Growing cucumbers in a greenhouse brings much better results than cultivating them in the ground. Cucumbers like warmth and sun, so grown in a greenhouse, they mature faster and give a greater yield. However, they require a few additional treatments, specific to greenhouse cultivation. See whatgrowing cucumbers in the greenhouselooks like, from the preparation of the greenhouse and the soil itself, through the planting of cucumbers and the necessary care treatments, to the harvesting of the desired vegetables. Here's all about growing cucumbers in a greenhouse!
Growing cucumbers in a greenhouse
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Preparation of a greenhouse for cucumber growing
We start preparing the greenhouse for cucumber cultivationby cleaning up plant residues from the previous cultivation and thoroughly washing the entire structure. We can use garden potassium soap or just boiling water.
Then we shoulddisinfect the greenhouseusing, for example, sulfur dioxide for gassing. The treatment is performed at temperatures above 10 ° C. It is recommended to use 15 g of sulfur per 1m³ of a greenhouse. The carbonated object must be tightly closed.
Thesoil disinfectionfor example with hot water vapor cannot be omitted. Steam over 70 ° C should destroy harmful nematodes, bacteria and fungi.
What land for greenhouse cucumbers?
There are different methods of growing cucumbers in a greenhousee.g. on straw bales or in mineral substrates, but in amateur crops, gardens are usually grown simply in the ground.
Cucumbers prefer a neutral soil pH(pH 6.5-7.0).They have high nutritional requirements and need a fertile soil rich in humus and minerals. If in autumn no fertilizers were applied, about a month before sowing or planting plants,enrich the substrate for cucumber cultivationFor this purpose, 4-5 kg of compost, 30 g should be used per 1 m2 ammonium nitrate, 100 g of superphosphate and 50 g of potassium sulfate. Then water the substrate, cover it with foil and leave it for 14 days for the soil to warm up.
Planting cucumbers in a greenhouse
Cucumbers are best grown from seedlings , avoiding the work related to the care of seedlings and the risk of their attack by sprout debris. In order to produce an early seedling, cucumber seeds are sown in individual pots at the turn of February and March. In the autumn cycle, the seeds are sown in mid-July. The seeds need a temperature of 20-25 ° C during the day and about 20 ° C at night to germinate. After about 30-40 dayscucumbers can be planted in the greenhousewith a spacing of 100-120x30 cm.No more than 2 plants should be planted per square meter.
Cucumbers in the greenhouse are led verticallywith wires or cords stretched between the posts. The ligated plants climb up the supports with the help of sticky tendrils. This method of cultivation means that plants have better access to light, the risk of disease is reduced, and the harvesting of fruits is easier.
Growing cucumbers in a greenhouse on strings
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The cucumber plants are tied with a string , then they will roll up. We fasten it loosely to be able to regulate the tension. Then we wrap the lower end around the plant and tie it 10 cm above the ground. To prevent the climbing plant from slipping, we can attach it with special clips or clasps.
Cucumber care in the greenhouse
Grooming cucumbers in a greenhouselooks a bit different than in the case of ground cucumbers.Although it is a bit easier and gives better results, you need to remember about the procedures typical for greenhouse cultivation, such as airing a greenhouse or pollinating cucumber flowers. The most important thing, however, is proper watering, because cucumbers in a greenhouse do not benefit from rainfall.
Watering cucumbers in the greenhouse
The root system of cucumbers is shallow. Therefore,cucumbers require frequent watering , especially during the flowering, setting and growing period of the fruit. Poor water makes cucumbers bitter to the taste. If the air temperature is 20-25 ° C, 3-4 liters of water per day are needed for every 1 m² of plantings. Plants should be watered to protect the leaves from wetting and to avoid infection. The water must be warm, at least 14 ° C. Toocold water causes cucumbers to shed fruit buds and flowers
Cucumbers grown in a greenhouse require regular watering
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Fertilizing cucumbers in the greenhouse
Cucumbers have high nutritional requirements. To produce 1 kg of fruit, they need 1.5-2.5 g of nitrogen, 0.4-0.7 g of phosphorus and 3.0-5.5 g of potassium. So it will be necessaryfertilizing cucumbers in the greenhouseDuring the flowering period - with the help of fertilizers with potassium, boron and manganese. When setting the fruit with phosphorus and calcium. In the amateur cultivation of cucumbers, a multi-ingredient fertilizer for tomatoes and cucumbers with micronutrients will work very well, as it contains all the macro- and micronutrients needed by cucumbers for growth.
Cucumber responds favorably to foliar fertilization , especially in times of deficiency or stress. You can then spray the plants with multi-component mineral fertilizer or nettle slurry. To prepare it, 1 kg of fresh nettle herb is poured over 10 liters of water, covered and set aside for at least 14 days. When the fermentation process is completed (the foam disappears then), strain the slurry, dilute it with water in a ratio of 1:10 and spray the plants.You can also use ready-made liquid manure and nettle fertilizers available in gardening stores.
Pollination of cucumbers in the greenhouse
There are manyvarieties of cucumbers for greenhouse cultivation on the Polish marketThese are mostly parthenocarpic varieties, which do not require pollination. However, if we grow varieties that require pollination, we can run into a number of problems.
For the cucumber flowers to be pollinated , the temperature and humidity in the greenhouse are important. Pollen loses its activity at temperatures below 10 ° C and above 27 ° C. The most favorable temperature during cucumber pollination is 20-25 ° C. The optimum humidity for pollinating cucumbers in a greenhouse should be 70%. At lower levels the pollen dries up, and at higher levels the pollen sticks together.
Manual pollination of a cucumber with a brush
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The greenhouse may also lack pollinating insects. In this case, it is necessaryto pollinate the cucumber flowers by handFor this purpose, we can use a brush to collect pollen from the anthers of male flowers, and then transfer it to the pistil in the female flower. There is also another, more time-consuming method, but it gives better results - we tear off the male flower, remove the petals, and apply the anther directly to the female flower and rub it lightly.
We can also take care ofthe presence of pollinating insects in the greenhouseby placing in it a special hive with a bumblebee nest, available for sale. Compared to other pollinators, bumblebees are fast and efficient. They also have lower requirements and cope better in confined spaces than, for example, bees. Place the hives with bumblebees in a dry, shady and quiet place.
Growing cucumbers in a greenhouse on strings
Fig. pixabay.com
Peeling cucumber leaves in the greenhouse
Well-yielding cucumbers require pruning. We remove the lower side shoots and flowers to a height of 50 cm above the ground. Shorten the remaining shoots to a height of 1 m above the ground after the third leaf.
Removal of cucumber leaves should be carried out regularly every 7-10 daysAimed at limiting the green mass to enable ripening fruit. By cutting the leaves, air circulation is also facilitated and the humidity in the greenhouse is reduced, which reduces the risk of many diseases. We perform the treatment using sharp tools, removing the leaves directly at the plant shoot, or in front of the leaf plate, leaving the entire petiole behind. It is recommended to leave 20-25 leaves on one main stem.
Cutting the stems, leaves and flowers of the cucumberscauses the plants to concentrate all their energy on producing fruit. They are also less susceptible to diseases and pests of cucumbers.
Gathering cucumbers in the greenhouse
Pick the cucumbers as they ripen.The harvest begins 30 to 45 days after planting the seedlings. We collect cucumber fruits even every day, because frequent harvesting has a positive effect on the maturation of the next fruits and the formation of new flowers. Cucumbers are not suitable for longer storage, so it is best to use them immediately, when they are freshly picked.
MSc Eng. Anna Błaszczak
