Planting seedlings of cucumbers in a greenhouse: how and when to plant correctly

Polycarbonate greenhouse has become commonplace in the summer cottage: the room guarantees a harvest in any weather. The first cucumbers in early June will be provided by planting seedlings of cucumbers in the greenhouse in early May.

Autumn preparation of the greenhouse

Greenhouse owners need to prepare for the new season in autumn. It is necessary to start cleaning the greenhouse immediately after harvesting the last fruits: remove weeds, remnants of stems and roots of vegetable crops, remove stakes and garter material.

Greenhouse processing

During the operation of a greenhouse made of polycarbonate, the walls become dusty, they transmit light worse. Harmful microorganisms accumulate in the soil and on structural elements. In autumn, the greenhouse needs to be processed:

• wash;
• remove topsoil;
• disinfect.

Wash with water and 72% laundry soap, use a rag or soft sponge. The top layer of soil must be removed, because after the summer season there can be:

• causative agents of tomato diseases;
• vegetable pests;
• insect larvae.

At least 1 time in 2 years, you need to remove the top layer of soil in the greenhouse (5 - 10 cm) and take it to the garden for restoration.

Disinfection of a greenhouse with a sulfur bomb destroys fungal spores, viruses, bacteria. Processing must be done no later than October. To achieve the effect, follow the conditions:

• air temperature in the greenhouse is not lower than 10 °C;
• metal structural elements covered with paint;
• the soil is dug up;
• doors and windows are hermetically sealed.

Soil preparation

Intensive use of the greenhouse depletes the soil. To restore fertility, you need to annually apply organic matter (humus, compost), ash and mineral fertilizers.

Organics, superphosphate, potassium nitrate and ash should be added in autumn for digging. Apply urea in the spring, two weeks before planting cucumber seedlings in the greenhouse.

After autumn treatment with a sulfur checker, the biological product Baikal EM1 will help restore the balance of beneficial microorganisms in the soil.

7 days before planting seedlings, shed the soil with a biological product. When you can use it and what conditions to follow:

• soil temperature - not below 15 °C;
• solution temperature - 25 °C.

Arrangement of beds

In the summer, gardeners start a hot season, both literally and figuratively. On a sunny day, the temperature in the greenhouse is above 35 °C. It is easier and faster to work in a well-equipped greenhouse.

It is necessary to plant seedlings of cucumbers in a greenhouse on well-prepared beds. It is worth adhering to the following rules:

• dig up the soil with a shovel bayonet;
• mark the ridges based on the size (width) of the greenhouse;
• form ridges 25 - 35 cm high;
• ridge width - 60 cm;
• row spacing - 70 - 80 cm.

Create your beds with wood, slate, galvanized iron, or plastic.

The advantages of a fenced ridge are palpable:

• neat ridges - a beautiful greenhouse;
• the earth does not pour into the tracks;
• water does not drain from the ridges;
• Easier to fertilize - the aqueous solution of fertilizer does not spread around the perimeter of the greenhouse.

In addition to the ridge, you need to build a trellis at the same time. For tying twine, you can use both thick steel wire with a cross section of 2 - 3 mm, and thin bars 2540 mm.

Manure - fertilizer and heating

If it is possible to buy cattle manure, buy and equip with it comfortable conditions for seedlings of cucumbers in a greenhouse. To do this, you need to dig a trench in the center of the ridge: depth 50 - 60 cm, width - 30 cm.

Lay fresh manure 30 - 35 cm thick down and cover it with earth from the ridge. The layer of soil above the manure is 25 cm. Fresh, compacted manure in 5-7 days will begin to “burn”, release heat and warm the earth.

In the summer, decomposing, the mullein will supply greenhouse plants with nitrogen. Planting seedlings of cucumbers in a greenhouse in the presence of biofuel (manure) is the most economical and easy-to-implement way to obtain early greens. Learn how to transplant cucumbers grown from seeds.

Planting seeds for seedlings

You can significantly bring the time of harvesting greens closer if you plant seedlings with seeds in April. Variety selection plays a big role. To get early production, you need to choose ultra-early hybrids or varieties for greenhouses.

Late and mid-late canning cucumbers are ideal for winter harvesting.

