Secrets of growing cucumbers in the open field
Cucumber is one of the most popular and sought after vegetables, the cultivation of which requires a lot of effort. It will be possible to get a good harvest only if you strictly follow the recommendations and rules of experienced gardeners, who, by trial and error, have determined the most optimal ways to obtain this vegetable.
General information
In order to grow cucumbers in open ground, it is necessary to choose the right varieties and species that will be resistant to most local diseases. Among the most common are powdery mildew and downy mildew, which cause significant damage to the crop and can destroy all crops. It is best for beginner gardeners to choose long-known and proven varieties that are reliable in terms of resistance to various diseases.
At the same time, you can pay attention to modern varieties and hybrids that boast excellent ripening and a fairly large yield.
In the process of choosing the best variety, it is necessary to take into account not only personal preferences, but also the characteristics of the soil, climatic conditions and other local indicators.
How to choose a variety?
In the modern world, it is quite difficult to meet a person who would not like this vegetable.Most people do not imagine their summer table without a fresh salad, where the cucumber takes pride of place. Besides, who doesn't love to indulge in pickled gherkins during the winter season? Therefore, any owner of a small summer cottage will certainly plant cucumbers in order to get a high-quality and tasty product. However, everyone has different tastes and preferences.
Someone chooses only salad options, and some want special pickled cucumbers. Experienced gardeners usually have several varieties that have already been tested by time and proven to be effective. However, you must always be ready to conduct experiments, because only in this case you can choose the most optimal option for yourself.
It should be noted that beginners are usually lost in a huge assortment of cucumber varieties and cannot choose the most suitable one for themselves. Despite the huge variety, special groups can be distinguished, which, depending on their characteristics, allow you to purchase the desired variety. Like other vegetable crops, cucumbers can be divided according to planting time. There are both early and late varieties on the modern market. Depending on the time of planting, you can get a harvest in the beginning or in the middle of summer. As for the late greens, they will have to wait until the end of August for their ripening.
In addition, this type of vegetable can be divided depending on the methods of pollination. Varieties are parthenocarpic, self-pollinating and bee-pollinating. The first two options will be an excellent solution for growing in polycarbonate greenhouses or film shelters.But the latter option boasts unique taste and is perfect for growing outdoors.
Among experienced summer residents, varieties that are designed to eat cucumbers in their natural form are also in great demand. A similar variety is called salad and is usually distinguished by elongated fruits and a fairly dense skin.
Due to their unique properties, such vegetables can be planted not only in the open air, but also in greenhouses. A distinctive feature of salad cucumbers is that they are quite well preserved, but they are not suitable for preservation, as they become too soft under the influence of certain substances.
If it is necessary to carry out canning and obtaining brine, then it is best to give preference to special varieties that are distinguished by thick skin and dark spikes. The main advantage of such species is that they pass the brine without problems, and the pulp always has an impressive crunch.
A serious drawback of such varieties is that it will not work to store them without brine for a long time, even if you use the quick freezing functions for this.
If gardeners cannot decide for what purpose cucumbers will be used, then it is best to choose universal options. They can be used both in natural form and in canned form at the same time. However, you should only resort to this choice if you do not have enough space to grow many different varieties of cucumbers at the same time.
The process of growing this vegetable in a summer cottage also has its own specific features of the selection of varieties. If self-pollinated varieties should be preferred for closed ground, as they do a great job even without pollination, then for open beds, bee-pollinated options and hybrids, which are brighter and richer in taste, are the ideal solution. It is not worth growing other cucumbers in an open area, since most varieties practically cannot cope with the sudden temperature changes that are inevitable in the garden.
Among the most popular and sought-after varieties among summer residents and gardeners, the following should be noted.
"Cascade"
A bee pollinated variety with impressive yields and versatility. The advantage of cucumbers of this variety is that they are characterized by unique taste and almost no bitterness. "Cascade" should be used for planting in open ground - this variety is famous for its resistance to water and cold temperatures.
"Amethyst"
A variety with early maturation, the peculiarity of which is high yield and resistance to pests. The main problem of most cucumbers is powdery mildew, which bypasses this species. And the finished product is distinguished by tuberculate peel and unique taste properties. In addition, such cucumbers do a great job with transportation and can be used both in conservation and in kind.
