Content
Growing cucumbers in bags is one of the methods of planting vegetables that is practiced by many gardeners. After all, using it, you can get a harvest even in the absence of a personal plot. However, growing cucumbers in bags has its advantages and disadvantages. To ensure that the final result does not disappoint, you should familiarize yourself in advance with the rules for preparing seeds and soil, as well as the features of caring for plantings.
Growing in bags saves space
Advantages and disadvantages of the method
This method of growing cucumbers has certain advantages. Therefore, many gardeners took note of it. However, this method also has certain disadvantages that must be taken into account.
The method of growing cucumbers in bags is acceptable for the central and northern regions
Main advantages:
- possibility of getting an early harvest;
- no regular weeding required;
- saving space;
- possibility of growing on paths, balconies, terraces;
- easy plant care.
Flaws:
- regular watering;
- high probability of drying out and waterlogging of the root system;
- the process requires careful preliminary preparation.
Which variety to choose
When choosing a variety, it is necessary to take into account the growing conditions, as well as the desired result. If you plan to place cucumbers in bags on the balcony, it is recommended to give preference to parthenocarpic species on the terrace, which guarantees the self-pollination of the plants. And when growing outdoors, it is better to give preference to bee-pollinated varieties.
Also, when choosing, you should take into account the ripening time of greens. If you need to get only an early harvest of cucumbers, you should choose early-ripening species. And if you need to collect fruits throughout the season, then you need to plant varieties with different ripening periods in bags.
Selection of bags
To plant cucumbers, you need to take new or used durable bags. In the second case, they should first be dried and turned inside out to prevent the development of mold.
Possible options:
- Low pressure polyethylene bags. They are characterized by increased strength even under pricking loads and good elasticity. The bags maintain their integrity when exposed to low temperatures. This option is not the cheapest, but you can grow cucumbers in them for more than one season.
- High pressure polyethylene bags. Significantly inferior in strength to the previous ones. They are soft to the touch, transparent, elastic.
- Polypropylene bags for sugar.They are characterized by high strength, resistance to bending, low temperature, and rotting. The cost of such bags is quite affordable.
You can also use bags from the ground as bags for growing cucumbers.
Soil selection and preparation
To successfully grow cucumbers in a bag in a dacha, balcony, terrace, or greenhouse, you need to properly prepare the soil. Many experienced gardeners recommend laying a thick layer of freshly cut grass at the bottom. This will initially make a warm cushion for the seedlings, and then will serve as additional nutrition. The thickness of the plant layer should be 20-30 cm. After this, water the grass generously with Baikal solution to speed up the compost preparation process and keep it in a warm place for about ten days.
Then pour a nutrient soil mixture on top of the plant layer. It should have a low acidity level and have good moisture and breathability. To do this, mix turf, humus and leaf soil in equal volumes. Also add an additional 200 g of wood ash to each bag and mix thoroughly. To disinfect the soil, a few days before planting, it should be watered with a solution of Fitosporin or potassium permanganate, then slightly dried.
At the final stage of preparing the bags, you need to make holes on the sides with a knife. They are needed to remove excess moisture after watering. This will eliminate the possibility of rotting of the cucumber root system.
You should also immediately worry about support. To do this, insert a 2 m long wooden stick into the center of the bag and fix it securely.A nail should be nailed at the top of the support, to which the growing shoots of cucumbers can be tied.
Seed preparation
The experience of many gardeners growing cucumbers in bags shows that the seeds need to be prepared for planting in the same ways as for direct sowing in open ground or a greenhouse.
To do this, the day before the procedure, soak them in a solution of Epin or Zircon for 10-12 hours. This will ensure friendly shoots and full development of seedlings at the initial stage. Then soak the seeds in a solution of potassium permanganate for 15 minutes, and then rinse with plain water. This is necessary to increase the resistance of cucumbers to diseases. Then the seeds must be planted immediately, since after processing they cannot be stored further.
There is no need to prepare hybrid seeds, as they are already processed
Planting cucumbers in bags of soil
In order for the seedlings to fully develop and produce a good harvest, it is necessary to plant cucumbers in bags correctly. This can be done in different ways. In this case, the gardener decides for himself which of them is more acceptable to him.
Planting in open ground
Growing cucumbers in bags makes it possible to get an early harvest not only in a greenhouse, but also in open ground. Planting can be done when the air temperature rises to +15 °C, which usually happens in early May. After all, the substrate in bags warms up faster, and the plant bed will not let in the cold coming from the ground.
