How to plant cucumbers in open ground with seedlings

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Every year, amateur vegetable growers plant cucumbers on their plots. But, as practice has shown, some make common mistakes at the time of landing. To get a tasty and rich harvest, you need to know how to plant cucumbers in open ground with seedlings.

How to prepare the site for planting cucumbers

Choosing the right planting site and pre-preparing the soil will help you grow a rich and tasty crop. The procedure is carried out in autumn and spring. Each option has its own characteristics and subtleties that must be taken into account before starting work.

In autumn

Agronomists recommend starting preparation of the site for planting cucumbers as early as possible. The best time will be early September when people are harvesting. First of all, you need to remove the debris. We are talking about dry leaves, stones, branches, etc.

After harvesting, you can start digging the site. This is true for those who are faced with an attack of various pests in the summer. It is also recommended to dig up the area if the soil on it has a dense structure.

Next, you need to fertilize the ground. To do this, it is enough to use organic fertilizers. Carbon dioxide contributes to the development of vegetable crops. Do not neglect fertilizing with manure. They contain substances necessary for cucumbers: phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen.

The final stage of autumn preparation is mulching. It helps to achieve the most comfortable conditions for growing vegetables. It is a covering of the prepared area with dry grass, sawdust and other materials at hand.

In the spring

Soil preparation is carried out on the 20th of May. At this time, it is necessary to saturate the earth with minerals. For this, supersulfate, ammonium nitrate and potassium salt are used. Also, before planting, you need to make sure that no weeds have appeared on the soil. They must be removed, otherwise the preparation of the soil will be in vain.

The best time to plant cucumbers

Before you understand how to plant seedlings in open ground and at what distance, you need to determine the optimal time for work. As a rule, everything depends on the regional climate.

In general, the most favorable moment for planting seedlings is considered to be the period when the soil temperature exceeds 15 ° C. This most often occurs at the end of May, when dandelions bloom.

The exact landing date cannot be said. Often everything changes due to the climatic characteristics of a particular region. For example, in the Moscow region, you can plant seedlings in open ground as soon as the air warms up to 18 ° C heat.

Do not forget about night frosts. Because of them, seedlings may die. Therefore, after planting, it is recommended to cover it with a film stretched over arcs.

Selection and preparation of seeds

In order for cucumber seeds to sprout quickly and give a large harvest, special attention must be paid to their selection and the preparation process before planting. The quality, sustainability and development of the vegetable crop will also depend on this. In addition, if you properly prepare the seeds before sowing, you can prevent their death at the time of the attack of pests or the onset of adverse weather conditions.

It is recommended to take old seeds for sowing. As a rule, they sprout faster and are more resistant to adverse conditions. These seeds are large enough and relatively thick-barked.

They need to be prepared for planting:

1. Soak seeds for 12-16 hours before sowing. The water temperature should be approximately 20 ° C. Fertilizer solution can be used if desired.
2. Calibrate and compare the workpiece for germination in advance. To do this, you will need to fill the seeds with salt water. Low-quality copies will immediately float to the top. You need to get rid of them, and rinse the rest thoroughly with fresh water and dry.
3. Warm up the seeds just before planting. This will reduce the likelihood of barren flowers and increase the yield of cucumbers.

If the seeds were purchased at a market or store, they must be pickled. You should also be careful with material from unknown manufacturers. And the seeds obtained from the seed plants must be disinfected in a solution of potassium permanganate.

Landing requirements

In the northern and central regions, it is recommended to choose a site that is located in the southern part. At the same time, the territory must be protected from the winds. And in the southern regions, flat areas are preferable, where cucumbers will not experience excessive heat.

Seeds should be planted in open areas where there is no shade. In order for the seedlings to sprout well, the sun's rays must fall on it. The best soil option is structural and well warmed up, containing a large amount of organic matter.

In no case should you grow cucumbers in areas where groundwater flows. It is also recommended to avoid places where moisture stagnates.

How to plant cucumbers in open ground with seedlings

There are several schemes for planting cucumbers in open ground with seedlings. But before starting work, it is recommended to disinfect it with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. This will avoid contamination of the sprouts.

When digging up the soil, it is necessary to apply nitrogen-containing fertilizers to the soil. We are talking about manure and rotted compost. Organic matter will warm the roots of the sprouts, as a result of which they will grow faster. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the root system does not come into contact with organic matter.

Popular schemes for planting cucumbers in open ground with seedlings:

1. Tape. Suitable for large areas. With this method, you can sow several beds at the same time.
2. Square-nested. Typically used for seedling vegetable growing. This does not require a garter. Allows you to arrange the seedlings as evenly as possible on the site. However, such a planting system can complicate the process of caring for a vegetable crop.

The choice of the scheme directly depends on the area of the site. The smaller the area, the more compact it is recommended to place the seedlings. The number of seedlings is also taken into account.

What should be the distance between the beds

Before planting cucumbers in open ground, it is necessary to take into account the distance between the seedlings, as this will affect the development of the fruit. Traditionally, the bed has a width of up to 2 m, and the paths do not exceed 40 cm. This is the most convenient distance, since the plants will receive more light and nutrients. In addition, there will be no problems in the care process.

Interesting! The best self-pollinated long-fruiting cucumber seeds

Main cultivation methods

Usually, seedlings are planted in the beds. However, there are other methods that are equally effective. These are the following options:

1. In a wooden barrel. It is not only convenient but also creative. The main thing here is to follow the rules of agricultural technology. It is necessary to organize a warm bed inside the barrel, and then take care of the seedlings. In addition, the barrel must be decontaminated before use.
2. In bags. The main thing is to choose a container in which it is easy to create nutritious soil and a favorable microclimate. Bags can be polyethylene, with a volume of at least 50 liters. In addition, the wider the container, the more wicker can be accommodated.
3. On the trellis. This method is considered the most rational for growing cucumbers. It provides for the garter of the sprouts to the trellis. However, this method requires more maintenance time.

Follow-up care rules

After planting, it is necessary to carry out regular care of the seedlings. This will require the following activities.

Watering

Cucumbers belong to the category of moisture-loving plants. Therefore, when there is a lack of water, the fruits do not set well and grow slowly. In addition, after harvesting, cucumbers with a bitter taste are not uncommon.

At the same time, excess moisture should not be allowed. This can lead to the development of diseases.

To get a tasty and rich harvest, it is recommended to follow the watering regime. It is not required in rainy weather. And in the heat, it is recommended to water the beds about 2-3 times a week. In dry weather, daily watering is allowed once a day.

Top dressing

During the cultivation process, it is necessary to periodically feed the cucumbers. The first feeding is done 2 weeks after planting. To do this, you must use a mullein solution. And during the fruiting period, it is recommended to use potassium and nitrogen.

Foliar dressing should be carried out every 2-3 weeks. For this you need to use mineral fertilizers.

Garter

It is relevant for those who planted cucumbers in the open field. Regular tying keeps the seedlings out of contact with the soil. In addition, it will facilitate access to plants and help to efficiently use the area.

The garter is:

1. Vertical. Strong supports are dug into the ground at a height of about 2 m. A crossbar is arranged between them or a wire is pulled.
2. Horizontal. Several ropes are pulled between the supports parallel to each other. The distance between them is about 30 cm.

Outcomes

As you can see, if you know and follow all the rules and recommendations on how to plant cucumbers in open ground with seedlings and what distance should be between the plants, then you can get a tasty and rich harvest of vegetables.