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Forming a cucumber in a polycarbonate greenhouse: how to plant and pinch correctly? Diagram and photo. Landing at a permanent place

Gardeners call a polycarbonate greenhouse a paradise for cucumbers. It allows the gardener to grow southern crops accustomed to warmth from the first days of spring until frost, and with heating installed - all year round. Getting an early harvest of cucumbers under polycarbonate is not difficult if you follow proven agricultural techniques.

What conditions does growing cucumbers in a greenhouse require?

The climate of most of Russia is unfavorable for the growth of pumpkin plants. Growing cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse will be successful if the gardener creates the necessary conditions for the vegetables. The most important of them:

temperature;
humidity;
lighting;
nutrition.

The temperature regime of a polycarbonate greenhouse during seed germination should be 25-30 degrees, during the growing season and fruiting - 17-28 degrees Celsius. It is also important to monitor the soil temperature. If the root zone cools to 12 degrees or lower, cucumbers lose their ability to absorb moisture and may die from drought even with abundant watering.

A unique feature of growing cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse is the microclimate, which sets the growth rate of cucumbers, promoting abundant flowering and fruiting. The polycarbonate shelter provides constant air humidity necessary for the ovary of greens. However, excess moisture can cause mold, fungal diseases, powdery mildew and downy mildew. Regular ventilation of the greenhouse helps to avoid high humidity.

Cucumbers cannot tolerate shade. It is good if your greenhouse is located in a well-lit area and oriented from north to south. This way the vegetables will receive maximum light and will not shade each other. When growing cucumbers in winter, in addition to heating in a polycarbonate greenhouse, it is important to provide illumination with phytolamps in order to artificially increase the daylight hours for the plants.

Pay attention to the quality of the soil. Growing cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse will be successful if the soil is light, loose, and contains large percentage organic additives (up to 40%). Organic matter can be considered any plant remains that were obtained closer to the greenhouse site:

humus;
compost;
peat;
rotted sawdust;
straw cutting;
last year's fallen leaves.

How to prepare cucumbers for planting

To get an early harvest of cucumbers in a greenhouse, seedless and seedling methods are used. In the first case, the seeds are sown immediately on permanent place, in the second, seedlings are first grown in peat or plastic pots. You can’t do without them: cucumbers don’t like transplanting. Why grow seedlings at all if you can do without them? The nursery occupies a limited, small area, and this provides two advantages:

At the site of future planting of cucumbers, you can have time to grow a crop of very early greens (dill, lettuce, spinach).
In emergency situations, the nursery inside the greenhouse can be easily and quickly saved: covered, treated, fed.

How to plant correctly

Regardless of the chosen planting method, the harvest of cucumbers begins with pre-sowing seed treatment. To exclude the possibility of infection, seed material is soaked in disinfectant solution potassium permanganate, copper sulfate. After 15 minutes " medicinal bath» rinse the cucumber seeds thoroughly a large number clean water and begin to sow in cups or soil.

How to plant cucumbers in a greenhouse immediately in a permanent place? The recommended scheme is a two-line tape. It assumes a distance between lines of 50 cm, between ribbons - 80 (the width of the path), between future bushes - 20-30 cm. Seedlings that are 20-25 days old are placed using the same principle. When replanting, try not to disturb the clod of earth or injure the roots of the plant. Cucumbers endure transplantation very painfully.

How to grow cucumbers

Greenhouse vegetables require regular attention: monitoring air and soil temperatures, ventilation, and monitoring plant health. Keep an eye out for pests on the bushes. Thrips, aphids and cucumber mites are especially dangerous for young plants. From the moment the first flower appears, gartering, shaping bushes, watering and fertilizing will be added to the worries. The key to success for a gardener growing cucumbers in a greenhouse is timely implementation. compulsory work.

How to care for cucumbers

Unlike open ground, the space in the greenhouse must be used rationally. So that everyone square meter polycarbonate shelter brought the maximum yield of cucumbers, pay attention to:

competent formation of bushes;
choice of cucumber variety;
timely garter;
fertilizing and watering.

