Technology for growing cucumbers in open ground

Cucumber is a vegetable that is familiar to all people. Many people grow it in their summer cottages. It is tasty, juicy and quite healthy. The technology for growing cucumbers in open ground requires compliance with certain rules. By adhering to them, you can reap an excellent harvest.

Content:

• Features of the plant
• Seed preparation
• Germination of seeds
• Growing seedlings
• Soil preparation and planting
• How should cucumbers be cared for?

Features of the plant

Cucumber is an annual plant that belongs to the pumpkin family. It grows a rough stem on which tendrils appear. With their help, he clings to a support and is able to stretch up to 2 meters. The foliage is heart-shaped. The fruits turn green. They emit a pleasant aroma and take on an oblong shape. Once ripe, the flat seeds can be collected.

Cucumber is a healthy vegetable. It is often recommended by nutritionists. The vegetable has a positive effect on the digestive system and intestinal function. Frequent consumption of cucumber improves heart and kidney health. Doctors advise drinking cucumber juice as it can cleanse joints. It has a positive effect on the oral cavity. It is used in cosmetology as it helps cleanse and whiten the skin.

Seed preparation

There are many varieties cucumbers They are divided into 3 types:

• Greenhouse varieties
• Cucumbers for growing in open ground
• Gherkins

Before planting, you should carefully study the varieties and select the necessary seeds. Initially, they need to be prepared. To do this, they are warmed up and germinated. Warming allows you to disinfect the seeds, which reduces the risk of diseases during plant cultivation. This procedure is recommended to be carried out a couple of months before the planned planting.

To start warming up, you should place the seeds in gauze and hang them near a radiator or other heat source. Before sowing, it is worth germinating the seeds. In addition, it is necessary to take into account the following nuances when choosing seed material:

1. Terms of ripening. There are varieties that ripen sooner or later.
2. It is necessary to choose varieties that are intended for cultivation in open ground.
3. Hybridity. The developed hybrids are much less susceptible to diseases. But almost all varieties are not suitable for further collection for seed material.
4. The purpose of growing a crop.
5. Preferences for caring for cucumbers. Some varieties prefer wet soil, and other species grow better on dry soil.

Germination of seeds

Before you plant seeds, they need to be prepared and germinated. To do this, you should follow a certain sequence:

1. The seeds are sorted. From the collected seed material, it is worth choosing the largest seeds. As practice shows, they are the highest quality. They are immersed in a saline solution (3%) for a quarter of an hour.
2. The seeds are disinfected. Those seeds that float to the surface should be thrown away. And all the rest are washed and left in a solution of wood ash for 5-6 hours.
3. After this, you can begin warming up, which was mentioned above. The seeds warm up for a day.

Finally, you can start germinating the seed material. It is wrapped in a cloth and placed in a nitrophoska solution for half a day. After washing, the seeds are left on a damp cloth. You should cover them on top. The air temperature should not fall below 23 degrees. After the last procedure, the seeds will swell, but they should not germinate. They can be planted when the root reaches half the length seeds.

Growing seedlings

Sprouted seeds can be immediately placed in the soil. But it is recommended to initially grow seedlings. In this way, the fruits will begin to appear faster. Seeds planted on seedlings should be illuminated for about 12 hours a day.

Video about growing cucumbers in open ground:

The landing procedure involves following the following sequence:

1. Containers are being prepared. They can be made of plastic, paper, peat
2. They contain soil with humus
3. Seeds go deep into the soil to a depth of no more than 3 cm
4. Growing seedlings lasts for a month
5. Before as plant sprouts into open ground, 3-4 full-fledged leaves should appear on them

Soil preparation and planting

Before planting cucumbers, the soil must be prepared in the autumn. To do this, the following manipulations are carried out:

• dig up the ground
• If the acidity of the soil is too high, then it is necessary to reduce it. To do this, slaked lime, chalk, peat ash or other materials are added.
• Organic matter is introduced
• Mineral fertilizers are added

In the spring, when the soil has dried out, it is worth starting to form a bed. Organic fertilizers are added to the soil. To warm the ground, it is covered with a transparent film. When it starts to float, then you can start planting cucumbers.

You can plant cucumbers in your garden using seedlings or seeds. There should be at least 20 cm between each bush. Cucumbers need support when they begin to grow. To do this, pegs are inserted into the ground through which the cord is pulled. When the plants begin to grow, they are tied to such a structure. This is an easy way to create support.

How should cucumbers be cared for?

To reap a good harvest, you should stick to simple care rules for culture. To get high-quality fruits, you should ensure that there are no more than 20 ovaries on one bush. Thinning is necessary 2 times. The first time this procedure is carried out is when the first leaf appears, and the second time - after the formation of 4 leaves. Pollination must occur for fruit to set. Experienced gardeners attract insects for this. To do this, spray with a solution of honey.

When thinning is carried out, it is worth loosening. But the main thing is that the root system is not damaged. It is worthwhile to carry out weeding systematically. To prevent water from stagnating, it is necessary to hill up the soil. This will reduce the likelihood of illness.

To saturate the soil with oxygen, you need to mulch it with sawdust or straw. In addition, such manipulation retains the necessary moisture and heat. As soon as the cucumbers grow, you should not forget to tie up the plant. Owners must maintain the required temperature. To prevent the plant from dying, the temperature during the day should not fall below 22 degrees, and at night - below 12. But even in too hot weather, cucumbers stop developing.

So, in order to harvest a good harvest of cucumbers, you need to familiarize yourself with the planting rules and growing this culture. This is a simple procedure. Taking into account all the recommendations, you can achieve the development of a full-fledged plant that will thank you for your care with high-quality fruits.