How to grow cucumbers

Cucumbers are one of the most popular vegetables that are grown in every country house and in every vegetable garden in our country. It is not difficult to grow it, especially if you start this process armed with knowledge.

The best varieties of cucumbers

When choosing a suitable variety of cucumbers, you need to decide exactly where you will plant this vegetable. For example, in a greenhouse or greenhouse, the following cucumbers are grown:

• Goosebump F1 is distinguished by early maturity and does not need pollination. Cucumbers of this variety have large tubercles with small thorns and grow up to 12 cm in size. These cucumbers can be eaten both fresh and canned. The variety is well resistant to diseases and pests.
• Variety Boy-with-finger also belongs to early maturing. Cucumbers stretch up to 11 cm and behave well in salting. The variety is practically not exposed to ailments.
• Variety Benefis F1 is a mid-season, self-pollinated variety. Cucumbers of this variety are up to 12 cm long and have excellent taste. They can be eaten both fresh and canned.

It is best to grow in open soil such varieties:

• April F1 starts bearing fruit 55 days after the first shoots hatch. It can also be used for growing in a box on a balcony. This variety is distinguished by large fruits up to 22 cm long. It is very easy to care for this variety of cucumbers, it perfectly withstands low temperatures.
• A cucumber variety called Erofey is pollinated by bees. It belongs to mid-season varieties and is distinguished by its versatility. The fruits of this variety are short - only 7 cm in length with small tubercles.

If you decide to create a garden on the balcony or even on the windowsill, then pay attention to the following varieties:

• Swallowtail F1 is early maturing. It has small fruits up to 11 cm in size, fusiform. This variety successfully resists many diseases. Its fruits are good both fresh and salted.
• The F1 Urban Cucumber has been specially created for the balcony growing method. It withstands shade perfectly and is resistant to many diseases. Its fruits reach a length of 12 cm and taste great. They will be good in preservation, salting and fresh.

How to plant cucumbers

The soil for planting cucumbers must be prepared in advance. Dig up the future bed in the fall and apply fertilizer. It can be manure or potassium salt superphosphate. Add ammonium nitrate to the soil in the spring.

Sowing cucumber seeds is possible only when the soil is well warmed up. Otherwise, the seeds simply won't sprout. To ensure high yields, sow the cucumbers in several passes at intervals of about a week. Place the seeds about 5 cm deep. After landing water the cucumbers regularly, preventing the soil from drying out. Be sure to use a watering can so that the soil does not wash out.

To shorten the time for the beginning of fruiting, we recommend germinating the seeds before planting. To do this, place the seeds on a damp cloth and keep them there for several days. When the sprouts hatch, the seeds can be planted, placing the sprouts upwards. When planting, observe the distance between the plants at least 7 cm, and leave 40 cm between the beds. To accelerate germination, cover the bed with foil for a couple of days. Then remove the cover and water the planting. Then the seedlings will hatch in 4 days.

How to grow cucumbers on the balcony

This culture can be planted on balconies located on the east or south-east side. Be sure to use only a glazed balcony, as cucumbers do not tolerate drafts. Give preference to the variety that is suitable for balcony conditions.

For sowing cucumbers, a regular flower container with light walls is suitable so that the roots do not overheat. It is important to use a container with drainage holes equipped with a container for the water to drain into. Choose a container measuring 80 cm by 25 cm. On the bottom of the container, place expanded clay for drainage and sprinkle the soil with peat and perlite.

Sow seeds at the end of April or in the first half of May. Previously, it is not necessary to plant, since during the tying of buds in room conditions, they can crumble. After sowing seeds, cover the container with foil. After all the seeds have germinated, remove the weak shoots. The shelter can be removed by this time. The air temperature should not drop below 23 degrees. In the future, you will need to ensure constant soil moisture and stable air temperature.

When the first leaves appear, the plants must be gradually accustomed to open air, and then put on the balcony. When 4 leaves appear, it is necessary to carry out weekly feeding with complex liquid additives. After 8 leaves appear, fix the plants on taut ropes.

How to grow cucumbers on a windowsill

In the conditions of an ordinary city apartment, cucumbers are planted already from the end of February. In this case, plants should be placed on the southern windows. Try to keep the plant from drafts, so seal up all the cracks in advance. The room temperature should not be less than 20 degrees.

Sprout the cucumber seeds before planting in the way we described above. Plant seeds in spacious containers. If you don’t have one, then plastic 5-liter cropped top bottles will do. They need to be filled with ready-made soil purchased from the store. Otherwise, the planting principle does not differ from planting cucumbers in a balcony.

How to care for cucumbers

Process leaving behind this plant is uncomplicated. It is important to provide them with high-quality watering and timely weeding. Be sure to loosen the soil after weeding.

To increase the yield after the appearance of six leaves, pinch the shoots. This will ensure the growth of shoots on the sides, on which flowers and then fruits will appear. Cucumbers need a lot of water to taste good. Water the plants daily and in hot weather twice a day. For watering, take water at room temperature and be sure to use a watering can to avoid washing out the soil. Mix compound fertilizers into the water for irrigation periodically. Do this once every week and a half.

Tying them up will facilitate the process of cultivating cucumbers. To do this, set a peg on the edges of the garden bed and stretch a rope between them. When the cucumbers are old enough, lift them up and tie them to the rope.