Best varieties for greenhouses

Out of the many varieties of cucumbers, consider only two groups:

• self-pollinating;
• unpollinated (parthenocarpic).

Bees and other insects pollinate outdoor plants. In the greenhouse, you have to artificially pollinate crops or choose the right varieties that do not require pollination with female flowers.

Choosing varieties

Beginner gardeners can be advised for the new season a proven hybrid from Holland - German F1. Having chosen it, people will definitely not be left without cucumbers. The variety has a stable yield. Timely transplantation of seedlings into a greenhouse or hotbed in April-May - and Zelentsy can be eaten after 36 days. Commodity cucumbers with light spikes are excellent raw materials for winter harvesting. Delicious, crispy lightly s alted cucumbers are prepared from them in the summer.

We need to take note of another productive hybrid from Holland - Courage. Its fertility - 25 kg per bush - will not leave anyone indifferent, and resistance to diseases and pests is unrivaled.The fruits are good in any form. Courage is usually propagated by seedlings for early production, seeds - for harvesting and autumn consumption.

Tara and soil for sowing seeds

Cucumbers don't like transplanting. A separate planting container in the form of peat cups will solve this problem. The volume of the container must be at least 400 - 500 ml. This size is enough to get a full-fledged seedling.

At the bottom of the container, it is worth making holes with a diameter of 3 - 4 mm, which are needed to drain excess water and ventilate the roots. Place the containers in a plastic tray 3 - 4 cm high.

The soil can be prepared from autumn. Take 1 piece:

• forest or garden land;
• peat;
• humus;
• rotted sawdust.

Mix all ingredients well and add 1 tbsp.l. ash and any complex fertilizer according to the norm. Before planting the seeds (14 days in advance), water the mixture prepared in the fall with the Baikal EM1 biological product. For lack of it, you can limit yourself to a disinfectant solution of potassium permanganate. It is easy to prepare: take a few crystals and stir in settled water until a rich pink color is obtained.

Biopreparation stimulates the development of beneficial microorganisms, potassium permanganate kills harmful microbes and fungi.

To plant seedlings on time in spring:

• tanks can be filled with soil in autumn;
• put in a greenhouse for the winter;
• throw snow.

When the time for sowing seeds approaches, bring them to a warm room to thaw and warm the soil.

Doing seeds

Bought seeds, checked harvest year or expiration date? We read the instructions on the package. If it says that the seeds have been processed, we consider that they are ready for planting.

You need to prepare if there is no such information and the seeds are white, without hints of processing. Of course, you can plant them immediately from the package, but it's better not to risk it. If the seeds are infected, it will take longer to heal.

Do not take expired seeds: they remain viable for no more than 2 years.

Prepare as follows:

• warm up the seeds on the battery;
• visually inspect, discard seeds with mechanical damage;
• lower the selected seeds into s alt water - discard those that have surfaced;
• drain the water, dry the seeds and use for planting.

Sowing seeds

Earth, if the soil is dry, moisten. Make indentations in the center of the glass with your finger or a marker. Spread the seeds in them. Sprinkle with soil with a layer of 1.5 cm. Cover trays with seedlings with cellophane and place near the battery.

In 5 to 7 days, if the air temperature is 25 °C or higher, cotyledon leaves will hatch. The film can be removed. Trays put on a window or rack with backlight.

Seedling care

Seedlings that can be transplanted have 3 to 5 leaves and are 25 days old. To grow it, you do not need to be smart. Care rules are simple:

• watering seedlings if the soil is dry;
• fertilize at least once with a liquid complex fertilizer;
• highlight seedlings by placing a fluorescent lamp over the plants;
• at the age of 20 days harden (take out to the balcony, street);
• monitor the he alth of seedlings.

It remains to plant seedlings. The main thing is to know exactly when to plant.

Date of planting

First, we determine the timing. The criterion will be the temperature of the topsoil in the polycarbonate greenhouse. To determine, you can buy a special thermometer.

Temperature must be measured correctly by placing the measuring device in the shade, not in the sun. A stable temperature of 14 - 15 ° C indicates that it is time to plant cucumbers in the greenhouse. Usually in an unheated polycarbonate greenhouse, this is done in May, and in the presence of biofuel (manure) - in the last decade of April.

