Cucumber belongs to the Pumpkin family, its homeland is the hot and humid forests of India. There he was known more than six thousand years ago. In the 9th century, they learned about cucumbers in Russia, and after seven hundred years they became very popular. Currently, only the Chinese grow and eat more cucumbers than the Russians. Unripe fruits are used for food, they have a low calorie content, excellent taste, are very good in salads, can be used fresh, salted and pickled.

The best conditions for growing cucumbers in the open field and greenhouse

Cucumbers are one of the most popular and beloved crops, they are grown in various ways:

  • in a greenhouse;
  • in the open field;
  • on the balcony;
  • in barrels.

It can be planted with both seeds and seedlings. It is possible to grow a good harvest of cucumbers only if certain rules are followed.

  • When choosing a variety, one should take into account the climatic conditions and the place where the cucumbers will grow: greenhouse, open ground, etc.
  • It is necessary to process the planting material.
  • The soil must be prepared in advance to suit the needs of the crop.
  • The place for the beds is chosen on an area that is well lit by the sun and is not blown by the wind.
  • The moment of planting seeds or seedlings should correspond to the weather forecast and climatic characteristics.
  • For planted seeds or seedlings during their development, regular care is required (weeding, watering, loosening, fertilizing, fertilizing).

Cucumbers grow in a barrel

Preparing for planting soil and seeds

When to plant cucumbers in a greenhouse in the Moscow region

Proper preparation of the soil and seeds before planting cucumbers is very important, on which the germination and development of young plants largely depends.

Soil preparation

The area where cucumber beds are planned for the next season should be prepared in the fall. Cucumbers require loose, fertile soil with an acidity close to neutral. It is necessary to carry out the following work:

  • garbage collection, wilted plants, in which pests will actively reproduce;
  • before freezing, it is recommended to dig up the soil to a depth of 25 cm with the simultaneous introduction of manure or chicken droppings at the rate of five kilograms per square meter.

At the beginning of the season, a new cycle of work is carried out:

  • the site is re-dug up;
  • the soil is treated with boiling water or a pale pink solution of potassium permanganate to destroy the larvae and microorganisms that have survived the winter that contribute to the development of plant diseases;
  • fertilizers necessary for the growth of young plants are applied (manure, nitrogen, potassium-phosphorus).

Digging up the soil

Important! An excess of mineral fertilizers harms the root system of the plant. It is better to feed repeatedly during the entire development period.

Similarly, the soil is prepared when planting in a greenhouse.

Seed preparation

When buying seeds, pay attention to the timing of their ripening, for the year of harvesting, on the method of pollination, choose a variety or hybrid. It is important to determine the further use of the crop, because cucumbers are salad, pickled and universal.

  • The best germination rate is in seeds from two to six years old.
  • Salad cucumbers are not suitable for pickling.
  • Hybrids yield plentiful crops, better resist disease, but their seeds rarely produce offspring.
  • When buying, it is preferable to choose seeds harvested in Russia, because they are better adapted to local conditions.

Before planting, the seeds must be prepared:

  • Rejection of empty seeds. Add a teaspoon of salt to a glass of water and put the seeds. Suitable seeds will drown, and empty ones will float.
  • Verification of seed germination. Soak a few seeds from each bag in warm water for a day, transfer to a piece of moistened cloth, put on a saucer in a warm place.
  • Treatment for diseases and pests. Dip the seeds in a pale pink solution of potassium permanganate for two to three days. You can juice aloe leaves that have been refrigerated for two weeks. The juice is mixed with water in a 1: 1 ratio, this solution is sprayed on the fabric with seeds. After a day, the seeds must be removed.
  • To improve germination, the seeds are placed near the battery for about a month.

After processing, the seeds should be immediately planted in the ground. If you sow cucumbers with seeds, the plants are stronger and more resistant to disease.

Seedling preparation

Using the seedling method, you can get an early harvest and not be afraid of frost, but this method is more laborious. Young plants have time to get stronger in favorable conditions, they have a better developed root system, which allows them to take root faster and easier. Seed preparation for growing seedlings is carried out according to general rules.

Step-by-step recommendations for growing seedlings:

  1. To speed up germination, the seeds should be soaked by placing them in a damp cloth. On the third day, a sprout appears.
  2. The soil for planting should contain manure or mullein and sod land, sawdust or sand are used as additives. Fertilizers are applied per 5 kg of soil: superphosphate - 7 g, potash - 4 g, urea - 3 g.
  3. Plastic cups are great for growing; a hole must be made in the bottom.
  4. Add drainage, fill 4/5 cups of soil. As the seedlings grow, soil is added.
  5. Make a hole in the soil 2 mm deep, place the seed, sprinkle with earth and water.
  6. Place the cups under the foil for three days.
  7. In the future, good care should be provided: sufficient illumination, temperature from 20 to 23 degrees, watering with warm water.

Important! You can grow seedlings in peat tablets, peat-distilled pots, eggshells, sawdust

Determining the landing time

Planting dates depend on the climatic conditions of the region and the equipment of the greenhouse. The culture belongs to heat-loving plants. When determining the timing for optimal planting of cucumbers, the following must be considered:

  • cucumbers are early-ripening, mid-ripening and late-ripening;
  • seedlings germinate and develop best at temperatures from 18 to 25 degrees;
  • periods for the growing moon are favorable for work;
  • to get the harvest throughout the season, cucumbers should be planted in several passes.

