The scheme of planting seedlings of cucumbers in open ground

Cucumbers today are rightfully considered one of the most popular crops for growing. This vegetable loves heat and moisture, but it is still quite unpretentious, so even a not very experienced gardener can get a bountiful harvest. Therefore, cucumbers are ubiquitous in the beds of summer cottages and vegetable gardens, they are grown both in open ground and in greenhouses and greenhouses. There are two main methods for planting cucumbers - namely seeds and seedlings.

However, to get a good harvest of these vegetables, you need to adhere to the timing of planting seedlings, as well as observe a certain distance between the bushes. The scheme for planting seedlings of cucumbers in open ground is an extremely important point that simply cannot be neglected, otherwise the development of plants will be incorrect and their condition will leave much to be desired.

To plant cucumbers correctly, you need to know about the features of their cultivation and the rules that must be followed. The first thing that needs to be done before the seedlings are planted is to select and prepare a place on the site. Professional agricultural technicians recommend choosing places that are well lit by the sun's rays, but at the same time are reliably protected from the effects of wind and other weather phenomena. As a rule, the best place will be a site near a building, for example, a house or a barn in the south or southeast.

As for the soil, cucumbers give the most abundant harvest on sandy or loamy soils, since they are saturated with organic substances that favorably affect the growth and proper development of this crop. Also, dark soils absorb heat best and, accordingly, warm up better and earlier, which is very good for cucumbers.

Cucumbers grow worst of all on soils with a high acidity index. Such soil will be well treated with alkaline materials, such as lime, in order to achieve a neutral balance. Clay and sandy soils are poorly suited for this agriculture, since they are difficult to warm up and are not very fertile. It is also better not to plant this crop in saline soil, however, if necessary, such land can be washed.

Currently, there are two main methods for effectively growing cucumbers, namely the seedless method and using cucumber seedlings. But it is better to grow them with seeds - this method is easier and more affordable and looks more profitable than seedlings.

Around the end of May, the time begins when you can plant seeds, and it usually ends in early June. Before sowing the garden, the seeds need to be thoroughly warmed up, since the heated seeds give more stable shoots and begin to bear fruit earlier. In addition, the seeds are soaked in a solution of water, superphosphate, saltpeter and manganese before planting.

Part of the dry ones is added to the swollen seeds of cucumbers, after which the beds are sown with this mixture. This approach ensures that the cucumbers will sprout, because if the early shoots die, others will grow in their place - from dry seeds. The seeds are placed in grooves at a distance of about four centimeters, and the furrows themselves are dug about half a meter apart.

Under normal conditions, about 50 grams of cucumber seeds will go per square meter, which must be planted in the ground to a depth of about two centimeters. It is necessary to plant seeds only in moist soil. After planting, it is important to closely monitor the appearance of the first shoots, because if there are nests of birds nearby, then they will be in danger.

It should be said right away that there is simply no absolutely exact date for planting seedlings or seeds of cucumbers, which days to plant vegetables are determined solely on the basis of the experience of a particular vegetable grower. Many choose the most favorable days based on some personal preferences or even according to the lunar calendar. Also, do not take the recommendations that can be found on the packages of seeds too seriously - they can only be taken as general advice.

The time when you need to plant this crop is due to many factors at once. The most important of them is, first of all, the method of planting, since seeds or seedlings can be used for this. Then you need to take into account the climatic conditions of the region, since cucumbers are a crop that loves light and heat very much and needs enough moisture.

When planting cucumber seedlings in southern latitudes, you can focus on the middle or end of April.Accordingly, the further north the landing site is located, the further this period will be postponed. If spring comes early, then sowing is done faster, and, accordingly, on the contrary, if it comes late, then sowing should be delayed somewhat. If the seeds are planted in cold, unheated soil, then some of them will definitely rot and, as a result, seedlings will be very rare.

In northern latitudes, where climatic conditions are quite severe, cucumbers are usually planted in open ground only in May or in the first weeks of June. There is also a known method for accelerating the planting of seeds and seedlings, which consists in warming the ridges - in this way, cucumbers can be planted earlier by about two to three weeks.

Experienced vegetable growers and gardeners consider the end of the first decade of June to be the final date for planting this crop in open soil. Later planting cucumbers is highly discouraged, except that we are talking about already germinated seeds - they can be planted a little later. If the soil is protected with a film, then the first week of May will be the optimal time for planting, and if not, then the end of this month.

