Growing cucumbers - how to get record yields at minimal cost. How to grow cucumbers - step by step instructions for beginners

Many of the gardeners are thinking about growing early seedling and getting a good harvest. Favorite views vegetable crops are tomatoes and cucumbers. Cucumber is a very heat-loving plant, it is able to produce high yields in open areas that are protected from cold and drafts. The soil for them should be fertile and well moistened. But in Lately cases of plant diseases began to be observed, from which not only adult plants, but also seedlings die.

Remove the first cucumbers quickly - this stimulates fruit formation.

Therefore, gardeners switched to growing cucumbers in closed soil.

Ways to grow cucumbers

It is possible in two ways:

In a greenhouse. Inside the greenhouse, the soil is covered with a film, this is necessary in order for the earth to warm up better. Additionally, manure is laid down (it is better to give preference to cow manure, it can be combined with horse manure). To do this, remove the fertile soil layer - 20-30 cm, lay manure and cover with excavated soil. Fresh manure serves as heating, the decomposition process takes place over a month. Inside the greenhouse, beds are formed with a width of 0.6-0.7 m and a height of up to 50 cm. After 7-10 days, seedlings are planted or seeds are sown. When early shoots appear, the film should be slightly lifted and solar time ventilate, as the temperature under the film can reach incredibly high rates, and young shoots can burn out.
In a greenhouse. To create a greenhouse, use fresh manure or all the components for a compost heap: old foliage, fresh waste and vegetable trimmings, sawdust, shavings and other organic material. With a higher concentration of fresh plants, the compost will begin to decompose faster. To speed up this process, you can add some manure or special manure to the compost. chemicals, accelerating the process of compost maturation. Fresh soil is laid on top of the compost - and the bed is ready. You can plant ready-made seedlings in cups or peat tablets, or just in the ground. But it should be borne in mind that the temperature in the compost bed is much lower than in the manure, so this device is suitable for warmer regions of the country.

Since cucumbers grow with a shallow root system, a layer of fertile soil should be on top, and high and medium-height beds provide drainage for plants.

When choosing a place for a plant, it should be remembered that it is compatible with crops previously grown in this place; planting seeds and seedlings should be carried out taking into account these factors. The presence of crops from the pumpkin family in this area is negative, because they can accumulate various diseases that will prevent the growth of new plants. And any representatives of previously planted legumes and nightshades will have a very beneficial effect on the growth and yield of cucumbers.

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Conditions for planting seeds

For sowing, choose the largest seeds to ensure 100% germination.

The method of planting plants affects only the time of fruit ripening, both types of planting - seeds and seedlings - are equally effective. The most suitable temperature for seed germination is 26-28°C. warm beds shoots appear in 4-5 days. With the emergence of seedlings, it is desirable to reduce the temperature to 16-18 ° C, at night the recommended temperature is not more than 14 ° C. The regulation of heat allows the growth of seedlings to be restrained and the root system to be strengthened. During the cultivation of seedlings, it is fertilized. When preparing top dressing, it is necessary to calculate the correct ratio of applied nutrients: for 1 liter of water, take 1 g of saltpeter, 3 g of superphosphate, 2 g of potassium sulfate. After the top dressing, the shoots are watered warm water(water temperature not more than 25 °C). In this way, possible precipitation of fertilizers is washed off the leaves, and the leaves will not be burned when sunshine. You can plant seedlings in open ground or a greenhouse after 4-5 normal developed leaves have formed.

