What kind of cucumber is best to grow on a windowsill?

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.

Any non-lazy city dweller can please his family with fresh crispy greens by making the right choice of cucumber varieties for growing on the 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:

• Firstly, these 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 assess 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 packaging.

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 event. 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 a windowsill, be sure to 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 with 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 greens 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 long 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, this can be done 5-6 weeks before the New Year 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.

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

Features of growing on a windowsill

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

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

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

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

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

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

What varieties are suitable for growing in an apartment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What should be the place

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

Important! The best option is a windowsill located on the south side, or even better a heated balcony or loggia. This arrangement will provide the plantings with lighting 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 appearance of the first timid shoots, the film is immediately removed. This is required so that it does not create condensation that provokes the onset of fungal diseases. Further temperature drops to +20 C, but at the same time, the stay on the sunny side increases.

Video: how to grow cucumbers on a windowsill at home

How to care after planting and before harvest - tips

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

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

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

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

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

Diseases and pests

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

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

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

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

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

Germination dates and harvest

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

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

Many varieties grown during the winter months are suitable not only for eating live, but also for salting. But do 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.

We are accustomed to the fact that fresh cucumbers "straight from the garden" can be enjoyed only in summer, and in winter we can only be content with cucumbers bought in stores. But after all, purchased vegetables are not nearly as tasty as home-grown vegetables. But resourceful gardeners have found a way, even in the cold season, to delight their households with fresh crispy cucumbers "right from the garden" - they grow them on their windowsills!

Cucumbers on the windowsill in winter: the best varieties

Such different varieties of cucumbers

Vegetables grown right in the apartment no longer seem like a wonder - more and more summer residents do not want to part with the juicy and tasty fruits for the winter, which they are used to during the summer season. Therefore, they begin to resort to various tricks, a kind of "life hacks", such as growing vegetables on the windowsill. Among those cultures that live well in a city apartment, cucumbers can be especially noted.

Cucumbers will not suffer much from a lack of sunlight in the apartment.

Why cucumbers?

1. Firstly, these are shade-tolerant plants and they will not suffer much from the lack of sunlight in the apartment in the winter.
2. Secondly, cucumbers are very convenient and effective to maintain: they will not take up much space, but you can pick up a variety with a high yield.
3. Thirdly, cucumbers grow and ripen quickly - the crop from the bush can be harvested within 4-5 weeks from the moment of sowing.

But not every variety of cucumbers will have to live in an apartment to taste: some of them still prefer a greenhouse to a cozy window, and therefore will not be able to fully grow and bear fruit at home. How to choose a variety?

Not every variety of cucumbers will have to live in an apartment to taste.

First, let's find out what varieties are:

varieties that are not suitable for homemade preparations, but taste great when used raw. They make delicious and aromatic salads. They store very well, therefore they are often used for sale. Cucumber spines are white.

Attention: if the thorns on the body of a cucumber are white, then this is an excellent salad variety, but such cucumbers are not suitable for canning.

Parthenocarpic	Varieties that do not require pollination. Produce fruit without seeds
Self-pollinating	Varieties that have both pistils and stamens in one flower. They pollinate on their own, while their fruits are with seeds
Bee-pollinated	Here, too, everything is clear from the name. In order for the ovary to appear, bees are needed to pollinate the flowers of the plant. Alas, insects are indispensable here
F1 hybrids	"Babies" of the first generation, obtained from crossing two different varieties. They are popular among gardeners because they have a bountiful harvest, good fruit taste, and tolerate fluctuations in growing conditions well.
Salad
Salting	Varieties, the best use for which is the preparation of homemade preparations, since the peel of such fruits perfectly absorbs the brine. It is better to preserve them immediately after harvesting, since the keeping quality of such varieties is minimal. The thorns on the body of the fetus are black
Universal	Such cucumbers are suitable for everything: they can be salted, and pickled, and eaten raw. Their thorns are black

Also, varieties of cucumbers are subdivided according to the type of conditions and place of cultivation (for indoor or open ground), according to the shape of the stem (liana, bush). They are also classified according to the size of the greenery (gherkins, pickles and others).

