What should be the soil for cucumbers. Healthy and strong seedlings of cucumbers: growing at home, how to do it right, rules for caring for young plants

Soil condition is one of the main conditions for the development and yield of cucumber. The culture begins to bear fruit early, therefore, by the time of planting, the soil must contain a complex of all the mineral and nutrients necessary for fruit set. Otherwise, it is impossible to achieve a high yield.

Not only fertility is important, but also the structure of the soil. Weak root system cucumber does not tolerate heavy soils. It should be taken into account: everything that is introduced into the soil lingers in it for a long time, so the process requires the right approach.

The main requirements of the culture for the mechanical composition of the soil are high air permeability and moisture capacity, therefore cucumbers are recommended to be planted on light and medium loams, which are distinguished by good aeration of the root system, evenly distribute and retain moisture.

For good development, the cucumber needs mineral and organic food, which comes from the soil immediately after planting, so the soil must be with high content humus and the optimal ratio of macronutrients.

Important Minerals:

Nitrogen. With its lack, the growth of the aerial part, the development of roots, slows down.
Potassium. Mineral deficiency weakens plants, reduces resistance to disease and cold.
Phosphorus. With a shortage, plant growth and fruit formation slow down.
Magnesium. The leaves turn yellow, become brittle, fall off. Plant growth and fruit development slow down.

The culture is demanding on the reaction of the soil solution and does not tolerate acidification. Optimal Level acidity - pH 6.2-6.8.

Cucumbers love warm soil. Planting seedlings and planting seeds is possible only after the soil has warmed up to t 18 ° C. With a decrease in t to 14-15 ° C for 3-5 days, the roots of the cucumber stop developing.

This can lead to the death of plants. Surviving cucumbers will be weak and prone to disease. Yields will be greatly reduced.

Cucumbers develop best if the soil is 2-3°C warmer than the air. The average daily air t for cucumber is 16-32°C. These indicators are also guided for control over the soil.

Soil moisture should be 75-85%. In the future, to control soil moisture, a handful of earth is taken from the root layer and tightly squeezed in a fist. If water comes out, the humidity level is over 80%. If the lump retains fingerprints, then the humidity is more than 70%. The lump crumbles - less than 60%.

Definition and structuring of different soil types

Before proceeding with the basic preparation of the soil for cucumbers, it is necessary to put in order its mechanical composition and physical properties. To create an optimal basis, into which fertilizers will subsequently be applied according to the requirements of cucumbers. The task is especially relevant when developing a new site.

Determination of the mechanical composition of the soil

To determine the type of soil, you can use simple method, not requiring special equipment. To do this, take a handful of earth and lightly moisten it with water so that it does not wring out. Knead and form a lump. Then roll a lace with a diameter of 3 mm in your palms and roll it into a solid ring.

Depending on the condition of the cord, you can determine the type of soil:

quickly disintegrates - sandy loam;
crushed during rolling - light loam;
solid, but when folded into a ring, it breaks up - medium loam;
solid, but small cracks form on the ring - heavy loam;
solid, solid ring - alumina.

Light and medium loams

The most optimal soil types for growing cucumbers. The mechanical composition of light loams does not need to be structured. Since autumn, manure is introduced into medium loams at a rate of 5-6 kg per 1 sq. m.

sandy loam

This type of soil warms up quickly, is characterized by intense aeration and high water permeability. In addition, sandy loam is easy to process, and the conversion of organic matter into humus in them occurs in an accelerated mode.

The disadvantages of soil for growing cucumbers are rapid cooling at night and leaching of minerals from the root layer. This can be corrected by introducing fresh manure or compost from autumn at 10 kg per 1 sq. m.

Alumina and heavy loam

These types of soil are unsuitable for growing cucumbers. They do not warm up well and practically do not let air and moisture through. This is detrimental to culture.

With limited oxygen access to the roots, cucumbers begin to shed their ovaries, practically do not develop and gradually dry out. Heavy soils must be loosened.

The best option- introduction of fresh straw manure. This should be done in the fall so that it has time to decompose and turn into humus. In uncultivated soils, 10-15 kg of manure is applied per square meter. m. When re-applying (recommended every 3-4 years), 5-6 kg per square meter is enough. m.

Manure close up superficially. With deep incorporation, it does not decompose and partially turns into peat, in which the bacteria necessary for plants do not develop.

Sandstones

This type of soil is unsuitable for growing cucumbers. It does not retain moisture, and minerals are quickly washed out of the root layer. It warms up quickly, but also cools down during the nighttime temperature drop.

To improve the soil per 1 sq. m. contribute:

semi-rotted manure or compost 1.5 -2 buckets;
peat 1 bucket.

Laborious, costly, but very effective method- claying of the soil. To do this, in each sq. m. contribute 1-2 buckets of powdered clay. It is combined with manure or compost. After making any baking powder, the area is dug up. Activities are carried out over 2-3 years.