Cucumbers should be planted only in warm soil and it is best if its temperature is 16 degrees Celsius. Despite the fact that this vegetable loves heat very much, when the air temperature reaches 27 degrees, the plants will need to create a shelter that provides shade.

Seedlings are planted in the phase of two or three true leaves only after the arrival of heat, when the frosts will definitely not return.

Three weeks after the cucumber seeds hatch, the seedlings will be ready to be planted in open ground. It is important that at this time the soil has time to warm up to at least 12 degrees Celsius to a depth of at least 10 centimeters. The landing time varies depending on many factors, but on average it will be the second week of May if film cover is used, and the beginning of the first month of summer if it is not used. But these are only indicative dates, which vary significantly from region to region.

It is very important to carry out a step-by-step series of preparatory activities before planting cucumbers. The most important thing is to properly harden the seedlings and accustom them to normal life in cool and windy weather, as well as to exposure to ultraviolet radiation. In addition, before planting cucumbers, they can be treated with professional tools like Epin to prevent damage by pathogens and various infections.

The land where cucumbers will grow must be fertile, loose enough and able to effectively retain water. This culture has a number of features, including a small and weak root system, which is why organic recharge is applied strictly into the planting pits.Although it will not be very deep, it will decompose under the influence of the environment and release a large amount of heat, which, in turn, will help agriculture grow and develop faster.

It should be noted that it is important to choose the right place for the beds, so that it is well lit by the rays of the sun and not strongly blown by the wind. The beds themselves need to be made so wide that you can reach its middle from any side without much effort. Planting is usually done in a checkerboard pattern and in no more than two rows, since it is such a scheme that will allow future bushes to receive the necessary amount of sunlight. Between seedlings, a distance of about half a meter is observed. So the planting density will be approximately 3-4 plants per square meter for tall varieties and 5-6 plants per square meter for bush plants.

It is good to make beds for cucumbers where crops such as onions, tomatoes or cabbage used to grow. You should not plant cucumber seedlings where vegetables of the pumpkin family previously grew. Before planting, holes are dug in advance, where a certain amount of water is poured, as well as organic fertilizers. Cow dung or compost is best suited for this, which then needs to be sprinkled on top with a small amount of earth.

Holes for cucumber seedlings must be deepened to a distance equal to the height of the pot where it was grown before. The seedling is taken out of the container along with the substrate, and if it grew in a peat pot, then you can plant it in the hole directly with the container. Seedlings are planted in the hole very carefully so as not to damage the root system of the plant.It is important to remember that when planting, in no case should the subcotyledonal knee of the plant be buried.

A newly planted seedling needs to be watered with about one liter of water, and it is best to do this with a special watering can with a strainer, because otherwise there is a chance of eroding the soil. Then you need to make a mulch, for which dried grass or straw is well suited - this will help moisture linger in the ground. Cucumbers are a crop that is usually tied to some kind of support, as it is a climbing plant.

After the emergence of cucumber seedlings during the formation of the first true leaves, experienced farmers usually begin to thin out the beds. Most often, this procedure is done in one or two stages. If thinning is carried out only once, then the costs will be much less, however, such an approach is fraught with the death of a certain number of bushes, respectively, seedlings will be quite rare. It would be optimal to leave two plants in the hole at once, and then, when the bushes are at least minimally stronger, repeat this procedure and leave one plant at a time.

Thinning on ordinary land plots should be done so that between plants there is approximately 12 centimeters for early-ripening varieties and up to 30 centimeters for late and mid-ripening cucumbers. In the northern latitudes, where in cold weather the bushes do not have time to gain a significant mass, a slightly greater thickening is allowed.

In the southern regions, when growing zoned cucumbers with a distance of more than half a meter between rows, thinning is done so that there is at least 20 centimeters of space between the bushes. If the distance between the rows reaches a meter, then 15 centimeters between plants is enough.

Also, loosening and weeding can be safely called important types of care for seedlings of cucumbers in the open field. You can start processing the areas between the rows already when the first shoots appear - this approach will help to achieve the desired indicator of soil looseness and quickly eliminate weeds. The formation of a soil crust before the seedlings sprout is also undesirable, and therefore harrowing must be done across the rows with cucumbers.

