experienced amateurs advise pollinating female flowers with pollen of different varieties.

Seat selection

It's better to grow cucumbers in an apartment on warm bright balconies, loggias, verandas, windows oriented south, east, west.

The north side is not suitable for cultivation. There should be no drafts in the room.

What to grow?

There are many options: hanging baskets, buckets, containers, boxes, flower pots, tubs. The main thing is that the volume of the container is at least 5 liters.... Drainage is laid out on the bottom - small pebbles, pieces of expanded clay, large sawdust. Holes are made to remove excess water.

Advice! To save money, they cut off large plastic bottles, use double cellophane garbage bags.

How to grow cucumbers in an apartment: step by step instructions

Landing dates

Timing depend on the selected variety of cucumbers, growing conditions. They take into account the area of ​​the room, the ability to provide optimal temperature and light conditions, air humidity, and climatic zone.

Cucumbers planted at the end of October will ripen to the New Year's table. From January plantings, they begin to harvest in March. The average time for the onset of fruiting from the appearance of the first shoots is 40-50 days... February saplings ripen by the May holidays.

Soil preparation

In the store they buy universal soil or mixture for growing pumpkin crops.

They prepare themselves according to proven recipes:

1. Equal shares of peat, humus. A glass of wood ash on a bucket of mixture.
2. 1/3 of the turf, garden soil, compost with the addition of a small amount of calcined river sand, ash, rotten sawdust.

The earth is disinfected in one of the following ways:

• Steamed.
• Spill hot (+ 90 ° C) solution of potassium permanganate of dark pink color.
• Warm up in the oven.
• Process special industrial preparations.
• Apply nitrophosphate or complete complex fertilizer. Poured into containers, spilled abundantly, left for a day to seal.

Sowing

1. Cucumber seeds etched for 20-30 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate... Washed out. Dry. Leave for 2-3 days to swell in a saucer with warm water, wrap in wet gauze, spread on cotton pads. Learn more about preparing seeds before planting.
2. Hatching cucumber seeds sow to a depth of about a centimeter... Plant 1-2 seeds per liter volume at a distance of 2-3 cm from each other. Watering.
3. Exposed to a bright place... Maintain a temperature of + 22-25 ° С during the day, + 16-18 ° С at night.
4. To maintain the required humidity covered with foil, glass.
5. When cucumber shoots appear, the shelter is removed. A weak sprout is removed. Additional lighting is started.

Advice! To eliminate the danger of hypothermia of the root system of cucumbers, a sheet of foam plastic, drywall, thick plywood is placed under the containers with plantings.

Lighting

It is impossible to grow cucumbers at home in winter without backlighting.... Daylight hours should last 12-14 hours. In the central zone of Russia, in the Urals, in Siberia, from December to February, supplementary lighting is carried out from 16 to 20 hours.

Lighting devices for supplementary lighting (energy-saving, luminescent, LED) are fixed at a distance of 30-40 cm.

To enhance the effect, light-reflecting foil sheets and mirrors are installed.

Temperature

Until the plants form lashes, the temperature is maintained not higher than + 16 ° С... After the formation of lashes, the temperature on sunny days is maintained at + 24-26 ° С, in cloudy weather and at night + 18-20 ° С.

Watering

Water in sunny weather every day, in cloudy - every other day... Water must be defended, brought to room temperature. Several times a season they are watered with a weak pinkish solution of potassium permanganate.

It is useful to spray the plants twice a day, but the leaves should dry out by nightfall. Watering cucumbers is carried out at the root or water is poured into trays.

Advice! To increase the humidity in the room, cover the heating batteries with wet towels. They put dishes with water next to the cucumber bushes. Includes humidifiers.

Support

Home-grown lashes reach heights of up to two meters and require a garter... The garter is made with a sliding loop. Use twine or nylon cord.

Bush formation

After the appearance of the fifth true leaf, pinch the top to form a bush in two stems. When the next five leaves grow, the procedure is repeated.

The pinching of the lateral lashes is carried out in the lateral lower nodes above the 1-2-3 sheet.

Top dressing

The first feeding is carried out after the appearance of two true leaves... They are fed with a solution of 3-4 g of nitrophoska per liter of water. The consumption rate for a plant is a glass.

Can be used solution of one teaspoon of urea in 5 liters of water... Feed once every 2 weeks.

With the advent of zelents, the plant is fed every week, alternating mineral and organic fertilizers. As organic additives, 20% solutions of chicken manure or superphosphate are used. For minerals, dissolve 30-40 g of nitrophoska in a bucket of water, add a teaspoon of Agrolife or 2 caps of the Growth preparation together with watering.

Alternatively, after a week, spend feeding cucumbers with biohumus agents... The bushes are sprayed twice with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Advice! Excellent organic matter is a solution of fermented crushed banana peels and rye bread.

Diseases

Cucumbers grown in the apartment suffer from spider mites and whiteflies. Spraying with soapy water helps, it is dangerous to use insecticides in the apartment.

Harvesting

Zelentsy harvested every day, preventing them from overgrowing... This promotes the formation of new ovaries, lightens the load on the lashes, prevents plant depletion, deterioration of the palatability of cucumbers.

Growing in a private house

Does not differ in agricultural technology from growing cucumbers in an apartment. However, villagers and cottage owners have more opportunities to successfully grow cucumbers in heated greenhouses all year round.

Features of greenhouse agricultural technology

• Stop choosing greenhouse varieties cucumbers.
• When planting seedlings, be sure to add at least a bucket of well-rotted compost or manure to the hole, with the addition of 10 g of phosphorus, 5 g of nitrogen, 15 g of potassium per 1 m².
• When landing place seedlings of cucumbers at a distance of 40 cm from each otherleaving a meter between the rows. Water abundantly.
• Equip trellises, supports.
• The cucumber bush is formed as if grown at home.
• Remove yellowed and deformed leaves.
• First feeding after 4 weeks. For each plant, 1-2 liters of 0.3% aqueous phosphorus-potassium solution are consumed. During the fruiting period, feeding is carried out every week.
• At the optimum air temperature, watering is carried out at the rate of 2-3 liters of water per bush.

Disease prevention and control

• Should change the soil annually... Develop beneficial microflora. Introduce preparations such as Fitosporin M, rotted manure, nettle infusion.
• Observe the ventilation mode.
• To combat spider mites, whiteflies, ants, the soil is disinfected. Once every 5 days, the bushes are sprayed with karbofos.
• Dill, mustard, coriander, garlic, basil, tobacco are planted between rows.... They repel pests of cucumbers.
• Aphids and whiteflies are washed off with a stream of cold water.Wipe the cucumber leaves with soapy water.

Can you grow in a basement?

In an equipped basement, up to 200 kg of cucumbers are removed from 1 m².

