When to plant cucumbers for seedlings in 2023: timing and features of transplantation, schedules
Cucumbers are heat-loving crops that need to be planted in the soil under certain conditions. The timing of the landing work depends on many factors. At the same time, many people are interested in when it is worth planting cucumbers for seedlings in 2023, as well as the timing and features of plant transplantation. In this case, it is worth focusing on the lunar calendar and the climatic features of the region.
Chart according to the lunar calendar
Gardeners know that in order to get a good harvest of cucumbers, you need to focus on the lunar calendar. It helps to determine which lunar phase is more suitable for planting cucumbers.
Lunar cycles are well reflected in the growth and development of the plant. When planting seedlings on optimal days, the vegetable will be more resistant to parasites and diseases. It will bring high-quality fruits and will develop rapidly.
Landing operations are always carried out on a young and growing moon. If the month is old, it is not recommended to perform them. In total, there are 4 phases of the growth of the moon. However, not everyone is suitable for sowing. So, the main phases include the following:
- New Moon - in this phase, the root system develops well. Therefore, during this period, you can safely plant seed material. It is important to consider that it lasts only a day.
- Full Moon - This is the best time to spray, fertilize, or prepare the soil for later vegetable planting. The full moon lasts only a day. But before it and after it, you can’t plant anything in the soil for another day.
- Wanning moon - this phase lasts 2 weeks. Planting seeds at this time is allowed. But it is better not to move seedlings to a permanent site.
- Waxing moon - this stage lasts about 2 weeks. It is perfect for planting seeds in the soil. At this time, vegetables tend to grow quickly. Also, during the growing moon, cucumbers should be fed and watered.
According to the lunar calendar, the most suitable stages for planting seeds include the days when the celestial object is located in the most fertile constellations. These include the Water signs Scorpio, Cancer and Pisces.
The most favorable days for planting cucumbers are:
- March: 1-6, 23-26, 28-31;
- April: 1-2, 20-22, 27-29;
- May: 6-9, 15-17, 24-27;
- June: 1-3, 5-7, 11-13, 18-21, 21-26;
- July: 1-2, 6-8, 18-23.
Chart by regions
Cucumbers are a thermophilic vegetable crop. Therefore, it is permissible to plant them only in well-warmed soil. Planting seedlings should be carried out when the temperature is at least +14 degrees. It is important that the night temperature is not less than + 7-8 degrees.
Because the climate of the regions directly affects the timing of planting cucumbers. It is recommended to take into account the following:
- In the south of Russia, landing work should be carried out in mid-March. At the same time, planting cucumbers in open ground is allowed in April.
- In the Moscow region, cucumbers for seedlings should be planted only in mid-April. Therefore, they can be planted in open soil no earlier than mid-May.
- In the Urals and Siberia, cucumber seeds are recommended to be planted in early May. At the end of the month, seedlings can be moved to a permanent site.
- In the Far East, cucumber seeds are allowed to be planted no earlier than the second half of May. Therefore, it is not worth rushing to land.
On which days you should not plant cucumbers
There are days that are not very suitable for planting. These include:
- February: 10-11, 21-22, 26-27;
- March: 9-11, 19-21, 25-26;
- April: 4, 15-17, 20-22, 30;
- May: 3, 4, 8-9, 30-31;
- June: 1, 4-5, 14-15, 27-28.
Seed and soil preparation
The soil for cucumbers should be loose and airy. It is permissible to plant them in the same place for a maximum of 4-5 years in a row. For planting cucumbers in a greenhouse or growing seedlings, it is permissible to use any soil. The plant is considered undemanding to its composition.
However, to increase the yield, it is recommended to prepare a special substrate. It may consist of sod and humus. They are combined in a ratio of 2: 3. It is important to use quality humus. It needs to be prepared in advance.
Many gardeners prepare the substrate themselves. To do this, take ordinary soil and humus in a ratio of 2: 3. It is also recommended to add peat to the composition. Its quantity should be twice the volume of land. To make the soil more fertile, it is worth adding a small amount of sawdust to its composition.
Gardeners who do not want to prepare the soil themselves can buy it at the store. For planting seed material, a mixture called "Spring" is considered an excellent option.
When using ordinary soil for planting, it needs to be processed. A month before the work, it is necessary to pour the substrate with a solution of copper sulphate with a concentration of 7%. After the specified time, it is permissible to carry out landing work. Many gardeners warm up the soil in the oven. This helps to kill bugs and parasites.
Expert opinionZarechny Maxim ValerievichAgronomist with 12 years of experience. Our best gardening expert.Ask a QuestionWhen preparing cucumber seeds, you should follow some rules. In general, the seed material of the culture has good germination and can be stored for up to 7 years. However, it is important to do this in a dry and cool place. Grains germinate within 3-4 days at a temperature of more than +20 degrees.Before sowing, it is important to choose the best quality seeds. However, this is required to be done only with self-collection of planting material. Preference should be given to large and even grains that have a light color. S alt solution can be used for calibration. For its preparation, it is recommended to take 3 grams of ordinary s alt per 100 milliliters of water. Mix cucumber seeds in the solution and wait 10 minutes.