How to shape

The formation of cucumbers in a greenhouse requires taking into account the difference between varieties and hybrids. Zozulya, Nezhensky, Kurazh are varieties whose bushes are formed into three or four stems. To do this, pinch the top of the plant above the fourth leaf. These bushes have flowers female type located on the side shoots, from which marketable cucumbers grow. Cucumber hybrid names are labeled F1 and are grown with a single stem.

What to feed

Do not neglect such agricultural practices as feeding cucumbers in a greenhouse. If carried out on time, it can increase the yield and improve the quality of greens. For use indoors, a fermented solution of chicken manure and an infusion of herbs, aged for up to two weeks, are excellent. Such mixtures are filtered, diluted in a ratio of 1:10, and the solution is used for irrigation.

Garter of cucumbers

If you decide to grow greens, know that gartering cucumbers in a greenhouse is mandatory. This matter must be approached responsibly; additional supports must support the harvest of an adult cucumber bush. Important: do not tie a cord or wire to the stem of the plant, as this will inevitably injure it. For reliable fixation from below, the rope can be attached to a peg, which is driven in next to the plant. Upper part The cord is fixed under the ceiling of the greenhouse.

How to water

Best system for watering plants in protected ground - drip irrigation. However, how to water cucumbers in a greenhouse if there is no such device? Use settled water for plants. Water at the root without moistening the foliage. Remember to have a sense of proportion. Cucumbers love abundant and regular moisture, but this is not a reason to make the greenhouse soil a swamp. Sometimes combine watering the cucumbers with fertilizing, and your greenhouse will delight you with a generous harvest.

Video: how to plant cucumbers in a greenhouse

Cucumber lashes shouldn't grow without appropriate care. And that's why it exists a number of reasons:

In dense plantings difficult for pollinating bees to reach. And insufficient pollination leads to a small number of ovaries.
Heavily overgrown bushes are an excellent environment for the development of and.
The length of the lash is inversely proportional to the quantity and quality of the fruit, since all my strength the plants are leaving into shoot growth.
In a greenhouse, it is important to prevent overgrown bushes from blocking the plant from the sun's rays.

There are varieties of cucumbers that do not require pinching or pinching. Read about the rules for cucumbers in a greenhouse on our website.

Stepsoning

Growing cucumbers in greenhouse conditions do for that, to direct all your strength plants into the main stem.

If this is not done, then with a large number of branches Mutual dimming occurs and the plant begins to reach out even more towards the light and will occupy a larger area.

How to grow cucumbers in a greenhouse? Growing cucumbers in a greenhouse occurs in several stages:

In the lower part of the plant, you need to remove all side shoots and flower primordia up to 3–5 leaves. This is done to fully ventilate the stem below and to avoid rotting of the lower part. Disease prevention occurs root rot.
At a height of 70–100 cm from the surface of the earth, a couple of shoots are left, not allowing them to grow longer than 20 cm. There should be 1–2 leaves.
Height 130 cm. At this height, the lateral processes do not exceed a length of 40 cm, and on them leave two or three sheets and the same number of ovaries.
When the plant grows 150 cm, 4 leaves and 3–4 ovaries are left on each side shoot.
When whips grew to the top of the trellis, they should be tied up. The exception is the low ceiling of the greenhouse. In this case, the whip can be thrown down for its further growth. To stop development, you should pinch it when there are 18–20 cm left to the ground.

Particular attention should be paid to leaf thinning and shoots at the very top of the trellis under the ceiling.

How to properly plant cucumbers in a greenhouse, see the figure below:

Formation of the main stem

The harvest can be extended through simple manipulations. After harvesting the fruits remove all leaves from the bottom and stepchildren. When the top of the lash has reached the top of the greenhouse, you can lower the cord on which the stem curls to the height of the peeled stem.