"Elegant"
A bee-pollinated variety with a high yield that can be used fresh and in various preparations. According to reviews, Zelentsy have a size of about 10 cm and are covered with a small peel. The peculiarity of plantings is that they are resistant to diseases, and also do an excellent job with olive blotch.
Due to the unique properties of this variety, it can be used not only for planting in open ground, but also for planting cucumbers in greenhouse conditions.
"Atlant"
Mid-season hybrid that boasts prompt maturation and incredibly smooth skin. It should be noted that in most cases, these varieties are used for planting cucumbers in polycarbonate greenhouses, but it can also be used for open ground. The main advantage of this variety is that it is characterized by extremely high resistance to sudden changes in temperature. At the same time, such cucumbers need a lot of water and soil fertility. Medium-sized bushes boast incredible resistance to diseases and pests, due to which the yield is quite high.
"Moment"
A bee-pollinated variety that has an average maturation period and an impressive resistance to disease and pathogens. Even after fungal infections, such cucumbers recover extremely quickly. Another advantage of the variety is its versatility, thanks to which products can be stored for a long time without losing their external and taste properties.
In the process of growing cucumbers in open ground, attention should be paid to late-ripening varieties. One of the most popular and sought after is Nezhinsky, which boasts medium-sized fruits. The peculiarity of such a product is that it can be used in its natural form, as well as for processing. This result was achieved thanks to the tasty and incredibly crispy pulp.In addition, these varieties of cucumbers remarkably resist fungal and other infections, and the harvest is quite large and of high quality.
If you are interested in late-ripening hybrid varieties, then it is best to pay attention to "Samurai", which is distinguished by perfectly branched bushes. In the field of consumption, the harvest is characterized by its versatility. The finished product has impressive commercial qualities. Like most other hybrid varieties, Samurai is extremely resistant to fungal diseases and microorganisms, especially powdery mildew. Despite the fact that this variety feels great in closed ground conditions, you can grow a similar cucumber in an open area.
In recent years, the Courage variety has been very popular among summer residents who grow cucumbers in open conditions. This is an early maturing hybrid that does not need pollination by bees and feels great outdoors. Regardless of weather conditions, you can count on large yields. The peculiarity of these medium-sized plants is that they can fight most diseases without problems. Cucumbers covered with small tubercles boast an amazing taste and perfect pulp, therefore they are suitable for both summer salads and winter preservation.
Crane, which is a mid-early hybrid, is an excellent option for outdoor cultivation. Such cucumbers require pollination by bees and are characterized by impressive yields, and can also be used both in their natural form and for brine.The variety is not affected by powdery mildew, so the yield is quite high. Outwardly, cucumbers are distinguished by small tubercles. It should be noted that the "Crane" needs a sufficient amount of water, because, otherwise, it simply will not grow.
Another variety suitable for outdoor cultivation is Hector, which is an ultra-early hybrid. It is characterized by small bushes and abundant fruiting. Medium and large greens have quite tasty and crispy flesh. Among the main advantages of this variety, one can single out its ability to cope with sudden changes in temperature and resistance to downy mildew. In terms of use, "Hector" is universal.
Landing methods
When growing cucumbers in an open area, close attention must be paid to their planting, because the yield and other indicators depend only on this. To date, there are a huge number of landing methods, but only a few are most popular.
Summer residents are trying every year to create the most suitable conditions for growing everyone's favorite vegetable.Therefore, almost every day, advanced technologies appear that have proven their effectiveness and efficiency. Among the rather extravagant methods of planting cucumbers, cultivation in a barrel, bottle, and other similar containers can be distinguished.
A distinctive advantage of such methods is that they can be used not only for planting cucumbers in an open area, but also during their planting on a balcony, in polycarbonate greenhouses or in the country.
in bags
One of the most interesting and original options is planting this vegetable in bags. This method is very similar to technology using a barrel. The peculiarity of the technique lies in the fact that packages or bags of 100 or more liters are used as containers. Usually summer residents use ordinary sugar bags for these purposes. They are filled with soil and manure, and it is also recommended to use peat or humus.