At the same time, single-growing weeds are removed, and the plants are a little spud during the first loosening. In the same way, the ground must be kept clean and free of weeds until the cucumbers are fully ripe.

Despite the apparent simplicity, watering cucumbers is a rather delicate undertaking with a lot of subtleties and nuances. At different times, this agricultural crop needs a different amount of moisture, which must be correctly calculated for each period of growth. At first, for plants, the optimal moisture indicator will be about 75%, during the period of active fruiting it will reach 85%, and at the final stage of the growing season - 80%.

As you know, cucumber is a crop that is extremely susceptible to dry air - in case of drought, the plant simply will not develop. For this reason, if the season turned out to be hot, it is recommended to carry out frequent watering with a small amount of water. Bushes growing in open ground are watered every eight days in the southern regions and every two weeks in the northern latitudes. In hot weather, watering intervals can be reduced to 5-6 days.Thus, the average number of waterings per season will be about 15 for extremely dry weather, about 10 for a typical southern climate, and about 8 for temperate latitudes.

You can water cucumbers with a watering can, a hose connected to the water supply, or even a special sprinkler machine. On land plots located in the southern latitudes, furrow irrigation, which was previously equipped specifically for this purpose, shows itself effectively. Sprinkling will be a poor method of watering, since moisture will simply be lost due to intense evaporation processes.

Currently, professional breeders and amateur vegetable growers have bred a fairly large number of varieties of cucumbers that can survive even very hot weather - the main thing is to water them at least once a week. Accordingly, the cultivation of such a crop does not require a significant investment of time. However, even if drought-tolerant varieties are grown in the area, it is important to understand that this vegetable will still show the best results with abundant watering. Then its fruits will not be bitter, and the harvest will be maximum.

In order to get a good harvest, agronomists recommend "feeding" cucumbers at least three times per season. Plants can be fed with both mineral and organic fertilizers. Of course, each gardener has his own methods, but some recommendations should be considered.

Foliar top dressing should be applied if the summer turned out to be cool and cloudy. In such weather, the roots will not be able to absorb all the mineral components. In this case, it is better to spray the leaves. Fertilizer should be sprayed in the evening, so the drops will last longer on the surface and the plant will have time to absorb all the nutrients.

The first top dressing is best done 15 days after planting cucumbers. The second should be carried out when the plant begins to bloom, the third - during the beginning of fruiting. It is better to fix the result with one more top dressing in order to prolong the fruiting period and get a richer harvest.

You can fertilize cucumbers with organic matter:

• fresh chicken manure;
• slurry;
• manure;
• infusion of fresh herbs;
• infusion of rotten hay.

Mineral fertilizers:

• a solution of urea and superphosphate;
• ammonium nitrate with the addition of superphosphate and potassium salt;
• ammophos;
• potassium nitrate with the addition of superphosphate;
• ash;
• boric acid;
• soda.

Many gardeners are sure that if you grow cucumbers on your own, then the plant is much less likely to get sick.But in fact, it turns out that gardeners sometimes provoke diseases themselves, without even realizing it. The main source of cucumber disease is various fungi, bacteria and viruses. But there are other factors as well:

• violation of agrotechnical methods of cultivation;
• violation of crop rotation;
• contaminated soil with a lack of mineral elements.

Any of the above causes diseases in cucumber. Of course, it is better to deal with prevention first than complicated treatment. But in order to prevent the disease, you need to be able to recognize it.

If a patchy coating with a white tint forms on the bushes during its growth of a cucumber, this is a fungal disease called powdery mildew. Places affected by this disease can quickly spread throughout the plant. Subsequently, individual parts of the vegetable will turn yellow and die. Because of this, the bush will not be able to produce a sufficient amount of fruit, and sometimes even dies.

The most favorable conditions for the spread of this disease are cold, wet weather. Its development can stop at a constant temperature above twenty degrees Celsius. Often, powdery mildew is caused by a lack of moisture, and therefore it is necessary to ensure that the cucumber bushes are regularly and plentifully watered.

One of the main measures to prevent the disease is the observance of crop rotation, since this crop is not recommended to be planted in the previous place of growth for at least four more seasons. It is also necessary not to forget to harvest the crop from the site in a timely manner, as well as to eliminate all kinds of organic residues. In addition, vegetable growers are advised to water only with warm liquid.