After this, the cord is secured again and now the cucumbers there is room for further growth. In this way, you can get a harvest right up to frost.

How to form cucumbers in a greenhouse can be seen in the diagram below:

Pinching and trimming

all manipulations, such as pruning, pinching, and removing leaves, are carried out early in the morning. This is done in order to so that the plant can recover within a day.
considering very rapid growth cucumber, you need to remember that at the beginning of the growth of the lashes in the lower part they can form flower ovaries, which actually do not produce fruit, but take away the strength of the main shoot. In order for the root system to form correctly and the plant to gain strength, all these flower axils must be removed .
during activities carried out in the greenhouse and when harvesting fruits it is important not to change the direction of growth of the lashes and do not turn them in the opposite direction. As a result, leaves and lashes may turn yellow;
adult plants need to remove yellowed and withered leaves.

It is important to prevent the shoot that has reached the top from starting to weave along the top of the trellis. otherwise the lashes will intertwine with each other and form a dome.

Rules

How to pinch cucumbers in a greenhouse: step by step actions and photo.

Tendrils, damaged cucumbers and male inflorescences on the plant must be removed in a timely manner. The antennae take almost everything nutrients and energy, preventing the plant from developing.

This general recommendations and the rules are generally suitable for the main varieties of greenhouse cucumbers. But each variety has its own characteristics garters and pinching. And the formation of a cucumber bush in a greenhouse should be based on the characteristics certain types. You can also see on our website how to do it in greenhouse conditions.

Video about the formation of a cucumber bush in a greenhouse:

Growing cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse can last for 9 months if it is equipped with lighting and heating devices. But often in a polycarbonate greenhouse and without additional equipment cucumbers are grown.

To grow cucumbers in a greenhouse, raised beds of 15–25 cm are prepared. In the fall, the soil is completely cleaned, dug up, and fertilized. In the spring, the ground is dug up again, compost or humus with the addition of mineral fertilizers is added, and a hot solution of potassium permanganate is spilled. Then the ground is covered with film and left to rest. Under the black film it will warm up earlier.

It is convenient to set up warm beds in greenhouses - this will allow you to plant cucumbers early, when the soil in the garden is not yet ready to receive seedlings, which means you can get a really early harvest. A trench up to 1 m deep is dug under the bed, filled with manure (a mixture of cow and horse), and fertile soil is poured on top 25 cm thick. Such a pillow will give off heat for 2 months, gradually becoming fertilizer.

The timing of planting cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse is less dependent on weather conditions, but the soil in the beds should warm up to +18 °C by the time the planting material is planted. This usually occurs from the beginning of April to the end of May. The distance between plants should be 50–60 cm. It is very convenient to plant in two strips, arranging the plants in a checkerboard pattern, and leaving 80 cm between such double rows.

Selecting varieties and preparing seeds

The peculiarities of greenhouse cultivation require careful selection of varieties. Preference is given to modern hybrids that are resistant to diseases, produce a bountiful harvest, and do not require much attention to the formation of the bush. There are self-pollinating varieties that do not need bees and bumblebees to produce fruit.

Often, gardeners choose parthenocarpic varieties that do not need pollination at all, but they will not produce seeds. Hybrids also cannot be propagated with your own seeds - they do not pass on their characteristics to their offspring. For greenhouses, seeds of hybrids are often purchased: Relay Plus F1, Orpheus F1, Emelya F1, Masha F1, Vnuchok F1, April F1, Zozulya F1, Buran F1, Tournament F1.

Planting cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse occurs at the seedling stage with 4–5 true leaves or prepared seeds. Growing technology can be different: you can transfer cucumbers to a greenhouse as seedlings, or you can grow them here, in a greenhouse, in small greenhouses, covering the beds with crops with a film stretched over wire arches. In this case, the seeds need to be disinfected by holding them for 15 minutes in a pink solution of potassium permanganate, and then placing them on gauze, folded several times or on a soft cloth that can hold water. This substrate is moistened with water, kept warm until sprouts appear for 5–6 days, and then planted in fine-grained nutrient soil.

