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Growing cucumbers in bags is one of the vegetable planting methods practiced by many gardeners. After all, using it, you can get a crop even in the absence of a personal plot. However, growing cucumbers in bags has its advantages and disadvantages. So that the end result does not disappoint, you should familiarize yourself with the rules for preparing seeds and soil, as well as the features of planting care.
Growing in bags saves space
The 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
The main advantages:
- the possibility of obtaining an early harvest;
- regular weeding is not required;
- space saving;
- the possibility of growing on paths, balconies, terraces;
- simple plant care.
Disadvantages:
- regular watering;
- high probability of drying out and waterlogging of the root system;
- The process requires careful preparation.
Which grade 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 self-pollination of plants. And when grown outdoors, it is better to give preference to bee-pollinated varieties.
Also, when choosing, one should take into account the ripening time of the 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.
Choice of bags
For planting cucumbers, it is necessary to take new or used strong bags. In the second case, they should be pre-dried and turned inside out to prevent the development of mold.
Possible options:
- Low density polyethylene bags. They are characterized by increased strength even under prickly loads, good elasticity. 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 density polyethylene bags. Significantly inferior in strength to the previous ones. They are soft to the touch, transparent, elastic.
- Polypropylene bags for sugar. They are distinguished by high strength, are resistant to bending, low temperature, rotting. These bags are quite affordable.
Underground bags can also be used as bags for growing cucumbers.
Ground selection and preparation
To successfully grow cucumbers in a bag in the country, balcony, terrace, greenhouse, you need to properly prepare the soil. Many experienced gardeners recommend laying a thick layer of freshly cut grass on the bottom. This will initially make a warm pillow for seedlings, and then will serve as additional nutrition. The thickness of the plant layer should be 20-30 cm. After that, pour the grass abundantly with Baikal solution to speed up the composting process and keep it in a warm place for about ten days.
Then pour nutrient soil mixture over the plant layer. It should have a low level of acidity and have good moisture and breathability. To do this, mix the sod, humus and leafy 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 must be watered with a solution of Fitosporin or potassium permanganate, then slightly dried.
At the final stage of preparing the bags, it is necessary 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 the root system of cucumbers.
You should also immediately worry about the support. To do this, stick a wooden stick 2 m long in the center of the bag and fix it securely. At the top of the support, a nail should be nailed, to which it will be possible to tie the growing shoots of cucumbers.
Seed preparation
The experience of growing cucumbers in bags of many gardeners shows that the seeds must be prepared for planting in the same way as for direct sowing in open ground or a greenhouse.
To do this, one day before the procedure, soak them in a solution of Epin or Zircon for 10-12 hours. This will ensure friendly seedlings and the 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 are not subject to further storage.
Hybrid seeds do not need to be prepared, as they are already processed
Planting cucumbers in bags with earth
In order for the seedlings to fully develop and give 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 one is more acceptable for him.
Landing 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. Landing is possible when the air temperature rises to +15 ° C, which usually occurs in early May. After all, the substrate in bags warms up faster, and the plant cushion will not let the cold coming from the ground through.
When growing cucumbers in bags in open ground, planting can be carried out not only from above, but also in the side triangular holes. The seeds should be buried in moist soil by 2 cm. From above, 3-5 planting holes should be made, 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. subject to sufficient lighting.
Growing cucumbers in bags in a greenhouse
If you grow cucumbers in bags in a greenhouse, then planting should be carried out at the end of April, at the beginning of May. In this case, it is necessary to plant the seeds only from above. The procedure is carried out according to the standard scheme. To do this, you need to make holes 2 cm deep, water and put 2-3 seeds in each of them. When the seedlings grow up, leave the strongest.
The video will tell you more about planting and growing cucumbers in bags with earth:
Seedling method
You can significantly speed up the harvest if you plant already strengthened seedlings of cucumbers in prepared bags. To do this, it is necessary to sow at home in separate containers. And at the age of 30-35 days, seedlings should be planted in bags. It is important not to damage the earthen ball at the roots, as this can lead to the death of seedlings.
It is necessary to deepen the seedlings 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 the basic rules are observed, agricultural technology.
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 decay of the root system. Therefore, moisturizing is important to carry out every other day, and in hot periods in the morning and evening. To do this, you need to use settled water with a temperature of + 18-22 ° C.
If regular moistening is not possible, drip irrigation should 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.
Additional fertilizing
When growing cucumbers in bags, you need to fertilize every ten days. At the stage of active set of green mass, chicken manure 1:15 or mullein 1:10 should be used. And after the start of flowering, use wood ash and mineral mixtures with a high content of phosphorus and potassium. Root top dressings are preferable.
Shrub formation
When growing cucumbers in bags, you need to properly form bushes in order to get the maximum yield. The peculiarity of this culture is that it is prone to growing stepchildren, the growth of which must be controlled.
Growing lateral processes up to 3-4 leaves must be completely removed. Stepchildren above 5-6 leaves should be pinched when they grow to 20 cm. All shoots that will appear higher should be pinched at a length of 30-40 cm. The top of the main shoot should be cut when it reaches the height of the support.
Possible problems
Some novice gardeners sometimes face 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 gets lost in a lump, as a result of which the root system does not develop.
- Wilting and death of seedlings. This is due to uneven wetting of the soil in 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.
- Decay of the root system. The lack of drainage holes and excessive watering lead to moisture stagnation. This may be due to too much land. In this case, the substrate does not have time to dry out between moistening.
- No tie. 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 for the light.
Cucumbers in bags are recommended to be placed under an openwork shadow
Diseases and pests
When growing cucumbers in bags, the likelihood of plant damage by diseases is reduced, but not completely excluded. Therefore, seedlings can be affected by peronosporosis, powdery mildew, 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 juice of leaves and young shoots, which weakens the plants and can cause a lack of ovaries.
If there are signs of aphids infestation, seedlings should be sprayed with Fitoverma solution.
Conclusion
Growing cucumbers in bags is an original way to get a crop 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 the preparation of the soil and watering. If these basic requirements are met, a good harvest is guaranteed.