Can cucumbers be grown in a greenhouse all year round?

The homeland of cucumbers is considered the tropical and subtropical region of India, where they have been growing in completely wild conditions for about six thousand years. Today, cucumbers grow in almost all states. It is not known exactly by whom and when they were brought to Russia, however, starting from the 16th century, raw and pickled fruits were already on the tables of rich people. At the moment, a huge number of dishes cannot even be imagined without this vegetable.

Cucumbers in greenhouse conditions

Growing cucumbers in a greenhouse all year round is a pretty lucrative business. Under these conditions, it is possible to create the most optimal microclimate for a high and fairly stable yield. A heated greenhouse will allow this crop to bear fruit throughout the year, and the autumn and winter harvest will be profitable, sometimes several times higher than the income from the summer months. Growing cucumbers in a greenhouse all year round is very profitable as a business. The profitability of such enterprises is high - it reaches 400-600%.

What is needed to grow cucumbers in a greenhouse

In order to grow cucumbers in a greenhouse in winter and all year round, you must:

• Create favorable conditions inside the greenhouse. As a rule, they depend on the materials from which these structures are made.
• Make the right choice of the most productive varieties of cucumbers.
• Decide when exactly the cucumbers will be grown, since the choice of varieties depends on this.
• Prepare the soil and create all the necessary systems for the provision of greenhouses.

Greenhouses

How to grow cucumbers in a greenhouse all year round? First of all, you need to properly make a greenhouse:

• It must have a coating that will reliably retain heat inside the structure.
• The greenhouse must have a frame that can support the weight of the cover. And if the cultivation of cucumbers is planned for more than one year, then it must also be durable, sufficiently reliable and resistant to weather conditions.

Greenhouse designs can have a variety of shapes and sizes, differ in height and material of manufacture.

Greenhouse material

Currently, greenhouse frames are:

• metal;
• wooden.

Metal carcass

It is made from a channel, shaped pipes or large-diameter fittings (depending on the selected material for the coating).

For the reinforcement cage, the best option would be to use a simple polyethylene film, which is commercially available in a large assortment. In terms of its properties, it is in no way inferior to the often used polycarbonate.

For a frame made of pipes, absolutely any coating material can be used. The most common option is considered to be the use of reinforced polyethylene film or cellular polycarbonate.

If you plan to grow cucumbers in greenhouses all year round, it is better to use cellular polycarbonate. With proper heating, it is able to maintain a constant temperature inside.

Metal frames can be used for up to 10 years or more. However, it should be borne in mind that due to irrigation inside the greenhouse, air humidity increases, and this negatively affects the metal. To secure the frame, it must be coated with paint or varnish after construction.

Wooden frame

It is less practical since wood has a much shorter lifespan than metal. It is also susceptible to weather and climatic influences.
After manufacturing, such a frame must be painted, which allows you to protect the wood from harmful effects and significantly increase its service life.

The main advantage of a wooden frame is its environmental friendliness. In addition, it is durable and reliable.

Both metal and wooden frames can be made on their own. If the greenhouse is large, it will be better to pre-fill a small base for it for strength. The cost of a wooden frame is lower than that of a metal frame, which ensures an increased demand for these structures.

To cover a wooden frame, use:

• different types of film;
• cellular polycarbonate;
• glass.

With a honeycomb polycarbonate or glass cover, you can grow cucumbers in the greenhouse in winter and all year round.

Variety selection

Growing cucumbers in greenhouses all year round starts with choosing the right seeds. There are a huge variety of both conventional and hybrid varieties that bear fruit well in greenhouses.

To cultivate cucumbers in greenhouses all year round, seeds of varieties are selected that:

• freely tolerate temperature extremes and are frost-resistant;
• characterized by frequent fruiting;
• resistant to disease;
• does not taste bitter;
• do not need careful maintenance.

The most popular varieties for greenhouses today are:

• "Cartoon" - fruiting begins 40 days after planting.
• "Courage" - bears fruit after 45 days of planting. The cucumber is quite long.
• "Barcelona" is an early ripening variety of cucumbers. It is most commonly used in the greenhouse business.
• "Bobrik" - has increased resistance to low temperature influences. Used for growing in winter.
• "Shchedryk" is an early ripening and fruitful variety. Used at different times of the year.
• "Matrix" - refers to the most popular variety. The cucumber itself is not very long and has good disease resistance.