There are also methods that have been proven by the experience of generations, they are suitable for those farmers who do not want to use chemicals. You can treat the plants with a weak infusion of cow dung. To do this, it is mixed with water in a ratio of one to three and infused for three days. After the liquid must be filtered and add three liters of cold running water to it.

You can also prepare a solution of sour milk and water. It is infused and filtered in the same way, after which they can process vegetables once every seven days. Baking soda is another good remedy for powdery mildew. To prepare a soda-based product in a ten-liter bucket of water, you need to dissolve two tablespoons of soda and 50 grams of laundry soap familiar to everyone. With this tool, you can safely process the beds once every five days.

When yellow spots form on cucumber bushes in large numbers, the plant has been affected by downy mildew. Immediately after the appearance of the spots, they rapidly increase in size. The leaves become brownish, and then dry and die. A plant becomes ill with peronosporosis, regardless of whether it is young or adult.

The causative agent of this disease is considered a fungus. At the first visual signs of peronosporosis, you need to stop watering it and treat the damaged cucumbers with a special agent. After processing, it is better to cover the crop with a film.For prevention, it is better to periodically treat the culture with a weak serum-based solution.

If light green spots form on the bushes and fruits, this is a cladosporiosis disease. Its rapid development inevitably entails darkening and a significant increase in ulcers already on the third day.

Cladosporiosis, which among professional agricultural technicians is known as brown olive spot, usually affects plants in conditions of low temperatures or during its changes. The fungus can spread along with precipitation, wind, or even when watering, as it can be contaminated with water. This infection also tends to infect the soil and stay there for a long time.

When white formations appear on cucumbers, then this is most likely sclerotinia, which is also called white rot. After some time, the white spots will become much darker, to the point that their color will turn black.

The causative agent of sclerotinia is a fungus that affects the ground where cucumbers grow. It can begin to spread rapidly when the ground is too flooded with water, and there is an excess of moisture in the atmosphere. To prevent the occurrence of sclerotinia, even when planting cucumbers, you need to adhere to the rules of agricultural technology and plant them not too densely.

But if you have already discovered this disease, then the first step is to eliminate the plants affected by white rot.Healthy areas of the bush, especially where there are cuts, can be treated with lime or ground charcoal for a speedy recovery. For the purpose of effective prevention, it is necessary to feed the plants with nutritious preparations, for the preparation of which vitriol and zinc can be used.

If the cucumber bush quickly withers and dries, then the plant is probably sick with root rot. To verify this, you need to pull out the root and inspect it. If the structure is loose, and it is red in color, then the cucumber was affected by rot. Among vegetable growers, it is believed that root rot occurs most often compared to other diseases, and it is also the most dangerous.

Cucumbers get sick with root rot if they are grown incorrectly. Among the main reasons are too high a temperature, as well as an excess of moisture in the ground. You can reduce the likelihood of root rot damage by observing the rules of watering, as well as by using the previcur regularly.

If the plant is already sick, you should immediately promote the emergence of new healthy roots. A new layer of fertile soil should be scattered around the affected cucumber. Then cut off the lower leaves and bury them in the same ground. Watering should be done around the root and only with warm water.

One of the reasons for the yellowing of the leaves are sudden changes in temperature. If at night the air temperature began to drop sharply, then the crop should be covered with a film. But the main reason may be a lack of potassium.This problem will be more difficult to deal with.

For preventive purposes, do not be lazy to treat plants with infusion of ash. In one liter of water, it is necessary to dissolve 75 grams of ash, and leave to infuse for two days. It is also useful to feed cucumbers with an infusion based on onion peel. To do this, add two tablespoons of onion peel to ten liters of warm water and boil. When the solution is infused, water the plant with it, taking into account the consumption of one liter per bush.

If all the rules for growing and caring are followed, growing a good crop of cucumbers will not be difficult. It will be enough to plant seedlings correctly, water the bushes from time to time, apply fertilizers and carry out preventive measures, especially during the period when fruits are formed. This stimulates fruiting and reduces the likelihood of various unpleasant diseases. All this will help to get a decent harvest of a truly amazing vegetable.

For information on how to plant cucumbers in open ground, see the video below.