Necessary conditions for cultivation

Cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse require planting and care under certain conditions. They grow well at constant temperatures and humidity. So, the optimal air temperature is +25...+28 °C, and the humidity level should be 60% for soil and 80% for air.

For cucumbers, it is comfortable for the daylight hours to last 10 hours. Polycarbonate has excellent dispersion sunlight, protecting plantings from direct aggressive rays and excessive ultraviolet radiation. It is important to maintain a distance between plants of at least 50 cm so that the entire green part is well ventilated and illuminated evenly. The greenhouse must be regularly ventilated so that the humidity level does not increase, there is always a sufficient amount of oxygen, but drafts should not be allowed.

Features of care

Caring for cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse is somewhat different from the same process in open ground, although the basic processes are the same: watering, weeding, loosening, fertilizing, disease prevention, protection from pests.

You need to care for greenhouse plants carefully; if there is a lack of any element, excessive humidity, drying out of the soil, infection with diseases or the appearance of pests, the trouble can very quickly spread to the entire greenhouse.

Pollination

Plants planted in a greenhouse cannot be pollinated by bees. That is why it is better to plant self-pollinating varieties. But to increase the yield, vegetable growers often hand pollinate their cucumbers. To do this, just take a soft brush for artistic work made from natural material and walk around the greenhouse, touching the stamens and pistils or at least shaking the flowers.

Varieties that have male and female flowers can also be pollinated by hand. The male flower must be carefully plucked from the stem, the petals carefully removed, and the stamens should be touched to the pistil of the female flower, leaving a little pollen. One male flower (and there are always fewer of them) can treat up to 10 female ones.

Watering and fertilizing

You only need to water with warm water; it is advisable to mark shallow grooves next to the stem for this. The frequency of watering depends on many reasons. Usually, until the ovaries form, water every 3–4 days, then every other day or daily when high temperature air. Fertilize depending on the condition of the soil - from 3 to 5 times per season.

Cucumbers respond well to watering with slurry or fermented infusion of herbs. Before flowering, complexes containing nitrogen and phosphorus are used. As fruiting begins, vegetables need more potassium. Fertilizers are applied in the evening, after which they are watered with clean water.

Disease and pest control

Powdery mildew and downy mildew can occur on leaves and are best treated by special means, but often vegetable growers use spraying with the following composition: for 10 liters of water take 1 liter of mullein and 2 tbsp. l. urea. Root rot and brown spot affect different parts of plants, but for the same reasons: watering cold water, high humidity at low air temperatures. We urgently need to correct the conditions, dry the soil a little, and replant if necessary.

When melon aphids appear, the plants are treated with an infusion of hot pepper and tobacco. The greenhouse whitefly appears where there are weeds. It needs to be dealt with with special drugs.

You already know how to properly grow cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse. The main thing is to adhere to the basic recommendations. And do not forget that you need to loosen the soil carefully, piercing it with narrow knitting needles.

There are two more important points– shaping and tying. Typically, cucumbers are grown on trellises or simply tied vertically. To do this, you need to use a strong structure and a soft rope that will not damage the stem. Formation depends on the variety - some branch themselves. In ordinary varieties, up to 4–5 leaves, all sprouts and flowers are removed; on leaves 6–9, pinch off the side branches after 1 cucumber (1–2 leaves); 10–14 already leave 2 fruits. The main stem is pinched at a height of 1.5–2 m to limit the number of fruits.

Video “Growing cucumbers in a greenhouse”

In this video you will hear useful tips on growing cucumbers in a greenhouse.

In a polycarbonate greenhouse, cucumbers are grown 9 months a year. This is because this plastic material - polycarbonate - has excellent thermal insulation qualities and transmits light well, and does not require additional heating. A greenhouse made from this material is affordable, easy to install, and can last up to 10 years. In spring and autumn it protects plants from sharp decline temperatures, and in summer from the scorching sun.

