How to grow cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse in winter?

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, obtaining 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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A winter greenhouse for cucumbers: what should it be?

So, where to start growing cucumbers in a greenhouse in winter. Primarily, for winter cultivation need a greenhouse on a solid concrete foundation. Constructions buried in the ground have proven themselves well. The soil layer serves as an additional insulation and protection, deepening allows you to make the structure less high, without limiting the plants in space.

The best greenhouses for cucumbers are built from polycarbonate, reinforced on a metal frame with an anti-corrosion coating. They are not cheap, but pay off in 2-3 years. Believe me, a high-quality greenhouse for growing cucumbers will bring excellent results all year round.

In addition, it almost does not require repair, durable cellular polycarbonate does not crack under a layer of snow, calmly tolerates temperature extremes. It is possible to use greenhouses with tempered industrial glass, but such a coating is more fragile.

The structure must also be equipped with vents for ventilation and curtains for shading from too hot the sun.

The system of automatic drip irrigation is very convenient, which guarantees optimal soil moisture. Cucumbers love high air humidity, so don't forget about the climate control system and foggers.

It is equally important to properly organize the lighting for cucumbers in the greenhouse in winter. This requires powerful electric lamps with adjustable height.

Heating is a very important issue. Cucumbers are a thermophilic culture that can hardly tolerate even a short-term drop in temperature.

Warm greenhouses you can use electric boilers or compact wood-burning stoves. Biofuel made from humus and straw, spread out along the ridges, as well as sheets of roofing material placed around the perimeter of the greenhouse for the winter cultivation of cucumbers, will help maintain the desired temperature.

The lower the outside temperature, the more perfect the heating system should be. In regions with a particularly cold climate, it is better to use a combined method, combining several heating methods at once.

Most often, cucumbers are planted in the ground. But in spacious industrial greenhouses, rack cultivation in 2 and even 3 tiers is also practiced. This approach makes harvesting easier and saves on scarce greenhouse space.

Photo

In the photo below: a greenhouse for growing cucumbers all year round, cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse in winter.

Growing cucumbers in a greenhouse in winter: the best varieties for greenhouses

In the greenhouse, it is convenient to grow cucumbers that do not give long lashes. Such plants are compact, delicate stems are not damaged during care and harvest. It is worth paying attention to varieties and hybrids with a shortened growing season that do not require pollination. There are a lot of suitable options, it is recommended to try several varieties and choose 2-3 of them that are most suitable.

• Valaam - a very productive early maturing hybrid, suitable for temperate and cold climates. The fruits are very tender, without bitterness, rich green color with small black tubercles.
• Suomi - a hybrid suitable for winter cultivation, easily tolerates a slight drop in temperature. Fruits are small, neat, almost never outgrowing. They have a pleasant, non-watery taste.
• Bouquet - one of the earliest varieties, the crop can be harvested a month after moving the seedlings into the ground. Typical is "bouquet" fruiting, producing several fruits from each leaf axilla.
• Sarovskiy - a fruitful hybrid, characterized by endurance and productivity. "Bouquet" variant, which gives high yields of medium-sized, even and very tasty cucumbers.
• Okhotny Ryad - an early ripe hybrid with an extended fruiting period. The fruits are small, elongated, very delicate in taste.

Choosing the right seeds

Experienced growers recommend choosing cucumber seeds harvested 2-3 years ago. They are distinguished by better germination, the sprouts are healthy and strong.

The material prepared for sowing needs iterate over manuallyby removing ugly and empty seeds. Then they are disinfected by placing them for 10-12 hours in a damp cloth soaked in aloe juice or an aqueous solution of nitrophoska, copper sulfate and boric acid.

After processing, the seeds are washed, wrapped in a clean, damp cloth and transferred to the lower compartment of the refrigerator. This hardening strengthens the plants and stimulates good fruiting. The seeds should spend 5-7 days in the refrigerator, the fabric should be constantly moistened.

Soil and fertilizer requirements

Cucumbers love light soil, neutral or slightly alkaline. Excessive acidification is unacceptable. The ideal soil consists of old garden soil, peat, rotted humus and river sand. Do not forget that the fertile soil layer changes every year, this is especially important for rack cultivation.

For feeding cucumbers, you can alternate complex mineral and organic fertilizers, but some gardeners rely on organic matter. Cucumbers respond well to an aqueous solution of mullein or chicken droppings. The first fertilizing is carried out after the appearance of the third leaf on the seedlings, the second fertilization begins during the flowering period. During fruiting, cucumbers are fed with organic matter at least 4 times.