Zelenets is the name of the fruit of a cucumber.

Cucumber Zelenets F1

Choosing a variety

How to choose a variety of cucumbers to create a greenhouse on your windowsill? Everything is very simple:

1. Cucumbers on the windowsill should take up as little space as possible so as not to interfere - that is, choose bush varieties, and not those that grow into a giant liana.
2. Choose a variety with good yields so that it will bring more benefits (or rather, fruits) to the gardener.
3. Choose varieties that are unpretentious to growing conditions: in winter, due to central heating, it can be very dry in apartments, and cucumbers love humidity. In addition, in the winter season, plants may experience a lack of light.
4. Stop your choice on hybrids - such varieties bear fruit well and are tolerant of negative environmental influences.

The variety must be self-pollinated

The variety should be self-pollinated or parthenocarpic - will you breed bees in winter so that they pollinate your plants?

Recommended varieties of cucumbers for growing on a windowsill

The following varieties of this herbaceous plant have already been tested by time, or rather, by summer residents.

Window-balcony F1		The name of the hybrid has already said everything about this variety - it was created specifically to settle in your window. The flowers are predominantly female. You can enjoy the first cucumbers already 55 days after the seedlings have sprung up. At the same time, the yield is quite high - up to 15 kg of cucumbers are removed from 1 square meter. Zelentsy are smooth, dark green, shiny, up to 16 cm long. Delicious fresh. A hybrid that is not afraid of diseases, shade-tolerant, easily tolerates temperature changes and does not lose ovaries
Ekaterina F1		A hybrid variety with the name that the great empress once bore. Medium early variety (ripening period about 50 days), bearing fruit for a long time. The bushes are medium in size, give green greens up to 23 cm long. The yield is good - about 18 kg of juicy cucumbers can be "removed" from 1 square meter. Low susceptible to diseases, frost-resistant, shade-tolerant hybrid variety. It is used for home canning, but it shows its best taste when consumed fresh.
Gift of the East F1		A mid-season hybrid that does not require pollination. Weak plant of medium size, bears fruit abundantly and for a long time, not susceptible to diseases. Produces fragrant, sturdy fruits of a modest size (up to 10 cm long) with a light downy. The yield is average - from 1 square meter you can collect up to 9 kg of cucumbers, which are well canned and no less wonderful in taste when eaten raw
Faust F1		Pollination-free, early maturing hybrid variety with female flowers.Fruits are medium in size, smooth in the form of a cylinder up to 18 cm long with a bright taste, do not taste bitter. Used for salads
Zozulya F1		A well-known old medium-branching hybrid variety for salad purposes. The yield is good. Begins to bear fruit early - already 45 days after the emergence of sprouts. Fruits are decorated with white thorns, large (up to 22 cm long), with white fluff, well stored. Relatively cold-resistant hybrid variety, not afraid of diseases and cold weather
Hostess F1		A frost-resistant medium early variety that does not need to be pollinated. Strongly branched plant, not limited in growth. Thorn cucumbers are suitable both for conservation and for eating raw. The size of the cucumbers is up to 15 cm, dense, lumpy, dark green fruits
Shchedryk F1		An early ripening, vigorous variety with an average level of climbing. Fruits with tubercles, not large, up to 12 cm long. The pulp is not bitter, dense, the skin is tender. The hybrid is not afraid of diseases, unpretentious. Zelentsy are used for making salads
Masha F 1		Parthenocarpic hybrid variety. The ripening time for zelents is about 45 days. Productive, not susceptible to disease. Cucumbers do not taste bitter, ripen early. They are canned and eaten raw.
Onega F1		Fast ripening (up to 38 days after sprouting), self-pollinated hybrid. Weakly branched, indeterminate. Cucumbers are small (up to 82 grams), striped, cylinder-shaped, with black fluff. Suitable for salting, pickling, making salads

We grow cucumbers on the windowsill

Now, in order for the cucumbers to delight us with their fruits, their seeds need to be planted and grown. Having decided on the variety, we proceed to this important event.