Peaty swampy

In Russia, this type of soil is found in West Siberian Plain and in natural form unsuitable for growing cucumbers. It is excessively moist and fibrous, there are no conditions for the decomposition of plant residues, so peat becomes very sour. Peaty-boggy soil is characterized by a light brown color.

First you need to dry the area. To do this, in the spring, grooves are dug around the perimeter of the site so that water is drained outside the garden. By the end of summer, the site will dry out, you can begin to improve the soil.

For 1 sq. m. contribute:

powder clay 1 bucket;
river sand 0.5 buckets;
lime from 0.3 to 1.4 kg depending on acidity.

The site is dug up to a depth of 20 cm. They introduce rotted manure, humus or bird droppings 1 kg per sq. m. More organic matter is not required.

There are many in the peat organic matter, and manure in this case is used only to start the processes of its decomposition.

Work on the introduction of these components are constantly from year to year. Until the soil acquires optimal physical properties that are comfortable for plants. In addition to the main fertilizers (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium), copper and boron are annually introduced.

Acidity regulation

Acidic soil is typical for low-lying areas with stagnant spring water. Acidity can also rise after seasons with high rainfall, which leach out calcium and magnesium. Hydrogen ions begin to predominate in soil particles, increasing its acidity.

In such areas grow rapidly: plantain, wild rosemary, horsetail, speedwell and sorrel. When digging the soil at a depth of 10-15 cm, you can find a layer light color reminiscent of ash.

The easiest and cheapest way to determine soil acidity is to use litmus paper. It can be purchased at any garden shop and in pharmacies.

To determine the acidity of the soil, a semi-liquid solution of soil and distilled water is mixed, a strip of litmus paper is immersed in it for 2-3 seconds. To calculate acidity values, it is compared with the attached color scale.

Calcium carbonate is used to reduce soil acidity. It is found in ground limestone, chalk, cement dust, wood ash, dolomite and bone meal.

For the primary regulation of acidity, it is better to use ground limestone. Norms of its introduction per 1 sq. m. for various types soil (pH< 4,5/ pH 4,6-6,0):

sandy 400/100 g;
sandy loam 600/150 g;
loamy 800/350 g;
alumina 1100/500 g;
peat-marshy 1400/300

Cucumbers are very sensitive to liming, so measures to reduce soil acidity are best carried out under the previous crop. Last resort - in the fall.

In the future, to maintain acidity at the required level, wood ash is used, which also serves as a good fertilizer.

How to prepare the soil for planting cucumbers

Soil preparation and arrangement of beds for greenhouses and open ground is the same. The difference is only in the preparatory work.

Greenhouse processing

Most gardeners do not have the opportunity to observe crop rotation in the greenhouse, therefore, after harvesting, the depleted soil with manure that has rotted over the summer is completely taken out of the room and distributed in place of future beds. An exception is the planting of pumpkin crops.

If for some reason complete replacement soil is impossible, it must be disinfected.

Options:

Spilling the soil with boiling water and covering the surface of the bed with a film for a day. After that, the earth is dug up and harrowed. The procedure is repeated after 3 days. Spend in the spring.
The use of biofungicides. Spraying solutions of preparations onto the soil: Trichodermin, Fitosporin M, Phytocide, Bordeaux mixture, Pentaphoge. Processed in autumn and spring.
The introduction of bleach 200 g per 1 sq. m. and digging the soil. Apply 6 months before planting cucumbers.
Spilling the soil with a 2% formalin solution (40%), the surface is covered with a film for 3 days. The soil is dug up and harrowed. The event is held 2-4 weeks before planting.

Since autumn, all plant residues are collected and burned. The inner surfaces of the greenhouse are washed with a 2% formalin solution (40%). It is desirable to fumigate the greenhouse with sulfur.

open ground

In open ground, you need to constantly change the place for growing cucumbers, returning the culture back only after 3-4 years. The best predecessors are tomatoes, cabbage, peas. Do not plant after pumpkin crops.

A place for a bed is selected well-lit, protected from drafts and cold northern winds. In autumn, the site is dug up, removing all plant waste.

When siderates are needed

In the greenhouse and in the open field, when there is no soil replacement, green manure plants can be sown. The best option is white mustard. It should be sown immediately after harvesting cucumber plants. After 3-4 weeks, a sufficient vegetative mass is formed, which is embedded in the soil to the depth of a spade bayonet.

The mustard will break down and remove most of the cucumber root exudates accumulated over the season from the soil.

In addition, a kind of compost is obtained in the soil, rich in proteins and minerals. A system of root tubules is created in the soil, which improves its mechanical properties.

Dead mustard roots attract worms and microbes, which in the process of life form nitrogen. Additionally, the soil is protected from erosion and swelling.

In the video, the author shows his way of preparing the soil and beds for sowing cucumbers.

