Planting cucumbers by seeds
To obtain a bountiful harvest, a number of agricultural procedures are carried out. Often fatal errors occur in areas where gardeners were too lazy to meet the minimum requirements. How is the planting of cucumbers with seeds? Let's analyze the painstaking process in more detail.
Planting cucumbers by seeds
Optimal timing
The vegetable is very thermophilic, so it will not develop in cold weather. It is important that the average daily temperature is kept above 10 ° C. Before planting cucumber seeds in the ground, you need to make sure that the night frost period is over. For several days, experienced farmers take control measurements of the soil, after which they start sowing when the soil warms up to 15 ° C.
It is necessary to plant seeds in advance. For greenhouse varieties, the bushes are prepared a month before the intended planting in the soil. For greenhouse structures, 25 days are enough for development, for temporary film shelters - at least 2 weeks.
For the Middle Lane, the optimal time for agricultural work is May. During this period, westerly and southerly winds prevail, so the risk of a sharp cold snap at night is reduced. There are no specific dates for disembarkation as the weather is different every year. Most often, they pay attention to the shoots of potatoes, beets or onions: if the plants are actively growing, there will be no frosts.
It takes time for cucumbers to grow from seeds and form fruits. It all depends on the specific variety and climatic features of the region, but it is not customary to carry out agricultural work later than the end of June.
Site preparation
One of the conditions for proper cultivation of cucumber seeds is the nutritional value of the soil. In the fall, organic and mineral fertilizers are applied to a shallow depth, leaving them to rot until spring. In the northern regions, the place is covered with fresh manure, and warm structures are erected in the spring. At the beginning of the agricultural season, the soil is disinfected from fungi with a solution of copper sulfate.
If it was not possible to prepare the space for cucumbers, it would be correct to transfer work to spring. After the snow melts, the soil is dug up with nutritious dressings. The optimal recipe for 1 sq. m:
- compost - 1 bucket;
- wood ash - 500 g;
- superphosphate - 25 g;
- potassium chloride - 5 g.
Before planting cucumbers with seeds, you need to complete the breakdown of the crop area. Plants thrive on long beds with a row spacing of no more than 40 cm.In order for the vegetables to have enough space, a gap of about 20 cm is left between the bushes.
Seed treatment
To increase the likelihood of obtaining a bountiful harvest, preliminary preparation of the seed is carried out.
To determine the quality of seeds at home and choose healthy ones, you need to place the seeds in a 1% solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes. Surfacing are unsuitable for cultivation.
The maximum shelf life of seeds is 9 years, after which they lose their properties.
Seeds are being prepared for planting
Before planting a cucumber, it is customary to disinfect the seeds in special solutions.The procedure is not suitable for professional hybrids coated with a layer of nutritionally protective preparations. Soak common varietal varieties not sealed in dragees.
To combat diseases that can persist in the embryo, seeds are pickled in antibacterial agents. "Fitosporin-M", diluted according to the instructions, fights root rot and bacteriosis, which are the scourge of seedlings. Before planting, the inoculum is left in the preparation for 2 hours, after which it is dried on a napkin. Often a few drops of a growth activator ("Epin", "Zircon") are added to the liquid.
Those who are confident in the quality of the seeds should germinate. For this, seeds from any cucumbers are left in a nutrient solution for a day and then wrapped in a damp cloth. The material is closed in a transparent jar, rearranged in a warm place. Live plants take root after 2 days.
Sowing
For seedlings
By choosing planting according to this method, the crop can be obtained 2 weeks earlier than with conventional sowing. The culture is kept for 25 days on a windowsill or in a greenhouse. Seeds from any cucumber are planted in peat pots filled with a nutrient mixture. At the bottom of the container, 2 cm of sawdust and 7 cm of soil (earth, ash and peat) are poured, a couple of centimeters are left from the top edge.
A groove is made in the seat with a finger, after which the seed is placed with a sharp tail down. At a depth of 5 cm, seedlings actively develop roots, as a result of which the seedlings grow very strong. With a small top layer, the culture grows sick and weakened. The soil is sprayed with a spray bottle, covered with polyethylene and left in a warm, bright place to peck.
Care
When favorable conditions are created, seedlings appear in 3 days.
The film is removed from the container, and the daytime temperature is reduced to 20 ° C, the nighttime temperature - to 16 ° C. Vines have a very fragile and sensitive root system, so all work with plants is carried out as carefully as possible. When planted in a permanent place of development, the holes are pulled out according to the size of the pot.
While the seedlings are forming, provide 14-hour daylight hours. If there is not enough ultraviolet light, the seedlings turn out to be weak and elongated. When grown without phytolamp, the containers are from time to time turned with the opposite side to the sun.
A week before the day when it is necessary to plant the bushes in a permanent place, it is necessary to carry out a hardening procedure. If you do not ignore an important event, the vines in the ground will hurt. They gradually reduce the temperature, accustom the plants to the natural sun, and on the last evening they are left to spend the night in the open air.
In open ground
Sowing is carried out both with dry and sprouted seeds. The sprouts that have hatched should not be more than 0.5 cm, otherwise the seedlings will grow sick and weak. The beds are formed in advance, leaving an average of 15 to 20 cm between the bushes, and 40 cm between the rows.
Planting is carried out to a depth of 5 cm, 6 specimens of raw materials are lowered into each hole. When sowing directly into the ground, the seed is laid flat, being careful not to turn it upside down. As the development progresses, the weak vines pinch, the strong ones will give a bountiful harvest.
After planting the seed, the soil is gently watered with warm water. Cucumber seeds are temperature sensitive, so the irrigation liquid should not be cold. If frosts are possible by the calendar date, the plantings are covered with polyethylene.
Seedling care
When growing seeds at home, it is important for cucumbers to provide proper care.
After the appearance of the first sprouts of cucumber seeds, thinning is carried out. The procedure involves removing unnecessary shoots, leaving no more than 3 strong vines in one hole. Excess shoots are neatly broken off, trying not to damage the delicate roots.
To harvest a bountiful harvest, when 4 leaves appear on the plant, pinching is carried out.The procedure helps to speed up the formation of ovaries and facilitate the care of the bush. After the seedlings reach 30 cm in length, they must be spilled. Agrarian work promotes the formation of additional roots, which has a positive effect on fertility.
Mature plants react painfully to stem movement. If you regularly change the location of the weaving after planting, the flowers and ovaries fall off the cucumber. It is better to tie the bush to the trellis or run it over the film.
Conclusion
A bountiful harvest is the merit of an attentive farmer. Before planting cucumber seeds, several procedures are carried out.