Also among the best hybrid varieties of cucumbers are Emelya, Annushka, Dynamite and Hercules.

It is recommended to purchase F1 seeds that have the best characteristics.Removal of infected and "empty" seeds can be done with water and a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Seeds are poured with a solution at the rate of 1 g of potassium permanganate per 150 ml of water. This will kill the pathogens. Then the seeds are washed with clean water ("empty" ones will float up). This is done just before planting the seeds.

Soil for growing cucumbers

Before you start growing cucumbers in a greenhouse all year round (see photo below), you need to prepare the soil for this. It is fertilized and cleaned of various vegetation that can have a negative impact on the development of the root system of cucumbers.

To prevent the soil from drying out and to allow the root system to develop freely, sawdust is added to it. For fertilization, minerals are used. To enhance the growth of cucumbers, it is recommended to use saltpeter, but only if the greenhouse business is large-scale.

Growing cucumbers in greenhouses all year round

There are two ways of planting cucumbers:

• ready-made seedlings, which can be grown both directly in the greenhouse itself (when all conditions are created), and at home;
• seeds.

For landing, you must have:

• peat cups or other small containers, such as low-volume plastic bottles;
• pre-fertilized soil;
• seeds disinfected in a solution of potassium permanganate and soaked in liquid for several hours.

Seedlings are placed in a nutrient medium. When favorable conditions are created, the seeds will germinate in four to five days. Fertilization of seedlings is carried out when its first leaf appears and a few days before transplanting into greenhouse soil.

Transplanting seedlings can be performed when two or three leaves appear on the bush (after about 20-25 days). During this period, the daytime air temperature inside the greenhouse should not be higher than 18 degrees, and the nighttime - 15. In addition, you need to monitor nutrition, irrigation and lighting of seedlings. Watering seedlings is best done with warm water. On a cloudy day, you need to turn on additional lighting.

Sometimes it happens that seedlings or seeds are not accepted. The appearance of new leaves and the beginning of flowering will indicate that its root system feels comfortable enough in the ground.

Planting seedlings

Growing cucumbers in greenhouses all year round cannot do without improvised garden tools, such as:

• hoe;
• small scapula;
• rake, etc.

Planting works are carried out in the following order:

• First of all, using the tool, the location of each of the planting rows is determined and special trenches or separate holes are made.
• The distance between the cucumbers is made depending on the variety. Some varieties of hybrids require a lot of space for normal development. The most optimal distance between cucumber bushes is 30-50 cm.
• Near each of the seedling bushes, a metal rod or a wooden stick is inserted into the ground. Seedlings, as they grow, will be tied to them.

Planting seedlings is carried out so that the root system is in the soil in which it grew. It is transplanted together with a lump of soil in a peat cup or some other container.

When is the first watering of seedlings carried out

After planting in the greenhouse soil, it is possible to irrigate the seedlings only after a few days, since it must acclimatize in the conditions of the greenhouse. It is better to give preference to drip irrigation, which can saturate the root system with the required amount of moisture and significantly save financial costs, since it is one of the most economical. Fertilization of seedlings is performed after it is well accepted.

Growing cucumbers in a greenhouse all year round: yield

The yield of cucumbers in modern greenhouses is about 30-45 kg per square meter, which is a good indicator, since the crop can be harvested several times a year.

Greenhouses: industrial and amateur

Gardeners-amateurs start growing cucumbers in Aprilarranging heated beds in summer greenhouses and greenhouses without heating. For heating the ridges, biofuel, sheets of roofing material and other tricks are used. A light greenhouse will protect plants from bad weather, frost and other adverse events. Indoors, without additional heating, cucumbers grow until the end of September.

Capital greenhouses with heating allow you to make the process continuous. In regions with a temperate climate, greenhouses for cucumbers allow for excellent harvests in late autumn and winter. To ensure good fruiting, it is important to choose the right size of the greenhouse.

Novice farmers should start with designs. from 100 sq. m... Such greenhouses can be heated with electric or water boilers, stoves, fires, infrared cable. Smaller buildings are unprofitable; large greenhouses will require substantial heating costs.

Commercial greenhouses for growing cucumbers are much larger in size and height. Along the perimeter of greenhouses support columns are installed, the construction itself is made on a cinder block or metal frame and a solid foundation.