The grains that have surfaced are not suitable for sowing. They need to be thrown away. Old seeds with a high degree of probability will emerge all.They need to try to germinate to make sure of germination. After calibrating the grain, it is required to hold it in a solution of potassium permanganate with a concentration of 1%. However, this should be done for a maximum of 20 minutes.
It is recommended to soak cucumber grains before sowing. To do this, it is recommended to take a transparent container, place folded gauze on the bottom, lay out the seeds and pour in a small amount of water. It is also permissible to use cotton pads for this purpose. They need to be well moistened with water. It is important to use a small amount of moisture so that the seeds are not completely covered. In this form, they should be kept for 2 days.
Fit tips
At home, cucumber seeds should be planted in peat tablets. They contain a sufficient amount of nutrients. Therefore, the soil can not be additionally fed. In addition, the tablets help protect the seeds from fungi.
It is also permissible to plant cucumbers in special cassettes with cells. However, they need to be disinfected first. The advantage of this option is the possibility of repeated use. This is due to the fact that such cassettes are made of polystyrene.
However, it is best to grow seedlings in tablets. When using cassettes, cucumbers will have to be transplanted. In this case, fragile sprouts are likely to be damaged.
Popular varieties of cucumbers
For outdoor cultivation, it is worth using hybrids and varieties that are pollinated by bees. Parthenocarpic hybrids of cucumbers are more suitable for a greenhouse. They don't need pollination.
When buying cucumber seeds, you should be guided by the following criteria:
- location of the cucumber bed - it can be in a sunny place or in partial shade;
- the need to collect cucumber seeds - it is important to consider that hybrids do not retain maternal properties;
- harvest quantity;
- resistance of cucumbers to pathologies;
- harvest use.
It is important to consider that, depending on the ripening period, cucumbers are early, medium and late. However, popular varieties tend to ripen fairly early.
The most resistant and productive crops include:
- Boy with a finger;
- April F1;
- Alekseich F1;
- Moscow evenings F1;
- Erofey.
These varieties of cucumbers grow best in central Russia. At the same time, they are considered the most resistant to diseases and parasites.
Growing Instructions
To obtain a quality crop of cucumbers, it is important to follow certain growing rules:
- Plants need warmth. At temperatures below +16 degrees, cultures die.
- Cucumbers need constant watering. It is important to avoid excessive dryness of the soil.
- It is forbidden to dive cucumbers. Their sprouts are fragile.
- Cucumbers love humus. The more of this substance is applied to the soil, the better.
- It is recommended to use settled water for watering cucumbers. It is also permissible to use filtered or melted water. Its temperature should be +23-28 degrees.
- Watering cucumber plantings is recommended at least twice a week. However, it is best to do this 2 times a day in small portions. Initially, plants should provide drip irrigation. This is required before sprouts appear. Then it is recommended to ensure that the soil does not dry out.
Leaves turn yellow - how to fix
The appearance of yellowness on cucumber leaves can be due to a number of factors. The most common causes of problems include the following:
- nutrient deficiencies;
- poisoning with toxic substances;
- effect of low temperatures;
- violation of irrigation conditions - lack or excess of moisture;
- lack of light;
- pest attacks.
If cucumber seedlings are not grown in peat tablets, they need to be fertilized. Equally important is the moderation of watering. It is important to control that the soil does not dry out. When pests appear, special treatments should be carried out.For this, it is permissible to use insecticidal preparations.
How to transplant cucumbers
Cucumbers are best planted in a greenhouse. Transplanting seedlings in open ground is quite dangerous. In this case, there is a risk of death of most of the seedlings. In greenhouse conditions, the soil warms up well and stably, because cucumbers can grow well. Many gardeners immediately plant seeds in protected ground. In this case, they develop and bear fruit well.
When growing seedlings at home, peat tablets should be preferred. In this case, it will be possible to avoid the need to dive plants. Planting seeds in another container is not worth it, since there is a high probability of damage to the seedlings. With proper care, losses will be minimal. Almost all cucumber seedlings take root immediately and develop well.
It is important to consider that seedlings are allowed to be transplanted at the stage of formation of 3-4 true leaves.Each variety has its own growth periods. Therefore, when determining the timing of transplantation, it is worth focusing on its description. For early varieties, the period from sowing to planting in open soil is 14-21 days, for mid-season - 20-22, for late - 20-28.
Growing seedlings of cucumbers has certain features. Great importance is given to the choice of landing dates. In this case, you can focus on the lunar calendar and the climatic features of the region. In order for the sprouts to develop normally, it is important to provide them with complete and high-quality care. It should include timely watering, fertilization, protection against diseases and pests.