How to grow cucumbers in a greenhouse in winter

Cucumber seedlings can be grown in an apartment or directly in a greenhouse. Seeds it is advisable to sow in peat pots, young plants do not tolerate digging well. To get harvests in January, sowing is carried out in early September.

The pots are filled with the prepared substrate, the seeds are placed in holes 2 cm deep. Some gardeners plant 2 seeds in each glass, meaning the subsequent pick.

The soil in the pots is moistened with a spray bottle, and the containers are covered with glass on top.Another way is to cover the pots with a damp cloth. You can sow cucumbers every 2 weeks, seedlings of different ages will help ensure an uninterrupted harvest.

The optimum temperature for germination is 25 degrees. After emergence, the temperature drops to 15 degrees during the day and 12 at night. Plants should be watered 2 times a week using room temperature water. After feeding with a mullein, it is recommended to wash the sprouts from a spray bottle.

The next stage: transplanting cucumber seedlings into a winter greenhouse. A month after sowing the seeds, the grown seedlings are transferred to the prepared soil of the greenhouse. The distance between plants is 20-30 cm, between rows - about 90 cm.

Features of care after transplant

Cucumbers - enough demanding culture... To achieve a good harvest, you will have to carefully monitor the level of moisture and soil fertility.

For good health and quick formation of ovaries, cucumbers need feeding 1 time in 2 weeks, with alternating mineral and organic fertilizers. You also need to maintain high humidity - 80-85%. To ensure such indicators, the floor and heating pipes are regularly watered.

Open tanks are located in the greenhouse itself. They not only humidify the air, but also defend and heat the water for irrigation.

Before flowering period the plants are watered twice a week, after the flowers appear, watering becomes more frequent and abundant.

It is important to monitor the condition of the leaves, they must be firm and juicy. Sluggish, drying sheets signal an acute lack of moisture in the soil.

For winter growing, light intensity is very important. Daylight hours should last at least 12 hours. Young plants are illuminated by low hanging lamps, with an increase in the growth of cucumbers, the lamps rise higher. It is believed that the condition of plants is positively influenced by the warm light spectrum.

Temperature should not fall below 20 degrees, the optimal mode is from 25 degrees during the day to 15 at night. Ventilation should be very careful, excluding the ingress of cold air currents on the plants. Cucumbers stop the formation of ovaries even with a short-term cold snap, and this greatly affects the yield of cucumbers in a greenhouse in winter.

Useful video

How cucumbers are grown in winter greenhouses can be found in the video below:

Cucumbers are one of the most common and beloved by many crops, growing in almost every gardener on the site. Their season usually starts in May and ends in September. But for those owners of country houses who want to feast on their vegetables in the cold season, there is a way out: growing cucumbers in a greenhouse in winter.

How to place the plants correctly?

As for conventional (unheated) greenhouses, they can be located in almost any part of the site.

Read about heating polycarbonate greenhouses in a separate article!

But a place for a winter greenhouse with heating must meet certain requirements:

1. It is imperative to choose a flat site for placement. A minimum slope to the south-east or south is allowed.
2. It is necessary to create special protection from the north and north-west winds.
3. The lighting system must be carefully thought out.
4. The proximity of the location of the source with irrigation water.

Next, you need to decide on the size and materials for the future greenhouse. A properly selected design has an area to volume ratio of 1 to 2. In this case, the outside temperature will have little or no effect on the internal temperature.

Polycarbonate or glass is used as the enclosing surface; in regions with warm winters, it is possible to use several layers of polyethylene film.

The optimum temperature for the growth and development of cucumbers is between 22-24 ° C.

Soil preparation rules

The success of growing cucumbers in a greenhouse in winter directly depends on well-prepared soil.It must be remembered that this vegetable crop is quite demanding on the fertility of the soil, responds well to organic fertilizing.

Compound:

• peat - 2 parts;
• humus - 2 parts;
• rotted sawdust - 1 part;
• ash (wood) - 100 g;
• nitroammofosk - 30 g.

If it is not possible to independently make up the soil mixture, you can buy a ready-made one. The land must be carefully leveled and mineral fertilizers must be scattered over the surface. Then the beds are covered with polyethylene for 10-15 days in order for the fertilizers to be well absorbed. If everything is done correctly, the harvest of cucumbers will be consistently high and of high quality.

Another important point is the formation of beds in the greenhouse. The best location for the ridges is considered to be a direction from north to south or from west to east.

It is possible to create one or several beds, depending on the size of the greenhouse:

1. The only fairly wide bed in the center - it is convenient to serve the plants from all sides, but the space is used irrationally.
2. Two beds on the sides of the greenhouse with a spacious passage in the middle - not very convenient to care for, but it is possible to place more plants.
3. Three beds: one in the center (wide) and two on the sides (narrower) and aisles between them - in this case, the usable area is slightly reduced, but it is easier to process.

