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Cucumbers are one of our favorite vegetables. Therefore, it is difficult to find a site where this plant does not grow. Many people plant seeds directly in the greenhouse to speed up the ripening process of the vegetable. In this article, we will look at how to properly grow cucumber seeds for a greenhouse.
Selection of seeds for greenhouses
Any process of growing a particular plant begins with the selection of seeds. The success of the whole business directly depends on how correctly you made this choice. In our case, it is better to purchase seeds that are suitable for greenhouses.
Usually the selection of seeds is carried out according to the following criteria:
- species – hybrid or variety;
- by maturation;
- according to the method of pollination.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these criteria.
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To date, the most suitable cucumber seeds for greenhouses are hybrids. They are considered the most productive. Moreover, they do not require special care for themselves, which would include such manipulations as pinching and trimming. There is also a large selection of seeds according to the climatic conditions of germination.
Of the hybrid varieties, Marinda, Ant, Murashko, Buyan, Twiksi, Halli and Bidretta are considered the best. Of the shade-tolerant long-fruited hybrids, the following varieties are considered the best: Malachite, Biryusa, Stella, Lada. All these plants are able to produce crops without insect pollination (it is a self-pollinating subspecies), which is of great importance in growing them in a greenhouse where this is not possible. Otherwise, you will have to use a self-pollinator to get the ovary and, in the future, the crop.
In terms of their characteristics and performance, hybrids are significantly superior to conventional varieties in terms of yield, therefore it is more preferable to select them for planting in a greenhouse.
By maturity
All cucumbers, according to the criterion of ripening, are divided into very early (early), mid-ripening and late-ripening varieties. Moreover, the sowing time for all varieties remains the same, but only the ripening period of the fruits differs.
In terms of ripening, the choice of plant type is best done in terms of the use of cucumbers. In the case of cultivation for further conservation, it is best to opt for late-ripening species. It will be possible to start harvesting in the second half of summer. Such greenhouse cucumbers are ideal for pickling, because it is at this time that the vegetable will accumulate the maximum amount of nutrients. For salting, the following types are suitable: “Gypsy F1”, “Mom’s Pet F1”, “Barrel Pickling F1”, “Stash F1”. The Dutch varieties “Angelina F1”, “Hector F1”, “Dolomite F1” and “Bettina F1” will grow well.
If you grow cucumbers in order to eat them fresh, then you need to use early-ripening varieties for planting in the greenhouse. But remember that such plants are characterized by low yields. If you plan to use cucumbers only for cutting into salads, then it is better to plant mid-season varieties.
The best option would be to plant several different types of plants at once in order to receive a continuous crop throughout the growing season.
According to the method of pollination
This has already been discussed a little above. On any pack of seeds there will be an inscription about which variety it is – self-pollinated (parthenocarpic) or insect-pollinated. If the plant grows in greenhouses it is best to give preference to self-pollinating species, i.e. those plants that form the ovary without additional pollination. Remember that if you decide to plant both parthenocarpic and insect-pollinated species in the greenhouse, then mixing them is not recommended due to the fact that some self-pollinating varieties tolerate third-party pollination extremely negatively, which can lead to fruit deformation.
In addition to these three main criteria for choosing seeds, the resistance of cucumbers to various pests and diseases (transfer disease, powdery mildew, cucumber mosaic virus), as well as their yield, is not the last place. After all, it makes no sense to spend so much effort on growing plants that will give low yields. Just for all these characteristics, it is hybrids that are more profitable.
Growing seeds
Growing and planting seeds for a greenhouse occurs in the following ways:
- on a manure bed (“hot” or “warm” beds);
- on the compost bed.
Cultivation on a manure bed
This method is most suitable for cold regions of the country. These beds begin to make out in the greenhouse in the spring. This method allows you to plant cucumbers earlier and increase the future yield of plants.
To create such beds, it is best to use fresh manure (preferably cow manure with a small addition of horse manure), which was collected in early spring. Manure in this technology first acts as a “fuel” for the beds and plants, and then as additional plant nutrition in the greenhouse.
Technology for creating a manure bed:
- manure is laid on a high and elongated bed 1 m wide and of any length;
- a layer of fertile and loose soil is poured on top of the manure. Its thickness must be at least 25 cm;
- after these manipulations, the bed should be watered abundantly;
- the seeds are soaked and their germination is achieved (this step can be skipped);
- after that, you can start sowing seeds. They are sown in such a way that four plants are placed on each square meter;
- it is allowed to put two seeds in one hole to increase the percentage of germination. This is done in the case when the stage of soaking and germinating the seeds was skipped. But when both seeds germinate, the weakest seedling is cut off at the root;
- planting seeds is carried out similarly to planting in open ground;
- try to avoid crowded landings;
- after the seeds have been planted, the bed should be covered with light material, which will be stretched over the previously installed arcs. Thus, you will create a greenhouse in your greenhouse, which will serve as additional heating for plants. The normal temperature regime for such a bed is within + 18-30 degrees.
Scheme of the structure of the manure beds
If you did everything right, then the temperature on the dung bed will be high enough – it will be easy to get burned. This temperature will last for about a month, and then it will begin to fall. This effect is observed due to the fact that the decomposition process is activated in fresh manure under the ground. Thanks to this process, the first shoots appear already 3 or 5 days after planting the seeds.
It is necessary to constantly maintain the temperature in the garden, because. inconsistent weather conditions can have a significant impact on germination. An increase in temperature in the garden can cause the cucumbers to burn. To avoid this, thermometers are placed in the garden. To reduce the temperature in the soil, it is necessary to carry out regular airing of the greenhouse during the daytime.
Growing in a compost bed
In the case when it is impossible to get fresh manure, instead, last year’s foliage, sawdust, tops, vegetable waste from the table, shavings and other organic materials, which are usually thrown into garden compost, can be used to create manure beds. This should take into account the fact that the compost heap will create a lower temperature inside the beds. Therefore, this method is most often used in warm regions of the country.
The presence of a large amount of green waste in the beds will help create a warmer microclimate. To achieve this effect, you can use special preparations that accelerate the production of compost. As a result of their action, the temperature inside the garden will rise.
Schematic diagram of the structure of the compost bed
On top of the compost, you need to put fertile soil 20 cm thick. In all other respects, the process of planting cucumber seeds in a compost bed is no different from planting in manure. The only difference is that it is allowed to plant seeds directly in peat tablets or glasses here.
As you can see, in order to grow cucumbers in a greenhouse, quite a few factors need to be taken into account: the variety, the method of pollination, as well as the climatic conditions of the place of growth. Following these rules will help you get an excellent and bountiful harvest.
Video “Variety of varieties of cucumbers”
In this video, you can get acquainted in detail with the varieties of cucumbers, the seeds of which are perfect for growing in greenhouses.