Planting cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse requires careful preparation, that is, creating favorable conditions for growing. First you need to prepare the soil, disinfect it and treat it with special means. The soil should be loosened and sufficiently moist.

Cucumbers in a greenhouse: planting and formation, care

To grow in a polycarbonate greenhouse, cucumber seedlings are not required; you can sow the seeds directly into the ground, of course, it depends on how well it is equipped. Planting cucumber seeds in the southern regions begins in late March or early April. With additional lighting and soil insulation, experienced gardeners begin sowing in mid-February. After about 20 days, the sprouted sprouts can be planted at your convenience. Planting dates may vary depending on the variety and climatic conditions; in principle, sowing seeds or planting cucumber seedlings in a greenhouse is carried out until mid-June.

After the cucumber sprout reaches a certain size, it is approximately 30 cm, and there must be at least 4 leaves on the stem, you need to provide the stem with support, that is, tie it up. To do this, trellises are pre-installed on the beds. In greenhouses, they mainly form one stem, pinching off the side shoots as they grow. The lower ovaries are removed so that they do not slow down the growth of the main bush, and when the plant reaches the top point of the trellis, the top is also pinched. Such formation of cucumbers protects the plant from damage, increases the yield and saves space.

It is necessary to carefully care for cucumbers from the appearance of the first sprouts. It is necessary to water, it is very important that the soil is loosened, to do airing sessions and be sure to feed. The installed automatic drip irrigation greatly simplifies the task of maintaining timely hydration. You need to loosen the soil very carefully so as not to damage the plants. Sprouts need nitrogen, during flowering you can add phosphorus fertilizers, and when fruiting begins, you need potassium. In addition to mineral fertilizers, organic fertilizers are useful, such as manure and infusions. different herbs, for example from nettle.

Early planting of cucumbers in a greenhouse video:

Scheme of planting cucumbers in a greenhouse

Proper planting of cucumbers is very important for an excellent harvest. Some varieties have different recommendations for optimal distance between bushes. Excessive plant density will block sunlight and there is a risk of excess moisture. The latter can lead to disease and rot. This also has a bad effect on the roots, which will not be able to develop freely in their usual horizontal direction. In addition, densely planted cucumbers are more difficult to care for and harvesting becomes more difficult, for example, if varieties with small fruits are grown. A wide distance is also not advisable, since each gardener usually tries to make maximum use of the entire area of the greenhouse, and accordingly the harvest will be less than with optimal planting.

The optimal width of the beds should be at least 90 cm, the gap between rows should be at least 50 cm, and between plants 20 cm. When growing parthenocarpic cucumbers, the distance between cucumbers in the greenhouse during planting should be at least 30 cm, the width of the beds should be made wider, up to 160 cm, The optimal row spacing is 60cm. The scheme for planting cucumbers in a 3x6 greenhouse implies 2 paths, 4 or 5 rows; it is convenient to make 2 rows in the center and one at the edges. The distance between plants should not exceed 40 cm, and a minimum of 25 cm is sufficient. There is another option when the seeds are sown more often, and the sprouts are then thinned out to the optimal distance. It is also worth paying attention to the depth of planting the seed, most often it is 2-4 cm, but some varieties are planted deeper.

Photo 2 planting scheme for a 3x6 greenhouse

What can you plant with cucumbers?

Many people wonder whether it is possible to plant cucumbers in a greenhouse with other crops, because different cultures need different fertilizers different degrees humidity and refreshment, and there is a risk of infection by diseases and pests, as well as the danger of cross-pollination.

Zucchini is suitable for neighboring cultivation, but only with hybrids that are resistant to temperature fluctuations. You can plant radishes along the cucumber ridge, lettuce and other greens. Eggplants are suitable for the same temperature conditions as borage. If you plant peppers together, you should be careful with nitrogen-containing fertilizers for them, because cucumbers do not like excess nitrogen.