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Landing time

Planting time is determined by weather conditions, temperature regime in the region, the air inside the greenhouse. But general rules landings are:

Agrotechnical methods for growing cucumber: 1- Sowing seeds on a damp paper towel; 2 - Transplantation of sprouts into pots; 3 - Landing in a permanent place; 4 - Pinching the top; 5 - Pinching side shoots; 6 - Collection of fruits.

before planting young plants for a few days experienced gardeners recommend shedding the beds with boiling water or hot water, can also be planted in warm soil that has not yet cooled down;
soil temperature for planting should not be less than 16-18 ° C, 24 ° C will be more desirable;
inside the greenhouse, the temperature should reach 20 ° C. For heated greenhouses, this will be the period from approximately the end of April to mid-May, when planting in unheated greenhouses - not earlier than mid-May;
The best time to plant seedlings is in the evening when it gets a little cooler. For the first few days after planting, it is recommended to water the plants often and shade them a little so that they can more easily endure the transplant. Planting seedlings should be carried out no denser than 3-4 pcs. per m²;
it is best to arrange the beds on south side greenhouses, where they will receive more light and heat than in the north.

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plant care

The main condition for obtaining a good yield is good care. Cucumbers are grown in greenhouses at a temperature of no more than 24 ° C, in cloudy weather it is reduced by several degrees, and at night it is lowered to 18 ° C.

A few days later, the plants are tied with a tourniquet to a wire fixed at the top of the greenhouse. For garters use twine in diameter not thinner than 20-30 mm. One end of its free loop is thrown onto the plant between 2 or 3 leaves, and the other is thrown over the wire. The height from the plant to the roof of the greenhouse should not be less than 2 m. The length of the twine is calculated so that the free end is about 60 cm.

During the growth of the shoots, a gradual garter is produced: twine is wrapped around the plant between 2 leaves, only clockwise. To increase the level of illumination, the plants are tied up in a checkerboard pattern; for this purpose, two parallel wires are pulled at the top of the greenhouse with an interval of no more than 50-60 cm from each other.

Manual pollination of flowers: 1 - female flower cucumber; 2 - male flower; 3 - Male
flower with tattered petals; Below is hand pollination.

It is necessary to loosen the ground near the stem as needed, after watering, as the soil is compacted, but this is done before the branching of the root system. After the root system has grown, once every two weeks they pierce the ground with either a pitchfork or a metal rod. When roots appear on the surface, they are sprinkled with peat mixture, humus or ordinary soil.

Preference should be given to the lower form of irrigation, when water enters directly under the root of the plant. Sometimes collected drip system or construct grooves or holes to channel water.

During growth, plants need the formation of healthy and fruit-bearing bushes. The plant is pinched 10-15 cm above the stretched trellis, the side shoots are also removed at a distance of 3-4 leaves, then the side shoots are shortened when 2 or 3 leaves appear on them.

When growing varieties of hybrids and powerful bushes, a more thorough formation is carried out:

as the bush grows, shoots and flowers are plucked at a height of up to 25 cm from the lower leaf formation, a blinding zone is formed;
as it grows at a height of up to 50-75 cm, 4-5 lateral processes appear above the blinding zone, they are shortened to one leaf and one ovary. When forming the next 50-75 cm, two leaves and two ovaries are formed on the lateral shoots, on the upper part - three leaves and three ovaries;
the main stem is thrown over the trellis and pinched on the 3rd or 4th shoot. And the shoots that will appear later are left to grow further.

That such a phenomenon does not exist? Following simple advice you will keep your stress to a minimum. And this means that unwanted bitterness or diseases and pests that quite often affect cucumbers will not appear.

1. Soil moisture

It is necessary to provide the plants with the right amount of moisture. This is especially true for the period of flowering and fruiting. Stress, which causes a lack of moisture, increases the content of substances responsible for the appearance of a bitter taste.

Cucumbers grow quite quickly, so based on weather conditions, they need from 25 to 50 millimeters of water per week. If you do not know how to grow cucumbers, remember one thing - it is very important to constantly keep the earth slightly moist.

2. Maintain the required temperature

Cucumbers do not like hot weather. The high temperature of the atmosphere not only negatively affects the quality of the crop, but also provokes an increase in the number of male flowers. If the climate in which you live is very hot, you need to arrange shade for the plants, especially in the afternoon. In this matter, high crops planted from the south or a simple fabric awning can help you. It is important that it does not let in 50% of the sunlight.