If the bag is large, then dry grass or some other similar waste can be poured onto the bottom. At the same time, do not forget that the thickness of the soil cannot be less than 15 cm. The place for the bags must be chosen as sunny as possible so that the crop receives a sufficient amount of sunlight and wind. You can install the bags right on the garden, supporting them with metal rods.
One of the main attributes of this method of growing cucumbers in the open field is the use of special tubes that are inserted into bags. Their length is usually about 100 mm and they are used to deliver water to the soil. The presence of through holes allows you to supply water from start to finish. Depending on the size of the bag and the cucumbers used, about 15 seeds can be planted in one container. After formation, several leaves erupt and the strongest remain.
Among the advantages of growing cucumbers on open ground using bags, the following points can be distinguished.
- The ability to save space on the site. Due to the small size of the bag and the ability to get several bushes from each of them, the final yield will be much higher than with the usual method of growing.
- No need for digging and weeding.
- Ease of garden care.
- The fruits are clean, and with a lot of rain they are reliably protected from spoilage.
A significant disadvantage of this method of planting cucumbers is that it will be necessary to spend a lot of money on creating vertical beds.
In addition, it is constantly necessary to control the level of soil moisture, because without this it is impossible to get a good harvest.
in a hut
The second most popular planting technology is planting in a hut. The peculiarity of this method is to carry out driving in the center of the pipe so that 1 m is underground. When planting seeds, you need to be extremely careful and clearly follow the interval, which cannot be less than 30 centimeters. After the shoots reach 15 cm, it is necessary to fix the cord at the very top, thus forming a trellis. It is on them that the whips will crawl. Using this method allows you to grow a fairly tall bush, but it will not be able to boast of a compact size. That is why it will be necessary to pay close attention to its constant molding.
The following strengths of this growing method can be distinguished:
- economical distribution of free space, which is especially important with limited land resources;
- protection of fruits from pollution, which completely eliminates the possibility of their decay;
- due to their high size, such plants are a decoration of the garden and play the role of shading for other plants, to which excess sunlight can cause significant damage.
It should be noted that there are almost no shortcomings in such an organization of landing.The only difficult point is that initially you have to work hard to create such a supporting structure. In addition, bushes grow quite slowly under such conditions, especially if they are planted on the north side, since they will not receive the required amount of sunlight.
in tires
In recent years, planting cucumbers in car tires has been very popular. This technology boasts of its originality and compactness, as well as the ability to create a rather extravagant design of the beds. The process of creating such a structure is to stack about 5 or more tires on top of each other and fill them first with various waste, and then with soil and peat. As in the case of bags, close attention must be paid here to the creation of a pipe that will be used in order to water the structure. This is extremely important, because without a sufficient amount of moisture, any variety of cucumbers is doomed to death.
Among the main strengths of planting cucumbers in car tires on open ground are the following:
- the ability to significantly save space in the garden, which is especially important when space is limited;
- cage mobility and attractive design;
- the ability to plant cucumbers and get a crop 2 times in 1 season, which significantly increases the amount of the resulting product.
Of course, before landing, you will have to work hard to create a similar design and provide it with an attractive appearance. In addition, you will need to find tires. It should be noted that these may not be new shop tires, but already used old options.The operational properties of tires have no role in the process of growing cucumbers in them. As for the soil used, it should only be loose and light, otherwise it will not be possible to water it, and as a result the crop will be spoiled.
On willow twigs
One of the most ancient ways is the cultivation of this vegetable crop on willow twigs. The essence of this method is to build a fence of willow branches. The main advantage of this material is its impressive flexibility, due to which, when in contact with it, cucumbers feel quite cozy and comfortable. In the process of planting, you must be extremely careful so that the knitting does not turn out to be too tight. Otherwise, cucumber seeds will not be able to receive the proper level of light and air, which will affect the growth rate and taste of the product. One of the advantages of this method is the ability to save space under the garden, as well as reduce the risk of infections on the fruit.
