What cucumbers can be grown at home?

Long gone are the days when the townspeople who did not have summer cottages were jealous of those who had them. Today, even a resident of a high-rise can afford to feast on fresh herbs and vegetables, using windows, balconies and loggias to grow them.

Today any non-lazy city dweller can please his family with fresh crispy greens by making the right choice of a variety of cucumbers for growing on a windowsill. The same goes for tomatoes, strawberries and peppers - modern breeders have specially created types of vegetables that can be grown in pots and get decent yields.

Characteristics of "home" cucumbers

In order to enjoy your own harvest of greens all year round, you should familiarize yourself in advance with what varieties of cucumbers exist for growing on the windowsill. They must have a different set of qualities than those that are sown in greenhouses or in the open field:

• First, it should be self-pollinated hybrids, so as not to waste time on manual pollination.
• Secondly, it is desirable that the plant be shade-loving, since not every window is suitable for it. In order not to additionally illuminate with lamps in winter, it is better to look in advance for varieties of cucumbers for growing on the windowsill, which easily tolerate a lack of light.

• Thirdly, it is preferable to purchase a frost-resistant variety, especially for planting on a balcony or loggia, where there is no additional heating.

If earlier varieties of cucumbers for growing on the windowsill of the house consisted of only one type - "room Rytov", today there are dozens of them. It is important to evaluate the conditions in which the vegetable will grow, and, based on them, to purchase the most suitable one, since the manufacturers indicate all the characteristics on the package.

Cucumbers for the windowsill

For many "home gardeners", a high yield is a top priority. In fact, it is more important that the plant grows strong and healthy in the conditions of a balcony or window, then the collection of fruits will become a pleasant experience. To date, the following are recognized the best varieties of cucumbers for growing on the windowsill:

• "Prestige f1" is a parthenocarpic species that bears fruit for a very long period.The first greens can be harvested within 40 days after seed germination. Cucumbers are 6-8 cm long and have excellent taste.
• Masha f1 is a very early ripening species that bears fruit on the 35-40th day. Also from the category "varieties of cucumbers for growing on the windowsill." Caring for him allows you to achieve the formation of up to 7 greens on one brush. Fruits are dark green with excellent taste.
• "Ant f1" is one of the most productive types of cucumbers. It is also parthenocarpic, ripens in bundles, in each of which up to 7 fruits are formed.
• "Balkonny" is a versatile variety that yields on the 41st day after seed germination. Relatively hardy, which makes it the best contender for growing on a glazed balcony. Productivity - up to 10 kg / m2.

When buying varieties of cucumbers for growing on the windowsill, you should definitely check that this property is indicated on the package. Also, all its qualities should be spelled out there - from yield and ripening terms to conditions for their ripening.

Selection of containers

Cucumbers love space, even when they grow in the garden, so you should take care of the container for them in advance. When choosing a container, it should be borne in mind that the optimal volume for one plant is 5 liters. These can be single ceramic pots or a one-piece long plastic container.

Some "home gardeners" adapt plastic five-liter water bottles, after cutting off their neck. You can also use heavy-duty plastic bags if you don't have another container on hand.

Some nuances should be taken into account when choosing a suitable container for any kind of cucumber for growing on a windowsill. The peculiarities of this plant are that it does not tolerate both dryness of the earth and stagnant water, therefore, there must be holes in the container for its drain.

If you fit the boxes for the "garden", then they must first be covered with dense cellophane, making holes at the bottom. Any of the listed containers will work well to grow and harvest a good harvest of cucumbers.

Soil preparation

For those who do not want to waste time preparing potting mix, ready-made, which is sold in specialized stores, is suitable. For those who want to personally participate in the process from start to finish, experienced gardeners recommend creating soil with their own hands. This will require:

• 1 part of garden or turf land;
• compost - 1 part;
• sand - 1/5 part;
• sawdust - 1/5;
• wood ash - 1/5.

To prevent the soil from harming the plants, it should be calcined, for which you can use a conventional oven. Ready and mixed soil is poured into a baking sheet in a layer of up to 5 cm and put for 20-30 minutes in an oven preheated to 100-110 degrees.

After calcining, the soil must be fertilized, for which it is enough to add mineral fertilizers for pumpkin seeds in a couple of matchboxes. Cucumber supplements are available for purchase. The prepared soil is packed in five-liter containers and thoroughly watered one day before sowing the seeds. Whatever varieties of cucumbers are used for growing on the windowsill, the preparation of the soil is the same.

Seat selection

An important role in a good harvest is played by where exactly the cucumbers will grow. This plant loves sunlight and warmth, so either it will be windows or a balcony on the south side, or a window sill warmed and equipped with phyto- or fluorescent lamps from the other side.

It must be remembered that the usual variety of cucumbers needs up to 12 hours of light for the seedlings to grow evenly. This is especially true for the period from November to the end of January. If seeds specially bred as shade-loving are used, then this period can be shortened.

It is very important that the plant is not exposed to drafts when ventilated. It is necessary that the frame does not allow cold air to pass through.Some gardeners, even with high-quality glazing, use additional insulation or stretch plastic wrap between the plant and the window frame. It transmits sunlight well enough, but at the same time saves from the cold.

Every grower has little tricks to help the plant grow strong and healthy (for example, using mirrors or foil to reflect sunlight and increase lighting). It is also advisable not to put the pot directly on the windowsill, but it is better to put a layer of foam plastic or just wooden blocks under it. This is an additional measure to protect the cucumbers from the cold.

