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Man has long been tied to the earth. Even those who do not have a garden, without suspecting it, associate themselves with the earth. Look at the window sills of modern apartments: for some, planting violets is a pleasure, others like decorative palm trees, and still others combine business with pleasure and prefer growing cucumbers at home. There are many advantages to such a preference, but the most important thing is the benefits that this plant brings. You can make a salad without leaving your home, and most importantly, you can be sure that the vegetable is not stuffed with chemicals.
How to decorate your window sill with useful plants, and what care to provide them so that you can harvest cucumbers – this is what we will consider in this article.
Varieties for growing indoors
Before proceeding with any planting of a vegetable, you need to select the appropriate variety. There are many varieties of cucumbers, each species is designed for certain growing conditions. This crop can be planted in open ground (garden, cottage, flower bed under the window), it can grow in a greenhouse, or maybe at home.
What varieties and hybrids are suitable for growing cucumbers at home?
First of all, it should be noted that the most suitable varieties for growing in an apartment are parthenocarpic (self-pollinating). Cucumber fruits can be of different sizes, and this also depends on the type.
Consider those that have gained the universal love and trust of “home gardeners”.
- “Room Rytova” – the most popular variety for indoor conditions. Its merit lies in its ability to endure lack of light, dry air, and resist disease. The main condition for successfully growing this variety is to form a crown correctly, and then in winter a salad of fresh cucumbers will not become a delicacy.
- “Regatta”. This variety can be grown on the windowsill, on a closed balcony, verandas. In room conditions, it gives a good harvest (30-40 fruits from one bush) of high taste quality. Disease resistant. Its main advantage is that it belongs to the category of early ripening.
- “Photon” – another variety of cucumbers for home cultivation. It begins its fruiting already 50 days after planting, therefore it belongs to the early ripening ones. With proper care, it will please 40-45 fruits from one bush. Resistant to some diseases.
- “Window-balcony F1”. The name speaks for itself. Designed for growing in an apartment. Of the characteristics: self-pollinated, mid-season, suitable for fresh consumption.
- “Voyage F1” – one of the most precocious indoor hybrids, begins its fruiting on the 40th day after planting. Sufficiently resistant to the most common diseases, able to tolerate adverse conditions.
- “Karapuz F1” is a godsend for lovers of gherkins. Tolerates shade well. Its main advantage is the duration of fruiting, which continues in winter. The fruits are very tasty, constantly growing.
- “Well done F1” is a super-early hybrid that bears fruit already on the 35th day. Resistant to temperature extremes, adverse conditions. The fruits have an excellent taste. This variety is also considered one of the best among grown cucumbers at home.
Recommendations for growing
Many inexperienced amateur gardeners have an interest in how to grow cucumbers at home. In fact, it is no more difficult than planting a flower, the main thing is to provide the plant with the necessary conditions for development, growth and fruiting. Of course, there are some recommendations:
- the first and most important condition for growing any cucumbers is that there should be no drafts;
- if the vegetable will grow on the balcony, then the latter must be insulated;
- it is necessary to limit the access of various insects to the plant by glazing the balcony or upholstering it with a film;
- provide a sufficient amount of light, with a lack of natural light, lamps should be installed;
- avoid direct sunlight;
- if the cultivation takes place in a room, then it is recommended to close the windows with mosquito nets;
- the best place for cucumbers at home is a windowsill on the south, east or southeast side;
- the volume of the container for one bush should be at least 8-10 liters.
Technology
When starting to grow cucumbers in an apartment, the question always arises, where to start. The first step after choosing a place and variety, you need to decide on the timing of planting. If there is confidence that the plant will be provided with the necessary amount of light, then sowing can be done at any time. If there is no additional illumination, then – at the end of February.
It is best to plant 2 times a year: the end of July – the beginning of August in the summer and the end of January – the beginning of February in the winter (in this case, the crop can be harvested by March XNUMX on the festive table). When the deadlines are determined, it is necessary to prepare the ground.
soil
There are several different opinions on this issue. Some argue that it is better to choose a ready-made one from the store. Others argue that it is enough to mix garden soil with rotted manure or humus. Still others advise making a substrate from biohumus and coconut fiber in a ratio of 1: 2.
We will share the “recipe” of proven soil on which you can grow a good crop. It is known that growth, development and fruiting largely depend on the quality and composition of the land.
For soil you need:
- land (garden, garden, forest – any) – 1 bucket;
- fine sand – a third of a bucket;
- small sawdust – half a bucket;
- dry leaves (exception – needles) – half a bucket;
- peat mixture – half a bucket;
- wood ash – 2 cups;
- chalk – 2 cups;
- crushed bird droppings – 1 cup.
All components mix.
The next step is to prepare the container. Whatever is chosen: a flower pot, a bucket, a plastic bottle – holes must be made at the bottom. A broken red brick is laid out at the bottom of the tank to a level of about 5 cm, then covered with prepared soil and watered.
Thus, the “bed” for growing cucumbers in the room is ready. You can proceed to the preparation of seeds.
seed
The quality of the seed preparation will affect the yield. Regardless of the variety of cucumbers that was chosen, it is imperative to perform the following procedure:
- soak the seeds for 20 minutes in a solution of potassium permanganate (0,5 g of potassium permanganate per 250 ml of water) – this is how disinfection occurs;
- to increase the ovaries, the seeds are placed for 2 hours in a solution of boric acid (1 g per 250 ml of water);
- for 3 hours, the seeds are placed in a solution of wood ash (1 tablespoon per 250 ml of water);
- on a cotton pad, allow water to drain from the seeds.
Preparation is over, you can proceed to planting homemade cucumbers.
The planting process
- To grow one bush, a container with a volume of at least 8 liters is used, so one seed is planted in one prepared bucket or pot of soil to a depth of about 2 cm.
- It is necessary to irrigate with warm settled water, the temperature of the liquid should be at least + 22C.
- Cover with plastic wrap until cucumbers sprout.
After the planting is done, it remains to wait for the seedlings to appear and start caring for the plant.
When the sprouts have hatched, the container must be rearranged to the most illuminated place in the apartment. To concentrate light on the sprout, you can place the foil in a semicircle. We must not forget that direct sunlight should be avoided.
Watering in the summer is done daily with warm water, in winter – as the soil dries out (1 time in 2 days, but better – a little every day). Irrigation of the land should be carried out exclusively with separated water.
Growing a vegetable, you can feed it once every 2 weeks, while alternating mineral and organic fertilizers.
After 5 full-fledged leaves appear, it is necessary to make the crown formation by pinching the side flowers and shoots, thus giving strength to the stem.
At first, you need to direct the plant along the rope, then it will pull itself up. When the stem grows to its maximum height, the top must also be pinched.
Homemade cucumbers grown with your own hands on the windowsill of your own apartment are always tastier than those bought in the nearest supermarket. Moreover, you can safely give them to young children without any fear. Cucumber – not watery, very sweet, fragrant, fresh – it will never cease to be a favorite vegetable and a wonderful natural decoration for any holiday table.
Video “Growing cucumbers at home”
How to grow cucumbers on a balcony or windowsill – choosing seeds, preparing containers and soil, planting, growing and caring.