When sowing seeds in open ground, it is recommended to proceed from the weather conditions of the area:

  • well warmed up soil, its temperature should exceed 12 degrees, otherwise the seeds may die;
  • air temperature not less than 15 degrees;
  • no threat of frost.

It is impossible to sow too early, because the seeds may not germinate. Experienced gardeners determine the time for planting cucumbers over potatoes, which should have two or three stalks. It is believed that after this there will be no frost. In the northern regions, the right time is the second half of May and early June. In the areas of the Central Lane, work can begin in early May. When you can plant cucumbers, you should find out by the lunar calendar for 2018.

We plant seedlings

Cucumber seedlings can be planted in a polycarbonate greenhouse or greenhouse when they are 20-25 days old.

Differences between planting in a greenhouse and open ground

How to plant cucumbers in open ground with seeds

Planting cucumbers with seeds consists of several simple operations:

  1. The bed is prepared for planting seeds, a furrow is made, the depth of which should be two centimeters, and it is well shed with water.
  2. To reduce the consumption of fertilizers, they are applied directly to the hole, mixed well. A layer of earth should be poured on top.
  3. To determine at what distance from each other to plant cucumbers, it is necessary to decide on the further method of forming the garden. The distance between the cucumbers during planting is maintained at 50-60 cm, but if in the future the lashes are tied to the trellis, it is enough to leave a gap of 30 cm. Four to five plants should be placed on one square meter.
  4. The treated seeds are placed in the grooves with the flat side down or up with a sharp end.
  5. Three to five seeds are placed in the hole, slightly pressing.
  6. Sprinkle on top with a small amount of dry soil, kneading it so that there are no lumps. The planted seeds are watered and covered with polyethylene.
  7. After the emergence of seedlings, the film is removed during the day for some time, gradually increasing it.
  8. At high air temperatures, the film should be opened so that the plants do not get burned.

Seedling placement scheme

Important! A mixture of peppers (black and red) scattered on the garden bed will scare away pests and allow the seeds to germinate calmly.

Planting cucumbers with seedlings allows you to harvest earlier than when planting seeds.

  • With a lack of light, the seedlings are pulled out. To avoid this, the air temperature is lowered.
  • Two to three weeks before disembarkation, they begin to carry out hardening procedures in the air. Seedlings are put on the balcony at night, and then left there constantly, if there is no frost.
  • To increase immunity, seedlings are recommended to be treated with a special preparation (Epin, Immunocytophyte).
  • It is recommended to plant seedlings in cloudy weather or in the evening.
  • Seedlings are planted in a checkerboard pattern with an interval of at least thirty centimeters.
  • The glass is cut and turned over, an earthen lump should remain on the roots.
  • The seedling is placed in a hole, sprinkled with earth and watered abundantly.
  • The temperature for a good harvest should be from 20 degrees at night to 25 degrees during the day.
  • Seedlings must be shaded so that they do not burn out in the sun.

Important! When transplanting a young plant into a hole, the root should not be damaged

Planting cucumbers in the greenhouse and in the open field has some peculiarities.

  • Self-pollinated varieties are chosen for the greenhouse.
  • When growing cucumbers in a greenhouse, you can harvest for a longer time.
  • In unfavorable weather conditions, plants planted in open ground must be covered.

Important! It is necessary to maintain the distance between the cucumbers, the planting should not be thickened, this leads to a decrease in yield.

Further care: advice from experienced gardeners

Cucumbers for seedlings: when to plant in the Urals

Experienced gardeners willingly share their experience - how to properly plant cucumbers to get a rich harvest of tasty, strong, healthy vegetables:

  • All activities should be carried out without haste, in a good mood, with thoughts about the future harvest.
  • Above the beds, you can arrange a small greenhouse by installing arcs made of twigs or wire and stretching the film.
  • With insect pollinated varieties, the shelter is removed with the beginning of flowering.
  • Self-pollinated cucumbers can remain in the greenhouse all summer, but the film must be lifted regularly.
  • After the appearance of the fourth leaf, the bed should be thinned out, removing weak plants.
  • It is recommended to tie up the whips, arrange trellises. Such a device of the beds protects against diseases and too hot sun.
  • For plants, diffused light and partial shade are useful; tall crops (sunflower, corn) should be planted between the beds to protect them from sunburn.
  • The best irrigation methods are rain and drip. Do not water with a hose to avoid damaging the roots.
  • Depending on the weather conditions, it is recommended to water it once every five to seven days, from one to one and a half buckets per square meter.
  • Cucumbers love soil rich in trace elements, feeding should be carried out several times during the season: 20 days after planting the cucumbers.
  • Cucumbers need to be pinned, because excessive overgrowth leads to a decrease in the number of fruits. When pinching cucumbers in a greenhouse, it must be borne in mind that there are female flowers on the lateral branches, which should be partially left for self-pollination.

Important! Watering is carried out only with warm settled water

Having learned how to plant cucumbers correctly, you can count on getting a large number of strong, tasty, wonderful smelling fruits, the preparations from which will delight the whole long winter.