Content
To reap a rich harvest, you should study in detail in advance information on how to grow cucumbers in the greenhouse made of polycarbonate.
First you need to choose the right variety. When making a purchase, you should pay special attention to the manufacturer's recommendations indicated on the packaging. Whatever variety of cucumbers you choose, you need to make sure that preliminary preparation and processing of the planting material has been carried out. If the seeds have not been processed, you will have to carry out this procedure yourself.
Preparing seeds for sowing
There are several ways to prepare seeds for sowing:
- It is necessary to germinate previously disinfected seeds on damp gauze. In order to wash off all pathogenic bacteria from the seeds, a solution of hydrogen peroxide or potassium permanganate is suitable. The seed must be kept in a disinfectant solution for 5-7 minutes, then rinsed thoroughly with clean water.
- Dilute 1/3 tsp in 100 ml of clean water. boric acid, immerse the seeds in the resulting liquid for 3 hours. After this procedure, the seeds are washed with running water.
Sprouted cucumber seedlings can be planted in a greenhouse after 4 dense leaves have appeared on the stem and at least 30 days have passed since the start of growth.The greenhouse at this moment will be a favorable place for planting to grow.
Recommendations for growing cucumbers in a greenhouse
How to grow cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse? The main thing is to remember that sudden changes in temperature, humidity and dryness, excess moisture in the soil and watering with cold water are the worst enemies that hinder the development of a strong plant. The greenhouse is no exception; in it, as in open ground, it is important to maintain proper conditions.
In order for the cucumber harvest to amaze with its volumes, you must follow the basic rules:
- The greenhouse in which cucumbers grow must be ventilated, but drafts must not be allowed. Moreover, ventilation must be carried out in any weather, even rainy.
- In order for seedlings to actively develop, the composition of the soil in which they are planted must be neutral, without excess nitrogen. The root system of cucumbers loves oxygen very much, so the soil must be thoroughly loosened.
- Proper feeding is important for cucumbers. Exactly 21 days after planting, seedlings can begin to be fed. Mulching the soil stimulates the growth process well. Mown lawn grass or sawdust are excellent for these purposes. Mulching helps retain moisture in the ground as much as possible and prevent fruits from rotting if they grow close to the soil surface. To prevent the soil from drying out and a hard crust forming on its surface, the beds are mulched with a thin layer of hay.
- It is important to ensure that the surface roots of cucumber seedlings are not exposed. It is recommended to sprinkle them periodically with soil.
- It is recommended to water the cucumbers on the 3rd day after planting the seedlings. This period is correct for both greenhouses and open ground.For 2 weeks, water the seedlings only in the root part to allow the root system to develop well. Until the first ovary appears, the cucumbers are watered once every 3 days.
Experts advise following some recommendations for proper watering:
- Do not pour water directly on the leaves. Without good air circulation, seedlings will begin to get sick. You should water the plant at the root with warm and settled water. If water is drawn from the tap, then it should be allowed to stand for several hours.
- It is forbidden to water cucumbers in direct sunlight. Drops of water left on the leaves will turn into burns.
How to tie up and feed
When growing cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse, you need to tie the vines carefully, without tightening the loop tightly. As the plant grows, the stem will thicken, and if the loop is tightened too tightly, it will pinch the shoot. Once a week you should check the quality of tying, directing the stem in the right direction.
It is impossible to grow a healthy and fruit-bearing plant without proper application of fertilizers. Systematic feeding allows you to harvest the maximum volume of cucumbers and makes the seedlings more resistant to diseases and pests. Experts recommend adhering to the following scheme for applying fertilizers to the soil:
- During the period of active growth of shoots and leaves, seedlings need to be fed with nitrogen fertilizers.
- During flowering and the period of ovary formation, the soil should be thoroughly fertilized with nutrient compositions with a large amount of phosphorus.
- When the vines begin to actively bear fruit, the soil needs potassium and nitrogen fertilizers.
The very first feeding begins from the moment the true 4th leaf is formed.Subsequent feedings are carried out once every 3 weeks. The formation of new flowers can be a signal for fertilizing.
Threat to cucumbers growing in a greenhouse
To minimize the risk of damage to the leaves and stems of seedlings, cucumbers are grown in greenhouse conditions. IN greenhouses The main pests for cucumber seedlings are aphids and whiteflies. Aphids love to eat up flower stalks, so it is important that there are none in the greenhouse weed. The whitefly, covering the plant with its sap, causes the appearance of fungus. To avoid this misfortune, all greenhouse windows are carefully covered with mesh.
The main enemy of cucumbers is powdery mildew. This disease appears frequently and is difficult to get rid of.
What to do if the cucumber leaves turn yellow? Yellow leaf is a serious problem for gardeners. For plants planted in the ground, the cause of the appearance of a yellow leaf can be unfavorable weather conditions, and in a greenhouse it can be a lack of nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil.
You should never wait for a cucumber to outgrow. A fruit can be considered fully ripe if it is 5 cm in length. An unharvested crop weighs down the bush, reducing the number of new ovaries.
Drying lower branches are not the best condition for the formation of new ovaries. This problem can arise if in the summer there is not enough fresh air in the greenhouse and low humidity levels. To correct the situation, you need to carefully remove all yellowed leaves, lay the stem of the seedling on the soil and sprinkle it with soil. Plantings begin to be watered more often until the root system becomes stronger.
Cucumber fruits develop extremely slowly - this is one of the problems of gardeners.In order for cucumbers to grow more actively in a polycarbonate greenhouse, you should shed the soil well on a sunny day, and then close the greenhouse tightly. It is necessary to ensure that the ripe fruit does not exceed 12 cm in length. Harvest at least 2 times a week.
For greenhouse conditions, hybrid varieties are chosen. They are characterized by high productivity, but there are situations when the ovary stops developing, dries out and eventually falls off. There may be several reasons for this phenomenon:
- air temperature exceeds +35°C, and humidity more than 90%;
- the plant does not have male flowers;
- the soil is poor in minerals and requires their addition;
- Harvests are rare.
It's a shame when a cucumber grown with such labor turns bitter. Why is this happening? The taste of this vegetable is significantly influenced by a special substance - cucubitacin. Its quantity depends on the conditions in which the cucumber grew, the variety of seedlings and the duration of ripening influence.
The longer a cucumber ripens, the more bitter its taste will be.
Conclusion
Knowing the basic rules of care, you can grow a rich harvest of cucumbers in a greenhouse, which will be enough for salads and pickling.
