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Autumn is harvest time, for some crops the last of the year. But you want to eat fresh vegetables not only in summer. If everything is done correctly, then until the very cold, crispy green cucumbers will delight the whole family, reminding them of the past summer.
It is appropriate to start preparing for growing cucumbers in a greenhouse in the fall at the end of summer. The air temperature with the advent of autumn coolness often no longer allows seedlings to develop in open ground. Already in September, everything should be ready for planting seeds, from which young shoots of cucumbers should soon grow. The first necessary action is the preparation of the greenhouse.
If some vegetables grew in the greenhouse during the summer period, then the ground must be cleared of the remnants of leaves, shoots and roots.
The frame of the greenhouse can be wooden or metal. In any case, the frame material must be treated before planting seedlings: wood – with a solution of bleach or water-based paint, metal – with copper sulphate. This is done in order to protect future shoots from pests, rust and mold that can settle on the frame of the greenhouse.
The main materials used in greenhouses are film, glass or polycarbonate. Film is the simplest, but not the most durable type of coating. It is used more often for temporary summer greenhouse options. If you plan to plant cucumbers in such a greenhouse, then you need to carefully check the integrity of the coating and provide for the protection of young shoots from cold condensate, which always forms on the film in the morning. Because of it, plants can freeze and die.
A polycarbonate greenhouse is the most durable and reliable option, but such a construction costs a lot of money.
Therefore, it is not worth installing it because of 3-5 kg of cucumbers. But if growing cucumbers in a greenhouse is a profitable business, then you should not skimp on a good polycarbonate greenhouse with heating, lighting and air ventilation.
Preparing seedlings and planting cucumbers in the ground
In September, the soil temperature in Central Our Country still allows you to plant seeds in a greenhouse directly into the ground.
If there is concern that it will be cooler at night, the seeds can be planted in special pots that are installed in the greenhouse until the shoots germinate.
When planting cucumbers in the open ground of a greenhouse, it is necessary to pre-treat the soil to get rid of harmful bacteria, rot and weeds that can harm the future crop, and places for beds should also be formed. Preliminary soil preparation before planting includes several stages:
- The soil in the greenhouse is removed by 5-10 cm to remove unnecessary elements from the soil left over from previous plantings.
- The land should be treated with diluted lime and fertilizers, organic and mineral. If we are talking about compost and not rotted manure, then small depressions are made for their laying, in which you need to put the selected type of fertilizer at the rate of 20 kg per 1 m2.
- The beds can be placed in the greenhouse as it is convenient for its owner. But if you plan to combine the cultivation of cucumbers with other types of vegetables, then the side for planting seedlings of cucumbers should be sunny. The height of the beds can be from 20 to 30 cm.
- Before planting cucumbers in the beds, holes are made at a distance of at least 30 cm. This is necessary so that the bushes do not interfere with each other as they grow. Too close planting of cucumbers reduces their yield and fruit quality. Before planting seedlings, it is necessary to water the hole. Then gently stick the root part of the shoot and sprinkle it with earth. Watering seedlings immediately after planting is not required.
- Planting of finished seedlings is carried out when the height of the stem reaches 15-25 cm. It is worth taking care in advance about the preparation of trellises, to which growing shoots will need to be tied.
A feature of planting cucumbers in a greenhouse in the fall is that nitrogen fertilizers do not need to be applied during this period of time. It is enough to treat the soil from pests and enrich it with manure. Particularly suitable for these purposes is chicken manure, previously soaked in water. Fertilizers containing nitrogen are applied only in spring.
Caring for cucumbers in a greenhouse
Cucumbers are plants that love moisture. The humidity level in the greenhouse should be at least 80%. But this does not cancel the regular watering of vegetables. It is enough to carry it through the day. If the autumn is sunny and hot, you can water the cucumbers daily. Watering cucumbers should be done with water at room temperature, strictly under the bush, trying to prevent splashes from falling on the leaves.
To do this, it is better to use a watering can with a special nozzle. It is necessary to ensure that the water pressure during irrigation is not too strong.
After all, it can damage the young root system of vegetables. Don’t use too much water. Excess moisture will cause rot and death of plants. In mid-autumn, at a lower temperature, cucumbers can be watered less frequently, about 1 time in 10 days. Water consumption per 1 m2 should be approximately 8-9 liters.
As the air temperature drops, so does the soil. If the greenhouse is not heated additionally, then young cucumbers in autumn cannot get all the necessary nutrients from the soil and need to be fed. The best option would be a water-soluble fertilizer that can be sprayed onto the bushes. But their use must be carried out in strict accordance with the instructions on the package.
How to care for shoots
Growing shoots of cucumbers need to be pinched from the moment they reach a length of 50 cm. This is done as follows:
- The lower side shoots are removed with a pruner.
- It is customary to pinch the side shoots above the first leaf.
- The upper part of the main shoot and the upper shoots are fixed over the second sheet.
All excess tendrils, dead ovaries, dry leaves and parts of side stems must be removed in a timely manner so that they do not interfere with the development of the main fruiting shoot. In order for the harvest to be large, and the fruits of cucumbers to grow to medium sizes, it is necessary not only to maintain the level of humidity, fertilize and water the plantings. It is important to ensure that fresh air enters the greenhouse. It is recommended to ventilate 1-2 times a week. However, strong autumn drafts can harm young plants, so this must be done very carefully, if necessary, covering the stems with a film.
These include hybrid varieties of vegetables. They are resistant to small temperature changes, pests, while giving a high yield even in adverse conditions. Subject to all the rules for the care of cucumbers, the crop can be harvested 1-2 times a week.