To grow cucumbers in a greenhouse in winter, it is necessary to prepare the greenhouses in a certain way. Greenhouses are sheathed with a double layer of polycarbonate or glass. Industrial greenhouses for cucumbers are equipped with an automatic watering system, temperature control and air humidification. Automatic shutters are mandatory for shading in hot weather.

The best greenhouses for cucumbers are pitched. This shape of the roof does not allow snow to linger and guarantees good insolation. Ideal for the farmer - robust galvanized metal framecovered with polycarbonate.

Such a greenhouse is not cheap, but it is guaranteed to stand for several years without restoration. For additional insulation, the glazed greenhouse can be duplicated with a dense plastic wrap.

Business advantages and disadvantages

Growing cucumbers in a greenhouse as a business has a lot of advantages in front of open ground.

1. Heated structures make it possible to harvest crops all year round.
2. It is possible to grow any varieties: salad, universal or intended exclusively for canning.
3. Exist many varieties and hybrids, suitable for indoor use and giving fast and abundant yields.
4. Varietal cucumbers grown in the ground are in good demand in shops and catering establishments.
5. The harvested cucumbers are well stored and do not suffer during transportation. Harvest you can sell not only in your region, but also export to neighboring ones.

Having decided to engage in industrial indoor vegetable growing, it is worth considering the peculiarities of such a business.

Industrial cultivation of cucumbers in a greenhouse all year round has the following features:

1. Construction and equipment of greenhouses requires a large initial investment.
2. Heating in winter is expensive.
3. For the successful cultivation of cucumbers, you need a flat area with a water supply to organize an irrigation system.
4. Indoor cultivation requires constant watering and regular fertilization.
5. In the summertime, product margins decrease and competition increases.
6. For the business of growing cucumbers in a winter greenhouse, suitable for people with experience in vegetable growing.

Which cucumbers are suitable for greenhouses

When choosing varieties and hybrids for greenhouses, consider the following points:

1. Ripening terms... For indoor ground, early and mid-season hybrids with a short growing season are ideal. Only hybrids that do not require pollination are grown in greenhouses.
2. Appearance and taste of fruits... In the greenhouse, you can grow cucumbers intended for salads or canning, there are also universal varieties.
3. Buyer preferences... Consumers are more willing to buy short-fruited cucumbers with brightly colored, not too dense skin and firm pulp.
4. Yield... For indoor use, varieties are chosen that give the maximum number of ovaries.
5. Sustainability to diseases and pests. Growing in soil cannot completely protect plants from insects. Pest-resistant cucumbers make it possible to do without regular insecticide treatment.
6. Endurance... In regions with a cold climate, it is better to grow hybrids that do not require a lot of sunlight and can easily tolerate temperature fluctuations.
7. Origin of the variety... Greenhouse business professionals recommend giving preference to domestic breeding hybrids. In temperate and warm climates, German, Dutch and Polish varieties bear fruit well.

Among the most popular are the following hybrids:

• Early - Emelya, Evita, Leandro, Courage, Anyuta, Mazai.
• Mid-season - Matilda, Connie, Zozulya, Balagan, Claudia, Regia.

In the fall, you can plant late-ripening hybrids that will bear fruit all winter... Cucumbers of the varieties Nezhinsky, Brownie, Santana, Kapelka are distinguished by excellent taste.

Equipment and agricultural technology

A farmer's cucumber greenhouse should be equipped with heating and ventilation system... Drip irrigation is preferable, providing ideal moisture not only for the soil, but also for the air. It is desirable to make the doors double or equip them with a vestibule. For summer time, a shading system is needed, its can be made automatic or manually adjustable.

In large industrial farms, cucumbers are often grown hydroponically, but most farmers rely on soil. Ground cucumbers have a pleasant rich taste, they are dense and not watery. Plants very demanding on the soil... Find out on our website how to form and tie cucumber lashes in a greenhouse.

A light mixture of turf and peat is preferred. It is disinfected by spilling it with a solution of copper sulfate, mixed with ash and complex mineral fertilizers and laid out on prepared ridges.

For additional relief and heating of the soil into it add sawdust, husk of sunflower seeds, straw, rotted manure.

