Content
When to plant cucumbers in a greenhouse? Moscow region? The answer to this question will depend on the prevailing weather conditions and the place of growth (greenhouse or open ground). Planting options can also be used in different ways; summer residents practice planting seeds directly into the ground or pre-growing seedlings.
Where to start growing seedlings
Seedlings are necessary when you plan to get an early harvest. It is usually grown on a windowsill until the necessary climatic conditions arise for replanting it in the ground.
When starting this method of growing cucumbers, you should remember that early sowing of seedlings is not the best solution. In this case, the plant begins to outgrow, and when transplanted into the ground, it ceases to be resistant to diseases, and in general it looks too thin and frail.
Late planting will not allow the seedlings to grow properly, which will negatively affect the harvest.
The best time to plant seedlings is 3 weeks after the first shoots begin to emerge. Seedlings can be grown in any convenient container.These can be pots for home flowers, various food jars, and special peat tablets for seedlings, which can be purchased at a farm store. Many gardeners use germinating seeds using damp cotton wool. To do this, moisten a piece of cotton wool with water and put a seed in it, after which the cotton wool is sent to a warm place and made sure that it does not dry out.
Once the sprouts appear, you can prepare to plant them. It is important to water the soil itself thoroughly with warm water first. Seedlings are planted 1-2 cm deep. It is more convenient to dig small round holes and then plant seedlings there.
Planting dates and cultivation of cucumbers
It is known that cucumbers grow much better in a greenhouse, since it creates optimal conditions for the crop. You can plant both seeds and seedlings here; the most important thing is to choose a good time for planting. If the greenhouse is equipped with heating, then cucumbers can be grown in it throughout the year. If this is a very ordinary greenhouse, then the cucumbers should be planted in May, when the air temperature is from +18 to +20°C. In the Moscow region, such temperatures can be observed in late spring or early summer.
Before planting cucumbers, the soil in the greenhouse must be carefully prepared:
- Required urea - 1 tsp. per 1 m², the soil should be dug up.
- The dug up soil is watered with hot water, since cucumber is a heat-loving crop. Water must be mixed with liquid chicken manure (200 g per 10 liters of water);
- At the end of the work done, cover the soil with film and leave it for 10 days.
Seedlings are considered ready for planting when the plant produces its 3rd leaf.
Before planting, you need to make sure that the night air temperature in the greenhouse does not fall below +14°C. In order for cucumbers to grow well, the temperature in the greenhouse must be maintained as follows:
- during the day approximately +20°C;
- at night from +15°C to +16°C.
If the temperature is above +20°C, then you can open the window in the greenhouse slightly, since at elevated temperatures the plant will begin to stretch out and weaken greatly, and at low temperatures the risk of disease increases. In the greenhouse it is necessary to make longitudinal beds, and in the beds - small holes the size of a pot at a distance of 50 cm to 60 cm from each other.
Before planting, it is recommended to treat the holes with a solution of potassium permanganate (1 g per 10 liters of water).
The water itself should be quite warm, approximately +50°C. About 0.5 liters of water should be poured into each hole.
If you plan to grow cucumbers in open ground, you will need to wait until favorable warm weather sets in outside. We must wait for suitable conditions in the month of June, if we talk about the climatic features of the Moscow region. It should be remembered that it is best to plant already sprouted seedlings in open ground, not seeds.
Cucumber varieties for growing in the Moscow region
If we talk about the taste of grown cucumbers, it is best to select seeds by variety, since some of them grow well in open ground, while others grow well in greenhouses.
The best varieties of cucumbers for greenhouses in the Moscow region:
"Goosebumps"
Under properly maintained growing conditions, the bush can produce up to 7 kg of yield.
A well-known early-ripening variety of cucumber, which can be recognized by the characteristic pronounced tubercles on its surface. The fruits themselves are short, dark green in color and have an elongated cylindrical shape.The growing season ends 1.5 months after planting.
"Elegant"
Also an early-ripening variety, cucumbers have an elongated shape and small tubercles on their surface. This vegetable is mainly consumed only fresh.
"Masha"
An early variety, the first harvest can be harvested 36 days after planting.
These cucumbers have pronounced tubercles on the surface. The vegetable is good for pickling and canning; when eaten fresh, a slight bitterness will be felt.
"Kuzya F1"
An early variety, the cucumbers themselves are quite small in shape, and their length is only about 8 cm.
This cucumber is well suited for use in salads, especially with small Cherry tomatoes. The Kuzya variety is perfect for pickling and canning.
"Tom Thumb"
An early hybrid variety of cucumbers. The stems of the plant are usually long, but the fruits themselves reach a maximum of 11 cm.
Many summer residents in the Moscow region can try to plant 2 exotic varieties in their greenhouses:
"White angel"
These are small cucumbers, about 7cm long, of unusual white color; there are a small number of small tubercles on the surface of the fruit. This variety is good for pickling and for fresh consumption.
"Surprise"
An early-ripening variety of cucumber, which has an unusual pear-shaped shape, at the same time resembles an old zucchini. The fruits can grow up to 1 m in length; those that do not exceed 25 cm are considered the most delicious. Such vegetables are delicious in salads.
Conclusion
If all the above recommendations are followed, gardeners in the Moscow region will be able to grow any variety of cucumbers.