The main costs are to ensure optimal light and thermal conditions.

Requirements for the basement for growing cucumbers

• Temperature should not fall to minus indicators throughout the year.
• Lack of rodents, mold, fungus.
• Tightness, protection from drafts, penetration of groundwater.

Basement equipment

• Insulate the floor and walls insulating materials.
• Install heaters, thermal and lighting devices. Mercury arc lamps or incandescent lamps are the most suitable luminaires. For convenience, a time relay is used.
• Organize a ventilation system.
• Choose a growing medium: hydroponics or soil.
• The soil requirements are the same as for growing cucumbers at home and in greenhouses.

Hydroponics is more effective for basement gardening. Use quartz, granite granules with a diameter of 50-20 mm and a nutrient solution with a high content of nitrogen, potassium, calcium, phosphorus. The nutrient solution can be purchased at a store or prepared by yourself.

Growing features

• The seedling method is cultivated.
• Seedlings of cucumbers planted at any time of the year.
• They comply with the general requirements of cucumber agricultural technology.
• To combat insects, rodents, dust, smoke bombs, traps with poisoned bait, special paints with insecticides are changed.
• From fungal diseases, mold, moss primed walls with compounds with antifungal additives.

Advantages and disadvantages of basement growing

The undoubted advantages include high yield, obtaining cucumbers regardless of the season, weather conditions... Reduced time from emergence of cucumber seedlings to harvest. Already two months after planting the seedlings, the first greens ripen.

The main disadvantage is the high cost of cucumbers.

Is it possible to grow cucumbers at home in winter? If you wish, you can grow cucumbers all year round. From a home-grown bush, enthusiasts get 35-40 cucumbers.

Useful materials

Explore other helpful articles on caring for cucumber seedlings:

• Tips for growing in various containers, in particular in peat pots and tablets.
• The reasons why the seedlings are stretched and the leaves turn yellow?
• All the secrets of picking young shoots and planting them in open ground.

Useful video

Personal experience of how cucumbers were grown in 50 days on the northern balcony:

Indoor plants on the windowsill look great, give comfort and coziness to housing, give a particle of warmth in the cold season, but over time they still become boring. There is an idea - to remove home flowers and grow cucumbers on the windowsill in winter.

Think you can't do it? Growing cucumbers at home is within the power of even those who have never had a summer residence and have still seen cucumbers in the wildest conditions only at the bazaar and in stores. The good idea is that it can become a real hobby for all family members.

It is so interesting to observe the growth of plants, to celebrate every day new changes in the growing seedlings and how great it is to eat fresh cucumber grown on your own for the New Year's holiday in winter.

What apartment will be able to harvest cucumbers?

For growing cucumbers in winter, a number of conditions are necessary that can be practically met in any city apartment. It is important to adhere to certain rules when building a home garden:

• Placement - to grow cucumbers in an apartment, window sills are suitable, but only on the south side, the plants are very sensitive to heat and light. If there is a heated loggia or an insulated balcony, you can safely place boxes with cucumbers there.
• Light - it is necessary in the autumn-winter months to increase the illumination of plants with fluorescent lamps up to 15-16 hours a day.The maximum amount can also be obtained using light reflectors, mirrors or plain foil. Stick reflectors on the glass or position it so that as much light as possible hits the seedlings. You can expand the lighting area by tying whips, which will make the windowsill green and aesthetically attractive.
• Heat - cucumbers are thermophilic plants, therefore, when germinating their seedlings, a temperature of up to 25 ° C is required. After emergence, the temperature must be lowered and kept within 20 ° C during cultivation, but not lower.

It is important to know if you decide to grow seedlings at home! The roots of plants on a cold windowsill can slow down their growth rate. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to put insulation under the boxes or pots. As insulation, you can take a board or foam rubber, or any other insulation material.

The best varieties of cucumbers for growing at home

Seed selection is one of the most important things to consider when planting cucumbers on a windowsill. The quality of the crop and the abundance of fruiting will largely depend on the correctly selected variety.

To grow cucumbers at home on a windowsill, it is better to use self-pollinating, early ripening and preferably fruitful varieties. Some gardeners use bee-pollinated varieties, but they will need to be artificially pollinated with cotton wool.

Now various agricultural firms offer a large list of varieties that can be used for growing at home. Here are just a few of them:

• Shchedryk is an early ripening variety. Juicy green fruits ripen in 40-45 days. From a bush, you can collect up to 20 pieces 12-14 cm long.
• Masha F1 - ripening period 35-40 days. The variety has a high yield; 5-7 cucumbers can be harvested from each branch.
• Prestige F1 is an early ripening variety, a feature of long-term fruiting.
• Marinda - pleases with an abundance of fruits that ripen together at the same time.

Each gardener has his own favorite seed varieties that he wants to try indoors. Are varieties that bear fruit well in the country suitable for a garden on a windowsill? Everything is individual, you just need to carefully read the instructions on each specific package.

Dishes for growing cucumbers on the windowsill

To grow cucumber seedlings at home, you must use small cups for seedlings and special soil for its germination or peat pots. From available tools, you can take dishes from yoghurts, sour cream and the like.

For growing cucumber bushes, special deep containers, which can be bought in stores, are suitable. There is no desire to spend money on factory boxes, homemade boxes, plastic buckets and even pots will do.

The main thing is that for each bush there is at least 5 kg of land. At the bottom of each container there should be holes so that the soil breathes, the roots do not rot, and excess water flows down.

Particular attention should be paid to the composition of the soil. Now the primer can be bought in the store. If there is no possibility or desire to purchase store-bought soil, we make a soil mixture for cucumber seedlings on our own:

• 2/3 the volume of a bucket of forest or garden land;
• 1/3 fertilizer;
• 1 cup of chalk;
• 2 glasses of ash;
• 4 cups of ripe leaves of garden trees.

At the bottom of the container, place a drainage of small pebbles or expanded clay up to 5 cm thick, then a well-mixed mixture goes. We fill it in a prepared container, not adding 3-4 cm to the edge.

Take advantage of the advice of experienced gardeners. It is desirable to spill the mixture prepared at home with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. It must be watered several times with water so that the water is well absorbed.

How to grow healthy cucumber seedlings

Healthy seedlings are a good start and provide many prerequisites for a good harvest.First, you need to check the seeds for similarity by placing them in a warm place on a damp cloth for 1-2 days.

If the seeds have sprouted well, you can hope that the seedlings will be good. You can germinate all the seeds and choose the strongest ones for planting:

1. Now we plant the sprouted seeds in the soil for germinating seedlings, in cups, pour and cover them with foil.
2. Place the cups in a warm, dark place with a temperature of 25 ° C. Shoots will appear in 2-3 days.
3. Then we transfer them to the windowsills in a cooler place - bright and with a temperature of 20 ° C.
4. When the seedlings of indoor cucumbers grow up to 3-4 leaves, we transplant them into boxes. First, water the soil abundantly in a glass and in a box. We carefully take a glass and knead it with our fingers so that the earth loosened up. Carefully transfer the plant from the cup to the box, being careful not to damage the roots and leaves.