For successful ripening and the formation of ovaries, cucumbers need a moisture content of at least 80% and temperature from 23 ° C... At night, it can drop to 18 ° C, further lowering inhibits the development of plants. You can find out how to grow cucumber seedlings in a greenhouse on our website.

Indoor soil reduces the nutritional value of the soil. To restore it will help the weekly application of mineral fertilizers: superphosphate, potassium chloride, ammonium nitrate. To water plants can only warm water... Lack of moisture adversely affects the palatability of the fruit.

How to calculate profitability?

When planning a greenhouse business, it is worth prepare for significant expenses... These include:

• rent or purchase of a land plot;
• construction and equipping of a greenhouse;
• purchase of varietal seeds, fertilizers and agricultural implements;
• registration of a farm or individual entrepreneur;
• single tax;
• spending on heating, water and lighting;
• fare.

A little information about the business of growing cucumbers in a greenhouse, in the video below:

Maintenance of a greenhouse with a size of 100-120 sq. m can be dealt with by the owner himself with the help of family members. With the expansion of the greenhouse will have to attract hired workers, in this case, their salary will have to be included in the expense estimate. It is worth considering that with year-round cultivation of cucumbers in cold climates, heating costs significantly reduce profitability.

Other popular crops for the greenhouse business, about which you can find out in more detail on our website: berries, flowers, herbs, tomatoes and other vegetables.

Income greenhouse facilities depend on the yield, season, level of competition and the presence of developed distribution channels. The cucumber business is most profitable in regions with a temperate climate and a small number of greenhouses. In winter time you can significantly increase incomeby increasing the markup on products. The fewer competitors and the better the product, the more you can earn.

The profitability of a greenhouse for growing cucumbers for business is 50-70%. In a lean year, it can exceed 100%. The greenhouse will pay off in 1-1.5 years, the payback period is reduced with an increase in the area of ​​\ u200b \ u200bthe structure.

To increase income will help:

• expansion of the greenhouse economy;
• work with retail: large retail chains, restaurants and cafes;
• selection of the most productive varieties and hybrids;
• advertising promotion of products.

Having achieved success, you can take up expansion of the cucumber businessby building another greenhouse.

A farmer who has made a name for himself can count on strong demand and a good price for his produce. Greenhouse cucumbers can be combined with other popular crops: herbs, tomatoes, bell peppers.

Universal vegetable farm guarantees big profits and protects against losses.

Each summer resident begins to think over time about growing vegetables in greenhouses. Many people start by growing cucumbers as a test. But there are certain aspects that you need to know in order for the result to be successful.

Even a beginner can get a rich harvest, but for this he needs to understand the features of this agrotechnical process.

Greenhouse for cucumbers protected from the wind

Choosing a location for a greenhouse

Choosing the right place for your greenhouse is an important step. Flat household plots are perfect as such a place. It is also permissible to use plots with a slight southward bias.

It is important that the area chosen for the greenhouse does not end up in the zone of action of the north and north-east winds. The hedge will provide protection of greenhouse plants from the negative effects of environmental factors. If there is no fence on your site, create one. It will always come in handy on the farm.

It is also important to consider the irrigation system. Groundwater should be at a depth of 1.5-2 meters. A prerequisite for the most efficient cultivation of vegetables in greenhouse conditions is the use of suitable (necessarily fertile) soil, which will be suitable for creating soil mixtures.

If we talk about the size of the greenhouse, then you should pay attention to an important aspect - the ratio of volume and area. The proportion of 2: 1 will mean that the temperature regime inside the greenhouse will depend little on the change in temperature outside.

A tall greenhouse keeps the temperature better

This moment is extremely important for greenhouse cultivation of cucumbers in the winter season. It is optimal to use a polyethylene film as a coating for the enclosing surface. Due to slight fluctuations in its own dimensions, polyethylene is perfect for structures with a slope of 15-20 degrees.

What is a cucumber and what is it eaten with

The usefulness of cucumbers is often unaware of even those people whose favorite vegetables they are. But the cucumber contains useful enzymes, fiber, vitamins B and C, an analogue of insulin, phosphorus, potassium, iodine, magnesium, calcium. In addition, 95% of cucumbers are composed of living structured water.