3. Warm soil and light are very important for cucumbers.

Do you want to receive good harvest delicious vegetables, but have no idea how to grow cucumbers? Then plant them in a well-lit place in drained and warm soil. Perfect option for cucumbers - high beds. No need to sow seeds or plant seedlings when there is still a threat of hard frosts. And the soil should be warmed up to at least 15 degrees.

4. Fertilizers

And the care that you are trying to provide will be able to please you with a good harvest, only if the soil in which they grow is cultivated in advance organic fertilizers. Two great options: apply mature manure or good quality compost. The soil must be loose and light. After some time, when shoots are already formed and the first flowers grow, it will be necessary to once again apply compost or other fertilizer to the aisles. Have the leaves turned yellow? This suggests that the plants lack nitrogen and need additional feeding.

5. Cucumbers need room to grow.

How to grow cucumbers if they do not have enough space? No way. If you provide the plants with the space they need to grow, you can remove another reason for stress. If you decide to grow them, you need to plant them 25-30 centimeters apart. If you compress seedlings, holes with seedlings or seeds should be placed at a distance of a meter. Bush varieties should be planted at a distance of 90 centimeters.

6. Remove weeds

The technology for growing cucumbers is now familiar to you, but it is very important to monitor the weeds. The cucumber bed and the place that adjoins it must be kept in order, that is, any weeds must be removed. After all, a large number of them are breeding grounds for an infection that causes drying. It is usually spread by the leaf beetle. Be prepared for the fact that these insects especially "love" plants that are weakened.

7. Cover

Set up a shelter strip to protect seedlings. You can cover them with plastic or paper caps or build a small greenhouse. This will help you get a good harvest faster and ensure rapid plant growth and flowering. In addition, shelters protect from any pests.

It is very important to remember to remove all covers when flowering begins.

8. Cucumbers should not be outgrown!

Based on them, they are usually harvested 50-70 days after they are planted. The size of a fully ripe cucumber also depends on its variety. For example, some American lettuce varieties reach as much as 20 centimeters in length. And most of the pickling is only up to 10 centimeters.

9. Correct collection

Many gardeners, when picking cucumbers, simply break them off from the whip. But if you have any doubts whether you can do the same without damaging the plant, use a pruner.

By investing their time and effort in sowing and caring for cucumbers, every gardener wants to get a decent harvest. But what if there is a small “patch” of free space for a cucumber bed?

The yield of cucumbers, depending on the variety and growing conditions, can reach 500-800 kg per hundred square meters. Excellent results, but not the limit. And how do you like the idea of getting more than 1 harvest per year?

Most popular varieties are intended only for greenhouse cultivation and on open ground they cannot please the gardener with a good yield. What varieties and hybrids should be chosen in order to end up with record numbers when growing cucumbers in the open field?

Crispina. Early ripe hybrid, which is not so common on Russian Federation and many neighboring countries, but is in the register of crops that are recommended for industrial cultivation. Over the past 25 years, it has remained practically unchanged and has not been improved, it is perfectly acclimatized in middle lane and holds up well high temperatures and periods of drought. Suitable not only for eating raw, but also for pickling, salting. The yield reaches 650 c/ha in one season, it is grown mainly in open ground, but is also suitable for greenhouses. Up to 4-5 greens hang on 1 node of the bush, due to which up to 25 kg of products can be collected from one square meter throughout the season.
Zozulya F1- a variety of Volgograd selection, acclimatized in almost all regions of Russia, is industrial and successfully exported abroad. The yield reaches 400 kg / ha or up to 10-15 kg from one bush in conditions home growing. Its advantage is excellent resistance to weather conditions, he feels good in the heat (you still have to water), grows in the sun and in the shade. Pinching of lateral shoots is not required, sufficiently resistant to olive blotch, insect pests and many pests characteristic of these vegetables.
Emelya. Relatively new variety, which appears on the domestic market for only a few years. During this time, he has proven himself well not only as a greenhouse plant, but also when grown in the garden, as it is resistant to diseases, gives good yields of up to 17-22 kilograms per bush with perfect care. Suitable for canning, consumption at the stage of technical ripeness, salting. It has a fairly dense pulp, crunches when biting, very sweet, for which many gardeners liked it.
Krypton. Hybrid introduced in 2012. Zelentsy have a very sweet taste, juicy, small. They are used primarily for conservation and sale, since each fruit has an excellent presentation and the best performance. The yield reaches 35 kg from one bush for the entire season, which is almost a record figure. When grown at home, this figure will decrease significantly, but, nevertheless, the yield will certainly please you! Resistance to different types rot and spotting is high, treatment with pesticides is required only in some cases.