In addition, willow branches allow you to create diffused light, which prevents the fruits from burning out due to too strong sunlight and hot weather. And thanks to this property, crops adjacent to cucumbers are always in a slightly shaded place, which also has a positive effect on their growth.
The main disadvantage of this technique is that it is necessary to pay much attention to the procurement of materials, and the process of working on the bed is quite laborious.
Under the film
If you are looking for an extravagant and effective way, then planting cucumbers under a film is exactly what you need. The use of such shelters on productive beds allows you to get high-quality and tasty fruits.It is polyethylene film or a special fiber that is perfect for such purposes. Among the main advantages of this technology is the ability to provide good lighting and warm irrigation with water. In addition, to obtain a crop, you will have to use phosphorus fertilizers, as well as carry out thorough care.
This method of planting seeds requires maximum concentration and responsibility. They can be planted only if the temperature does not exceed 23 degrees, and it is necessary to cover with a film only after watering the beds. The edges of the film on all sides are attached to the ground as much as possible with the help of bricks or other possible fasteners. Only then will it be possible to create the most optimal conditions for planting cucumbers.
After the shoots have appeared, the bed should open during the day, but at night the material is tightly covered to ensure reliable protection of the crop from temperature changes and bad weather conditions. It should be remembered that night frosts can be even in May, so an unprotected crop can die immediately. In addition, such protection provides reliable protection against decay due to heavy rains.
bottled
Of course, there are still a huge number of other methods that differ in efficiency and reliability. For example, the method of growing cucumbers in five-liter bottles is great for growing such vegetables in regions that have a harsh climate.
The peculiarity of this method is that it will not be necessary to transplant young shoots to greenhouse beds.And in order to get the highest quality crop, it is necessary to carefully prepare the mixture for containers, which includes soil, peat, fertilizer and wood ash. In addition, a couple of holes must be made at the bottom so that plants can be watered.
in a barrel
Growing cucumbers in a barrel involves the use of huge containers that will be left on the site in any convenient order. The main advantage of this technique is that you can significantly save space, even grow cucumbers in a small courtyard in the country. And the quality of the barrels does not matter, so you can use both new and old options.
The technique will be effective only if you correctly form layers in the barrel itself. First you need to drill a few holes in order to create a greenhouse effect. It is thanks to these holes that excess moisture will not linger in the soil and will be able to flow out. Otherwise, it will stagnate, which will lead to rotting of the product.
It is best to use purchased soil, which is intended exclusively for cucumbers. If financial possibilities do not allow this, then it is necessary to prepare such soil with your own hands. To do this, fertile soil is mixed with manure and humus, after which it is diluted with river sand. The last point is especially important if the land used has a dense structure.
Care rules
Cucumber is one of the most popular garden crops. Landing is a rather complicated process, but only half the success depends on it.It will be possible to grow a high-quality and tasty crop only if close attention is paid to agricultural technology.
top dressing
Most people believe that the more fertilizer they use, the more likely they are to get a good harvest. However, such an opinion is extremely erroneous, and can nullify all your efforts. It is worth remembering that it is necessary to feed cucumbers if the weather is too hot. The higher the temperature, the more attention should be paid to this process.
In no case should cucumbers be grown in the same place for several years. If open ground is used, it is best to replace the cucumbers with cabbage or cauliflower, which will allow the soil to rest and be ready for planting next season. In addition, cucumbers thrive in areas where tomatoes, potatoes or sugar beets used to grow.
The best fertilizer for cucumbers is ash, it contains a lot of nutrients. During fruiting, it is good to use mullein. This will increase the yield. Another option is humus, which every gardener can find.
Watering
Close attention should be paid to watering plants, because they must receive the necessary amount of moisture. It is water that is the basis of growth, therefore, with a lack of moisture, greens are small and tasteless.
Water cucumbers only with warm water, and pour it under the root. The best time for the procedure is early morning or evening. In cloudy weather, the culture is not watered, as the sprouts will not absorb water. Before the cucumbers begin to bloom, apply water once a day. When ovaries appear - 3-4 times a week.