Planting cucumbers and tomatoes in the same greenhouse is also possible, although they require opposite growing conditions. Tomatoes do not respond well to high humidity, they quickly get sick and are poorly pollinated. In this case, the tomatoes are placed closer to the exit, and the cucumbers are placed in a warmer place near the end windows. It would not be superfluous to have a partition between them made of polyethylene, plywood or slate to protect the cucumbers from drafts. By ventilating through an open door, you can control the level of humidity and temperature acceptable for tomatoes.

Cucumber varieties for planting in a greenhouse

The choice of the right variety depends on the purpose of growing cucumbers. If for use in fresh, then early white-thorned aromatic varieties are better suited, and if for preservation, then black-thorned varieties with elastic pulp. There are also universal cucumbers, but not all of them are good for pickling and canning. It is worth noting that in polycarbonate greenhouses, self-pollinating varieties or those that do not require pollination (parthenocarpic) are most often used. Let's look at some of them.

Planting cucumbers in 2017 must necessarily include freshly bred varieties, for example:

Early maturing super bunch hybrid “Everyone is the envy of F1”. Forms 6 or more ovaries, good for pickling.
Early ripe universal parthenocarpic hybrid “Forsazh F1”. Forms 2-3 ovaries, is resistant to diseases, has white thorns.
Mid-early partially parthenocarpic “Nutcracker”. It has medium-sized, dark green fruits. Suitable for all types of use.
High-yielding parthenocarpic hybrid "Masha F1". The fruits are 11cm in size, without bitterness and with a thick peel.

Proven productive varieties:

Early maturing hybrid "April F1". Fruits size from 15 to 25 cm. It has increased productivity, is resistant to viruses, and is ideal for fresh consumption.
Early maturing somo-pollinated partially parthenocarpic hybrid “Zozulya F1”. The maximum length of the fruit is 22cm. Resistant to many diseases, suitable for pickling.
The early maturing hybrid "Barvina F1" is perfect for commercial cultivation. Has high productivity. The fruit size is 8-11cm.
In conservation, the bunched “Toy Thumb F1” has proven itself well. The size of cucumbers is up to 8 cm, the hybrid is resistant to most diseases.
Early ripening parthenocarpic “Emelya F1” (Manul agricultural company). Has shortened internodes, fruits measuring 15cm great taste, good for preservation.

In fact, there are a lot of “best” varieties; each gardener chooses his own the best varieties, taking into account climatic and soil characteristics. For example, the most popular cucumbers for greenhouses in the Moscow region are Courage, Amur, Connie and Alliance.

Soil for planting cucumbers in a greenhouse

After placing them in the beds, you need to saturate the soil with oxygen by irrigating and fluffing. The ideal soil is one consisting of equal proportions of peat, humus and turf soil. It is also important to check the acidity of the soil; cucumbers do not like acidic soil; it should not exceed 6.5. If it is higher, add lime to the soil.

For early planting, the soil can be insulated with manure, adding it underground to a depth of 30 cm. Shortly before sowing seeds or planting seedlings, it is necessary to apply nitrogen and mineral fertilizers, often urea or saltpeter, potassium, superphosphate. After this, the beds are carefully processed with a rake.

On various forums, many lovers of greenhouse farming share their secrets with beginners, so the necessary amount of information about the varieties and methods of growing cucumbers is always available. And thanks a large number videos posted by experienced gardeners can easily learn the necessary growing skills.

Early spring, during the period of maximum cost fresh vegetables, it is quite possible to get a solid harvest of cucumbers using the recommendations of experienced vegetable growers. Usage polymer materials in the design of greenhouses significantly reduced the labor intensity and cost of work. Nowadays, growing cucumbers in a greenhouse made of polycarbonate or polyethylene film. This technology and agrotenics for growing cucumbers are described later in the article.