Selection of suitable hybrids and varieties of cucumbers

Growing cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse in winter involves the selection of suitable varieties and hybrids, because not all of them are suitable for greenhouse conditions.

In order not to waste money and time in vain, you should not choose varieties:

• insect pollinated;
• having increased requirements for natural light.

In a heated greenhouse, such cucumbers show themselves perfectly:

• "Relay race";
• "Home";
• Ladoga F1;
• "Hercules F1";
• Lilliput F1;
• Zozulya F1;
• "Cheetah F1";
• Amur F1;
• "Courage F1";
• Northern Lights F1;
• "Anyuta F1";
• "Grasshopper F1";
• Orpheus F1;
• Marathon F1;
• F1 Olympics;
• Arina F1;
• "F1 evenings near Moscow" and others.

Sowing and caring for cucumbers in the greenhouse

The technology of growing cucumbers in a greenhouse in winter provides for 2 methods of planting: directly by seeds into the ground or through seedlings.

The first way

The planting density of seeds depends on the hybrid or variety, but on average, 2 to 4 bushes should be placed per 1 m2, so that each plant has enough space for growth. If the cucumbers are planted in several rows, then a distance of up to 50 cm must be observed between them.

Before planting, the seeds must be prepared: sort, disinfect and soak.

Second way

When growing cucumbers in seedlings, you need to remember that their root system does not respond well to transplantation. It is best to use peat tablets or peat cups to plant seedlings in a permanent place without disturbing the roots. The use of plastic containers is also allowed, but when disembarking from them, you will have to be as careful as possible.

Before the shoots appear, the temperature should be 23-24 ° C, when the first shoots appear, it must be lowered to 12-15 ° C. The growing seedlings need to be watered every other day and fed periodically.

By sowing a new batch of seeds every two weeks, you can ensure a continuous harvest of cucumbers.

After about a month (in the 3-4 leaf phase), young plants are transplanted into the ground.

This vegetable crop is quite hygrophilous. Before blooming flowers, watered once every 5-6 days, at the time of flowering, the frequency is increased to twice a week. During the period of ovary formation and fruit ripening, watering should be maximum - about a bucket of water per 1 m2 every 2-3 days.

You can reduce the risk of root rot disease by watering gently between rows.

Top dressing is carried out in 3 stages:

• the first time - a few days after planting seedlings, using urea, nitrophosphate, kemira;
• the second - before mass flowering, using nitrophosphate;
• the third - during the period of active fruiting, using special complex fertilizers for cucumbers, superphosphate, potassium nitrate.

If you want to have your own cucumbers on the table all year round, growing in a greenhouse in winter which has certain subtleties, you must definitely remember:

1. Heating greatly dries up the greenhouse air. To prevent cucumbers from suffering from drought, it is necessary to constantly humidify the air by spraying the plants.
2. You need to pay attention to high-quality lighting: without it, you will not be able to get a good harvest. At first, the lamps should be as close to the plants as possible, as they grow, they should be lifted.
3. Sharp fluctuations in temperature inside the greenhouse are unacceptable, lowering it below +10 ° C can destroy cucumbers.

By observing all the requirements, you can get delicious fresh vegetables even in the middle of winter.

VIDEO: additionally about growing cucumbers in greenhouse conditions

Large entrepreneurs choose the cultivation of cucumbers in greenhouses, as it is profitable and convenient. On television, a story was released about the benefits of such landings using the example of the manufacturer "Zarya":

Cucumbers are one of our favorite summer vegetables on our table. However, they can be grown not only outdoors in summer, but also in greenhouse conditions in winter. That allows you to enjoy this vegetable all year round. For this, the most important thing is to equip a warm greenhouse, choose the right planting material and, of course, know and follow the rules of care.

1 Preparing a greenhouse - equipping a warm house for our plantings

To grow cucumbers in winter, it is necessary to build and equip a greenhouse. The most popular wall materials are plastic sheeting and polycarbonate. However, for the winter period, the film is not suitable for its characteristics. We choose the second option. The polycarbonate greenhouse has a solid construction, there are no cracks in it, there are no drafts. Due to the low coefficient of thermal conductivity, a comfortable microclimate is maintained inside.

In a winter greenhouse, we must carry out heating in order to maintain the required temperature regime. To do this, we install a heating boiler, we do piping throughout the greenhouse. For cucumbers, it is important that the soil temperature does not fall below +15 degrees, so we form beds and lay heating pipes under them. We install taps at the pipe joints, with the help of which we will regulate the flow of the coolant.

