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Cucumber is a unique vegetable that can be grown not only in open ground, in greenhouses, greenhouses, but also on the windowsill. This allows you to consume a fresh, environmentally friendly product grown in your own apartment during the cold winter period. It is worth noting that cucumbers on the windowsill in winter are not new or exotic. This practice has been taking place for a long time and on its basis we can identify some growing rules and the most suitable varieties of cucumbers for the windowsill.
Variety selection
Choosing the right seeds is key to growing cucumbers on a windowsill. Modern selection has developed a number of special varieties adapted to apartment conditions. They are parthenocarpic, which eliminates the hassle associated with pollinating the plant. In this case, manufacturers also take into account the growth of cucumbers and bushiness, which should allow the plant to exist in the “modest” conditions of a windowsill. So, special varieties of cucumbers for growing on a windowsill include:
- Balcony F1;
- Indoor F1;
- Balcony marvel F1;
- Indoor Rytova F1;
- City cucumber F1.
Based on the experience of experienced “apartment” gardeners, we can say that other, universal self-pollinating varieties of cucumbers can be successfully grown on a windowsill:
- Berendey F1;
- Athlete F1;
- Bush F1;
- Calendar F1;
- Hummingbird F1;
- At the behest of the pike F1;
- Goosebumps F1.
The video shows examples of some varieties suitable for growing on a windowsill, gives their brief characteristics and advantageous features:
It is worth noting that for those who are not looking for easy solutions, bee-pollinated varieties of cucumbers may also be suitable. In this case, pollination should be done manually. Also, the process of artificial pollination can help increase the yield when growing self-pollinated cucumbers on a windowsill.
Choosing the right window
The main feature of winter growing cucumbers in an apartment is the lack of sunlight. The room is a barrier environment for its penetration, and the winter day is characterized by a short photoperiod. Therefore, to grow cucumbers, it is necessary to select window sills of southern or southwestern windows. The lack of lighting can be compensated by the light of a fluorescent lamp or by installing reflective materials on the windowsill: mirrors, foil. Thus, the light supply should not be less than 12 hours per day.
It is important that there are no drafts on the windowsill and the temperature is above +200C. However, do not forget about regular ventilation of the apartment, during which the plant must be moved from the windowsill to a protected room.
Making a Nutrient Pot
In order to grow cucumbers on the windowsill, it is important to choose a container of the required volume. So, for one plant you need to prepare a container with a volume of at least 5 liters.
You can buy nutritious soil for growing cucumbers on a windowsill ready-made or prepare it yourself. It should include soil from the garden, humus and peat.To reduce the acidity of the mixture, you can add sand and ash. You should also not forget about fertilizers during soil formation. For feeding You can use special ready-made complexes for growing cucumbers.
Some gardeners recommend disinfecting the soil in order to remove pests that can destroy the seeds or roots of cucumbers during the growing process. To do this, the entire volume of soil in which the cucumber will grow can be placed in the oven until completely warmed up.
The container for cucumbers should have a bottom with holes to drain excess water. Additionally, for plant drainage, expanded clay and broken brick are poured onto the bottom of the pot.
The preparation of the container and nutrient soil for growing the plant can be done in advance. A day before picking cucumbers, the soil should be shed generously with water.
Sowing seeds
You can sow cucumber seeds on the windowsill at any time in the autumn-spring period, starting from the end of August until the beginning of the summer season. However, it is necessary to take into account the special growth conditions on the windowsill, which affect the duration of the period from sowing to fruiting. So, in order to get a stable harvest of fresh cucumbers for the New Year holidays, you need to take care of sowing the seeds at the end of September.
Before sowing seeds into the soil, it is recommended to prepare them:
- Cucumber seeds can be disinfected by briefly soaking them in a weak saline or manganese solution.
- You can germinate them in a moistened piece of cloth or cotton wool. On a windowsill in an apartment, cucumber seeds germinate in 2-3 days. This event will not only speed up the growth process of the plant, but also select the most viable ones and eliminate empty seeds.