The calorie content of these vegetables is less than 15 kcal per 100 g. Cucumber perfectly satisfies the feeling of hunger. Saturation occurs due to the fact that the walls of the stomach are stretched under the influence of the volume of food eaten. By the way, these vegetables are composed of a liquid, which is inherently an excellent natural absorbent.

By consuming cucumbers every day, you can cleanse the body of toxins and toxins accumulated throughout life.

Cucumbers help cleanse the body

Your own greenhouse in the country can supply you with cucumbers throughout the year. These vegetables are very helpful in improving digestion, the passage of food through the intestines. They are recommended for arthritis, various cardiovascular diseases.

In addition, cucumbers have a diuretic effect and are also an excellent laxative. The constant use of cucumbers helps to normalize the water-salt and acid-base balance in the body.

The skin acquires a healthy color, the hair acquires a special shine and strength. Separately, we can talk about the benefits that cucumbers bring to the teeth and gums.

The soil for cucumber beds must be prepared in advance.

Preparing the soil for growing cucumbers

Prepare the soil for growing cucumbers in advance. She must have a number of qualities, including: a high rate of fertility, the ability to pass and absorb, a neutral reaction.

According to experts, the optimal soil for greenhouse cultivation of cucumbers is a mixture of fresh humus and turf soil. As a base, you can use a mixture of peat, humus and field soil in a ratio of 50:30:20.

As additives to it, you can take sawdust of coniferous trees. In this case, the required proportion will be 1: 1. Sawdust substrate significantly increases productivity. Moreover, it helps to reduce the cost of greenhouse products.

It is not difficult to prepare the soil. First, you need to remove plant residues, and then decontaminate. For these purposes, you can use a 7% solution of copper sulfate. Before carrying out the above procedure, the soil must be dug up, taking as a basis a depth of 20-25 cm.

One of the stages of preparing the garden is fertilization

After processing, you need to wait one month and start preparing the soil mixture, which should be previously enriched with nutrients. This will require 2 kg of potassium sulfate, 3 kg of superphosphate, 400 g of ammonium nitrate - all this per 1 cubic meter of the mixture.

It should be remembered that organic fertilizers are extremely beneficial for cucumbers. These vegetables must be grown on level surfaces, ridges or ridges. Ridges and ridges are considered the best option. Recommended bed sizes: 100 cm wide, 25 cm high.

The correct arrangement of steam ridges or ridges involves the preliminary placement of manure in a previously dug pit 40 cm deep.After this procedure, the manure must be covered with a layer of soil 13-15 cm thick.

Growing cucumbers indoors

In greenhouses, cucumbers are grown only in seedlings. Thus, the harvest is guaranteed earlier than when sowing with seeds. For planting fruits in greenhouse conditions, 25-day seedlings are used.

The planting time varies depending on the type of greenhouse. Good seedlings are the key to a stable, rich harvest. It is optimal to plant seedlings on a ridge in the form of a two-line tape. The recommended distance between rows is 50-60 cm, between ribbons - 80 cm, between adjacent plants - more than 20 cm.

Seedlings of cucumbers for planting in a greenhouse

For seedlings, you will need a special tool - a cord and a scoop. With their help, landing holes are created. A mixture of organic minerals is placed in each of these holes, after which they are poured with water. In the resulting dirt, you need to put a pot of seedlings and cover it with soil.

At the end of planting, mulching must be carried out, which is necessary to prevent evaporation of moisture from the soil.

Fresh cucumbers contain many beneficial substances for the body. During the cultivation of these fruits in greenhouse conditions, compaction is often carried out with lettuce, onions, Chinese cabbage.

Long stems need to be tied to supports

It should be noted that additional supports are needed for the plant stems.Such supports can be trellises made of wire or cord, which must be pulled at a height of 1.5-2 meters along each row. 6-8 days after planting, each plant is tied with twine at a height of 10-15 cm above the topsoil.

The techniques for growing cucumbers in greenhouse conditions and in the open field are somewhat different. But compliance with all the described rules allows you to expect the final excellent harvest.

Greenhouse cucumber varieties

Nowadays, a huge number of varieties of cucumbers have been bred, intended exclusively for growing in greenhouses. The most productive hybrid is called Hercules F1. Its fruits weigh 150-170 g on average.

However, this variety requires manual pollination, which is its only drawback. Emelya F1 is excellent for salads and pickles. It also has a high yield. Fruits weigh 130-140 g on average.