Note! Indoor cucumbers are very delicate plants, so it is good to plant them right away in boxes and not subject to transshipment.

Secrets and rules of care

After the appearance of 4-5 leaves, pinch the top well, which will allow new shoots to form and form a bush. The next time you can pinch the plants at the level of the next 5-6 leaves - then new shoots will form. Here, you should observe the measure so that the plant has enough nutrients and strength for the formation of fruits.

Rules for caring for indoor cucumbers:

• To increase the area of ​​the received light, as well as to support the plants, you should stretch the ropes or arrange other holders along which the whips will climb, this will increase the yield and decorate the window.
• Cucumbers are moisture-loving plants, they should be once a week, and if the air in the apartment is dry, then more often sprayed with plain clean water from a spray bottle.
• It is better to pick fruits 10-12 cm in size, so the plant will have the opportunity to bloom again, and as a result, the yield will increase.
• Fertilize the soil regularly, at least once every 10 days. It is good for this to use ready-made fertilizer mixtures available on the market.

One of the main problems faced by exotic lovers who dream of growing cucumbers on the windowsill is their great dislike for drafts and cold.

Growing problems and how to solve them:

• Before arranging the boxes, it is imperative to seal up all the cracks, eliminate all possible sources of drafts.
• It is better to put boxes on insulation, board or foam.
• Plants and leaves are very delicate, they break easily - it is better not to transfer or transplant them. Care very carefully.

The first experience with homemade cucumbers may be unsuccessful, but this is not a reason to abandon such a wonderful idea. Think about the mistakes you made and start over. So what if we dreamed of eating fresh vegetables for the New Year, but did not have time. There are still many favorite holidays ahead to please loved ones with self-grown cucumbers. Good luck!

Harvest all year round: how to grow cucumbers on a windowsill

Indoor plants on the windowsill look great, give comfort and coziness to housing, give a particle of warmth in the cold season, but over time they still become boring. There is an idea - to remove home flowers and grow cucumbers on the windowsill in winter.

Think you can't do it? Growing cucumbers at home is within the power of even those who have never had a summer residence and have still seen cucumbers in the wildest conditions only at the bazaar and in stores. The good idea is that it can become a real hobby for all family members.

It is so interesting to observe the growth of plants, to celebrate every day new changes in the growing seedlings and how great it is to eat fresh cucumber grown on your own for the New Year's holiday in winter.

Which apartment will be able to harvest cucumbers?

For growing cucumbers in winter, a number of conditions are necessary that can be practically met in any city apartment.It is important to adhere to certain rules when building a home garden:

• Placement - to grow cucumbers in an apartment, window sills are suitable, but only on the south side, the plants are very sensitive to heat and light. If there is a heated loggia or an insulated balcony, you can safely place boxes with cucumbers there.
• Light - it is necessary in the autumn-winter months to increase the illumination of plants using fluorescent lamps up to 15-16 hours a day. The maximum amount can also be obtained using light reflectors, mirrors or plain foil. Stick reflectors on the glass or position it so that as much light as possible hits the seedlings. You can expand the lighting area by tying whips, which will make the windowsill green and aesthetically attractive.
• Heat - cucumbers are thermophilic plants, therefore, when germinating their seedlings, a temperature of up to 25 ° C is required. After germination, the temperature must be reduced and kept within 20 ° C during cultivation, but not lower.

It is important to know if you decide to grow seedlings at home! Plant roots on a cold windowsill can slow down their growth rate. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to put insulation under the boxes or pots. As insulation, you can take a board or foam rubber, or any other insulation material.

The best varieties of cucumbers for growing at home

Seed selection is one of the most important things to consider when planting cucumbers on a windowsill. The quality of the crop and the abundance of fruiting will largely depend on the correctly selected variety.

To grow cucumbers at home on a windowsill, it is better to use self-pollinating, early ripening and preferably fruitful varieties. Some gardeners use bee-pollinated varieties, but they will need to be artificially pollinated with cotton wool.

Now various agricultural firms offer a large list of varieties that can be used for growing at home. Here are just a few of them:

• Shchedryk is an early ripening variety. Juicy green fruits ripen in 40-45 days. From a bush, you can collect up to 20 pieces 12-14 cm long.
• Masha F1 - ripening period 35-40 days. The variety has a high yield; 5-7 cucumbers can be harvested from each branch.
• Prestige F1 is an early ripening variety, a feature of long-term fruiting.
• Marinda - pleases with an abundance of fruits that ripen together at the same time.

Each gardener has his own favorite seed varieties that he wants to try indoors. Are varieties that bear fruit well in the country suitable for a garden on a windowsill? Everything is individual, you just need to carefully read the instructions on each specific package.

Dishes for growing cucumbers on the windowsill

To grow cucumber seedlings at home, you must use small cups for seedlings and special soil for its germination or peat pots. From available tools, you can take dishes from yoghurts, sour cream and the like.

For growing cucumber bushes, special deep containers, which can be bought in stores, are suitable. There is no desire to spend money on factory boxes, homemade boxes, plastic buckets and even pots will do.

The main thing is that for each bush there is at least 5 kg of land. At the bottom of each container there should be holes so that the soil breathes, the roots do not rot, and excess water flows down.

Particular attention should be paid to the composition of the soil. Now the primer can be bought in the store. If there is no possibility or desire to purchase store-bought soil, we make a soil mixture for cucumber seedlings on our own:

• 2/3 the volume of a bucket of forest or garden land;
• 1/3 fertilizer;
• 1 cup of chalk;
• 2 glasses of ash;
• 4 cups of ripe leaves of garden trees.

At the bottom of the container, place a drainage of small pebbles or expanded clay up to 5 cm thick, then a well-mixed mixture goes.We put it in a prepared container, not filling it 3-4 cm to the edge.

Take advantage of the advice of experienced gardeners. It is desirable to spill the mixture prepared at home with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. It must be watered several times with water so that the water is well absorbed.

How to grow healthy cucumber seedlings

Healthy seedlings are a good start and provide many prerequisites for a good harvest. First, you need to check the seeds for similarity by placing them in a warm place on a damp cloth for 1-2 days.