1. Let's start by preparing a container for plants and soil. Choose oblong boxes or pots for cucumbers at the rate of at least 5 liters by volume per plant. Make drainage holes in each container.
2. We prepare the soil: for this we mix in equal parts garden soil, sand, rotten sawdust, ash, humus. Put the prepared soil in the oven and warm it up to destroy insect eggs and infections in it. You can buy ready-made soil from the store.
3. Pour soil into containers 24 hours before sowing and spill well.
4. Make a depression in the ground (about 1.5 cm), place the seed there. We plant the prepared seeds either germinated or dry, as it is more convenient. Sprinkle with soil.
5. We close the boxes or pots with cellophane wrap and place them in the room where the air temperature is at least +25 degrees. Can be placed over a heating radiator.
6. We are waiting for the first shoots to appear. When the plants hatch, remove the cellophane and put the boxes with seedlings on the windowsill. The air temperature should now be around 20 degrees.
7. When the plants grow a little, you need to shape them. To do this, when 4-5 leaves appear at the bushes, you need to start pinching the top so that the lateral branches-lashes go into growth (they are left about 2-3 per bush).
8. Then the lashes will have to be pinched (this is done over the 10th leaf). According to this principle, the plant is formed further.
9. Do not forget to tie up the whips so that the whole plant has enough light. The excess mustache is cut off.

Cucumber care

How to care for the cucumbers living on your windowsill so that they give you a bountiful harvest? Everything is simple here:

1. Some varieties of cucumbers are tolerant of some shade, but it is still better to fully provide plants with life-giving light. Therefore, if you grow cucumbers on the window in winter, then from November to February, in the "darkest" months, additionally highlight the plants.
2. Feed the cucumber bushes periodically with organic fertilizers.
3. Cucumbers are often watered with warm, settled water - these plants love moisture. If the air in the house is dry, then saucers of water are placed near the plants to moisturize and the bushes are periodically sprayed.
4. Cucumbers love warmth, and therefore do not put them in a cold room or in a room that is often ventilated.
5. If the cucumbers began to bear fruit, then the harvest must be removed regularly, preferably daily, so that the bush does not waste energy on ripe fruits and form new ones, delighting you with fresh cucumbers for as long as possible.

A good fertilizer is a fermented infusion of banana skins diluted with water.

Video - Planting cucumber seeds

Hello dear readers!

One can envy those who have their own personal plot, even a small summer cottage! Owners of their own homes can always feast on vitamins carefully grown in their gardens.

But you want to pamper yourself and your family with a salad of fresh cucumbers, your own, not the store ones, even in a chilly, cold season. Store ones are expensive, and their taste is not at all the same.

There is an exit! We can grow cucumbers on the windowsill.

• In any apartment, you can create your own mini-garden of indoor cucumbers. To do this, you need very little: suitable seeds, knowledge of the rules of planting and care and, of course, desire.

The apartment garden on the windowsill requires very simple maintenance. Even inexperienced, novice amateur gardeners can cope with this.

Although cucumber crops are particularly demanding, it is quite possible to create suitable conditions for them on the windowsill.

Choosing a suitable variety

There are cucumber varieties specially created by breeders intended for cultivation in apartments. Almost all of them are hybrids that can do without pollinating insects.

These are female cucumbers, parthenocarpic hybrids, capable of setting fruits in the absence of pollination.

• The ideal varieties of cucumbers on the windowsill will be medium-growing and bush species. They have more than enough space even in small areas.

It is best to choose shade-tolerant varieties, those hybrids that do not care about winter weather and room lighting.

The best varieties of indoor cucumbers

♦ Shchedryk. Early ripening cucumbers (the first harvest will ripen 40-45 days after sowing).

Cucumbers grow up to 12 cm and they grow in bouquets of 6-8 pieces. Each of the homemade cucumber plants is capable of producing up to 20-25 fruits for the owner.

♦ Crunchy. The harvest of small cucumbers will delight the owner in 45-50 days. Small fruits grow in clusters of 5-7 pieces.

