How to make a warm cucumber patch
The growing season of cucumbers (especially early ones) is relatively short - from 35 days. But due to the high demands of the culture on the temperature regime, very few people manage to get a harvest of this vegetable in the open field early. A warm bed for cucumbers is one way to ensure early and stable collection of greens.
Do-it-yourself warm garden for cucumbers
Gardeners have accumulated a wealth of experience in building them with their own hands from any available material. This type of planting justifies itself in regions with different climatic conditions.
Benefits of a warm bed
Cucumbers are a thermophilic culture. The main part of their root system is located in the upper soil layer (up to 40 cm) and is capable of assimilating nutrients only at a sufficiently high temperature (at least 20 ° C). Therefore, to grow a crop, it is necessary to observe the temperature regime and ensure soil fertility.
Benefits of a warm bed:
- creates conditions for earlier planting of seeds (or seedlings) of cucumbers in the open field due to the warming up of the upper soil layer due to the rotting process in the lower layers;
- allows you to harvest for a long time due to the high content of nutrients in the soil;
- it is not required to apply fertilizers, especially nitrogen fertilizers, their content is already sufficient;
- you can grow cucumbers for several years (up to 5-8);
- the contents after the end of operation are used as fertilizers.
Such a bed also has excellent drainage, allows you to use food waste for the good, and provides protection from weeds and pests. It is economical and easy to manufacture.
Warm beds for cucumbers can be prepared in the fall, or you can lay them in the spring.
What does it consist of
What is the heating source for a warm bed? The answer must be sought in the physical and biochemical processes that take place inside it. The presence of a large amount of organic matter in conditions of constant humidity leads to active decay with the release of heat. Aerobic and anaerobic bacteria are involved in the processes. The amount of heat generated gradually increases.
A common formulation requirement is a combination of green and brown. The green part is a source of nitrogen and includes leaves, grass, fruits. The brown part is represented by branches and sawdust, which are sources of carbon. It reacts with hydrogen to form methane.
The nitrogen present in the green mass participates in the reaction, accelerating it, but at the same time ammonia is released, an excess of which can lead to the death of beneficial bacteria and stop the process as a result.
The optimal combination of components for the long-term functioning of the garden: 1 part green mass 3 parts brown. In this case, a layer of leaves (up to 25% of the volume) is required, which is necessary to initiate the process, "kindling". The brown part ensures the duration and uniformity of heating.
Seat selection
It is important to choose the right place for the garden
The placement of a warm bed will depend on the climatic conditions of the region. For example, southern slopes are desirable in regions with cool summers, but contraindicated in southern ones. The most general requirements for choosing a location:
- a well-lit area that is not blown through by drafts is suitable (they reduce humidity, contribute to the compaction of the upper layer);
- the location of groundwater should not be close to the surface;
- it is not advisable to use the soil for the top layer on which representatives of the pumpkin family grew (in this case it is removed and replaced), cucumbers prefer such predecessors as tomatoes and cabbage.
- orientation from east to west will provide uniform illumination and heating of the surface.
The size of the beds will depend on the scale of the proposed cucumber plantings and the possibilities of the site.
Bookmark time
The best option for bookmarking is autumn. Why exactly in the fall:
- after harvesting, summer weed control on any site, there will be enough both green and brown organic matter;
- in the autumn-winter season there is a lot of moisture to maintain putrefactive processes;
- there is a resource of time to warm up the beds.
In addition, summer residents and gardeners have a lot of time in the autumn to make it with their own hands.
A warm do-it-yourself garden bed for cucumbers in spring is prepared in late March - early April, but not less than a month before the expected planting of cucumbers.
General requirements for a bookmark
The obligatory elements of a warm bed are not just mixed, but arranged in a certain sequence. It is recommended to arrange the layers in this way:
- first, a layer of crushed branches and large twigs, which, in addition to participating in the "heating", also play the role of drainage;
- then green mass (you can include household food waste, also use rags and paper);
- a layer of manure and humus (to speed up the decomposition process, both ready-made humus from a compost heap or pit and rotted manure are used);
- ash (desirable, but not required; contains a large amount of trace elements, serves to enrich the mixture);
- the final layer is fertile soil.
To speed up the processes, especially during spring laying, a greenhouse is created. For this, the "puff cake" is moistened and covered with dark polyethylene. A lot of moisture and warmth are ideal conditions for putrefactive bacteria to work.
Arrangement models
In the trench
The garden is not difficult to make
Ideal for areas with arid climates, but not at all suitable for wet ones, as well as for soils with high groundwater levels.
How to make a warm cucumber garden. Sequence of work:
- dig a trench about 50 cm deep with about the same width;
- lay the layers in the described sequence;
- each ingredient is spilled with water;
- fertile soil is poured on top (thickness not less than 10-15 cm);
- you can fence off the trench with a small fence made of scrap material;
- with hot water poured over the trench, the reaction is triggered.
After the soil warms up (not earlier than a month later), you can start growing cucumbers.
In the frame
A more time consuming and costly model is in a wireframe. Its advantages are that it warms up better, has good drainage and ventilation. However, when choosing this option, you need to keep in mind that you will have to water much more often, almost daily.
The box is usually made of wood, but slate, sheets of iron and other available material will do. Its height can be more than 1 m. You can dig it in to a depth of 10 cm (they do without deepening, they leave it on the surface). A fine mesh is laid at the bottom to protect it from pests.
Layers are laid in the usual sequence. Sand is sometimes used for additional drainage. A prerequisite is the compaction of each layer after watering, so that subsidence does not occur.
Simplified option
In the spring, you can make a simplified version, which is called "hastily". To do this, the allotted plot of land is dug up, several buckets of manure and humus are poured out, leveled, but not dug up. Spill on top with warm water, cover with a dark film and leave to warm.
For growing cucumbers using this technology, any suitable containers are used: barrels, buckets, baths. The main thing is to provide conditions for the course of decay processes.
Conclusion
The described method of growing cucumbers is not only suitable for an early harvest, but also environmentally friendly. All that is needed is a little work and adherence to simple rules at a minimum cost.
The technology is suitable for growing many vegetable crops: cauliflower, lettuce, zucchini and pumpkin.