If the seeds have sprouted well, you can hope that the seedlings will be good. You can germinate all the seeds and choose the strongest ones for planting:

1. Now we plant the sprouted seeds in the soil for germinating seedlings, in cups, pour and cover them with foil.
2. Place the cups in a warm, dark place with a temperature of 25 ° C. Shoots will appear in 2-3 days.
3. Then we transfer them to the windowsills in a cooler place - bright and with a temperature of 20 ° C.
4. When the seedlings of indoor cucumbers grow up to 3-4 leaves, we transplant them into boxes. First, water the soil abundantly in a glass and in a box. We carefully take a glass and knead it with our fingers so that the earth loosened up. Carefully transfer the plant from the cup to the box, being careful not to damage the roots and leaves.

Note! Indoor cucumbers are very delicate plants, so it is good to plant them right away in boxes and not subject to transshipment.

Secrets and rules of care

After the appearance of 4-5 leaves, pinch the top well, which will allow new shoots to form and form a bush.

The next time you can pinch the plants at the level of the next 5-6 leaves - then new shoots will form.

Here, you should observe the measure so that the plant has enough nutrients and strength for the formation of fruits.

Rules for caring for indoor cucumbers:

• To increase the area of ​​the received light, as well as to support the plants, you should stretch the ropes or arrange other holders along which the whips will climb, this will increase the yield and decorate the window.
• Cucumbers are moisture-loving plants, they should be once a week, and if the air in the apartment is dry, then more often sprayed with plain clean water from a spray bottle.
• It is better to pick fruits 10-12 cm in size, so the plant will have the opportunity to bloom again, and as a result, the yield will increase.
• Fertilize the soil regularly, at least once every 10 days. It is good for this to use ready-made fertilizer mixtures available on the market.

One of the main problems faced by exotic lovers who dream of growing cucumbers on the windowsill is their great dislike for drafts and cold.

Growing problems and how to solve them:

• Before arranging the boxes, it is imperative to close up all the cracks, eliminate all possible sources of drafts.
• It is better to put boxes on insulation, board or foam.
• Plants and leaves are very delicate, they break easily - it is better not to transfer or transplant them. Care very carefully.

The first experience with homemade cucumbers may be unsuccessful, but this is not a reason to abandon such a wonderful idea. Think about the mistakes you made and start over.

So what if we dreamed of eating fresh vegetables for the New Year, but did not have time. There are still many favorite holidays ahead to please loved ones with self-grown cucumbers.

Good luck!

Growing cucumbers on the windowsill

In winter, fresh vegetables have long ceased to be exotic on the kitchen table. At any time of the year, they can be found on store shelves, although the taste and usefulness of such products are very doubtful.

It is not known what kind of fertilizers and growth enhancers were used to grow them. Home-grown cucumbers are an excellent alternative to purchased vegetables in winter.

Healthy and environmentally friendly fresh cucumbers will be the result of a fascinating and specific lesson.

Growing cucumbers on a windowsill in winter will require a vegetable grower to follow some simple rules that will guarantee a good harvest.

Lovers of growing vegetables have long mastered and managed to work out the rules for caring for a cucumber vine, in unnatural conditions for it.

In order for the result of work to be able to please with its productivity, it is necessary to create the most comfortable conditions for the cucumbers.

Seed selection

One of the criteria for a good harvest is the choice of the variety and quality of the seeds. It is better to choose shade-tolerant and early maturing varieties that do not require pollination. Parthenocarpic hybrid varieties are capable of forming fruits without pollination, so they will cause less trouble during care.

Self-pollinated cucumber varieties are perfect for short daylight hours

If bee-pollinated varieties are chosen for growing cucumbers on the windowsill, then to obtain a harvest, the female flowers must be manually pollinated.

To do this, you can use a cotton swab or a plucked male flower that has stamens.

The pollen must fall on the pistil growing on the female, otherwise the ovary will not occur, and the flower will turn yellow and fall off over time.

Manual pollination of cucumber flowers is carried out by transferring the pistil to the stamens

Placing the landing

The cucumber vine loves a lot of sunlight and warmth, and is very moody in relation to drafts. Therefore, growing cucumbers on the windowsill in winter, when the daylight hours are much shorter, is best done on the southern windows, with well-insulated frames.

This arrangement will make it possible to make the most of natural sunlight and warmth. If necessary, it is necessary to install additional light sources using fluorescent or special phytolamps.

Plants should be well lit for at least 12 hours a day.

Indoors, there is usually no sunlight, so phytolamps are used for growing.

The presence of a draft or a cold window sill can have a detrimental effect on cucumber seedlings.

They must be placed in a secluded place where the wind cannot penetrate when airing the premises. The cold surface of the window sill should be insulated from the pot using any heat-insulating material for the stand.

This will protect the root system from hypothermia, which can lead to disease and death of the plant.

Cucumber seedlings like warm windowsills, it is better to insulate the pot by placing, for example, in a larger container

Preparing a container and soil for seedlings

When choosing a container in which to grow cucumbers on the windowsill in winter, you should adhere to the basic rule: the capacity of the container should be about 5-7 liters of soil for each plant.

The containers used must be large and tall enough for the free growth and development of the root system, and for sufficient nutrition for the growing vine.

The best soil composition for a nutritious, growing and fruiting plant is a mixture of peat and humus, with the addition of sand and ash.

Such a mixture is quite loose and permeable, and mineral fertilizers are added to enrich the soil. A drainage layer is laid on the bottom of the tank, which ensures good water permeability of the soil.

To grow cucumbers, you need to prepare a soil mixture

The even distribution of moisture in the soil will ensure the addition of agrogel to the soil mixture.

This fine-grained powder is able to absorb large amounts of water and then gradually release it, maintaining constant soil moisture.

Such an agricultural practice will avoid drying out and excessive waterlogging of the earthen coma.

Hydrogel benefits

Advice! To disinfect the soil from bacteria that can cause disease, you need to calcine it in the oven.

Seed preparation for sowing

From the moment of planting the seeds to the appearance of the first fruits that can be eaten, it takes from 2 to 2.5 months.

Seeds are sown in late January or early February, daylight hours become longer and this has a beneficial effect on the development of plants.

The plant bears fruit within two months, counting from the moment the first fruits appear.
The selection of bad seeds is carried out using a saline solution.

The seeds immersed in it will partially settle - these are good quality seeds that can give good sprouts. That part of the seeds that remain on the surface can be safely thrown away, they are not able to germinate and germinate.

You can check the germination of seeds with a saline solution.

Before sowing, seed treatment should be carried out, which may be infected with fungal diseases or bacterial microorganisms.

For this, a weak solution of potassium permanganate is used, which disinfects the seeds and kills all the harmful microflora.

Alternatively, the seeds can be warmed up for 3 days at a temperature of about 50 degrees.

You can disinfect cucumber seeds with potassium permanganate

Seed treatment with growth stimulants promotes faster and more harmonious germination.

The next stage is seed germination, which contributes to the faster emergence of seedlings. For germination, they are placed in a humid environment at a temperature of about 25 degrees.