The harvest is plentiful, one cucumber bush can yield up to 40 cucumbers. The crunch is vigorous, it can even be allowed to grow as a beautiful liana along the window.

♦ Bianca. Gherkin is ideal for pickling and pickling. On each nodule, they can form up to 6-7 sweet-tasting fruits.

Bianca is distinguished by long fruiting and good resistance to stress and disease.

♦ Masha. This type of cucumber on the windowsill has a powerful and strong stem. Small cucumbers ripen together, their flesh is devoid of bitterness and is quite dense.

They ripen in heaps of up to 5-6 pieces on one knot. The length of each fruit is up to 8 cm.

♦ Regatta. The variety is distinguished by its high taste, it is resistant to ailments and has an excellent yield (it gives the owner up to 40 fruits weighing 150 g from each plant). It is ideal for indoor growing.

For a rich garden on the windowsill, other parthenocarpic varieties of cucumbers are perfect: Photon, Marinda F1, Cucaracha, April, Zozulya, Claudia F1, Gribovchanka, Stella, Debut, Room, Home.

There are also homemade varieties that need pollination, the most delicious of them are: Ladoga, Frigat, Pallas' cat, Marathon, Olympiada, Northern Lights.

With them, it will be necessary to plant a male pollinator: Hercules, Ermine, Gladiator. If necessary, you can pollinate the plants yourself with a soft brush.

An important event - planting cucumbers

♦ Choosing and preparing a place. Green homemade cucumber crumbs need warmth and good lighting, so it's best to create a cucumber garden on the south or east windows.

1. If the windowsill is too cold, place pieces of isolon, polystyrene or boards on it (otherwise the roots of the seedlings may freeze).
2. Cover the window with polyethylene (this will exclude the appearance of drafts when airing our mini-garden). Be sure to seal all the cracks in the windows.
3. Reflective films can be glued to the glass, mirrors or foil can be installed next to the pots. Such a coating will create more comfortable conditions for young plants.
4. Cucumbers also need good moisture. It can be provided by containers filled with water, trays with moistened gravel / pebbles, placed next to the seedling boxes. Wet rags on batteries and special humidifiers also increase moisture well.

Provide artificial additional lighting (our winter is characterized by short daylight hours). Cucumbers on the windowsill in winter should be illuminated for at least 10-12 hours, in early spring 4-6 hours additionally.

♦ Where to plant. Cucumbers grown on the windowsill can be placed in any container with a volume of at least 8 liters per plant. In containers, a couple of holes should be made at the bottom for free air access and drainage of excess liquid.

On the bottom, place drainage from pieces of broken brick, shingles, expanded clay, gravel or foam. The drainage layer should be about 3-4 cm, cover it with soil on top.

• Before filling the containers with the soil mixture, the cucumber boxes should be thoroughly rinsed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate and then rinsed with steam. This is necessary for additional disinfection.

♦ Soil for planting. How to grow cucumbers on the windowsill, what kind of land do they need? Home cucumbers love loose and fertile soil.

For their cultivation, you can use the purchased ready-made soil (universal or mixture for pumpkin seeds). The soil can be made with your own hands.

We need the following mixture:

• Compost 40%.
• Peat 30%.
• Sod soil 20%.
• Wood sawdust 10%.

It is also necessary to add urea to the finished soil (the volume of an incomplete matchbox for 10 liters of ready-made soil mixture) and potassium sulfate with superphosphate (the volume of two matchboxes).

A mixture of sod soil, manure humus, peat and sawdust (1 part each) is also suitable for cucumbers on the windowsill.

Add nitrophoska (1 tbsp), wood ash (1 cup) and urea (1 tsp) to a bucket of this mixture.

• Soil consumption is at least 5-6 liters for each cucumber plant. Or adhere to this rule: 5-6 bushes are planted on one seedling box 60-70 cm long.

For prophylaxis and disinfection, the soil should be watered with a weak (pale pink) manganese solution and heated in the oven.

Then mix the soil thoroughly and pour it into the container, not reaching 5-7 cm to the edge of the containers. Before planting the seeds, pour the containers with soil with hot water at a temperature of + 60-70 ° C.