To get a good harvest in the greenhouse in winter, it is necessary to provide artificial lighting. The following types can be used as lamps:

• conventional incandescent lamps;
• luminescent;
• LED;
• halogen;
• high pressure.

To get a harvest for the New Year, the winter greenhouse must be properly prepared for planting. For cucumbers, you need loose, fertile soil. We disinfect it to reduce the risk of plant diseases in winter. We introduce organic matter in the form of manure or compost, at the rate of 10-15 kg per square meter. If the greenhouse has already been used for cultivation, remove the top layer of soil 15 cm thick and replace it with a new one. Prepare the soil from a mixture of turf and humus.

We also add 2 tsp for each square meter. superphosphate, 2 tbsp. l. wood ash and 2 kg of ready-made mixture for "Exo" cucumbers. The mixed fertilizers are evenly distributed over the surface, and then we immerse them with a rake to a depth of 10–12 cm. To stimulate growth, we dilute one capsule of Energen in 10 liters of warm water and distribute over the beds at the rate of 2-3 liters per square meter. The tool increases the humus content in the soil, which increases the yield.

2 Growing seedlings is an important stage for obtaining a good harvest

When choosing a variety of cucumbers, the climate of the area does not matter, the main thing is to know and observe the technology of growing crops in a closed greenhouse.Among the wide variety for the greenhouse, we choose self-pollinated varieties that have both a pistil and stamens at the same time, and therefore pollinate independently. To have green vegetables on the table all year round, when choosing, we pay attention to the ripening time. You can select different varieties and harvest the fruits daily throughout the year.

When choosing planting material, it is better to give preference to seeds marked F1. These are hybrids - the most productive varieties for a greenhouse, obtained from two varieties that inherit the best qualities from both parents, therefore, they are more resistant to climatic changes, diseases, and give a high yield. But these characteristics are not inherited.

Growing seedlings of cucumbers from seeds is a laborious and crucial stage on which the future harvest depends. First, we check the seeds for germination by placing them in a container with warm water. Two hours later, we carry out a selection: we throw out the floating specimens, since they will not rise, we leave only those that have settled to the bottom. Selected seeds for disinfection are immersed in a solution of potassium permanganate for 15–20 minutes. After that, rinse with clean water. Then we fold the gauze in several layers and lay out the planting material on it, water it with water. We leave for a day so that the seeds hatch.

For seedlings, you need to prepare the soil and boxes. The soil can be prepared with your own hands. To do this, mix two parts of peat, two parts of humus and one part of sawdust. The second option: a mixture of equal proportions of compost, turf and leafy soil. You can also buy ready-made soil mixture for seedlings. To increase fertility, add a tablespoon of complex fertilizers or three tablespoons of wood ash to the soil. We disinfect the soil before sowing. To do this, steam it or spill it with boiling water. Thus, we destroy pests, mold spores and pathogens.

We take boxes with a depth of at least 10 cm. Remember that after some time the seedlings will need to dive. Cucumbers do not tolerate this procedure well, so if the area permits, it is better to plant them in separate pots. Before planting, we rinse and disinfect containers. We process wooden boxes especially carefully, as a large number of various pests and parasites accumulate on their walls.

We fill the containers with the prepared soil and spill it so that it settles a little. We plant the sprouted seeds in boxes. In the moistened soil, we make small pits with a diameter of about 1.5 cm according to the scheme: 10x10 cm or 8x8 cm.Then we place the seeds in them and sprinkle them lightly with earth. To create a greenhouse effect, we cover the boxes with the planted seeds with foil and place them in a warm and well-lit place, perhaps on a windowsill.

Seedlings should appear in 4–5 days. After that, the cover can be removed. We keep the soil constantly moist: we water the soil and spray the seedlings daily. When the seedlings grow up, you need to dive it. To do this, we remove the seedlings from the boxes along with a lump of earth and transplant them into separate cups.

3 Planting cucumbers in a warm greenhouse - basic rules

You can plant both seedlings and seeds in the greenhouse. If you grow cucumbers from seeds, then sowing is done in September. We plant seedlings at the end of October. This method is preferable as the plants are better resistant to disease. Seedlings grow quickly, so 10–20 days after sowing the seeds, they can be planted in the ground. We transfer the sprouts to the ground when they have 4–5 full-fledged leaves. Before planting, we harden the seedlings, taking them out to a cool place during the day, for example, on the balcony, and bring them back into the room at night.