Arrangement of the beds

Cucumber is one of the few plants that can and is even recommended to be grown on fresh manure. When laying manure, it must be taken into account that the root layer of plants reaches a depth of 20 cm. Therefore, there should be a 25-30 cm layer of fertile soil on the surface of the manure.

In such a bed, a heat-loving culture is not afraid of cooling the roots with a strong decrease in air temperature at night or insufficient heating of the soil during early landing in greenhouses.

To arrange the beds in the selected area, its borders are marked. The width should be such that the gardener can freely reach the plants with both hands. You can’t even lean on the boards spread on top of the beds. Cucumber does not tolerate the slightest compaction of the soil.

A trench 50-60 cm deep is dug over the area of the beds. In the spring, two weeks before planting, it is filled with fresh manure. From above they fall asleep with garden soil and fertilize.

If it is very cold, the bed is covered with a film for intensive heating. Such a measure is mainly needed only in unheated greenhouses and regions with a late onset of summer.

The introduction of minerals

Fertilizers for cucumbers begin to be applied two weeks before transplanting seedlings or planting seeds.

For 1 sq. m. cucumber ridges are made:

rotted manure 25 kg or compost 10 kg;
superphosphate 40 g;
potassium sulfate 40 g;
magnesium sulfate 15 g or potassium magnesia 60 g.

Fertilizers are evenly scattered on the soil surface, the ridge is dug up. After that, shed with water at a rate of 10 liters per 1 sq. m.

A week later, add 30 g ammonium nitrate per 1 sq. m. The bed is dug up again and spilled with water. After that, we can assume that the soil is completely ready for planting cucumbers.

Preparation of soil mixture for seedlings

The strength of the seedlings to a greater extent depends on the quality of the soil. The simplest option is to purchase ready-made soil adapted to the requirements of pumpkin crops.

Ready soils consist of a mixture different types peat, sod land, river sand, biohumus with the addition of all the necessary minerals. They are fully processed and disinfected, they do not contain weed seeds, pest larvae and fungal spores.

Finished soils:

"Live Earth" soil No. 2;
"Humimax";
"Peter Peat" primer for cucumbers;
"Bioud-Grunt" No. 2;
"Hera";
"Fasco".

For growing seedlings, you should not purchase peat soils. They are poorer in composition, suitable only for filling landing tanks or adding to trunk circle mature plants.

In order to independently prepare the soil mixture, it is necessary to harvest and store components in the summer season.

Several soil options:

humus, lowland peat 1:1;
soddy soil, decomposed peat, manure humus, river sand 3:3:3:1;
lowland peat, humus, rotted sawdust 3:1:1;
garden soil, manure humus, peat, rotted sawdust 2:1:1:1.

For 10 liters - a bucket - any of these mixtures add 4 tbsp. l. wood ash, 20 g superphosphate, 1 tsp. urea and potassium sulfate.

Home soil mixture must be disinfected. To do this, it is shed with a 1% solution of potassium permanganate or treated biological fungicides. Recommended drugs: "Fitosporin", "Trichodermin", "Planriz", "Extrasol".

soil for growing cucumbers

In boxes and barrels

The limited space of boxes, barrels or other containers requires a slightly different approach to the composition and preparation of the soil.

When using drums and other tall containers:

a layer of pebbles, broken bricks, strong branches for 1/3 of the container is laid out at the bottom;
hay, sawdust and tops are placed on top, sprinkled with humus or rotted manure - after laying this layer, 40 cm remains to the edge of the container;
shed with EM preparations for better overheating;
mix leafy soil and humus (1:1) or peat and humus (1:1);
fall asleep 20 cm layer.

The container is covered with a film and left to overheat for two weeks. Fill up with fertile soil so that 15 cm remains to the edges of the sides of the container. Two weeks before planting, the soil is fertilized for cucumbers.

On balconies and window sills

On balconies and window sills, cucumbers are grown in containers with a volume of at least 5-7 liters (depending on the variety). At the bottom of the pots, there must be holes for water drainage and a drainage layer 5 cm high. A layer of fertile soil is at least 20 cm.

For growing cucumbers in containers, ready-made and home-made soils recommended for seedlings are well suited. They contain a large amount of nutrients, which is especially important when the environment for the roots is limited.

Cultivated plants, including cucumbers, endure almost everything during the season. nutrients from the soil. She is exhausted. Salinity, increased acidity and severe drought dramatically reduce the level of soil bacteria, and hence the formation of humus, so the soil must be constantly monitored, not limited to seasonal fertilization.

Cucumber is popular garden culture. Seeds germinate normally in open ground, but to obtain stronger plants that give early harvests, seedlings should be grown. When transplanted to open ground it will be easier for you to delimit the space: you can immediately place the sprouts at the right distance.

When to plant cucumber seedlings: the best sowing dates

When to sow cucumbers for seedlings, the weather in your climate zone will tell. The growing season for cucumber is shorter than most other crops. Start sowing seeds for seedlings 3-4 weeks before transplanting into open ground. The landing is carried out with the establishment of air temperature in daytime at 18 °C, at night the air temperature should not fall below 15 °C.