When the fruits begin to ripen, it is enough to limit yourself to weekly watering.
pruning
Proper pruning will not only increase the amount of the crop, but also change its quality for the better. The main advantage of pruning cucumbers is that the vegetative mass is greatly reduced, which has a positive effect on fruit growth.
The pruning method should be chosen depending on the plant variety. From time to time, it is recommended to get rid of lateral stems and leaves in order to speed up the development of the fruit.
Pruning is carried out early in the morning. At the same time, not only diseased shoots and leaves are removed, but also those lashes that cling to others.
Tying up
Properly performed garter allows you to solve several problems, including saving space in your summer cottage, easier harvesting and protecting it from many bacteria. Tying is best done when the height of this vegetable crop exceeds 30 cm. Today, there are two methods of tying: horizontal and vertical.
The first way is pretty simple. Two sticks are driven into the ground, and a rope is pulled between them in several rows. Young shoots are allowed along the lower edge.
The second method also uses supports, but the rope is pulled in one row. After some distances, fabric flaps are fixed on it, their number should be equal to the number of cucumber bushes. The lower part of the flap is fixed on the bush.
Diseases and pests
Diseases
Cucumbers are affected by a huge number of diseases and pests that can cause damage to the crop.In order to learn how to identify them and competently deal with them, it will be necessary to closely and carefully monitor the condition of the greens.
One of the most common problems is powdery mildew, which is a serious disease. Among the main reasons for the appearance of such a disease are excessive air humidity, poor ventilation, the use of cold water for irrigation and frequent temperature changes. Affected crops are characterized by a minimum growing season, which significantly reduces the amount of yield. In most cases, fruit-bearing cucumbers suffer from the disease.
The main symptom of the disease is the presence of round spots on adult fruits. If powdery mildew has been present for a long time, then such raids will also be visible on the stems. A neglected disease usually causes the stems to dry out completely and the crop becomes unusable. Most of all, this cucumber disease progresses in areas that are characterized by excessive humidity.
First of all, you need to choose varieties of cucumbers that are characterized by resistance to this disease. In the autumn season, it is necessary to get rid of all residues and carry out deep digging of the soil. If infection has already occurred, cucumbers will respond well to treatment with nettle or soapy water. Among chemicals, Bordeaux liquid, Topaz, Quadris will be an excellent solution.
The second most common disease is downy mildew, also called downy mildew. This fungal infection is quite dangerous and can also destroy the entire crop if it is not dealt with in time.
In most cases, this vegetable becomes ill with it during flowering, and among the main symptoms of downy mildew, the following can be distinguished:
- angular yellow-green oily spots appear on the upper part of the leaves;
- the lower part of the leaves is characterized by a purple bloom;
- in a short period of time, the spots grow quite quickly and soon occupy the entire leaf.
It is noteworthy that today there are no varieties of cucumbers and hybrids that are distinguished by maximum resistance to downy mildew. That is why it is necessary to constantly inspect your crop and take appropriate measures when such a disease is detected. It is advisable to treat it in the same way as ordinary powdery mildew.
Another nuisance for summer residents who grow cucumbers in the open field is olive spotting., which is also referred to as cladosporiosis. The peculiarity of this disease is that it harms not only the fruits, but also the stems. The reason for the appearance of cladosporiosis is too high humidity, as well as frequent temperature changes. But if cucumbers are grown in regions with high temperatures and low humidity, then the disease manifests itself extremely rarely and develops very slowly.
The main symptom of this disease is the presence of small sores on the stems and petioles. After a few weeks, the diseased parts of the bushes begin to crumble and the disease spreads to other parts of the cucumbers. If no measures are taken in time, then in a month the crop can be completely destroyed by this disease.
The disease is treated by spraying Bordeaux liquid or copper oxychloride.
Root rot is a disease that affects adult cucumbers. Among the signs of such a disease, the presence of yellow spots and sagging leaves can be distinguished. In addition, sometimes brown spots appear at the roots of the stems. Like the previous disease, root rot spreads extremely quickly in conditions of high humidity, so when it is detected, it is necessary to immediately stop watering the plants.