Sprouted cucumber seeds can be sown in small cups for seedlings or directly into a large container. The seed is placed in the ground to a depth of 1.5-2 cm and covered with moist soil. The finished planting must be covered with protective glass or film and placed in a place with a temperature of about +250C. After the cucumbers appear, the container is placed on the windowsill. To prevent the roots of an adult plant from freezing from an insufficiently warm window sill, foam can be placed under the pot.
When sowing cucumbers in small cups, they can be transplanted as soon as three full leaves appear. The procedure should be carried out especially carefully so as not to damage the fragile plant. At the same time, the picking process itself is stressful for the cucumber and temporarily slows down its growth.
Bush formation
In the compact conditions of an apartment, it is very important to start the formation of a cucumber on time and correctly, so that the plant receives maximum light and does not take up much space. To do this, seedlings are pinched at the level of 4-5 leaves, which promotes the growth of lateral canes. After some time, they can be pinched at the level of 6-8 leaves, after which numerous new shoots will form in the axils of the cucumber.
Forming a cucumber requires a mandatory garter. To do this, you can stretch twines along the window or install stakes and special nets in pots. It is necessary to arrange the cucumber leaves in a fan pattern so that the plant can receive the maximum amount of light on the windowsill.
The first cucumber ovaries and tendrils can be removed so that the plant can gain strength.
Daily care
You can get a harvest of fresh cucumbers on your windowsill in winter only if you maintain a certain microclimate and take proper care of the plant. The main operations that both a beginner and an experienced “apartment” gardener will have to deal with include:
- Watering. Cucumbers are very moisture-loving, so you can water them every day or every two days, so that the soil does not dry out. In this case, you should avoid rotting of the roots and ensure that excess water drains through the drainage holes of the pot. The optimal water temperature for watering cucumbers is +22 - +24 0WITH.
- Spraying. The best humidity level for cucumbers is around 85-90%. In an apartment it will not be possible to constantly create such a microclimate, so you can humidify the air for cucumbers with a spray bottle (spray the plant) or by placing a basin of water near the pots. To maintain moisture, plants can be covered with polyethylene.
- Top dressing. 2 weeks after seed germination, the cucumber must be fertilized. To do this, you can use a mixture of ammonium nitrate, sodium sulfate and double superphosphate. You can also use ready-made mixtures for feeding cucumbers or organic matter. 2 weeks after the first feeding and throughout the entire stage of fruiting of cucumbers, feeding should be repeated.
- Pollination. For fruiting of bee-pollinated varieties, pollination is mandatory; when growing self-pollinating cucumbers, it allows you to get a rich harvest of high quality. Pollination is carried out in the morning (at this time the pollen is sticky). To do this, pollen from a male flower (barren flower) is carefully applied to a female flower (with a tiny ovary). This can be done using a cotton swab or by tearing off the stamen on a male flower.After pollination, all empty flowers are cut off, and new flowers are used the next time.
- Harvesting. Cucumbers should be picked daily. This will prevent them from overgrowing and accelerate the growth of young fruits. On average, 1 bush can give its owner 15-30 delicious, fresh cucumbers.
The full cycle of activities for growing cucumbers on a windowsill, from selecting seeds to harvesting, can be viewed in the video, which will help even novice gardeners get an excellent harvest:
Growing cucumbers on a windowsill in winter is not a difficult process if caring for the plant becomes a hobby that brings pleasure. At the same time, a well-groomed, neat “bed” of cucumbers on the windowsill can become a real highlight in the interior of the apartment.
I decided to grow cucumbers in the window while the garden was covered with snow) I was looking for a suitable variety and came across an article. I decided to plant Balcony F1, I hope the harvest will be successful. I found a lot of useful recommendations on “specific” cultivation on the site, thank you!
Following your example, I also decided to plant Balcony F1. I’ll write about the results in the comments