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It is no secret to anyone that cucumber yields the best crops in greenhouse conditions, that is, when grown in greenhouses or greenhouses. Yes, this requires additional costs for their device. But the result is definitely worth it.
Cucumber is the main greenhouse crop
Most gardeners are so accustomed to the commonness and everyday life of a cucumber that they do not even think about its undoubted usefulness. The fruits of such a familiar product contain:
- several useful minerals (potassium, iodine, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium);
- always useful vitamins (groups B and C);
- fiber, which also will not be superfluous;
- natural analogue of insulin;
- rare and very useful enzymes (tartronic acid).
Cucumber has the ability to satisfy hunger. This is due to the fact that the amount of food eaten leads to stretching of the walls of the stomach, resulting in a feeling of fullness. The liquid, which is 95% cucumber, is an excellent natural absorbent. With the constant and frequent use of cucumber fruits, it will allow the human body to cleanse itself of harmful toxins and toxins that pollute it.
The advantages of cucumbers can be listed for a long time.
But two of them are worth highlighting:
- improves digestion, helps with cardiovascular problems, as well as with such common diseases as hypertension and arthritis;
- normalizes various types of balance in the human body: both water-salt and acid-base.
Stages of growing cucumbers indoors
In order to get a high yield of cucumbers in greenhouses, it is necessary to carefully and consistently perform all the necessary stages of growing a plant.
Soil Preparation
Any varieties of cucumber, even the best ones, are quite demanding on the soil, especially on the soil of a greenhouse or greenhouse. Therefore, preparation must begin long before the actual landing. Soil requirements:
- high soil fertility;
- neutral reaction, or close to it;
- sufficient ability of the soil to pass and absorb moisture and oxygen.
Most qualified specialists believe that the best conditions for any variety of cucumbers in a greenhouse are created by a two-component mixture of humus and ordinary soddy soil. The following composition is often taken:
- peat (about 50%);
- humus (about 30%);
- field soil (remaining 20%),
It is also allowed to add sawdust to the soil (necessarily from coniferous trees) in a ratio of 1 to 1.
The sequence of the operation when preparing the soil for planting cucumbers:
- cleaning the soil from plant residues;
- digging up the soil (approximately 20-25 cm deep);
- the product of soil disinfection using a solution of copper sulfate (7 percent);
- 30 days after the treatment, prepare the mixture and enrich it (the dosage and formulation are as follows: ammonium nitrate / superphosphate / potassium sulfate, respectively, 0,4 kg / 3 kg / 2 kg per 1 cubic meter of soil mixture).
It is believed that the best conditions for the growth of cucumbers in closed ground are created when they are grown in ridges or ridges with a width of about 1 m and a height of 0,25 m. The arrangement of the ridges is as follows. First, a pit is dug with a depth of 0,4 m. Then warm manure is laid into it. From above, it is covered with a layer of soil mixture with a thickness of 0,14-0,16 m.
Landing
When growing cucumbers indoors, as a rule, only and exclusively the seedling method is used, but not seeds. It allows you to reduce the beginning of fruiting, compared with the case when cucumber seeds are used.
Most often, when planting cucumbers in a greenhouse or greenhouse, 25-day-old seedlings are used. Landing occurs with a tape in two lines. The recommended distance between the nearest rows of cucumbers is 0,5-0,6 m, between the nearest ribbons of plants – 0,8 m, between the nearest plants in one row – 0,2 m.
The linearity of rows and ridges is observed with a cord; an ordinary scoop is used to form holes for planting. After digging the hole, an organic-mineral mixture is placed in it, then watered abundantly. Then the pot with seedlings of cucumbers is immersed in the resulting mud and covered with soil. After all the operations performed, mulching is performed, the purpose of which is to prevent the evaporation of moisture from the soil, the formation of a crust on its surface.