It should be noted that this disease can manifest itself only on weak plants, therefore, nitrogen fertilizers should be used for prevention. It will be good to change the soil on which the cucumber grows. Fungicides must be applied to the new land. Among the drugs can be noted "Trichodermin", "Baktofit", "Previkur".
Pests
As for pests of cucumbers, the first place in this list is occupied by the whitefly, which is the most dangerous for this plant. This insect is characterized by a length of 1 cm and two pairs of wings. You can judge that an insect attacked your cucumber crop by the large number of light spots on the leaves of cucumbers. In addition, colonies of small white insects very often appear on the underside, thanks to which, in a short time, the crop will begin to turn completely yellow and the leaves will fall.
To protect your crop from the whitefly, you need to treat the soil with fertilizers and disinfect it annually. In addition, choose the highest quality planting material, because the ability of plants to resist pests depends on this. If it was not possible to save cucumbers from the invasion of these pests, then the plant will need to be sprayed with soapy water, and the insects themselves should be caught with suction devices.There are also a huge number of chemicals that have shown their effectiveness in the fight against whiteflies. Among the most common are "Vertimek" and "Aktellik".
The spider mite is also a rather unpleasant parasite. It is difficult to see him, but you can always notice a thin cobweb, with which he braids the leaves. All diseased leaves are quickly collected and burned. Plants are treated with insecticides, and also necessarily sprayed with a solution of Karbofos. To prevent ticks, you need to plant seedlings early and uproot weeds in a timely manner.
Often affects cucumbers and melon aphids - a tiny insect that parasitizes on the lower part of the foliage. The pest spends the winter in humus and weeds, so all this should be removed before the cold weather.
Insecticides will help in the fight, but ladybugs will be especially good, which will quickly cope with uninvited guests.
Recommendations
Thus, cucumbers are one of the most common crops in modern horticulture. In order for the harvest to turn out to be of the highest quality and tasty, it is necessary to pay close attention to all aspects of cultivation.
First of all, choose a quality place for planting seeds, which should be characterized by excellent illumination. If you follow all the recommendations of professional summer residents, then in the next three months you can harvest a good harvest. And in the process of choosing varieties, it is best to give preference to those that are distinguished by good resistance to diseases and pests. Allocate for planting cucumbers you need a bed with good tinted soil, which receives the necessary amount of sunlight.When preparing seedlings at home, be sure to harden and disinfect seeds.
Proper care is the most important stage in growing a crop. If there is not enough water, then there is every chance that the fruits will grow bitter. That is why it is recommended to constantly maintain the level of soil moisture by watering the plants. Top dressing of cucumbers should be carried out every month, and you can use compost, holla and mullein for this.
In order to prevent the invasion of insects, it is necessary to constantly review the crop and, if any problems are found, immediately take measures to eliminate them. Otherwise, some diseases and insects can destroy the crop in a week and nullify all efforts to grow it. If you are going to use insecticides, it is best to limit yourself to folk remedies first or choose the least toxic options. Of course, these tools are not highly effective, but they allow you to prevent damage to the taste of cucumbers.
It is best to plant seeds for seedlings using separate containers. Seedlings can be planted only after there is no threat of frost. It is necessary to take into account not only daytime temperatures, but evening and night ones, since most seeds die precisely because of night frosts, which can even be in April. Thus, planting seedlings is best done in May. Between plants it is necessary to maintain a distance of at least 15 cm, which will allow you to get large greens.
After ripe cucumbers reach a certain size, the product must be harvested at least once every few days. It is impossible for cucumbers to turn yellow on the site, as they will begin to take strength from other fruits that have not yet ripened.
When choosing a variety, it is imperative to take into account the characteristics of the area. For example, for the Urals or Kuban, different varieties are needed, given the climatic situation in the regions. In addition, attention should be paid to hydroponics, regardless of whether planting is carried out in bags, buckets or car tires.
If you want the crops to sprout well, then you should take care step by step: fertilize, water, hill up and monitor the condition of the leaves and fruits. Pruning and tying should be carried out strictly depending on the variety of cucumbers. Such secrets will help you grow a good crop of cucumbers at home, which will be distinguished by unusual and unique taste.
You can find all the intricacies of growing cucumbers in the next video.