• On the advice of experienced gardeners, grease the edges of the container where the cucumbers will grow with some kind of ointment with a pungent smell (for example, the Zvezdochka balm). The pungent aroma will scare off the appearance of one malicious pest of cucumber - a sprout fly that can be brought in from the ground.

♦ When to plant. If you plan to see fresh cucumbers on the New Year's table, plant the seeds at the end of October.

Seeds sown at the end of December will yield a harvest around the end of February. If you need vitamins in the spring (March), sow your vegetable garden in January.

And if you want to save on electricity and grow cucumbers without additional lighting, then sowing seeds is best on February 20-25.

Keep in mind that not so much time passes from the time of sowing to the start of harvesting vitamin fruits (30-50 days). It depends on the type of cucumber.

♦ Cooking seeds. Seeds for growing cucumbers on the windowsill are different. Their preparation for planting is carried out depending on the type of purchased seeds:

• Seeds of hybrids. The fact that the variety is hybrid can be understood by the F1 marking in the name. These seeds are sold fully prepared for sowing.Additional measures are not required.
• Instructed seeds. On sale you can find multi-colored cucumber seeds (blue, green, red). Their attractive color is the result of processing with polymers that form a reliable protective shell. Polymers stimulate plant growth and protect them. Such seeds also do not require preliminary preparation.
• Pelleted seeds. These types of seeds are covered with a special peat-mineral mixture that forms a protective shell. Pelleted seeds are more economical when sowing, they will rarely need to be thinned out and they do not require additional preparation for sowing.

All other seeds of varietal cucumbers should be kept for 5-6 hours in a weak solution of immunocytophyte (a tablet per 100 ml of water).

You can also use a light pink manganese solution or wood ash (a teaspoon per 100 ml of water).

Before soaking, the seeds should be warmed up in a thermos for about 2-3 hours in hot water at a temperature of + 45-40 ° C.

♦ Sowing. Prepared cucumber seeds are best grown in small cups. Carefully place each seed in separate containers in a small depression, cover with a damp bandage or gauze on top.

Place the cups in the boxes, cover the boxes themselves with glass or foil. Place them in a warm place and keep them at a temperature of + 23-25 ​​° C.

• After 2-3 days, the first cotyledons will unfold in the cucumbers. Immediately after the emergence of shoots, we remove the cover and transfer the container with our seeds to the selected and prepared window sill.

Cucumbers at home must be placed on the windowsill in such a way that their leaves with their upper part facing the window.

Optimum temperature for young seedlings: during the day + 22-26 ° С, at night + 17-22 ° С.

After 20-25 days, young crops need to be moved into larger containers already to permanent habitats (for this event, choose cloudy days).

Before transplanting, pour the soil with warm water. Seedlings are transplanted with a clod of earth (take care of the leaves of young plants - they are still very fragile).

We will take care of our cucumbers

♦ Garter. As soon as our cucumbers grow 5-6 leaves, we need to stick pegs next to the seedlings. Or you can pull twine or wire at a height of 1.5-1.8 m from the boxes. The growing cucumber antennae should be tied to it.

• To stimulate the growth of young plants, cut off the top above 10-11 leaves, also regularly pinch all lateral shoots as soon as they grow 20-30 cm.Weekly, it is necessary to remove excess tendrils from young cucumbers.

♦ Backlight. Daytime, phyto-lamps or energy-saving lamps for additional illumination of our garden must be placed at a height of at least 5 cm from the upper crown of the plants.

As they grow, the lamps should be raised higher.

The backlight can be used from the first moment of emergence. Turn it on during the day from 7-8 in the morning for 6-8 hours. Remember to turn off your lamps at night.

♦ Watering. Watering the cucumbers should be moderate, without waiting for the soil to dry completely. Without additional lighting, the frequency of watering is once a day, with additional lighting a couple of times.

The water must first be defended, and its temperature should not exceed + 23-25 ​​° С.

• Adult plants can be watered less often - 2-3 times weekly. Watering cucumbers is best done in the morning.