After two days, the seeds will be ready for planting.

You can germinate cucumber seeds on a wet rag, gauze or napkin

Planting seeds

Advice! Seeds can be planted in a seed box or directly to a permanent place of its habitat. When sowing in a seedling box, you will have to pick the seedlings and transplant them into separate containers.

The seeds are placed in moist, pre-prepared soil and sprinkled with a small, about 2 cm, layer of earth.

To create a greenhouse effect, a container with a planting must be covered with glass or transparent film.

For good and intensive germination, it is necessary to maintain a temperature regime of about 25 degrees.

After the first shoots appear, the cover is removed from the container, and the young seedlings are placed in a well-lit place, with a lower temperature, not lower than 20 degrees.

Care of young seedlings

To get healthy seedlings of cucumbers on the windowsill, cultivation and care at this stage must be carried out especially carefully.

It is imperative to feed the seedlings twice with a nutrient solution of urea or other mineral fertilizers.

The first time two weeks after the emergence of shoots, another week later, a second feeding is carried out.

The soil must be well moistened, therefore, daily watering is required, with settled water, at room temperature. If the seedlings are provided with an additional source of lighting, then watering can be done twice a day.

Cucumber seedlings need to be fed for faster entry

Advice! At night, additional lighting must be turned off so that young shoots do not stretch out, they need time to rest. The temperature at this time can be reduced to 18 degrees.

Seedlings at all stages of development require high humidity. Therefore, it is necessary to spray 2-3 times a day.

To provide additional sources of humidification, vessels with water or a humidifier are placed on the windowsill.

You can cover the radiator with a wet cloth, this will provide a healthy, humid microclimate for the entire room.

Cucumbers love high humidity

If it is necessary to transplant, after 25 days, when two true leaves appear, pick the seedlings, placing them in separate containers, at a permanent place of growth. Containers with seedlings are covered with earth not to the very edge, leaving a few centimeters. In the process of growth, the roots can become bare, and the free space can be covered with fresh nutritious soil.

Seedling care

Growing cucumbers on the windowsill is an exciting activity that bears wonderful fruits, reminiscent of summer and warmth. Cucumbers are quite demanding on some parameters of their content, but creating the necessary conditions will not be a big problem even for novice vegetable growers.

Illumination and spaciousness

To get a good harvest of cucumbers on the windowsill, cultivation must be carried out with a sufficient amount of light and space. Good lighting is a prerequisite for growing vines and flower formation.

Lack of light in winter has a detrimental effect on the intensity of plant development and can slow down its growth. In low light, the leaves turn yellow and die off, this leads to the oppression of the entire plant.

Fruits are produced in small quantities and may fall off.

Determination of the lack of elements by cucumber leaves

The presence of additional light sources when growing and caring for cucumbers on the windowsill is necessary not only in the evening, but also if the weather is cloudy or cloudy. To increase the illumination of cucumbers, reflective screens made of foil, mirrors or any reflective material are installed. They are installed from the side of the room, so that the refracted daylight falls on the seedlings.

When placing containers with seedlings on the windowsill, its future growth should be taken into account, so you must immediately leave enough free space. The windowsill should be wide and not loaded with other plantings that can oppress the growing cucumber vine.

Cucumber seedlings grow very much, so they need a lot of space on the windowsill

Watering and feeding

At different times, growing cucumbers on the windowsill requires unequal watering of the plant.

At the initial stage, while the seedlings are young and growing intensively, watering should be regular, but without overflow, in order to avoid decay of the weak root system.

At this time, it is better not to add water to the pot than to allow stagnation of moisture in the soil.

During the period of flower formation and fruit ripening, the plant consumes much more moisture, at this time the earthen coma should not be allowed to dry, therefore watering should be more intense. Regular spraying of the leaves with a spray bottle will not only increase the humidity of the air, but also provide the cucumbers with additional nutrition.

When cucumbers are in bloom, they need abundant watering.

Organization and formation of the cucumber vine

Cucumbers are liana plants and have a long but weak stem that requires support. To do this, you can use any sturdy trellis or support that can hold an adult vine with fruits. The height of such a support should be at least one meter.

For the stems of cucumbers, it is necessary to prepare a support

To increase fruiting and a good aesthetic appearance of the vine, it is necessary to pinch the growing lateral shoots or shorten the main trunk. The place of pinching depends on the area of ​​formation of the main part of the fruit. In some varieties, this is the main trunk, in other varieties, fruits are formed mainly on the lateral shoots.

Cultivars with stem formation of fruits are given the opportunity to develop the main vine, without cutting. On such bushes, side shoots and antennae are removed, trying not to injure the plant. On varieties with the formation of fruits on the lateral shoots, the trunk must be cut off above 5-6 leaves.

Pickling cucumbers

The plant will throw out side shoots, and when they grow, they must be carefully pinched.

Such an operation preserves nutrients for the development of fruits and gives the bush a splendor, the main thing is not to overdo it.

A small amount of foliage will reduce yields, due to the lack of light and air that they accumulate.

Growing cucumbers on the balcony

A well-insulated loggia, where you can provide optimal conditions and the required temperature, is an excellent place for growing cucumbers on the balcony.

Such a location does not require the release of window sills and there is much more space on the balcony for the overgrown shoots of the cucumber vine.

On the loggia it is much easier to create the necessary microclimate and high air humidity and there is no need to protect the plant from the room air dried out by batteries.

There is more space on the balcony for growing cucumbers, the main thing is that the balcony is insulated

All stages of growing cucumbers on the balcony and caring for them coincide with indoor cultivation of this vegetable crop. Compliance with the basic requirements will allow you to grow an excellent and healthy harvest.

You can use plastic bottles as containers for growing cucumbers on the balcony.

Bottles of any capacity are suitable for use, but do not forget that a lot of space is needed for a good development of the root system.

Therefore, cucumbers will feel more comfortable in large five-liter bottles.

A growing container can be prepared in several ways, by cutting the plastic container in different ways:

• cut off the top of the bottle, to the point of expansion and in the bottom, be sure to make holes for drainage. The upper part can be used as a cap for young immature seedlings, preventing unexpected drafts and creating a greenhouse effect;
• cut the bottle almost in the middle and use the upper part as a pot, and fill the lower one with water and make a tray. The soil in such a pot will always be moist;
• by cutting the bottle lengthwise, you can get two elongated vessels, which will serve as landing containers. Using one of the seedling containers, the second can be used as a cover to cover seedlings.

From plastic bottles, you can build a greenhouse for cucumber seedlings, while maintaining the greenhouse effect

Diseases and pests

Growing cucumbers at home is not a guarantee that the plant will not be attacked by various pests, and not following the rules of keeping can lead to disease.