Pyzhik F1, Athlete F1, Rossiyskiy, Relay, Kristall and others are also deservedly included in the list of the best varieties.

The greenhouse needs to be ventilated

Features of caring for cucumbers grown in greenhouses

It should be noted that careful care and maintenance of cucumbers is an extremely important aspect of their cultivation. There are a number of things you can do to ensure you have a great harvest. Among them are the following:

1. Watering. Only warm water is used to water the plants. During the winter season, watering time should be in the morning, while the weather should be sunny. In warm weather, cucumbers need to be watered twice a week; on sunny days, watering should be increased and carried out every other day.
2. Shallow loosening. This action is necessary to prevent root decay and maintain the soil airtightness at the proper level.
3. Airing. The greenhouse should always be well ventilated. To do this, it is necessary to regularly raise the panel. When constant good weather is established, it is possible not to close the greenhouse at all during the day.
4. Top dressing. For this purpose, fermented infusions of mullein, chicken droppings and some weeds, such as nettle, are usually used. For feeding cucumbers growing in greenhouse conditions, it is necessary to use not only organic substances, but also mineral fertilizers. Among them, you can use those that are intended for pumpkin crops. During the season, cucumbers need to be fed 5 times or less. If they grow in sandy soil, then additional nitrogen fertilizers are required, if in the floodplain - potash fertilizers.

Diseases and pests of greenhouse cucumbers

Powdery mildew of cucumbers

Infections are the main problem of the greenhouse industry. The list of cucumber diseases is not too wide. The most dangerous of diseases:

1. Oversporosis. The leaves of plants susceptible to the disease are covered with spots of green or yellow, eventually acquiring a brownish tint. When this disease manifests itself, then watering and feeding should be stopped immediately. Plants should be treated with polycarbacin or copper oxychloride solution. You can also spray cucumbers with systemic fungicides. After such spraying, it is necessary to ventilate the greenhouse as often as possible. In this case, it is imperative to maintain the temperature above 20 ° C during the day, and above 18 ° C at night.
2. Powdery mildew. This disease tends to deprive the gardener of the entire crop in just a few days. A mealy bloom forms on the leaves of plants, after which they brighten, shrink and dry out, gradually dying. At the first sign of a disease, the plants must be sprayed with a solution of potassium permanganate or mullein. Pollination of cucumbers with ground sulfur is also one of the ways to combat powdery mildew. A similar procedure should be carried out at temperatures above 22 ° C.

In the list of pests, the main roles are occupied by ticks, aphids, ants. To remove them, specially developed drugs are used, for example, Sherpa or Zolon.

Folk recipes are also quite effective. In addition, it is recommended to carry out prevention without waiting for problems to arise.

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

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

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

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

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

Complete care guarantees a good harvest in winter

How many cucumbers bear fruit in winter

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

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

How cucumbers are pollinated when grown in winter

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

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

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

Photo gallery: methods of pollination of cucumber flowers

Ways of planting cucumbers in winter

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

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

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

Seed preparation

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

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

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

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

Growing seedlings

Seedling preparation takes 4 weeks and is as follows:

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

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

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

Temperature and humidity

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

Luminaire selection

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

Table: types of lamps for lighting and heating greenhouses

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

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

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

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

Preparation of heated greenhouses

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

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

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

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

Beds with subsoil pipes allow for uniform heating of the soil

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

The cable must be reliably protected by a sheath

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

For beds on biodegradable organic matter, a box is built

Video: secrets of winter growing vegetables in a greenhouse

Preparing the basement for growing cucumbers in winter

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

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

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

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

Winter cultivation in an apartment

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

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

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

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

Video: tips for growing cucumbers at home

Care for cucumbers during winter cultivation

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

Watering

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

Feeding cucumbers

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

Table: scheme for feeding cucumbers

Cucumber bush formation

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

Photo gallery: schemes for the formation of a cucumber bush

Harvesting

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

Timely harvest will save the lash from brittleness

Using the hydroponic method to grow cucumbers

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

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

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

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

Preparing cucumber seedlings using the hydroponic method

Watering is carried out through droppers installed in the mats.

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

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

Pros and cons of hydroponics

Benefits of using the hydroponic method:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Video: building a greenhouse in the harsh conditions of Siberia

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

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

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