Seed preparation

To avoid further problems with the growth of seeds, it is better to prevent them. For this, a weak solution of potassium permanganate is used, in which the planting material is kept for a couple of hours. By the way, this is also a test of their quality - only those that have sunk to the bottom during a given time should be planted. Seeds floating on the surface will either not sprout at all, or will not yield a crop.

After potassium permanganate, the seeds must be left for a couple of days in a humid environment for germination. To do this, a gauze or natural fabric moistened with water is suitable, which must be sprayed as it dries.

When the seeds "hatch", they can be planted in cups prepared for this. Some gardeners prefer to sow directly into pots, which saves them time, but it is important to cover such a container with foil until the first leaves appear on the seedlings.

Whatever the varieties of cucumbers for growing on the windowsill, in the first week before the emergence of shoots, they need to provide a temperature of + 22 ... + 24 degrees. After they rise, they can be transferred to a cooler place, where the air warms up to +18, but good lighting is provided.

Seedling care

In order to collect from 10 to 25 green leaves from each plant every day, it should be provided with appropriate care. For this:

• watering should be carried out daily, but care must be taken that the water does not stagnate;

• it is necessary to provide the plant with appropriate moisture, for which it is enough to spray it from a spray bottle 1-2 times a day;
• if the plant is under artificial light, then watering can be done in the morning and evening.

To save time, some gardeners put trays of gravel under the seedling pots, where they pour water. This contributes to the constant moisture of the soil and air. In summer, the soil should be constantly wet, and in winter, watering can be reduced, but air humidity should be monitored at any time of the year.

Top dressing

To be healthy varieties of cucumbers for growing on the windowsill and picking fruits became a real holiday, they need to be fed with high quality. To do this, 2 weeks after the emergence of seedlings, it is required to make and add the first mineral solution:

• add 2 tsp for 3 liters of water. mineral fertilizer for cucumbers or pumpkin crops, water at the rate of 1-2 cups per 1 plant during the growth period and 3-4 - during fruiting.
• to extend the life of the plant, it is recommended to water it once every 2-3 weeks with a solution of 1 cap of "Growth" for 2 liters of water.

A good help is adding fresh vermicompost every 3-4 weeks.

Vine formation

In order for the stem of the plant to grow strong and bear fruit well, the first pinching of the top is carried out when 4-5 leaves have appeared. This will "provoke" the side branches to grow. When they give their shoots, the pinching is carried out over the third or fifth leaf. The mustache must also be removed, making sure that decay does not appear in their place.

When the main vine begins to rise, it should be tied up, for which you can insert sticks 1 m in length directly into the container with the plant or stretch the fishing line along the window. The liana needs to be pinned over the 11th or 12th sheet.When fruiting begins, it is necessary to ensure that the greens do not overripe. The more often the fruits are plucked, the higher the yield.

Sowing cucumbers in winter

The main distinguishing feature of any variety of cucumbers for growing in winter on a windowsill is the need for additional lighting. It is better if special phytolamps are used for this. The rest of the care conditions are simple:

• moderate watering;
• high air humidity, for which it is better to use containers with water or spray the plants several times a day;
• timely formation of the bush;
• daily harvest during the fruiting period.

Cucumbers need feeding in winter no less than at other times of the year. The size of the harvest directly depends on this. If the plant is "malnourished", then it will tell it by slow growth and yellowed greens.

Sowing seeds can be carried out in any month, but at the same time take into account the temperature and illumination of the selected place. Since cucumbers can give a harvest in 4-5 weeks, their planting depends only on the preferences of the owner. For example, you can do this 5-6 weeks before New Year's holidays to delight guests with a fresh cucumber salad.

Sowing cucumbers in summer

If in winter it is important that there is additional lighting, then varieties of cucumbers for growing on a windowsill in summer do not need this. On the contrary, you can slightly shade the plants with a net if the south window is chosen. The main requirements for a good harvest during this period:

• frequent watering;
• regular spraying with water;
• timely harvest.

In general, growing cucumbers at any time of the year is not a burdensome task that brings joy to the harvest.

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. Early and ultra-early are the most popular for growing cucumbers at home:

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

Of the mid-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 seedlings 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 lighting.... 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 night. 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 mineral water, 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, feeding cucumbers with biohumus agents... The bushes are sprayed twice with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Advice! An excellent organic solution is a solution of fermented chopped 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 for ensuring optimal light and thermal conditions.

Requirements for the basement for growing cucumbers

• Temperature should not drop to minus indicators throughout the year.
• Absence 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:

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 a 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. Unpretentious 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 after 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 be thickened 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 first timid shoots appear, the film is immediately removed. This is required so that it does not create condensation that provokes the onset of fungal diseases. Further temperature decreases 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.

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 indoor cultivation, 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 with a length of 70 centimeters, 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. 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 for energy losses, 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, for cucumbers this is unacceptable. 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 to skip 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. Make small holes in the ground about two centimeters deep, lower the seeds with the root down and sprinkle them gently. It goes without saying that the soil should be moist 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, you should not risk time and, in case of problems, re-sowing.

After two real leaves have appeared, the soil in the pots is poured two or 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 irregularities in irrigation regimes. 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. An excess of mineral fertilizers impairs the quality of the fruit.

Video - Cucumbers on the windowsill