Polyethylene film is considered budget option for covering the greenhouse. But it significantly loses to polycarbonate in technical specifications and wear resistance. Dense polymer sheets are not susceptible to mechanical damage from hail, heavy winds, branches and flying debris. With proper care, such a frame can effectively serve for 10-15 years.

Polycarbonate has a very low thermal conductivity coefficient, so it preserves the internal microclimate of the greenhouse well. Heating resources are used for their intended purpose, rather than heating the surrounding air. Thanks to this, it becomes possible to plant cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse even at low external temperatures, and the cost is reduced due to savings on heating.

Preparatory work for installing a greenhouse

The area for installing the greenhouse must be level to ensure uniform absorption of moisture. It is first cleaned of stones and root tangles. The dimensions of the site are determined taking into account the seating rows, aisles and service path around the perimeter.

Building a greenhouse with your own hands

Wood beams or lightweight aluminum profiles are most often used in the frame construction. Lightweight polycarbonate sheets do not require heavy-duty bulky structures. When making flooring, joints should be carefully adjusted and processed to prevent the formation of cold bridges. A garter frame is mounted along the planting rows; the base is the racks around which the stem will curl. Horizontal ties are screwed onto metal stakes at three levels: 100, 150 and 200 cm.

If the timing of planting cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse is ahead of steady warming, then a heating system is used. For large industrial greenhouses, centralized heating is used, and for small planting areas, ordinary stoves are sufficient. Metal barrels are sometimes used to distribute warm air evenly. They are installed at a certain step and heated with coal or firewood.

Ventilation windows are installed on opposite walls for ventilation. A scheme for planting cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse is preliminarily determined and an irrigation system is laid out accordingly. To speed up ripening, artificial lighting is installed.

Preparing soil in a greenhouse

The volume of the harvest will depend on the quality of the soil, so attention should be paid to the correct proportions of its components and acidity.

turf or peat base (about half of the total volume);
humus (30 percent);
chernozem layer of field soil (20 percent).

Before planting cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse, you need to dig up a 20-25 centimeter top layer to clear it of foreign matter, stones, and root debris. Fertilizers (phosphorus, nitrogen or potassium series) are applied to the prepared soil.

Conditions for good growth

To obtain maximum returns in the form of a good harvest of early varieties, it is necessary to create conditions under which the bushes will not waste energy on obtaining moisture and the necessary nutrition. Among the main conditions are the temperature inside the greenhouse, humidity and the presence of fertilizing.

Temperature

Greenhouse plants are sensitive to sudden changes in temperature, so it should be maintained within a fairly narrow range. Even at the stage of calculating financial feasibility, it is necessary to remember one feature of growing cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse: it should not be colder than 15 degrees inside. If the thermometer shows less, the plants simply will not be able to absorb moisture from the soil. Ideally, the temperature background should be between 20-23 degrees.

Humidity

The intensity of watering should be adjusted depending on the climate and time of year. There are many options for watering cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse, but in the end you need to get 75-90% air humidity. For soil, this figure should not be more than 60%. In fairly warm months, water consumption to achieve these parameters will range from 4 to 6 liters per sq.m.

Top dressing

In the first stages of growth, there is no need for additional feeding (with high-quality preliminary preparation soil). You can only add nitrogen fertilizers little by little in the first 2-3 weeks. When the flowering phase begins, nitrogen fertilizing should be replaced with phosphorus. Already when the fruits ripen, the plants will need nitrogen-potassium fertilizers. This feeding will increase the weight of fruits and improve their taste.

If you use daytime watering, then fertilizing cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse should be done in the evening. It is better to mix fertilizers with fertile soil and place them directly under each bush, then water them a small amount water.

The process of planting cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse

While ensuring everyone necessary conditions Planting cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse can be done either with seeds or with the help of seedlings. The option with seedlings will allow you to get the harvest much earlier, and the plants will be better able to resist diseases. The seedlings are first grown indoors for 15-25 days. When replanting bushes, it is important not to damage the thin roots, so you should not completely open them.