When growing cucumbers in bags in open ground, planting can be done not only from above, but also into the side triangular holes. The seeds should be buried 2 cm into the moist soil. 3-5 planting holes should be made on top, which will be at the same distance from the support.And from the end side you can plant seeds in holes up to 10 pcs. provided there is sufficient lighting.
Growing cucumbers in bags in a greenhouse
If you grow cucumbers in bags in a greenhouse, then planting should be done at the end of April, at the beginning of May. In this case, it is necessary to plant the seeds only on top. The procedure is carried out according to the standard scheme. To do this, you need to make holes 2 cm deep, water them and put 2-3 seeds in each of them. When the seedlings grow up, leave the strongest ones.
The video will tell you in more detail about planting and growing cucumbers in bags of soil:
Seedling method
You can significantly speed up the harvest if you plant already strong cucumber seedlings in prepared bags. To do this, you need to sow at home in separate containers. And at the age of 30-35 days, plant the seedlings in bags. At the same time, it is important not to damage the earthen ball at the roots, as this can lead to the death of the seedlings.
Seedlings need to be buried in moist soil until the first pair of leaves. This stimulates the growth of a powerful root system.
Features of care
When growing cucumbers in bags, seedlings need special care. The final harvest depends on how well the basic rules and agricultural techniques are followed.
Watering
Cucumbers require regular watering, as the substrate in bags dries out quickly. But at the same time, excessive moisture should not be allowed, which can lead to rotting of the root system. Therefore, it is important to moisturize every other day, and during hot periods in the morning and evening. To do this, you need to use settled water at a temperature of +18-22 °C.
If regular moistening is not possible, drip irrigation must be organized. To do this, when planting, you can immediately dig two plastic bottles into the ground so that the neck is on the surface. And make holes in the side walls of the containers. Water should be added to the bottles as needed.
Proper watering is the main condition for obtaining a good harvest.
Top dressing
When growing cucumbers in bags, you need to apply fertilizer every ten days. At the stage of active collection of green mass, chicken manure 1:15 or mullein 1:10 should be used. And after flowering begins, use wood ash and mineral mixtures with a high content of phosphorus and potassium. Root feeding is preferable.
Formation of bushes
When growing cucumbers in bags, you need to properly form the bushes to get the maximum yield. The peculiarity of this crop is that it is prone to the growth of stepsons, the growth of which must be controlled.
Growing lateral shoots up to 3-4 leaves must be completely removed. Stepchildren above the 5-6th leaf should be pinched when they grow to 20 cm. All shoots that appear higher should be pinched at a length of 30-40 cm. The top of the main shoot should be cut off when it reaches the height of the support.
Possible problems
Some novice gardeners sometimes encounter certain difficulties when growing cucumbers in bags. To avoid problems, you need to familiarize yourself with them in advance.
Possible difficulties:
- Slow growth and development. This is due to the use of heavy soil without first adding humus and sand to it.In this case, the soil clumps into a lump, as a result of which the root system does not develop.
- Withering and death of seedlings. The reason for this is uneven wetting of the soil in the bags. This is due to improper watering, which leads to a lack of moisture. It is also necessary to understand that the bags should be placed in a slightly shaded place so that the substrate in them does not overheat.
- Root system rotting. Lack of drainage holes and excessive watering lead to stagnation of moisture. This may be due to too much land. In this case, the substrate does not have time to dry out between moistenings.
- Lack of ovary. This usually happens when seedlings lack nutrition and light. Most often this occurs when there are a large number of them in one bag, which leads to competition. And, as a result, the shoots become thinner and reach towards the light.
It is recommended to place cucumbers in bags under openwork shade
Diseases and pests
When growing cucumbers in bags, the likelihood of plant damage by diseases is reduced, but not completely eliminated. Therefore, seedlings can be affected by peronosporosis, powdery mildew, and cladosporiosis. To prevent this, it is recommended to carry out preventive treatment of bushes every ten days with Ridomil Gold or Ordan.
Aphids can also cause damage to cucumbers when grown in bags. This small pest feeds on the sap of leaves and young shoots, which weakens the plants and can cause the absence of ovaries.
If signs of aphid damage appear, seedlings should be sprayed with Fitoverm solution
Conclusion
Growing cucumbers in bags is an original way to get a harvest even if there is no free bed on the site.But so that all the efforts of the gardener are not in vain, it is necessary to pay special attention to soil preparation and watering. If these basic requirements are met, a good harvest is guaranteed.