To plant seedlings of cucumbers in the ground in mid-May, sow seeds for seedlings in mid-April.
To plant seedlings in a greenhouse in early May, plant the seeds in the first decade of April.
in the greenhouse in April, sow seedlings in March, 3-4 weeks earlier.

When to plant cucumber seeds for seedlings, the gardener decides for himself, based on his capabilities and climatic conditions region.

Processing cucumber seeds before planting

Cucumber seeds can be stored for about 10 years in conditions of 50-60% humidity and air temperature of 15 ° C, while seed germination remains high.

First, select high-quality seed:

Dissolve 1 tsp in a glass of water. a spoonful of table salt, place the seeds there.
In a few minutes, full-weight ones will be at the bottom - they are the ones suitable for landing.
Wash them under running water dry at room temperature.

Disinfection and acceleration of germination

Then, for disinfection, hold for 15-20 minutes in a 1% solution of potassium permanganate. Rinse again, lay out on a napkin to dry. Next, treat with a growth stimulator - no rinsing is required, dry for a state of flowability.

hardening

If in the future cucumbers will not grow in a greenhouse, but in open ground, hardening of the seeds will be required: after the previous stages of processing, hold the seeds for 2-3 days in the vegetable section of the refrigerator.

What container to plant

Picking and intermediate transplanting seedlings of cucumbers is not required. Sow directly into individual containers: plastic, paper cups, special cassettes, peat pots or tablets. In compact containers, seedlings will grow better, then roll over to a permanent place of growth along with an earthy clod.

The soil needs loose, water and breathable, nutritious, neutral reaction.

You can purchase a universal substrate for seedlings - it is already ready for planting, it does not need to be disinfected.

How to prepare soil for seedlings of cucumbers

If possible, prepare the soil mixture: 2 parts of compost, 1 part of soddy or leafy soil, sand and peat.
To kill diseases and pests, roast the mixture in the oven.
To increase the lightness of the soil, add vermiculite or perlite.
Add urea, superphosphate, potassium salts according to the manufacturer's instructions - the mixture will become more nutritious, the seedlings will not need to be fed.

How to plant cucumber seeds for seedlings

How to properly grow seedlings of cucumbers: plant one plant at a time without picking

Prepare large mesh cassettes or individual cups.

How to properly cucumber seedlings:

Sow 2 seeds in each container, deepening by 1.5 cm.
Place the pots on a tray, spray the soil with a fine mist sprayer, cover the crops with glass or film.
For seed germination, an air temperature of at least 24-28 ° C is required. Low temperature air will increase the waiting time for seedlings.
Required bright lighting: Place on south, southeast, or southwest window sills.
Under these conditions, the sprouts will appear in 2-3 days.
When sprouts appear, remove the shelter.
For a couple of days, maintain the air temperature during the day within 17-19 ° C, at night - 13-14 ° C.
Then it is optimal for seedlings temperature regime in the range of 22-24 °C.

When the sprouts rise above the soil surface, weaker plants should be removed. It is better to cut them with scissors so as not to damage the roots of the remaining seedlings.

Simple and correct planting of cucumber seeds for seedlings on video:

How to care for cucumber seedlings at home

How are cucumbers at home? It's simple, you need to provide the necessary conditions:

Lighting and microclimate

Daylight hours should be 8-18 hours per day. AT cloudy weather use fluorescent lighting. From the lack of light, the sprouts are stretched, the color of the leaves turns pale.

Cucumbers do not like cold and drafts. Organize an impromptu greenhouse: cover the window glass with a film, separate the window sill from the room in the same way. This helps to ensure the required level of humidity, diffused sunlight enters through the film - an ideal microclimate for growing strong seedlings. To increase the humidity of the air, use household humidifiers, place wet towels on the radiator, spray the air around the plants.

How to water

The soil should not dry out, but it should not be flooded. Water in about a day. Use softened water (boiled, rain, melt, settled) warm temperature(22-28°C). Carry out the watering procedure in the morning, avoiding direct contact with sun rays on wet leaves. At the stage of emergence of sprouts, water with a teaspoon; it is convenient to water the grown seedlings from a fine-meshed watering can.

Frequent watering contributes to the formation of a crust on the soil surface. In order for the roots to receive oxygen, it is necessary to carefully loosen the soil surface.

During the cultivation of seedlings 2-3 times it will be necessary to pour the earth.

How to feed

With the advent of two true leaves, apply if you did not fertilize the soil before planting the seeds. If the seedlings do not grow well, look stunted and lethargic, you can feed them earlier. As a top dressing, it is best to use complex mineral fertilizers intended for seedlings.

You can make a nutrient mixture yourself: superphosphate, urea, potassium sulfate. Organic adherents can use an infusion of chicken manure or mullein (for 10 parts of water, 1 part of fertilizer). Avoid getting fertilizer on the leaves. Wash them warm water if this happened. Water generously after feeding.

