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Cucumber is a unique vegetable that can be grown not only on open ground, in greenhouses, greenhouses, but also on the windowsill. This allows you to consume a fresh, environmentally friendly product grown in your own apartment during the cold winter period. It is worth noting that cucumbers on the windowsill in winter are not new or exotic. This practice has been taking place for a long time and on its basis it is possible to single out some growing rules and the most suitable varieties of cucumbers for the window sill.
Variety choice
Proper seed selection is key to growing cucumbers on a windowsill. Modern selection has brought out a number of special varieties adapted to apartment conditions. They are parthenocarpic, which eliminates the hassle associated with pollination of the plant. In this case, manufacturers also take into account the growth of cucumbers, bushiness, which should allow the plant to exist in the “modest” windowsill conditions. So, special varieties of cucumbers for growing on a windowsill include:
- Balcony F1;
- Room F1;
- Balcony marvel F1;
- Room Rytov F1;
- City Gherkin F1.
According to the experience of experienced “apartment” gardeners, we can say that other, universal self-pollinated varieties of cucumbers can be successfully grown on the windowsill:
- Berende F1;
- F1 athlete;
- Bush F1;
- Calendar F1;
- Hummingbirds F1;
- By pike command F1;
- Goosebump F1.
The video shows examples of some varieties suitable for growing on a windowsill, their brief characteristics and advantageous features are given:
It is worth noting that for those who are not looking for easy solutions, bee-pollinated varieties of cucumbers may also be suitable. In this case, pollination should be done manually. Also, the process of artificial pollination can help increase the yield when growing self-pollinated cucumbers on the windowsill.
Choosing the Right Window
The main feature of the winter cultivation of cucumbers in the apartment is the lack of sunlight. The room is a barrier medium for its penetration, and the winter day is characterized by a short light period. Therefore, for growing cucumbers, it is necessary to select the window sills of the southern or southwestern windows. The lack of lighting can be compensated by the light of a fluorescent lamp, the installation of reflective materials on the windowsill: mirrors, foil. Thus, the supply of light should not be less than 12 hours per day.
It is important that there are no drafts on the windowsill, and the temperature is above +200C. However, do not forget about regular airing of the apartment, during which the plant must be moved from the windowsill to a protected room.
Making a nutrient pot
In order to grow cucumbers on the windowsill, it is important to choose a container of the required volume. So, for one plant, you need to prepare a container with a volume of at least 5 liters.
Nutrient soil for growing cucumbers on the windowsill can be bought ready-made or prepared independently. It should include land from the garden, humus and peat. To reduce the acidity of the mixture, you can add sand and ash. Fertilizers should also not be forgotten during the formation of the soil. For top dressing, you can use special ready-made complexes for growing cucumbers.
Some gardeners recommend disinfecting the soil in order to remove pests that can destroy the seeds or roots of cucumbers during the growing process. To do this, the entire volume of soil in which the cucumber will grow can be placed in the oven until it is completely warmed up.
The container for cucumbers should have a bottom with holes to drain excess water. In addition, expanded clay, broken bricks are poured onto the bottom of the pot to drain the plant.
The preparation of containers and nutrient soil for growing plants can be carried out in advance. The day before picking cucumbers, the soil should be poured with plenty of water.
Seed sowing
You can sow cucumber seeds on the windowsill at any time during the autumn-spring period, from the end of August until the beginning of the summer season. However, it is necessary to take into account the special growth conditions on the windowsill, which affect the length of the period from sowing to fruiting. So, in order to get a stable harvest of fresh cucumbers for the New Year holidays, you need to take care of sowing seeds at the end of September.
Before sowing seeds in the soil, it is recommended to prepare them:
- Cucumber seeds can be disinfected by briefly soaking them in a weak saline or manganese solution.
- You can germinate them in a moistened piece of cloth, cotton wool. On the windowsill in the apartment, cucumber seeds germinate in 2-3 days. This event will not only speed up the growth process of the plant, but also select the most viable, eliminate empty seeds.
Sprouted seeds of cucumbers can be sown in small cups for seedlings or immediately in a large container. The seed is placed in the ground to a depth of 1,5-2 cm and covered with moist soil. The finished landing must be covered with protective glass or film and placed in a place with a temperature of about +250C. After the appearance of cucumbers, the container is placed on the windowsill. In order for the roots of an adult plant not to freeze from an insufficiently warm window sill, foam can be placed under the pot.
When sowing cucumbers in small cups, they can be transplanted as soon as three full leaves appear. The procedure should be carried out very carefully so as not to damage the fragile plant. At the same time, the picking process itself is stressful for the cucumber and temporarily slows down its growth.
Shrub formation
In the compact conditions of the apartment, it is very important to start the formation of the cucumber on time and correctly, so that the plant receives maximum light and does not take up much space. For this, seedlings are pinched at the level of 4-5 leaves, which contributes to the growth of lateral lashes. After some time, they can also be pinched at the level of 6-8 leaves, after which new numerous shoots form in the axils of the cucumber.
The formation of a cucumber implies a mandatory garter. To do this, you can stretch twine along the window or install stakes in pots, special nets. It is necessary to arrange the leaves of the cucumber with a fan so that the plant can receive the maximum amount of light on the windowsill.
The first cucumber ovaries and whiskers can be removed so that the plant can gain strength.
Daily Care
It is possible to get a crop of fresh cucumbers on the windowsill in winter only if a certain microclimate is observed and the plant is properly cared for. The main operations that both a beginner and an experienced “apartment” gardener will have to face include:
- Watering. Cucumbers are very moisture-loving, so you can water them every day or every two days, so that the soil does not dry out. At the same time, you should avoid root rot and make sure that excess water leaves through the drainage holes of the pot. The optimum water temperature for watering cucumbers +22 – +24 0C.
- Spraying. The best moisture level for cucumbers is around 85-90%. In an apartment, it is impossible to constantly create such a microclimate, so you can humidify the air for cucumbers with a spray bottle (spray the plant) or by placing a basin of water near the pots. To maintain moisture, plants can be covered with polyethylene.
- Additional fertilizing. 2 weeks after seed germination, the cucumber must be fertilized. To do this, you can use a mixture of ammonium nitrate, sodium sulfate and double superphosphate. You can also use ready-made mixtures for feeding cucumbers or organic matter. 2 weeks after the first top dressing and at the entire stage of fruiting cucumbers, top dressing should be repeated.
- Pollination. For the fruiting of bee-pollinated varieties, pollination is mandatory; when growing self-pollinated cucumbers, it allows you to get a rich harvest of high quality. Pollination is carried out in the morning (at this time the pollen is sticky). To do this, pollen from a male flower (barren flower) is carefully applied to a female flower (with a tiny ovary). This can be done with a cotton swab or by tearing off a stamen on a male flower. After pollination, all empty flowers are cut off, and new flowers are used next time.
- Harvesting. Cucumbers should be harvested daily. This will prevent their overgrowth and accelerate the growth of young fruits. On average, 1 bush is able to give the owner 15-30 delicious, fresh cucumbers.
The full cycle of growing cucumbers on the windowsill, from seed selection to harvesting, can be viewed on a video that will help even novice gardeners get an excellent harvest:
Growing cucumbers on the windowsill in winter is not a difficult process if caring for the plant becomes a hobby that is a pleasure. At the same time, a well-groomed, neat “bed” of cucumbers on the windowsill can become a real highlight in the interior of an apartment.