Features of care
You should not think that since cucumbers are grown in greenhouse conditions that are comfortable for them, the need for care will be removed. On the contrary, only careful and regular care of the plant will allow you to achieve a high yield, even if the best varieties of cucumbers are used. The main actions are:
- regular watering of cucumbers. Warm water is used. In winter, it is necessary to water growing plants in the morning after sunrise. In the warm season, plants are usually watered twice a week, and in sunny weather, the best conditions are created by watering every other day;
- careful and shallow loosening of the soil. It must be done very carefully so as not to damage the root system of cucumbers located close to the surface. The purpose of the event is to increase and maintain the air permeability of the soil at an appropriate level, as well as to prevent root rot;
- regular ventilation of the greenhouse. This type of care must be constantly performed; after the onset of consistently warm weather, it is recommended to leave the greenhouse ventilated for the whole day;
- plant nutrition. For these purposes, a slightly fermented infusion of mullein or chicken manure is usually used. The use of nettles and other weeds is allowed. In addition to organics, for the nutrition of cucumbers grown in closed conditions, it is also recommended to use mineral supplements specially designed for pumpkin crops. The number of such dressings of plants should not exceed 5 per season. In the case of predominance of sandy soils, it is necessary to additionally apply standard nitrogen fertilizers in such cases, for floodplain soils, respectively, potassium fertilizers.
Popular varieties of cucumbers for greenhouses
Based on the growing conditions of plants, self-pollinated and parthenocarpic varieties of cucumbers are most suitable for greenhouses. This is quite logical, since the use of insect pollinated cucumbers will require additional measures to attract pollinating insects. Self-pollinating cucumbers are those varieties that have flowers that combine the properties of both sexes, which leads to their self-pollination. Self-pollinating plant varieties differ from parthenocarpic varieties, which have female-type flowers that do not need pollination. Therefore, the latter do not have seeds.
However, it is not worth abandoning varieties and hybrids of cucumbers, for which bees are needed for pollination, since some of them have quite attractive properties and characteristics, for which it is quite possible to go for additional labor costs.
Cucumber hybrid Emelya F1
A versatile hybrid, great for salads and pickling. Bred specifically to grow cucumbers in greenhouses or hotbeds. The first cucumbers can be harvested as early as 39-40 days. The high yield of the plant is ensured by an unlimited number of lashes that form on the plant, and by fairly large fruits: a cucumber reaches 13-15 cm in length with a weight of up to 150 g. It belongs to the group of self-pollinating varieties of cucumbers, that is, there is no need for additional pollination by bees.
Cucumber hybrid Dynamite F1
Versatile hybrid. Plants of this variety are self-pollinating, do not need pollination by insects. Excellent for indoor conditions, especially if enough space is provided for it. It has a classic dark green color of cucumbers with characteristic tubercles located quite often. The fruit has a regular cylindrical shape and a relatively small size: length – 12-14 cm, weight – 100-120 g.
Cucumber hybrid Annushka F1
Bee pollinated mid-season hybrid. The main advantages of the cucumber variety are the ability to resist diseases and stable yields. The plant has medium-sized leaves with a characteristic green color. The fruits of the hybrid are not very large – 10 cm long, weighing 90-110 g. The shape and color are traditional for cucumbers: dark green, with medium-sized tubercles.
Cucumber hybrid Hercules F1
Late-ripening hybrid of cucumbers for closed ground. Has a high yield. It has quite large fruits weighing up to 150-170 g. The shape of cucumbers is spindle-shaped. Mixed bloom. The main disadvantage of the variety is the need for pollination by bees, since the cucumber does not belong to the self-pollinating species. Nevertheless, it is quite possible to replace it with artificial pollination performed by hand. The high palatability and excellent yields are clearly worth the extra effort.
Cucumber hybrid Vnuchok F1
An early ripe hybrid with large fruits (up to 18-20 cm long and a fruit weight of 130-140 g). The plant does not form seeds, since the inflorescences are predominantly female and belong to the self-pollinated species. It is quite widely known, seeds for seedlings are sold everywhere.
Cucumber hybrid German F1
The hybrid is bred specifically for closed ground. Cucumber flowers are self-pollinating, seeds are usually absent in the fruit. The high yield of cucumbers of this hybrid is combined with resistance to major diseases. The seeds of the plant are shown in the photo.
Conclusion
Growing cucumbers in closed ground conditions is a rather laborious, but interesting task. With proper and competent management, the invested efforts will pay off many times over in the form of a wonderful harvest that can please households and incoming guests.