It is better to feed in sunny weather in the morning. Repeat fertilization before planting in a non-permanent place of growth (greenhouse or open ground). If the soil was fed before planting, top dressing can be omitted.

Diseases and pests of cucumber seedlings

Cucumbers can be affected by aphids, spider mite. Spray plants for prevention. clean water or a weak solution of manganese. Check plantings daily. If larvae are found, moisten a cotton pad with water and wipe the leaves. In extreme cases, treat with an insecticide with a repeat after 3 days.

How to prepare seedlings of cucumbers for planting in the ground

Seedlings need to be hardened off. Start a week before transplanting: first leave the window open for several hours, after a couple of days take the seedlings out into the open air. Do this only in warm weather, protect from sudden gusts of wind and direct sunlight.

Planting seedlings of cucumbers in the ground

Cucumber seedlings are ready for transplanting to a permanent place after 25-30 days of growth. It must necessarily have 3-5 developed leaves, tendrils, buds may be present.

Plant peat pots or tablets, deepening in such a way that the edge protrudes 0.5-1 cm above the soil surface, keep a distance of 30-40 cm. Water well.

From other containers, carry out as follows: cut and bend the bottom, push out the earthen ball with the plant. The hole should correspond to the size of the earthy coma, it must first be watered.

How to plant seedlings of cucumbers in open ground, look at the video:

Seedling method of growing cucumbers - the most common among gardeners middle lane our country. But it is very important to first decide when to plant cucumbers for seedlings? The answer to this question depends on the conditions in which the seedlings will gain strength. Optimal timing sowing seeds: end of March - beginning of April.

Important! Before planting cucumbers for seedlings, it is necessary to clarify whether the selected variety requires another variety as a pollinator. And if there is such a need, the pollinator variety is planted a week earlier than the main one. male flowers bloom later, but in this way their flowering periods will be combined.

Seed preparation before sowing cucumbers for seedlings

It is noteworthy that the cultivation of cucumber seedlings from last year's seeds will be less productive than from those harvested 2–3 years ago. In addition, to increase the yield will help the correct seedbed preparation material. It consists of two stages: disinfection and hardening . Plants from prepared seeds will sprout faster and be more resistant to stress.

Disinfection is carried out with a solution of 1 liter. hot water and a teaspoon of nitrophoska, blue vitriol and boric acid(the last 2 ingredients are on the tip of a knife).

For those who are closer to natural remedies, and not “chemistry”, there is another recipe: before planting cucumbers for seedlings, hold the seeds for 12 hours in a solution of dry mullein and wood ash (1 tsp per liter of hot water)

Decontaminated seeds are left to be washed and hardened at a temperature of -2 to 0 ° C for a week (in the refrigerator). At this time, they need to be kept in a cloth napkin, periodically moisturizing it.

ON THE PICTURE: Stratifying seeds in the refrigerator will add resistance to possible temperature changes when growing seedlings.

Growing seedlings of cucumbers

Now about where, how and when to plant cucumbers for seedlings, what needs to be prepared for planting, how to grow cucumber seedlings before planting in the beds.

Seedling container

Cucumbers are planted for seedlings in bags, cups from different materials or pots. You can use dishes from store products: sour cream, yogurt, etc., lower parts plastic bottles. But the most convenient pots are peat ones. They are easy to grow seedlings of cucumbers , so plant it in the ground: the pot itself will dissolve in the soil over time.

ON THE PICTURE: Cucumber seedlings in individual pots made from recycled cardboard.

The diameter of pots or cups depends on the place of planting: if in the future the culture will grow in open ground, it is worth choosing a container with a diameter of 8 cm, 15 cm pots will come in handy when planting cucumbers on seedlings is planned for further cultivation in a greenhouse.

ATTENTION: very often they sell paper pots made from recycled cardboard and other paper under the guise of peat pots. No one is cleaning such paper from printing ink, different kind colorants and other contaminants. These pots are generally suitable for ornamental crops. However, if you keep them in a mini-greenhouse, mold will appear on them pretty quickly. Therefore, we strongly recommend using only real peat pots. Before use, any container is poured over with boiling water, then drainage from 2 cm of sawdust is placed in it and filled with soil.

Soil preparation for seedlings

The soil for sowing must be prepared in advance, and not left for that day. , when is it time to plant cucumbers for seedlings. It can be prepared from equal parts peat and humus, or buy a ready-made mixture in a store. Fertilizers can be added to homemade soil: a quarter cup of superphosphate and 2 cups of ash for every 10 kg. soil, and then thoroughly mix the resulting substrate.

Each cup is filled with soil 5–7 cm high. Then seeds are laid (1–2 in one hole) and another 2–3 cm of soil. At the first watering, you need to carefully inspect the cups and make sure that the seeds are not washed to the surface.