How to plant seedlings correctly

Let's figure out how to plant seedlings of cucumbers in a greenhouse. The root system of young seedlings is tender and easily damaged. Many gardeners put a pot of young seedlings in water - this makes transplanting easier.

A lump of earth with roots is easily separated from the walls of the container. The soil moisture is optimal. The roots are not subjected to mechanical stress. How to plant seedlings correctly, you can see on the video - in the videos the process is shown clearly. Let's figure out how to plant.

So that the hypocotyl knee does not suffer from all possible rot, it is not buried in the soil. The plant, together with a clod of earth, is placed in a dug hole, covered with soil and watered.

Gardeners advise when sowing not to neglect mulch (peat, humus, dry grass mowed on the lawn). The mulching layer of 5 - 10 cm is capable of:

• improve the microclimate;
• restrains weed growth;
• maintains the level of soil moisture necessary for cucumbers;
• protects roots from cold and overheating;
• save energy and time for loosening the soil around the cucumbers in the greenhouse.

You can properly transplant cucumbers if you follow the planting pattern indicated in the memo attached to the seeds. The distance between two seedlings depends on the variety. Densely planted plants are more likely to suffer from fungal infections, aphids, powdery mildew.

If in doubt about how to properly plant young cucumbers, place all holes at a distance of 35 cm from each other, leaving wide row spacings of 60 - 75 cm.

Cucumber is a vine that needs support:

• for the full development of cucumbers in the greenhouse;
• increasing the illumination of cultivated bushes;
• good ventilation;
• crop protection from soil infection.

How to make a trellis for cucumbers in a greenhouse was described above. Note that natural twine serves well during the season. The photo of cucumbers after planting in the greenhouse shows how they are attached to the trellis.

Organize the right care

Planting cucumbers in a greenhouse does not take much time from the gardener. Cucumber transplantation ends in June and basic greenhouse plant care begins:

• bush formation;
• top dressing (root, foliar);
• watering;
• maintaining optimal air and soil temperature;
• disease prevention and control;
• protection of cucumbers in the greenhouse from pests;
• lash garter;
• gathering greens.

Formation

Understood how to plant cucumbers, now you need to understand how to form them. Before transplanting cucumbers, a trellis was built and a rope (string) was tied in front of each hole. 5 days after the transplant, the whip must be attached to the trellis.

As they grow, they need to be wrapped around the twine. Do this in the area of the internode. The central shoot, which has reached the top of the trellis, must be thrown over the top wire (bar), pinch the crown when it drops down 40 cm.This completes the formation of the central shoot.

Side shoots grow throughout the growing season. Remove all shoots from the lower 4 sinuses. Lateral shoots (braids) are not needed in this part of the stem, because they will slow down the growth of the central shoot, pulling all the nutrients.

Sinuses 4, 5, 6 blind partially, leaving 1 ovary (bundle). In the next 3, 4 sinuses, leave 2 ovaries each, above - 3 each. Thanks to this scheme, you can get a good cucumber bush, formed into one stem.

Irrigation

Cucumbers love moisture. Even in such a simple activity as watering, there are features. For example, the quality and temperature of water for irrigation, which affects not only the general condition of plants, but also the quality of the crop.

Water for irrigation needs warm (23 - 25 ° C) and settled. Watering with cold water provokes rot, delayed development of the root system, and contributes to the accumulation of bitterness in the fruits.

In the heat, the soil in the greenhouse dries out quickly. Watering will have to be frequent - every 3 days. Excessive watering should be avoided, water should not stagnate on the ridge. The approximate volume per 1 m² in the flowering phase is 5 liters, in the fruiting phase - 10 liters. These rates are approximate. In fact, it all depends on the weather, temperature and humidity, the method and frequency of ventilation of the greenhouse.

Feeding

If you want a good harvest, use fertilizer. If you don't like "chemistry", use organic. Fertilizers not only contribute to the harvest, but also strengthen the immune system and extend the fruiting period until the middle, or even until the end of September. This allows the greenhouse to be used at full capacity.

Top dressings are of two types: foliar, root.

Usually, root dressings are timed to coincide with watering. Moist soil prevents the roots from getting burned when in contact with an aqueous fertilizer solution.