These were the most popular hybrids and varieties with which you can get a record crop of cucumbers in your country house. But remember that only 35% of success depends on the variety, and everything else is your task.

Planting cucumbers in open ground and its features

First of all, you need to decide what aisles you will have. They can be made small, about 50 cm, but then a mandatory garter and careful care of the vine are required. It should be borne in mind that the vegetative growth of the vine is quite fast and in a few weeks it can grow up to 5 meters or more. It is best to plant at a distance of 80-90 centimeters between rows.

The planting process is quite simple and you don’t need to invent anything extra - just dig a shallow trench (10-14 cm) and put the seeds there. Fill the trench and pour plenty of water so that the soil is saturated with moisture, and the seeds can germinate safely. You can still apply fertilizers, but their effectiveness is extremely doubtful at the stage of seed germination. It is best to use a foliar application before flowering or compost well in advance. But this should be done at least 5-6 months before planting, since cucumbers can simply burn out from a high concentration of fertilizers.

Joint sowing is welcome. Moreover, it will be very useful for a vegetable, especially if corn is adjacent to it. Let us consider in more detail all the advantages of this landing method:

Corn will protect cucumbers from wind and sun, which will immediately affect their yield and development rate.
It will serve as a kind of props and cucumbers can curl along it. This will make it much easier to take care of them.
The shade will retain moisture, and the earth will not crack.

It is worth considering that the aisles of corn must be made very wide so that it does not interfere with the harvest, otherwise, 30-40 days after sowing, you will no longer be able to get to either the first crop or the second. Optimal Width row spacing - 150 cm. At the same time, a row of cucumber should go almost in a row of corn, so that the entire row spacing remains for weaving the stem and for the passage of a person.

Secrets that will help increase the yield

Experienced gardeners grow up to 25 kg from one bush and get more than one green crop, but how do they do it? In fact, the secret lies in proper care for vegetables. To do this, you need to learn just a few rules:

Add vine roots. Impossible? Actually, it's easier than ever. When the stem appears from the ground and there are already 3 pairs of leaves on it, it is necessary to do hilling - cover the vine with earth to the first leaf, it can be a little higher. Of course, fill it with water again. Additional roots will begin to appear on the vine, which increase absorption (moisture absorption) and provide the plant with vitality. It is proved that such plants give 40% more yield than without hilling!
Soil loosening. The first 2 weeks of vine growth, it is necessary to loosen the top layer of soil so that more oxygen reaches the roots. Just do not overdo it - the roots are close to the surface, and you can break them. It is necessary to loosen no more than to a depth of 5 cm. The vine will be much better braided and grow longer. As a result, the yield will increase by 11-13%.
Stem pinching. Have you ever pinched cucumbers? And in vain, since this is precisely the main secret that makes it possible to get record harvests. The technology for growing cucumbers does not provide for this procedure in industrial scale because it is very labor intensive. But if you pinch the stem above the fifth leaf, then a large number of side shoots are formed, which will give you in the end excellent harvest vegetables!