ON THE PICTURE: Cucumber seeds are small, it is better to plant them in the ground with tweezers.

Temperature and watering before germination

The timing of growing seedlings of cucumbers depends not only on the variety chosen, but also on the temperature at which young bushes will grow. Observing the optimal temperature regime, you can plant them 10 days after germination (or 2 weeks after sowing).

Before germination, crops are covered with glass, when sprouts appear from the ground, it is removed. The pallet must be placed in a room with a temperature of +25 to +27°C and moderate lighting.

ON THE PICTURE: Today, you can easily find such mini-greenhouses for seedlings on sale - convenient and inexpensive!

If opportunities allow, then before the emergence of seedlings it is desirable to maintain an even higher temperature - + 26-30 ° C. It is necessary to water them once a day with settled warm water.

Light regime for seedlings

Growing seedlings of cucumbers, you need to take care of good lighting. How the cucumber seedlings you care for will feel depends largely on the quality and quantity of light. Sowing seeds at the end of March, you can be sure that the seedlings will have enough simple light from the window in clear weather. If spring does not please with sunny days, a foil reflector can be used to enhance lighting. To do this, use ordinary foil, but wrong side, matte side out. Glossy side reflects plant part of the spectrum is worse than matte, no matter how paradoxical it may sound. For the same reason, mirrors that reflect only 40% of the desired part of the spectrum are completely unsuitable.

ON THE PICTURE: Such a simple foil design will provide seedlings with the necessary additional lighting however the seedlings will get more light if the back side is used.

More early seedling additional lighting may be needed, for which lamps are usually used daylight not less than 36 watts with a light temperature of 6500K ( K is Kelvin, which measures color temperature.) or 5400/5200K (sold in stores under the label "cold white" or cool white). Lamps with a color temperature below 5000K will stretch the plant too much, so they are not suitable ("warm white" or warm white). Also gaining popularity LED lamp, which are no less economical in terms of electricity consumption and have a relatively higher efficiency.

After appearing above the ground, it is advisable to illuminate the seedlings around the clock in the first 2-3 days to avoid pulling the seedlings. Further illumination should be carried out according to the scheme:

15 days - 16 hours a day;
next 10-12 days - 14 hours a day;
subsequently - at least 12 hours a day.

Temperature regime for seedlings

Newly appeared sprouts are not needed immediately heat. This will provoke them to stretch out, for 2–3 days it is better to maintain a moderate temperature - + 20–22 ° С. Further, it is worth adhering to such recommendations: during the day - + 21-23 ° С in sunny weather and + 19-20 - in cloudy weather. At night, it is better to reduce it somewhat - up to + 18 ° С.

If there is no equipment that allows maintaining an ideal mode with an accuracy of a degree (and most often it happens), then it is enough not to allow the temperature at night to fall below +15°C, reduce by airing and spraying with warm water.

Strengthened seedlings must be suspended in growth so that the hypocotyl knee does not stretch upwards. Such stretching weakens the sprouts, they can droop and gradually begin to fade. A few days at a temperature of + 20 ° C - and the problem will be solved, the hypocotyl genus will develop into a normal internode. It is important to remember that when keeping seedlings on the windowsill, you can not expose it to drafts. The latter are very dangerous for cucumbers.

ON THE PICTURE: A gardener's dream is a propagator (mini-greenhouse) with the ability to set a certain temperature and humidity.

Watering seedlings

As soon as the seedlings of cucumbers have hatched, caring for them should include watering every other day or two, while the volume of water increases slightly. The soil should always be slightly moist. Do not dry out, but do not turn into a swamp. Best time for watering 10-11 hours.

Hot water continues to be used. Its temperature should not fall below + 25 ° C - this threatens with disease or even death of seedlings. To remove chlorine from water, it must be kept in an open container for at least a day.

If it is a cold day, then it is better to postpone watering. Instead, foliage can be sprayed with clean water using the finest setting on the spray bottle. In conditions indoor cultivation spraying should be done regularly, even in conjunction with watering. Cucumbers like humidity within 80%, not only in the soil, but also in the air. In addition, during spraying, it is convenient to feed the seedlings with micronutrient fertilizers on the sheet.

During watering, it is important to ensure that drops of water do not fall on the leaves. The foliage of cucumber seedlings is very tender and susceptible to any influences. By the way, according to the state of the foliage, you can also determine how correctly you water. With insufficient soil moisture, the leaves darken, dry out at the edges, lose elasticity, become brittle and easily damaged.

Overwatering leads to lightening of the leaves, they become pale green, while the roots can rot without oxygen. Moderately watering the plant, you will see how a well-developed bush is formed, with strong roots, a stem with short internodes.

ON THE PICTURE: Yellowing of the cotyledon leaves can also signal waterlogging of cucumber seedlings, as well as a lack of trace elements or insufficient lighting.

