The homeland of cucumber is hot and humid India. Since the climate in Russia is completely different, in order to obtain a rich harvest, it is worth observing a number of agrotechnical requirements for soil, lighting, temperature regime, and fertilization. It is also worth figuring out whether it is possible to plant cucumbers in the shade and where to find the best place for them on the site

Optimal conditions for growing cucumbers

The culture is demanding on the presence of heat, moisture, light, soil fertility. Grows well in nutritious, loose and slightly damp soil. Rotted organic matter (manure) can be a good fertilizer. If a sunny place is set aside for the ridge, it is worth taking care of the shelter of the plantings so that the scorching rays of the sun do not burn the leaves and reduce the yield. For these purposes, a non-woven fabric is applicable.

Important! When growing cucumbers in the northern regions, the best option is polycarbonate greenhouses.

Is it possible to plant cucumbers in the shade

So that the seedlings do not fall ill with fungal diseases, and the lashes develop normally, trellises are installed for support.

Note! Cucumber and scorching sun are incompatible. If you grow a crop in the sun, the fruit is more likely to taste bitter.

The best conditions for growing cucumbers:

  • Heat. In the spring it is better to plant it under a film, in the summer to shelter from the heat, scorching sun rays.
  • Shine. Cucumber leaves need bright lighting, while fruits, on the contrary, like partial shade. To achieve such conditions, it is better to create diffused light by planting cucumbers nearby with sunflowers, corn, or installing a special trellis along which cucumber lashes will curl. The leaves will remain in the light, and the fruits will be hidden in the shade.
  • Moisture. Drought and dry climates are harmful to plants. For normal growth and development, the soil should not be allowed to dry out, therefore it is important to water and spray on time. It is better to plant seedlings in the evening or in the morning, after which it is good to water and shade, for example, with newspaper bags.
  • The soil. The best option is fertile, with a small amount of nitrogen. If necessary, lime, manure, potassium salt, superphosphate can be added in the fall. In the spring - ammonium nitrate, and during the period of planting seedlings in open ground, pour humus into each hole.

For the normal development of cucumber lashes, it is necessary to install a support. This will help create diffused sunlight and the rays of the burning sun will not lead to leaf burns.

Whether to plant cucumbers in the sun outdoors

So, whether cucumbers love the sun is now clear. Lack of sunlight will lead to slow growth of seedlings, the formation of mold, the growth of fungi, the development of toxic diseases. Also, you can not plant cucumbers densely, which can provoke the appearance of male flowers at night.

Transplanting

Is it possible to plant cucumbers after tomatoes

At the same time, it is important to choose the right shading for the seedlings, because in the sun they can quickly burn out, and with a lack of light, they can lag behind in growth, the leaves become pale and small, the whips become thin, lifeless.

Note!Ideally, it is better to plant cucumbers in a shady area so that they do not burn out in the heat. And to ventilate the seedlings and evaporate excess moisture, install trellises (concrete, wooden) - pillars at a distance of 1.5 m from each other. So cucumbers, as the shoots appear, will begin to attach themselves to the wire with their whiskers and rise upward along it.

Areas for planting cucumbers in open ground should be sufficiently lit. You can apply:

  • horizontal method, plant seedlings at a distance of 50 cm from each other;
  • vertical, driving high stakes into the ground and placing it on top of the rope or net perpendicular to the soil.

Reference! It is the vertical version that increases the yield. To create partial shade in the aisles, you can plant corn.

Whether to shade the culture with a house, a fence and trees, creating partial shade

Is it possible to plant cucumbers and zucchini nearby

Cucumber leaves need bright light, fruits need partial shade. It is extremely important to shade the culture, therefore, for long-term fruiting and obtaining diffused light, experts advise:

  • planting corn between rows;
  • cover the beds from the sun with a protective mesh (non-woven fabric with slots) that reflects ultraviolet light and is capable of creating diffused light in the beds.

