Hydroponic Cucumbers: Growing Technology at Home

Cucumbers are present in the beds of most gardeners in Russia. According to statistics, they occupy the first place among crops grown under closed ground conditions. A plant from the pumpkin family, is popular due to its taste and unpretentiousness. Cucumber has become the only member of the family that can bear fruit under poor light conditions. To get the best harvest, there are a number of recommendations for agricultural practices, focused on a specific variety. One effective method applicable to most varieties is hydroponic cucumbers.

General information about the method

The essence of the technique is to grow plants without soil, instead of it there is an artificially created nutrient medium. The effectiveness of the method is due to the fast and easily digestible delivery of nutrients to the plant culture. The history of the appearance of this method of growing vegetables begins in the middle of the 20th century. Found in the USA, the technique quickly gained popularity and went beyond the borders of its native country due to its compact fit and economical consumption.

Today, there are six main methods of cultivating plants in hydroponics:

• Aeroponics. We do not require the use of soil compounds. The root system of a plant culture is moistened with a special nutrient mixture from an aerosol. The technique is not suitable for home use, only for specialized greenhouse conditions.
• Periodic flooding. A porous substrate acts as a basis; as necessary, it is poured with a special nutrient composition. The technique is suitable for greenhouse cultivation.
• Drip irrigation. The absence of manure allows the method to be used indoors. To organize the process, you will need equipment - two communicating vessels. Cucumber roots are placed in one part, the other is filled, and nutrients are periodically taken from the other. The technology has made it possible to cultivate vegetables indoors, even in poor light conditions.
• Floating platform. The plant is planted in special blocks, which are placed in tanks with a nutrient medium. The technique excludes the process of decay of the root system of cucumbers.
• Organization of the nutrient layer.
• Wick. Focused on growing ornamental plants.

IMPORTANT! Periodic flooding has become the most effective technique for cucumbers.

The process of planting cucumbers

There are a huge number of structures that can help in growing cucumbers. To create the simplest and most effective, you will need two consumables:

• Rubble. It is advisable to choose a smaller one.
• Expanded clay. Easily absorbs liquid and, if necessary, easily gives it to crops.
• Cut-out pipes.
• Pump or pump.
• Compost.
• Drinking water.
• Complex of mineral fertilizers.

DIY hydroponics for cucumbers is a simple combination of available building materials and a nutrient solution. For the construction of the structure, old plastic pipes are suitable. They are arranged in parallel in the form of a snake and make small holes with a diameter of 4-5 centimeters. The distance between the holes is at least 10 centimeters. A plastic cup with expanded clay and crushed stone will be placed in each hole as soil for cucumber seedlings.

You can make your own nutrient solution or buy it ready-made in a specialized store. For self-production you will need:

• Hot distilled water.
• Compost.

The two ingredients are combined in a ratio of 1:2 and left for 12 hours in a room at room temperature. After the recommended time has come, any fertilizer you use for planting at home is added to the composition. The humate obtained in the composition is removed, and the remaining volume is filled with distilled water.

Sequence of actions when transplanting cucumbers from the soil:

1. Place the roots of the plant in water at room temperature.
2. Cleansing the roots of lumps of dirt with a small jet of clean water;
3. Place the roots in the prepared cup, spread them gently.
4. Pour the planting with a little warm water and let it take root.

The onboarding process may take up to 10 days.

Pros and cons of the technique

The advantages of the American method of cultivating plants in hydroponics are:

• The ability to clearly regulate the amount of necessary fertilizer and watering. The grower independently controls the amount of required nutrients, focusing on the characteristics of the variety.
• Partially or completely phase-out of pesticides.
• Does not require the use of herbicides.
• Improving the yield. A rich harvest is due not only to a large number of ripening fruits, but also to their large size.
• Availability of growing plants, regardless of climatic conditions, the nature of the soil.
• Rationalization of the landing area. The method allows you to plant cucumbers densely without loss of yield. The gardener does not need to change the planting site, there is no need to renew the soil.
• Accessibility. Growing cucumbers in hydroponics is done at home, in greenhouses and in the open field.
• Taste qualities. Grown cucumbers have the same good taste as when cultivated under classical conditions.

Despite all the advantages of the method, there are a number of factors that stop gardeners from using it:

• Cost. Hydroponics requires expensive, specialized equipment.
• Strict observance of the rules of agricultural technology for a particular variety. If the recommendations for watering and fertilizing are violated, there is a high risk of completely losing the crop.

Opinion of gardeners

Good day! I want to advise all gardeners the method of hydroponics. I have been using it for many years to cultivate cucumbers. The technique allowed me to reduce fertilizer costs, increase yields and streamline care.The difficulty was only in the early stages. After the construction of the structure for growing plants, you just need to strictly follow the rules of agricultural technology for a particular variety. I did not find any cons for myself.

Alevtina Borisova, 54

Good day! Last summer I started using hydroponics for cucumbers. It was possible to get an excellent harvest in not the most favorable climatic conditions. The cold and rainy summer did not affect the cucumbers in any way. Everything is simple and convenient, saves energy. Recommended!

Valentina Fedorova, 43

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