Feeding cucumber seedlings

You need to feed cucumber seedlings three times:

when the first true leaf appears mineral fertilizers: in 10 l. water dissolve ammonium nitrate (7 g), superphosphate (15 g), potassium sulfate (8 g) and a solution of mullein 1:4 or bird droppings 1:7;
when a second leaf appears, you can use complex fertilizers for vegetables, such as Agricola, Ideal, Ecosil, humic complexes;
10 days after the first fertilization should be repeated root dressing complex fertilizer and add foliar nutrition, which will protect young plants from diseases and significantly improve their development.

If subsequently cucumbers grow not in the open air, but in greenhouse conditions, foliar top dressing mandatory for them.

thinning

To ensure the right amount of seedlings, it is usually sown with a margin: a couple of seeds are placed in each pot. After they sprout (if both sprout), determine which sprout is stronger, and gently cut off the weaker one at the root. It is not recommended to pull it out - in a cramped space, the roots of the second cucumber can be damaged.

hardening

Hardening increases the resistance of plants to cold weather, in order to plant cucumbers in open ground, hardening measures must be started a week in advance.

How many seedlings of cucumbers grow and when to plant sprouts in open ground? This is usually done on the 3rd or 4th week of May in good weather.

Initially, the air temperature is lowered to + 16–18 ° С. If the weather allows, the planting boxes or pallets can be taken out into the air, protected from wind and direct sun. The conditions of the loggia or balcony will do.

Airing should start from 1-1.5 hours, gradually increasing the time. In a week it should reach up to a day, provided there is no danger of night frost.

Plastic or paper cups, special cassettes. The containers should be small, in too voluminous pots the soil can turn sour.

Plants grown in small containers will be moved to a permanent place of residence by transshipment, which will avoid injury to the roots.

cucumbers prefer light, nutritious soil with neutral acidity. Purchased soil is not suitable, it is poor in useful substances.

The ideal option: a mixture of garden or turf soil, old humus and sawdust made by hand. Humus can be measured with peat.

The soil is thoroughly mixed, for greater ease in it. you can add perlite or vermicult. Garden soil is pre-calcined in the oven or microwave oven, this procedure kills harmful microorganisms and insect pest larvae. For greater nutritional value, urea, potassium salts and superphosphate are added to the soil.

How to grow cucumbers from seeds at home for seedlings? Seeds before planting are moved and wrapped in cotton fabric moistened with warm water. After 3-4 days, sprouts will appear.

How to grow seedlings of cucumbers at home?

When the seedlings rise above the soil surface, the weakest is removed cutting it off with scissors or a knife. You can not pull out the sprout, this can damage the roots of the remaining plant. ahead of time, the temperature in the room drops to 20 degrees for 2-3 days. Then it needs to be raised to 22-24 degrees.

cucumbers don't like drafts, diurnal temperature fluctuations are also not useful to them.

Seedling containers are placed in the brightest place: on the windowsill of the south, southwest or southeast window or in close proximity to it.

In cloudy weather, additional illumination with fluorescent lamps is necessary. With a lack of light, the seedlings stretch out, the stems become thinner, and the leaves turn pale. Light day for seedlings lasts from 8 to 18 hours.

ADVICE! So that the cucumbers do not freeze, you can organize an improvised greenhouse by hanging window glass with a film. The same film can separate the window sill from the room, creating an ideal microclimate for seedlings.

An express greenhouse will provide the right level of humidity, in addition, the film by the window scatters direct sunlight.

A household humidifier will help increase the level of humidity in the room, wet towels hung on batteries, as well as periodic spraying of the soil, plants and air around them.

During the cultivation of seedlings in a container, soil is sprinkled 2-3 times. Between the soil is gently loosened trying not to injure the roots. The dense crust that forms on the surface interferes with normal air exchange.

A week before planting in the ground, seedlings begin to harden. First, the window opens, after a couple of days the pots are taken out into the open air. Such walks can last several hours. Hardening is carried out in good weather, plants need to be protected from sudden gusts of wind and direct sunlight.

Watering and feeding

Cucumbers - very moisture-loving culture. With insufficient watering, the sprouts wither and wither. Plants need to be watered every other day using only soft water: rain, settled, boiled. The ideal temperature is 22-28 degrees.

IMPORTANT! cold water from the tap can not be used, it can cause growth retardation and even death of plants.

The soil in the containers should not dry out, but it is also impossible to fill the plants. For watering newly appeared sprouts, it is convenient to use a teaspoon or a spray bottle. For you need a fine-mesh watering can. It is recommended to water the seedlings in the morning, avoiding direct sunlight on wet leaves.

When the first pair of true leaves unfold on the plants, it is carried out. If the plants do not grow well, look lethargic and stunted, you can feed them earlier.

Most suitable option- diluted complex mineral fertilizer intended for seedlings. You can make your own nutritional formula by including urea, potassium sulfate and superphosphate.