♦ Top dressing. When growing domestic cucumbers on the windowsill, young seedlings (until they reach 20-25 days) should be fed twice:

1. 1.5-2 weeks after the first shoots. Use a urea solution (a teaspoon of 2-3 liters of water). Consumption of a glass of solution for each bush.
2. One week after the first meal. Suitable nitrophoska (teaspoon) or wood ash (tablespoon) for 3 liters of water. Consumption: a glass for each plant.

Additionally, seedlings (especially in winter) can be flavored with banana peel infusion, diluting it in 10 parts of water.

Top dressing for adult cucumbers should be done depending on their health. If the bushes have a weak stem and stunted leaves, the cucumbers need feeding.

• On average, adult cucumber plantings should be fed once a week, as soon as they reach the age of 1.5-2 months.

You can arm yourself with purchased complex mineral supplements or liquid organic matter ("Epin", "Radogor", "Bucephalus").

Cucumbers should also be fed with natural fertilizer (especially during the period of ovary formation).

Wood ash is ideal for this (mix 100 g in a liter of hot water and leave for a day or two). Before feeding, the plants must be watered.

♦ Important nuances. In the process of growing cucumbers on the windowsill, learn a number of simple rules, their mandatory implementation guarantees a plentiful and amicable harvest of green vitamins:

1. Do not allow cucumbers to dry out!
2. If the roots of cucumbers appear on the surface of the soil, immediately sprinkle them with fresh soil.
3. In the case of the active appearance of female flowers, cut off some of them, otherwise the fruits will form very slowly.
4. Do not leave ripe cucumbers hanging on the bushes - they will continue to take up nutrients and prevent other fruits from fully ripening. The more often ripe cucumbers are removed, the more of them will be formed.

Subject to all the rules and careful care, your cucumber garden will show excellent yield results, on average, up to 30-35 strong cucumbers filled with vitamins can be harvested from one plant.

♦ Harvesting. Ripe cucumbers should be picked at the age of 1-1.5 weeks. Do this every day.

Sick or deformed fruits should be harvested immediately after their formation.

Gathering a tiny harvest will bring real pleasure to the owner of a mini cucumber garden!

Instead of a window sill - a balcony!

The cucumber garden can be successfully placed on a covered balcony, terrace or loggia. Cucumbers on the balcony are best placed in the corners of the room or along the walls.

Thus, the plants will be more protected from possible drafts.

• For the successful cultivation of cucumbers in such conditions, it is better to select balconies / loggias of the southern or southeastern direction (as well as when arranging cucumbers on the windowsill). If the balcony faces north, it will be too dark for young cucumbers, and they may not grow.

If your balcony is well insulated, you can grow cucumbers on it all year round. But cucumbers love not only warmth, but also light.

If you have the means and opportunities, install additional lighting on the balconies (but you should know that several lamps will be required, and the energy consumption will increase - after all, there is much more space on the balcony than on the windowsills).

Or plant seeds for seedlings at the beginning of spring, so that you can harvest earlier (before the onset of a short day).

For the success of the planned event, adhere to the following rules:

1. Provide your garden with regular moisture.
2. The balcony garden needs good protection from insects and drafts (cucumber varieties adapted specifically for home cultivation are very susceptible to diseases that are carried by various pests).
3. Although cucumbers love light, they should not be allowed to overheat and dry the leaves. To do this, install protective translucent curtains on the glass of the balconies.
4. Since we will have more cucumbers on the balconies / loggias, it is better to use a nylon mesh or a lattice of slats as a garter.

The preparation of soil, seeds, their planting and care is carried out according to the same rules as in the case of arranging a garden on a windowsill.

Actively growing cucumber shoots will soon entwine the entire territory of the balcony garden and turn this place into a charming corner filled with light and beauty.

Such a magnificent balcony will be your pride and a constant supplier of organic, vitamin-packed vegetables. In addition, growing cucumbers (and tomatoes, peppers and all kinds of greens) at home is a very exciting experience.

See you soon, dear readers! Good luck and good harvest!

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