With stagnation of moisture in the soil, rotting of the root system can occur and, as a result, the death of the entire plant.

When exposed to sudden changes in temperature or a draft, the plant may begin to wither and shed its leaves, the formation and development of ovaries will be slowed down, and over time, the vine may die.

Leaves can be attacked by aphids, whiteflies, or spider mites. At home, the use of insecticides is dangerous to the health of households.

It is better to use folk remedies to destroy pests. Aphids and whiteflies die when plants are treated with strong tobacco infusion.

To combat spider mites, use a tincture of garlic with the addition of antibacterial soap.

Cucumbers on the windowsill: growing technology - detailed information!

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

Cucumbers on the windowsill

Cucumber varieties

Let's start with pure theory.

To obtain fruit, the vast majority of flowers must be pollinated by insects; this natural process has many features and differences.

In the rooms, as you might guess, flies, bees, butterflies and other insects do not fly in swarms. Especially in winter.

For the windowsill, you need to choose parthenocarpic varieties

Conclusion. For growing on a windowsill, you need to take only special hybrid varieties of cucumbers that do not require natural pollination. Such plants are scientifically called parthenocarpic, they do not need pollination.

This is a very important factor, do not even try to plant ordinary cucumbers on the windowsill, intended for growing in the beds.

Whatever yield you are promised on a package of seeds, you will have zero yield in your apartment.

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

Parthenocarpic cucumbers: popular hybrids

When to sow seeds

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

When to sow seeds

From germination to the beginning of fruiting takes about 45-50 days, the period of fruiting of one plant is about a month and a half. This means that one-time sowing of cucumbers is not enough.

If you want to have fresh fruits for 4–5 months, you will have to deal with plant seedlings at least four times. The gap between crops is a month and a half.

As soon as the first wave ceases to bear fruit, the fruiting of the "second stage" begins, and so on.

It should take about two weeks between sowing.

With time and the frequency of sowing, we figured it out, excellent. But now you need to take into account the "number of windowsills" for the placement of cucumbers. If you have enough for each "queue" one bush, then there should be no problems.

You can always place 5-6 cucumber bushes in an apartment. And if you want to collect a relatively large number of cucumbers, then one bush for each "queue" is not enough.

Here you will have to choose between the amount of short-term picking of cucumbers and the duration.

Practical advice. In one standard box for indoor plants, 70 centimeters long, you can place no more than 6 cucumber bushes.

Keep this in mind when calculating the total number of bushes and seeding periods.

You can sow seeds from September. In this case, the first fruits will be already at the end of October and beginning of December. Then, after one and a half two months, plant new plants again.

At the same time, you need to know that daylight hours for cucumbers should last at least 14-15 hours; in winter, artificial lighting is indispensable.

In winter, cucumbers need additional lighting

Temperature and watering during cultivation

The temperature in the room during the day should be within + 21–24 ° С, at night + 18–19 ° С. In most apartments, this is the temperature that is maintained during the winter period. If not, the plants need to be slightly warmed up with any devices, including incandescent lamps.

They will illuminate and warm at the same time. As far as energy losses are concerned, there are no problems here. Less energy is always required to heat a window sill with cucumbers than for the entire room. Of course, it is advisable to place the plants on the south side.

For good fruiting, you need to observe the temperature regime

Soil moisture has a significant impact not only on yield, but also on plant health. Not enough moisture - there are few cucumbers and their appearance is poor.

A lot of moisture, and even at insufficient temperatures, will certainly lead to decay of the horse system and the death of cucumbers. The plant should be watered in a timely manner, but without excessive fanaticism.

It should also be borne in mind that on the windowsills, the earth quickly loses moisture, this is unacceptable for cucumbers. Experienced growers strongly recommend sprinkling the leaves with clean, warm water daily.

And so that the roots do not rot, all containers must have an effective drainage system.

Spray cucumbers with warm water additionally

Land requirements

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

Soil for cucumbers

You can also prepare the mixture yourself.

We recommend the following formulations:

• two parts of coconut fiber and one part of vermicompost.

  The land is quite fashionable today, although it does not have any particular advantages.

  Expensive coconut fiber can be successfully replaced with overripe sawdust of deciduous trees, and purchased vermicompost with humus;

  Biohumus and coconut flakes

• mix two parts of garden land with one part of river sand and one part of humus. If the soil is too "greasy", then sawdust can be added.

  Add sand and humus to the garden soil

Self-prepared soil must be decontaminated. This can be done by heating in an oven up to + 120 ° С for 30–40 minutes or using liquid solutions.

A weak solution of potassium permanganate or any commercial chemicals will do.

Some gardeners recommend spilling the ground with boiling water, but the effectiveness of this method is insufficient, and cucumbers are very afraid of pests and diseases in the ground.

Calcining the soil in the oven

Seed preparation and sowing

If you bought expensive seeds, then they have special shells of nutrients, have been treated and stimulated growth. They can be sown immediately, no additional preparation is required.

If the seeds are ordinary, then they should be prepared for germination. The preparation consists of several stages.

1. Disinfection. You can use a solution of pink potassium permanganate. The seeds are soaked in it for 2-3 hours.

   No potassium permanganate - use hydrogen peroxide or boric acid. A solution of 3-4% concentration is made of them, the soaking time is up to thirty minutes. In stores, compositions for disinfection are sold, you can also use them.

   During the procedure, the seeds are washed with clean running water.

   Disinfection of cucumber seeds

2. Stimulating growth. You can buy a special composition in the store, or you can make it yourself from aloe juice. To do this, dilute 20 ml of juice in 100 ml of water. The seeds should remain in the solution for approximately 4-5 hours.

   Soaking cucumber seeds in a nutrient solution

3. Soak... Experienced growers recommend not skipping this operation. It will take a little time, and the result will be very positive. Thanks to soaking, it is possible to select the strongest shoots, to completely exclude the sowing of non-viable seeds. In addition, soaking avoids diving, which the plants have a negative attitude towards. Diving significantly slows down growth, small roots are necessarily damaged.

   Soaking cucumber seeds

Sowing seeds

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

After small roots have appeared on the seeds, they can be transplanted into the ground. In the ground, make small holes about two centimeters deep, lower the seeds with the root down and sprinkle them gently.

It goes without saying that the soil should be damp and after sowing it should be watered with a sprinkler. Cover the container with a plastic wrap or thick cloth and place in a warm place for germination.

Sowing cucumber seeds

Without soaking, the seeds are sown in this way, only in one hole you need at least two sweets. Nobody knows how many seeds will eventually viable, so you shouldn't risk time and, in case of problems, re-sowing.

After two real leaves have appeared, the soil in the pots is poured two to three centimeters. This operation improves the conditions for the development of the root system.