Gardeners who prefer organic use diluted mullein or bird droppings(1 part to 10 parts of water). When top dressing, it is important to ensure that the fertilizer does not get on the leaves. If this happens, the seedlings are washed with warm water. After top dressing, cucumbers need to be watered abundantly. It is better to fertilize plantings in warm sunny weather., in the first half of the day.

The second top dressing is carried out before landing on the beds or in the greenhouse. If minerals were added to the soil when the seeds were planted, secondary feeding can be excluded.

Insect pests: how to save cucumbers?

Cucumber seedlings can be attacked by pests: or. As a preventive measure frequent spraying of the plant is useful clean water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Growing seedlings of cucumbers at home step by step with a photo:

Cucumber- one of the oldest and most dietary vegetable crops. Many people eat cucumbers, but they have no idea how many useful properties this vegetable has.

Cucumbers: useful properties

Cucumber is the most dietary product(because 98% consists of water), which has a low calorie seed

Cucumber promotes the speedy removal of toxins from the body, helps to cleanse it

Cucumbers contain great amount vitamins and microelements (vitamins B and C, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and other microelements)

Cucumbers stimulate digestion

Cucumbers are good for skin, hair, teeth. Cucumbers are used as masks for the face and neck. Cucumber will moisturize and rejuvenate your skin.

Cucumber will help you get rid of a lingering cough

Cucumber has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties

Cucumber will calm the shattered nervous system

So, learning about useful properties cucumbers, I propose to find out how you can still grow this "miraculous" vegetable yourself. Next, I propose to talk about the features and preparation of the soil for seedlings of cucumbers.

From how correctly and qualitatively you prepare the soil for cucumbers and will depend on the growth rate of cucumbers and yield. Cucumber is a crop that is very demanding on soil fertility, which is why it should be taken care of in advance.

Before proceeding to soil preparation for cucumbers, for starters, you should take care of choosing a place for planting cucumbers, determining the type of soil and its acidity.

Soil for cucumbers: choose a suitable place on the site

Cucumber is a heat-loving and light-loving vegetable, respectively, when choosing a place on a plot for cucumbers, one should build on these criteria. should be sandy or loamy. However, if priming clay, it can be diluted with sand (2 buckets per 1m2).

Cucumbers are best planted in the place where they previously grew: potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, cabbage, eggplant. Not recommended in place of cucurbits (this can lead to cucumber disease).

How to determine the acidity of the soil?

Of course, soil acidity You can determine with the help of a special device (Alyamovsky’s device), but I don’t think that such a device will be at hand for an ordinary amateur gardener. However, you can also determine with the help of litmus paper, which you can purchase at a hardware store.

Method for determining soil acidity

A uniform cut of soil (depth - 30 cm) from your site is wetted and thoroughly mixed with distilled water, this mixture and litmus paper are compressed in the hand. Acidity is determined by the scale (attached to the paper). The norm is acidity of 6-7 pH (slightly acidic or neutral).

Soil for cucumbers: preparation

Ready priming for recommend since autumn. During the autumn digging of the soil, 1 m2 accounts for 3-6 kg of manure (we look at the type of soil), about 30 g of phosphorus-potassium mineral fertilizers. To reduce the acidity of the soil, lime can be added to it (200 g per 1 m2). Lime is easily replaced by chalk or ash.

In spring, the soil is dug up to a depth of about 10 cm, loosened with a rake and fertilized. So, in the spring you can fertilize the soil with the following: 3 kg of humus, 50 g of complex mineral fertilizers, 250 g of crushed coal.

Also, it is possible to introduce ammonium nitrate, superphosphate into the soil. For fertilizer sandy soil bring in more nitrogen fertilizers. However, the amount of fertilizer still depends on the composition of the soil and its fertility.

Don't be discouraged if you didn't manage to soil preparation for growing cucumbers autumn, it may be enough spring training soil. In the spring, manure and lime are not introduced into the soil, but the dose of humus and compost increases.

Also an excellent fertilizer for soil for growing cucumbers may be grass sawdust, fallen leaves.

Sowing seeds of cucumbers

Sowing seeds of cucumbers in open ground is carried out only when the soil warms up to a temperature of at least 12 degrees. Cucumber seeds are recommended to be sown in 3-4 terms, the interval between terms is from 5 days. With this method of planting seeds, even if the seeds sown earlier die, then those that were sown later will definitely remain.

It is planted in open ground only in early to mid-June (when the threat of frost has passed). Seedlings of cucumbers are planted at a distance of 15-20 cm from each other. cucumber seedling deepens into cotyledon leaves, sprinkled on top with a two-centimeter layer of soil. Then the seedlings are watered (one or two liters should be enough to water one hole).

Do not forget to constantly fertilize and feed your cucumbers, alternate mineral and organic fertilizers, water and water cucumbers again, and then they will surely please you with a worthy harvest!

Tatyana Kuzmenko, member of the editorial board of the Sobcorrespondent of the online publication "AtmAgro. Agroindustrial Bulletin"