By following these simple recommendations, you can more than one and a half times increase the number of collected cucumbers. For example, you can treat 2 bushes planted at the same time in different ways, and you will soon see how much vine care can increase the number of collected cucumbers!

Proper agricultural technology is the key to success

Growing cucumbers in the ground is quite a laborious process, especially if you want to get an above-average yield, and you will not succeed if you do not cut the soil correctly. First of all, it is worth noting that mulching the soil with decomposed manure, peat and organic matter allows you to get a larger crop, but only if you do this 1-1.5 years before planting.

The second point of agricultural technology is harvesting. Do not overexpose the cucumbers on the vine and wait until they "ripe". It is necessary to collect as soon as possible, avoiding their yellowing. The sooner you collect them, the more new ones will be tied - this is worth remembering once and for all. At the same time, you can not damage the vine, because if you step on it, it will begin to supply less organic matter and minerals in fruits and they will not develop properly.

Watering should be almost constant. In summer, water 1 time in the evening, 1 time in the early morning, or leave the turntable overnight. Do not water during the day - the leaves will immediately burn. Powdery mildew is the main enemy of the cucumber if the summer turned out to be cool. In order not to become a “victim” of powdery mildew, it is necessary to make drip irrigation, or simply let water under the very root so that it does not fall on the stem

The best precursors for cucumbers are legumes, as they form a large amount of nitrogen macromolecules in the soil during their growth period. Thus, it remains only to add ammonia and phosphate fertilizers and you will have everything you need to wait big harvest cucumbers. Potatoes, corn, seeds, watermelon, melon and cucumbers themselves are bad predecessors. After them, you need to give the earth a rest or plant beans, for example.

Foliar feeding

Cucumbers in open ground need foliar feeding, which will help to significantly increase the vegetative mass and, in the future, yield. Do not confuse foliar feeding and soil fertilization - these are different concepts. Unlike conventional fertilizers, in this case the plants are sprayed with a solution of urea, potassium, iron and other macronutrients. They fall on the leaves and are immediately absorbed by the plant, stimulate its growth, the formation of fruits. The effect is visible after a few days - the leaves become greener, the stem begins to grow, and the fruits ripen.

Top dressing is done 5 times. The first spraying should be done in the third week of growth. For 10 liters of water, 10 grams of potassium, urea, superphosphate are diluted. A tablespoon of sodium humate is added and all this is thoroughly mixed. Mix for foliar feeding already ready, then just spray it on 1-2 acres of area. The next 4 top dressings are produced with the same composition - 2 before flowering, 2 after with a frequency of 5 days. The last few sprays can be done with a different solution: dilute 1 liter of mullein and 10 grams of potassium sulfate per 10 liters of water.

If desired, you can buy ready-made concentrates. For example, "Ideal", "Breadwinner", "Ogorodnik" - they are the most popular in the territory of the Russian Federation.

Cucumber is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the gourd family. He, along with potatoes, cabbage, tomatoes, takes pride of place in our beds. It can be used for food both fresh and pickled, as part of healthy salads. It has medicinal, dietary and cosmetic qualities. Today we will tell you all the secrets of growing cucumbers.

Planting cucumbers in open ground is traditionally loved either with or without cucumber seedlings. seedling way. Both of them in practice allow the gardener to have an excellent harvest of his favorite vegetables. Therefore, the choice of how the crop will be planted remains with the gardener.

There are varietal and hybrid seeds. Their difference lies in the degree of productivity, immunity to viruses and a number of other indicators. Varietal seeds are not as demanding as hybrid seeds. This explains the fact that they are most often planted at home in open ground. Hybrids are usually chosen for a greenhouse. Since in the future they need protected soil and a special fertilizer rich in minerals.

Video "Seedless growing method"

From the video you will learn how to grow cucumbers in a seedless way.

Seedless sowing method

How to plant cucumber seeds? It is required to pre-treat them at home with a solution of potassium permanganate and place them in a container with warm water for 20 minutes. Poor-quality specimens will certainly be on the surface, and they should be disposed of.