The optimal moment when to plant cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse depends on the quality of heating and availability artificial lighting. Even seedlings planted at the end of March will give good results with proper care. When relying solely on natural light, the deadlines should be shifted to the end of April or even the beginning of May.

A solid root system of bushes requires sufficient quantity free space, so planting seedlings should be done in increments of 30-40 cm. Between the rows, about half a meter of space is allocated for passage. A cord is stretched along the row and holes 10 cm deep are dug. Before planting cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse, the hole is fertilized with a mixture of humus (300-500 g), phosphate and potash fertilizers(5-10 g each). The hole is filled with water (it is recommended to fill at least one liter), then the seedlings are planted. The mound is formed from soil with a 2-3 centimeter mulching layer of peat.

Formation of a cucumber stem

To save planting space, when the stems reach a certain length, they are tied to horizontal ties.

Thus, only the stem remains below, which improves air exchange, access for watering and regular replenishment. To weave each bush, a metal rod is dug in near it. From the very beginning of the development of the stem, it should curl around the stand. The length of the bushes in the fruiting phase should be in the range of 2-2.5 meters, while the bottom is freed from leaves and branches to a height of about 70 cm.

Before tying cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse, you need to let them reach the height of the first tie. By this time, the bush will already have at least 7-8 leaves. The branches at the bottom of the stem (the first 3-4) should be removed so that the bush develops in height. The following branches are tied separately. After the fruits appear, they are also attached to horizontal ties to prevent the stem from sagging.

When the stem grows to the next horizontal tie, it must be twisted around it several times and tied with a loop. Proper garter of cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse provides sufficient clearance between the stem and the loop. As it grows, the thickness of the base of the bush will increase, and the lack of a gap can lead to compression and deterioration in the conductivity of the fibers.

Fighting cultural diseases

Planting in a polycarbonate greenhouse that seems successful at first glance can be carried out with errors, as evidenced in the very first weeks yellow tint on the leaves. This is a sign of poor quality care. Yellowing may be a consequence of a lack of necessary components in the soil, in particular: nitrogen and phosphorus compounds. You should also make sure that the temperature regime, regularity of ventilation and watering.

More serious consequences than yellowing of leaves, can cause infection of plants by pathogenic bacteria through soil, air or watering. Even at the very first stage, when cucumber seedlings are planted in a polycarbonate greenhouse, you should carefully check the small leaves for stains and plaque. The most aggressive disease, affecting the leaves and stem, is manifested by a white coating. This is powdery mildew that kills the plant if not disinfected. Mainly this external treatment bushes with mullein solution (a mixture of water, mullein and urea). When spraying, it is important to cover all affected areas.

Of great importance individual use greenhouses It is important to decide which cucumbers to plant in a polycarbonate greenhouse, and whether it is worthwhile to simultaneously grow other crops in interconnected areas unified system ventilation. An unsuccessful combination threatens the appearance of whiteflies. This pest causes double damage to plants. The insect feeds on the sap, damaging the leaves, while its waste products can be a breeding ground for harmful microorganisms. You can successfully combat whitefly attacks using sticky traps.

Vegetable growers should prepare for the annual invasion of melon aphids. Its peak activity occurs at the end of July and August. During this period, special care for cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse is required, including control over the first appearance of aphids, preventive treatment of plants with a solution of pepper and tobacco dust, and thorough cleaning of the soil from weeds.

Constant plant care

To obtain a bountiful harvest, it is not enough just to prepare seedlings and arrange a greenhouse. Vegetable growers who are familiar with first-hand how to grow cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse know that careful care is needed throughout the entire growth cycle. Care means monitoring the composition of the soil, systematic watering and ventilation, regular fluffing of the soil and weeding. Depending on when to plant cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse, you should decide on the watering regime. In winter, it is enough to saturate the soil with moisture only a couple of times a week, while heating the water ( cold water will be less absorbed and can cause a number of diseases).