As a mineral fertilizer for cucumbers grown in a greenhouse, you can use:

1. Superphosphate.
2. Urea or ammonium nitrate.
3. Borofoscu.
4. Potassium nitrate.

Before flowering and during flowering, the percentage of nitrogen in the aqueous solution of fertilizers must exceed the content of phosphorus. During fruiting, the plant's need for potassium and phosphorus increases.

Do not use urea and ammonium nitrate in the second half of summer. Nitrogen leads to an increase in green mass, delayed fruiting.

You can use one of the popular fertilizers for top dressing:

1. Potassium humate.
2. Agricola-vegeta.
3. Ideal.

Fertilizers are poured under the root. Getting on leaves or fruits, they can lead to burns. An important point: compliance with the dosage indicated in the instructions. Excess fertilizer in fruits can be harmful to he alth instead of the expected benefit.

How to control the temperature

There are two periods in the season when there can be real temperature problems in the greenhouse. It's spring and nighttime lows and hot summers with midday heat.

If frosts are expected in spring, and young seedlings are already sitting in the garden, but not yet tied to the trellis, covering material will save. In this case, everything is simple: throw it on, it is better to roll it in 2 layers, and remove it in the morning after sunrise.

Another simple trick is plastic bottles with cut bottoms. If such a design is put on a seedling, it will suffer less from a decrease in temperature. If there is a source of electricity near the greenhouse, you can turn on an infrared heater or a heat gun at night.

Heat is no less of a problem for plants than cold. At noon, the thermometer can reach 38 °, or even higher. Cucumbers categorically do not like drafts, which becomes a big problem in the heat.From the sun, the greenhouse can be shaded by whitewashing the upper part or stretching white fabric under the ceiling. Reduces the temperature of watering paths, installing containers with cold water.

Diseases and pests

A rare summer resident manages to avoid cucumber diseases or pests. There are years when, even with proper care, weather conditions (heat, rain) and the invasion of a flying form of aphids turn beautiful green plants into sick ones.

In wet weather, root rot is dangerous. In the initial stage, ash mixed with fluffy lime can save. Proportion 3:1. With this mixture, you need to powder the affected stems and rake the earth to them.

If aphids appear on the back of the leaf, the ash will also help. On a bucket of water you need to take 1 tbsp., The water should be hot. After a day, add grated laundry soap to the infusion. Rinse the plants with this solution or spray with a sprayer.

You can't cope with aphids with one treatment. The procedure will have to be repeated at least 1 time per week. After that, the ground under the bushes can be sprinkled with sifted ash.

Iodine helps to strengthen immunity. It must be added to milk (35 drops per 1 liter) and sprayed on all plants in the greenhouse in the evening. In a couple of days, the vines will get prettier and turn green with fresh foliage.

Mistakes of gardeners

Let's analyze the mistakes of gardeners that inhibit the growth of fruits. If there are few flowers and ovaries on a he althy outwardly plant, specify the variety. Most likely, the variety planted in the greenhouse needs to be pollinated by bees.

You can solve the problem: you just need to lure the main pollinators - bees - into the greenhouse. They will be attracted by sweet water, which needs to be sprinkled on a cucumber ridge. Artificial pollination also helps. It is carried out by touching the center of the female flower with the male flower.

Empty flower is another problem that a gardener may face when growing cucumbers in a greenhouse. There may be several reasons for it:

1. The plants were watered with cold water.
2. The weather is cool, abundant watering, the soil is excessively wet.
3. Plants are planted often and they are forgotten to shape.
4. Excess nitrogen in the soil.

You can solve the problem with a barrel, grass and water. The container needs to be filled with water, herbs are poured there, you can throw a loaf of old bread for sourdough. The gas released during the fermentation of grass stimulates fruit formation.

Collecting greens

When there is a wave of fruiting, the gardener should not relax. At least 2 - 3 times a week, plantings should be inspected and harvested for the production of winter preparations, larger cucumbers for salads and pickling.

The shelf life of fruits is different for each variety. Variety labels will help you identify which variety grows where and how it can be used. Many people make the mistake of planting lettuce and canning hybrids next to each other: lettuce marinade spoils its quality.

Conclusion

If you follow the right technology, growing cucumbers in a greenhouse will be a pleasant experience. The yield and duration of fruiting in protected ground conditions is higher, which will quickly pay for the cost of the greenhouse.

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