Healthy seedlings of cucumber seeds in the soil

Growing cucumbers

In the early stages of growth, it is recommended to light the plants evenly from all directions. To do this, it is enough to wrap the pots around the perimeter with foil, secure it with tape or rope. Over time, it is removed.

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

An example of using a grid for garter cucumbers

How they are made:

• wooden ladder... Prepare small blocks of about 5 × 5 mm, up to one meter long.

  Stick two vertical racks along the edges of the pot or container, fix the horizontal steps at a distance of up to 10 cm. They can be attached with wire, tape, or rope.

  To increase stability, the uprights should expand upward. Instead of wooden rails, you can take a wire Ø 2-3 mm, preferably galvanized or coated with polymer protective materials.

  Ordinary steel will oxidize, the appearance will be very "sad";

  Bamboo ladder

• emphasis on the ropes... Making it much easier. At the top of the window, horizontally along the entire width, fasten a wooden batten or a metal pipe of a small diameter. Tie ropes to it, it is better to use natural ones, but polymer ones are also suitable. The number of ropes should be equal to the number of cucumber bushes, the length is slightly longer than the distance to the pots. The bottom end of each rope is neatly tied to the shoots.

  An example of tying cucumbers with a rope

Very important. Do not under any circumstances tighten the knot on the stem, the distance between the rope and the plant should allow it to grow unhindered.

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

Blooming cucumbers on the windowsill

One more nuance. A cucumber can have a stem up to two meters long. Such a plant cannot be placed on the window, and this negatively affects the yield.

To give the bush density and regulate the length of the shoots, the cucumbers need to be pinched, this should be done after the appearance of the first five leaves.

By pinching, it will be possible to approximately halve the length of the shoots and double the number of fruiting shoots, the bush becomes lush. Instead of one long lash, two grow much shorter.

During pinching, the ovary is removed to the pinching point, everything above is left.

Forming cucumber lashes when pinching

Features of watering and feeding

During the growing season, plants require moisture to varying degrees and respond to irrigation irregularities. The first months of growth, cucumbers need a constant amount of moisture, but they react extremely negatively to its excess.

If the seedlings are poured, then various diseases may appear, the most dangerous of which is the black leg. This disease always stops the development of cucumbers, and in many cases becomes the cause of their death.

Cucumbers on the windowsill.

Pallet watering

When the vegetation speed slows down slightly, the watering intensity should be reduced. During this period, you need to use the rule: it is better to underfill than to pour.

Of course, underfilling should not cause the plant to die. With the appearance of flowers, watering increases slightly, and the appearance of an ovary becomes a signal for a sharp increase in the amount of moisture.

Fruits significantly increase the consumption of water, its lack has a negative impact on their development, appearance and quantity.

In extreme cases, the ovary can crumble, experienced gardeners never bring cucumbers to such a sad state.

Yeast as a top dressing

To increase the time of fruiting, cucumbers need to be fed.

It is better to buy top dressing in specialized stores, at the price it is available to absolutely all consumers, and in terms of the quality and balance of nutrients, it is fully suitable for cucumbers.

The methods and frequency of feeding are indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging, you don't need to invent anything, you need to follow the instructions exactly.

If you try to independently feed the plants with various organic and mineral fertilizers, it is very difficult to calculate the dose. Excessive amounts of mineral fertilizers impair the quality of the fruit.

- Cucumbers on the windowsill

In winter, there is a lack of tasty and healthy vegetables and fruits. Buying plastic vegetables at the market or in stores is not something that you do not want, it is not recommended. The original way out is to plant cucumbers in containers in an apartment on a windowsill or balcony. But before starting the process, you should find out the technology of growing at home and the timing of harvesting.

Features of growing on a windowsill

Planting cucumber seeds on the windowsill does not require special training or special knowledge of care, so even novice amateur gardeners can cope with growing at home.

Important! When planting cucumbers at home, you need to check that there are no drafts anywhere. This cold air intake adversely affects young shoots. It is imperative to ensure that there is an optimal temperature for the germination of seedlings.

Do not overdo it with watering. Excessive irrigation leads to the appearance of fungi in the soil, which infect not one, but all young cucumber sprouts.

When preparing for the rooting of planting material, you need to purchase high-quality cucumber seeds. They must meet the following parameters:

1. It is recommended to choose a bushy plant, you should not take the vine. It will trail along one side, and the bush variety will stand in a lush ball.
2. When choosing a variety pay attention to the yield - Careful care and a small harvest can permanently discourage the desire to plant cucumbers in winter.
3. The unpretentiousness of the view - if the plant is overly demanding to care, then it has every chance of not surviving on the windowsill. The main advantage of varieties of cucumbers for winter germination at home is the absence of high requirements for light and watering.

Such features of germination of young cucumber seedlings are optimal for growing in an apartment. Fulfilling not difficult conditions, you can get a high-quality harvest even in winter.

What varieties are suitable for growing in an apartment

Growing cucumbers in winter is quite common. All possible greenhouses are used for these purposes. But if the apartment has a heated balcony or a glazed loggia where you can equip a cucumber farm, then why not grow them at home.

Reference! For planting, breeders have developed a large number of different varieties. Usually, they are represented by hybrid species. They do not need help in pollination by bees, they tend to independently form fruits on female peduncles. Such hybrids are called parthenocarpic.

There are the following varieties of cucumbers for home cultivation on a windowsill in an apartment:

1. Khutorok - the first cucumbers can be picked within 30 days after the first shoots. This species is considered super fast. The fruits on it reach a length of 10 cm, on which black thorns are located. They require help with pollination. It is required to pick a male flower (barren flower) and transfer its pollen to a female one. Only in this case can ovary occur.
2. Shchedryk - ripens 1.5 months after planting. Cucumbers hang in an ovary in 6-8 pieces. In length they stretch to 11-12 cm, are presented in a rich green color with a dark shade. Growing it on the windowsill, up to 20 fruits can be removed from the bush.
3. Khrustyk - relatively fast view.Not earlier than in 50 days, the first fruits will appear on it, which can be used for food. Its plus is that it is completely self-pollinated. The variety is rich in harvests. With good care, its fertility reaches up to 40 pcs. from one bush.

Also among the best varieties of cucumbers for growing on the windowsill are: Courage, Our Masha, Prestige, Room miracle, Miracle on the window.

Thus, you can plant cucumbers yourself in an apartment and get a rich harvest in the cold winter months, you just need to choose the right varieties for growing at home.

How to plant and grow in an apartment - features, conditions and step-by-step instructions

Before starting planting work, you need to choose the right place for active growth. It is imperative to choose the optimal volume of flowerpots for certain varieties, into which you need to fill up the soil. The latter plays an important role in the rooting of green vegetable species.