A week before planting the seedlings, we prepare the beds. We dig or loosen the soil, form beds 35 cm high and about 80–90 cm wide. Make a distance of at least 70 cm between the beds. Spill the earth with aqueous solutions of mullein or a mixture of potassium sulfate, superphosphate, urea and wood resin.Then we cover the beds with a film (preferably black) so that the earth warms up well.

Cucumbers should only be planted in warm soil.

We plant seedlings in increments of 30-50 cm. We dig holes 10 cm deep, be sure to spill them with warm water. We take out the seedling with earth from the cup. To do this, knead the glass on all sides so that the earth moves away from the walls, then turn the glass over and take out the plant so that the cucumber stalk is in the palm of your hand. Then we place the seedling with soil in the hole and sprinkle it with soil on top. We mulch the ground around the plant with sawdust or peat to retain moisture and heat.

4 Planting care - rules for watering and feeding

To obtain a high yield, it is necessary to maintain a soil temperature of 15-18 degrees; at a lower one, the risk of cucumber diseases increases. Daytime air temperature should be 20-23 degrees, night can drop to 18-20 degrees. We maintain and regulate it with our heating system.

Air humidity in a polycarbonate greenhouse should be 75–90%, for soil - not exceed 60%. The first 10-15 days after planting, we water the ground only with warm water in the root part, otherwise the cucumbers will grow poorly and may get sick. To achieve the required moisture values ​​from the moment of planting to flowering, the water consumption should be 4-6 liters of water per square meter. When the cucumbers bloom, we increase the water rate. During fruiting, we increase the consumption to 10 liters of water per square meter. It is better to water in the morning or evening hours.

It is necessary to monitor the condition of the root system, if it is bare, we huddle bushes or fill up the soil. We mulch the ground under the bushes with hay or sawdust to retain heat and moisture. In addition, the hay does not allow the fruit to touch the ground, preventing them from rotting.

Top dressing is carried out 2-3 weeks after planting with nitrogen-containing fertilizers. They contribute to the intensive growth and development of greenery - this is important at the initial stage of growing cucumbers. We mix fertilizers with the soil and put them under each bush, after which we water them with a little water. At the phase of the appearance of flowers, we feed with a solution of nitrophoska, diluting 5-10 g of the product in 10 liters of water.

When the fruits begin to ripen, we carry out the third fertilizing with fertilizers, which include phosphorus, magic and potassium. To do this, prepare a solution from the following components:

• wood ash (1 glass), which we insist in 4 liters of warm water;
• water-soluble superphosphate (one teaspoon);
• potassium nitrate (one teaspoon).

We bring the amount of solution to 10 liters, spill it along the furrows. We use the solution for foliar feeding, adding trace elements to it. This will improve the palatability of the cucumbers and increase their quantity. When watering during the day, we apply fertilizers in the evening. During the ripening of the fruits, we feed them with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers every 10–12 days. The application rules contain instructions on the package.

5 Garter and shrub formation

Since this vegetable crop does not have a full-fledged bush, but rather looks like a creeping vine, the greenhouse must be equipped with supports with which it will be possible to form cucumbers. To do this, we equip a horizontal trellis in the greenhouse, to which, as the plants grow, we will tie the ends of twine or strong threads that serve as supports for cucumber lashes.

If the garter is not made in time, this threatens with a decrease in the size of the leaves and a decrease in the amount of harvest. We begin to tie the lashes after the appearance of 6-8 leaves. To do this, tie one end of the rope around the plant with a free loop over the third or second leaf. We do not tighten the loop too much, since the stem will become thicker as it grows. We tie the other end to the trellis wire. In the future, we regularly twist the whip around the vertically stretched twine.

As we grow, we carry out the formation of the bush - we pinch all the side shoots so that it does not grow to the sides. We begin the procedure after the appearance of 8-9 true leaves. We pluck off new branches at the bottom 3-4 nodes, then at 4-5 nodes, leaving one leaf or fruit each. Above the fifth knot, we leave lateral whips 20 cm long. The higher along the main stem, the longer we leave the whips. Closer to the trellis we leave shoots 50 cm, fixing them on the support.

When the cucumber grows to a horizontal trellis, wrap the whip of the main stem around the trellis and pinch the top about 2-3 leaves from the last fruit. We regularly remove the cucumbers, they should not exceed 12 cm in length and 5 cm in diameter, then new ovaries will form.

To obtain a bountiful harvest, you need to provide additional lighting, constant watering, feed on time, observe the temperature regime.

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. Getting fresh cucumbers to your table or for sale is quite simple. 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 much worse - 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 lighting for a winter greenhouse 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 processing

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 manufacture 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 sprout 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 fertilizing 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.