Content
How lucky are those apartment owners who, in addition to it, also have a loggia. Or, as a last resort, a glazed balcony with insulation around the perimeter. This is exactly the case when a winter garden can be created in an ordinary city apartment.
All that remains is to choose a variety of cucumbers and add some knowledge from the field of special agricultural technology for growing vegetables on a loggia.
To begin with, let them be ordinary good quality cucumbers, whose vine-like greenery will transform an ordinary city apartment with a loggia into a real decorative oasis. Evening illumination of cucumbers growing on the loggia, against the backdrop of the first spring vegetation, will make this oasis fabulous.
Fundamentals of agricultural technology and first knowledge
A warm, glazed loggia is a kind of attached greenhouse. It has its own microclimatic characteristics. At the same time, each variety of cucumbers requires maintaining their own climate.
Good soil is the beginning of everything
If the idea of creating a winter garden on the loggia did not come in the middle of winter, but at least in late autumn, then preparing the soil for cucumbers will not be difficult.To do this you just need:
- soil base;
- special soil additives at the rate of 10 liters: urea - ordinary urea 1 teaspoon, level, spoon; wood ash 200 grams, regular glass; complex fertilizer - in the form of nitrophoska, familiar to gardeners, 2 teaspoons, without a slide, spoon;
- the acidity of the soil created for cucumbers should not deviate from pH values within the range of 6.6 ÷ 6.8 when extracted from water. Otherwise, the composition of the new soil for cucumbers will have to be adjusted.
- good results when growing cucumbers on a loggia are obtained by a moisture-retaining additive in the form of agrogel.
Purchasing a ready-made garden mixture will be somewhat expensive, but the implementation of the idea of \u200b\u200bgrowing modern cucumbers will not be postponed until spring.
Flower pots, plastic containers - like plots of land for cucumbers
The soil prepared for growing cucumbers should be stored on the loggia, avoiding freezing. At the same time, assuming the planting of cucumbers at the end of February, you should worry about their permanent place of residence. Large 2-bottom flower pots are suitable for these purposes. Their capacity should not be less than 5 liters.
In the future, as the cucumbers of the selected variety grow, the free part of the pot will need to be filled with fertile soil. On the free area of the loggia you can place cucumbers at the rate of 3 pcs. at 1.0 m2. It is better to place cucumbers of the selected variety on the floor so that in the future you do not have to lower them from various stands.
The beginning of life or the first seedling
The immense New Year holidays are long gone. Studying the variety of seed packets and leafing through recommendation articles from the very, very great experts in agricultural technology for growing cucumbers fills all my free time.
Choosing cucumber varieties for a loggia, it is necessary to pay attention to their compliance with the conditions of future growth. The microclimate of the loggia is characterized by:
- insufficient lighting. The problem is solved by using phytolamps on the loggia. The use of any other lamps will also give good results. The duration of illumination of cucumbers on the loggia should not be less than 12 hours. From cucumbers to lamps there should be approximately 200 mm;
- small cultivated area;
- critical temperature changes on the loggia;
- absence of pollinating insects on the loggia. Parthenocarpic varieties will come in handy. They do not need pollination and do not produce seeds; self-pollinating cucumbers also do not need insects or pollinators.
Varieties of cucumbers for the balcony
Of the well-proven samples, the most popular varieties for the loggia should be highlighted:
F1 parthenocarpic cucumber variety "City Pickle":
- begins to bear fruit 40 days after germination;
- cucumbers up to 10 cm long and weighing about 90 g;
- in the nodes they form up to 9 ovaries of good quality cucumbers.
F1 parthenocarpic cucumber variety "Balcony":
- begins to bear fruit 40 days after germination;
- cucumbers up to 12 cm long and weighing about 90 g;
- in the nodes they form up to 9 cucumber ovaries;
- cold-resistant
F1 parthenocarpic cucumber variety "Balagan":
- determinant type;
- begins to bear fruit 40 days after germination;
- cucumbers up to 10 cm long and weighing about 90 g;
- in the nodes they form 4 - 6 cucumber ovaries;
- shoots are small, weak branching.
Preparing seeds for planting
Once the seeds have been chosen and the first decisive step has already been taken, it is no longer possible to stop. It becomes a matter of honor to continue the started event:
- seeds are pickled in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 12 hours at a temperature of +200C;
- All treated seeds must be spread on a damp cloth at a temperature not lower than +230C, placing it in the appropriate tray. The napkin must be moistened regularly for 2 days. When the first signs of germination appear, prepare pots or cups for planting.
When seedlings appear, cups with seedlings must be placed on the windowsill of the brightest window, maintaining the temperature: during the day from +230C to +260C, at night not lower than +160C. Light cycle – 12 hours with additional lighting.
Raising seedlings
The first leaves that appear inspire, but do not allow the home vegetable grower to relax. The barely noticeable green sprouts are so weak that even a simple draft can destroy them.
During this period of their life they need special care and attention:
- Watering. With good lighting and intensive growth up to 2 times every 7 days;
- Backlight. From 8 am to 8 pm;
- Growing time. Within 26 - 28 days, seedlings can be transplanted;
- Feeding. The first feeding after a 2-week period, the second and last feeding of seedlings - after a week after the first feeding.
The approximate composition of the fertilizer is as follows: 20 parts of double superphosphate, 15 parts of ammonium nitrate, 15 parts of potassium sulfate. When calculated in grams, this is enough for 15 plants.
Time to move to the loggia
After about one month, it is time to transplant the seedlings to their permanent place on the loggia. Carefully lower the sprout into prepared sized cups with seedlings, taking care not to damage the roots.
At this time, cucumbers do not require complex care:
- Temperature compliance:
- Organization of sufficient illumination and duration of illumination;
- Systematic watering. Twice a week at the rate of 2.5 liters of water at normal temperature;
- Regular feeding at least once every 10 days;
- Installation of trellises to the entire height of the loggia;
- Systematic pinching and pinching of cucumbers. When the height of the cucumbers reaches the entire height of the trellis, it must be pinched; all shoots growing on the side are pinched to a length of up to 45 cm.
Just one month of unnoticeable worries, and by spring the loggia takes on a fabulous shape. It is difficult to take your eyes off the unusual sight of blooming cucumbers behind the glazing of the loggia. Grateful plants will delight their owners for a long time not only with their beauty, but also with a good harvest.