Today manufacturers offer a mesh of different colors, but for a specific purpose:

  • gray color - to accelerate the growth of lashes, increase the number of shoots;
  • red - to increase productivity, growth of large fruits;
  • blue-green - to protect the bushes from the scorching rays of the sun, to ensure the correct microclimate.

Cucumbers next to corn

When planting cucumbers in open ground, you should choose an area protected from the wind. In the northern regions, it is better to plant cucumbers near buildings or forests. In the southern regions - on level areas, so that on steep slopes the cucumbers do not burn out in the heat, they are not blown away by gusts of wind.

Advice! The best places for planting cucumbers are meadows, forest shelter plantations to provide additional nutrients.

It is not recommended to plant in hollows and closed lowlands, where fragile seedlings may suffer from frost and cold. It is also undesirable to plant near stagnant groundwater.

The best greenhouse solutions

Is it possible to plant cucumbers in humus

Does a cucumber like shade? It is worth noting that the vegetable needs warmth and partial shade. The best growing option is just a greenhouse that can protect the seedlings from the rays of the scorching sun, rain, wind and cold. But before planting cucumbers, you should pay attention to the soil and greenhouse. This means that the place should be fairly lit.

What do experts advise when arranging a greenhouse and is it possible to plant cucumbers in partial shade:

  • Nourish the soil in autumn, treat it with vitriol and superphosphate, dig it up, add fresh ash and leave it until spring (it is desirable that the place remains illuminated by the sun for as long as possible).
  • Planting cucumbers in early spring in a heated greenhouse so that the temperature is not lower than 12-13 degrees.
  • Pay attention to a frame that does not bend and does not corrode. Plastic is suitable, and as a top coat - usually glass with an acceptable light transmission capacity or cellular polycarbonate.
  • As a support, the trellis is installed in the first weeks after planting the seeds, when immature plants begin to sprout. Water often, but in small portions, avoiding stagnant moisture in the soil. It is best to spray cucumbers, for example with Fitosporin, also as a prophylaxis against diseases.
  • To find out how much sun cucumbers need and whether they will have enough light when planting under trees, you can first put pots of seedlings and track them for several days. If the stems begin to stretch, and the leaves of the cucumbers turn pale, it means there is not enough light and must be transferred to another illuminated place. You can also try changing the degree of lighting by thinning the lower branches of the tree. As a result, you can achieve diffused light and independently create partial shade for young plants.

Cucumbers in the greenhouse

Important! Plants, even in partial shade, will grow poorly if they are not fed with an extract from manure or fertilizer from phosphorus and nitrogen. Cucumbers prefer natural fertilizers and a warm climate, so you need to provide normal conditions for the soil and temperature.

It is necessary to stop feeding and watering the seedlings for 7-8 days, be sure to ventilate the greenhouse, spray each plant with copper sulfate, if the seedlings show signs of disease:

  • oily brown spots on the leaves in the form of a burn, which happens with downy mildew;
  • damage to the underside of the leaves when infected with melon aphids;
  • drying, blackening of leaves with a greenhouse whitefly sucking juice from the leaves.

So does the cucumber grow in the shade? Both excess and deficiency of ultraviolet radiation negatively affect cucumbers, lead to lethargy and burns of the bushes, and high humidity - to the development of diseases, the onslaught of pests. To get a good harvest, experts recommend planting cucumbers in moderately lit areas, where there is partial shade in the daytime and warm enough at night. If necessary, you can cover the seedlings with special devices from the scorching rays of the sun, creating diffused light for long-term fruiting.

The note! Tall fruit trees (cherry, apple) will shade well for cucumbers. As the seedlings grow, it will be possible to tie whips to tree branches. The main thing is to get air and moisture to the cucumbers.

It often happens that there are not enough illuminated places at the summer cottage. Experts advise summer residents to select hybrids that will grow well in the shade:

  • F1 nights near Moscow, disease resistant;
  • Mramorskaya 36, ​​early ripening, well tolerant of lowering temperatures.

To grow a good crop, you need to know if the cucumber can grow in the shade and how to shade properly if needed. Simple but effective tips will help beginners avoid mistakes when growing this crop.