Ideally, seed should be large size and full-bodied. It is permissible to immediately plant the seeds in the soil or germinate within a few days using wet sawdust or peat. Soaking seeds is carried out 12 hours before planting. Warming is required to increase the culture's immunity to diseases. It is necessary to place the seed material in a gauze bag and place it near the battery or just in a warm room. Remember that cucumbers prefer warmth.

How to plant cucumber seeds correctly? You should not sow them too often, as the culture tends to grow. The sowing depth is 2 cm. It is permissible to place several seeds in one hole at once. The distance between the holes is normally no more than 10 cm. It is recommended to indent 60 cm between rows.

Growing seedlings

You can plant your favorite vegetables in seedlings. It allows you to bring the harvest time closer. First you need to grow cucumbers for seedlings at home. When transplanting cucumbers into the ground, do not forget about their vulnerable root system.

Cucumbers for seedlings grow best in special peat pots. In practice, boxes or jars of fermented milk products are often used. The advantage of peat pots is that they have porous walls, so they can provide the earth with the necessary water-air layer.

Cucumbers for seedlings are not only grown in them, but then transplanted from home into open ground directly with pots. Plant roots grow freely through the walls and bottom of such a container. Cucumbers for seedlings, located in peat pots, have an almost 100% survival rate and perfectly adapt to new conditions.

How to grow cucumbers at home in this way? The containers should be filled with nutrient soil. The soil needs to be moistened from time to time. When the intensive growth of seedlings begins, it is advised to place the pots away from each other. Otherwise, the interlacing of the roots is not excluded. Immediately before transplanting, the seedlings should be at least 25 cm high and have 5 leaves. It is correct to plant cucumbers only in normally warm ground.

Soil preparation

Soil requirements are reduced to the presence of normal drainage and aeration. But light soils with high content humus. Pumpkin crops are called bad predecessors for cucumbers. Timely fertilization is also important. In autumn, you should choose a warm and well-lit place on the site. Digging is carried out to a depth of about 25 cm. Next, humus and manure are introduced.

In the next few years, it is advised to use mineral supplements. It is recommended to spray with a solution blue vitriol. In its manufacture, take 1 tablespoon of the drug per 10 liters of water. Before digging up the beds, you need to burn all the remains of plants on them. Then fertilize with 1 cup of ash and 2 tablespoons of superphosphate per square meter.

In the spring, 1 bucket of manure is required, sawdust, a glass of ash and peat no later than 10 days before planting. The beds need to be leveled and watered with hot water. You can also spill them with a solution consisting of 1 gram of potassium permanganate or 1 tablespoon of sodium humate per 10 liters of water. Next, the site is covered with a clean film, which is removed only before sowing seeds or planting seedlings.

Cultivation and care

Cucumber care measures include timely watering, loosening, weeding and applying high-quality fertilizers. Top dressing should be applied 1 time in 10 days. It is advised to use ammonium nitrate, urea, mullein. During flowering, potassium salt and superphosphate are also needed. When the crops bloom, they should be watered. liquid fertilizer by adding special microfertilizers.

Make sure that the solution does not get on the surface of the foliage. The usual way loosening is not accepted due to the close location of the roots of plants to the surface of the soil. It is customary to pour fertile soil after fertilizing. You can loosen it only in the aisles. Many experienced gardeners place a barrel of water on the site. It has the ability to warm up well during the day, after which it is used for irrigation. In hot weather, plants need a cool hose shower. At the end of summer, the volume of water for irrigation is advised to be reduced. During the period of intensive growth, the frequency of watering is 1 time in 3-4 days. Ripe vegetables are harvested so as to leave the stalk. It is necessary to mercilessly get rid of yellowed and diseased vegetables.

From the video you will learn how to effectively and properly care for cucumbers in order to enjoy a good harvest.