Of no small importance is the specific preparation of cucumber seedlings for direct planting. And rooting work should also be carried out according to the instructions, according to which it is required to accurately measure the planting depth. Otherwise, the seedlings will not grow, but will rot in the ground.

What should be the place

A place for placing flowerpots with cucumber seedlings must be selected only on the south side. Young seedlings are sensitive not only to sunlight, but also to heat.

Important! The best option is a windowsill located on the south side, and even better a heated balcony or loggia. This arrangement will provide the plantings with illumination from all 3 sides throughout the day.

Video: growing cucumbers on the balcony

The winter sun is not long, and sunshine is important for cucumbers. Therefore, it is recommended to highlight the seedlings. special phytolampswhich will provide continuous lighting for 14-16 hours a day.

The best temperature for the rapid and active growth of cucumbers is +20 C. If the temperature in the room exceeds this level, then the humidity of the soil substrate should be constantly monitored.

What container to plant

Cucumbers are unpretentious in the containers in which they will grow. Fit likedeep flowerpots for mass placement of seedlings, and single pots.

Important! It is necessary that no more than 5 pieces of young sprouts are placed on 70 cm. A large number in one flowerpot will not allow to actively develop and increase the mass.

The pot is selected with holes for excess moisture to escape, as well as a fairly wide volume. It must be remembered that a cucumber is a plant with a developed root system. In order for a green vegetable sprout to be comfortable, the container must contain at least 4 liters.

What kind of soil

For high-quality growth of young cucumber seedlings, it is required that the soil is fertile and loose, well permeable to liquid and air. These properties are possessed by purchased primer for indoor flowers or substrate for growing pumpkin breeds.

But the best soil for growing indoor cucumbers is a self-made soil substrate. Suitable for cooking:

1. Soil from the forest;
2. Garden soil;
3. Humus;
4. Ash (wood);
5. River sand;
6. Old, rotted sawdust, dark shade.

Attention! After mixing all the parts, a fertile substrate is obtained. It should be calcined in the oven at a temperature of +200 C for 20-30 minutes. And then spill with a solution of potassium permanganate.

Such preparation measures have a beneficial effect on the elimination of pathogenic bacteria and pests hiding in the ground.

Preparing seeds for planting

The varieties are pre-processed during packaging so that they can be sown directly into the soil without specific preparation. But then the planting will have to thicken and the germinated seeds dive into separate flowerpots.

To bypass this process, it is recommended to follow certain steps to prepare cucumber seeds for planting at home on a windowsill or balcony:

1. The seeds are placed in weak solution of potassium permanganate lasting half an hour. Floated empty seeds are removed, they still will not sprout. Then the seeds are rinsed in warm liquid.
2. Next 3 hours seedlings kept in a liquid with a temperature of +35 C.
3. Removing moist warm seedlings, place in wet sacking, neatly wrapping them and covering them with sawdust. In this form, they are laid out in a room where the temperature should be about +30 C.
4. Germination duration varies within 1-2 days. After the appearance of the first rudiments of roots, the seeds are immediately planted in the soil prepared in advance.

Before planting, it is worth pulling out the planting material from moisture and drying it. This process has a beneficial effect on the active growth of future seedlings.

Direct landing

Before the very planting of indoor cucumbers, the soil in the containers is spilled with liquid. The procedure is necessary for subsidence of the earth. If the seeds are planted in dry, airy soil, then when watering, the seeds deepen more than required.

Pre-prepared cucumber seeds are placed to a depth of 1.5 cm. Top covered with well-moistened soil.

Important! The container is covered with glass or covered with foil. This is necessary to create greenhouse conditions for the rapid germination of young shoots. The temperature for germination is +25 C.

After the appearance of the first timid shoots, the film is immediately removed. This is required so that it does not create condensation that provokes the onset of fungal diseases. Further temperature drops to +20 C, but at the same time, the stay on the sunny side increases.

Video: how to grow cucumbers on a windowsill at home

How to care after planting and before harvest - tips

Watering freshly planted plants are carried out in moderation without flooding the roots. It is best to supply young boring borers with liquid through a syringe, deep into the soil. This will not provoke root washout. Irrigation is carried out only with boiled water, settled for several hours.

Attention! Top dressing only organic composition should be applied. An infusion on banana peel (fermented) has an excellent effect on planting. It is diluted 10 times and fertilized at least once every 2 weeks.

After the appearance of 4 or 5 leaves, the upper point of growth should be broken off. It is necessary for the plant to release lateral shoots. Of these, no more than 3 lashes are left. They are allowed to grow up to 10 full-fledged leaves, after which they are pinched again. Thus, a lush bush is formed.

Mustache during sprawl it is recommended to delete. They tend to draw out a large amount of nutrients, preventing fruits from fully developing.

It is imperative to carry out garter lashes. Each lash must be carefully guided and tied to the trellis. The fruits should not be thickened, this will allow them to develop well and receive a sufficient amount of sunlight.

Diseases and pests

In order for the shrub to bear fruit well and not get sick, the plant should be constantly monitored and properly looked after. Otherwise, the following diseases may appear on the leaves of cucumbers:

1. Powdery mildew - a fungal disease, manifested by a white bloom on the leaf plates;
2. Anthracnose - the causative agent is a fungus. Both leaves and fruits suffer from it;
3. Root rot - manifested by the wilting of the entire bush. The roots suffer from the disease, which are constantly filled with liquid;
4. White rot - white bloom appears on fruits, foliage and stem.

Important! If you do not take action, then the diseases grow with unprecedented force, completely affecting the plants. The fight is carried out by spraying with chemical insecticides.

In addition to diseases, shrubs can be attacked spider mites, aphids and whiteflies. When they first appear, they can be removed by hand. With an increase in numbers, you will have to seek help from drugs that kill parasites.

The main thing is to monitor any reactions of the plant. If you carefully monitor the condition of the pet, you can avoid a strong proliferation of diseases by eliminating everything at the first stages of formation.

Germination dates and harvest

The timing of germination depends on each variety separately. In most cases, all plantings appear within 1-2 days after rooting. The duration of growth is determined by the types of cucumbers. Some are able to give the first harvest in 1 month. Others take up to 45-50 days to mature.

Attention! For harvesting, you need to focus on the volume of cucumbers. If the size of the fruit reaches 10 cm, then it can already be plucked. If you do not provoke the overgrowth of vegetables, then the plant can bloom again, giving another crop.

Many varieties grown during the winter months are suitable not only for eating live, but also for salting. But you should not rely on crops from the windowsill to successfully do seaming during the winter 🙂

Thus, do not miss the opportunity to plant cucumber seedlings in your window and get fresh vegetables in the middle of winter. During germination, you need to provide good care and an abundance of light. Then you can collect a sufficient number of cucumbers from the bush right at home. Even novice gardeners can grow cucumbers at home on the windowsill.