How and when to plant cucumbers for seedlings: technology

In order to achieve a good and plentiful harvest of cucumbers, there are several agricultural techniques. One of them is the preliminary cultivation of seedlings. In this article, we will look at how to plant cucumbers for seedlings correctly in order to get an excellent harvest in the summer.

Planting dates for seedlings

Many people ask themselves the question "when to sow cucumbers for seedlings?" The difficulty in timing is that it can be missed very easily. Otherwise, the seedlings of cucumbers can "stand", which will significantly reduce its survival rate when transferred to a new place of growth. To correctly determine the time for planting cucumber seeds, you need to know a simple rule - you can transplant seedlings to the garden bed only two to three weeks after you have sown the seeds.

At the same time, you should definitely know the climate of your region, because cucumbers are thermophilic plants. Therefore, in planting cucumbers for seedlings, air and soil temperature plays an important role. The soil temperature for cucumber seedlings should be at least +15 degrees. However, the indicator of +15 degrees is not the most optimal, on the contrary. Seedlings at this temperature will germinate very slowly. At this temperature of the soil for seedlings of cucumbers, the seeds will grow only during the day under the influence of sunlight, and at night they will freeze.

Approximately, planting is carried out in mid or late spring (late April or early May). By correctly timing the sowing of cucumbers for seedlings, you will ensure yourself a guarantee of an excellent harvest in the future.

Landing technology

Now let's move on directly to the analysis of the question of how to properly grow cucumber seedlings.

The process of planting cucumbers for seedlings begins from the moment the seeds are harvested. If you buy seeds, you can immediately start growing cucumber seedlings. They are sold already disinfected and prepared, so there is no need to soak them in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. In the case when you yourself harvest the seeds, then you need to know how to do it correctly. You need to store seeds in a place whose temperature does not exceed + 15 ° C, and the humidity is 50-60%, under such conditions they can be stored for up to 10 years without loss of germination quality. The most productive seeds are considered to be 3-4 years of storage.

Planting technology for seeds of cucumbers for seedlings:

• soaking seeds. To do this, they are wrapped in a cloth and then soaked in a container with water at a temperature close to room temperature. The water should only slightly overlap the seeds. Its excess will negatively affect the quality of seedlings;
• pre-sowing hardening. This process involves placing the seeds, wrapped in a damp cloth, in the refrigerator for two days. Some gardeners recommend wrapping in plastic as well. Seeds should be monitored periodically to ensure they do not germinate. Such hardening will increase their cold resistance;
• sowing seeds. They can be planted in cups, boxes or peat tablets. Remember that the soil for cucumber seedlings must contain the appropriate nutrient media that will allow the vegetables to grow normally. In the case when you plant in a separate container, the picking stage is skipped (when the plants are planted in individual containers), which is very important for this plant;
• soil for seedlings of cucumbers is best prepared as follows: 2 parts of soil and 1 part of peat. You can add some sand if desired. Pour the resulting mixture into a container so that 1 cm to the top is free. This will make watering easier;
• after sowing, it remains only to periodically water.

Caring for seeds while they have not germinated consists in observing the following rules:

• it is best to put containers with seeds in a pallet or box;
• there should be holes in the bottom of the container that will provide the necessary air access;
• the soil must be disinfected by watering it with a solution of potassium permanganate (the solution must be of a bright color);
• only one germinated seed is placed in one container. This will facilitate faster germination;
• at the end of sowing, the pallet with seedlings is transferred to a warm place, where the air temperature will be +23 - 25 degrees;
• you need to water the plants twice in 7 days;
• the seeds planted in the soil are covered from above with plastic wrap and placed in a warm place;
• when they grow up, the film is removed;
• after the first shoots appear, the pallet is transferred to a light windowsill. Remember that there should be no drafts;
• after a month, your seedlings will be strong and strong enough to transfer the transplant to the ground.

Some gardeners complain that their seedlings are very elongated. Why are cucumber seedlings pulled out? Seedlings can stretch out when the plant lacks natural light. Therefore, to avoid this, you need to expose the seedlings in areas with good lighting.

But amateur gardeners are faced with a similar phenomenon even when plants already have access to light. Why are cucumber seedlings pulled out in this situation? Seedlings can stretch out even if the light period is short. Additional lighting can be installed to eliminate pulling.

Germination

Germination of seeds before sowing is carried out in order to accelerate the process of germination of the seedlings themselves. Germination itself takes place in the following way:

• cucumber seeds must be treated with special microelements that stimulate metabolism in them;
• then the seeds are dried;
• after drying, they begin to germinate.

Germination begins by soaking the seeds in damp gauze or a napkin on a small saucer. It is covered with glass on top to prevent water evaporation. The gauze or napkin should be periodically moistened with water at room temperature. Stimulates germination by hardening seeds in the refrigerator for two days. After these manipulations, the seeds will grow in 2-3 days. Then they begin to sow them.

Also, to accelerate the germination process of 6-8-year-old seeds, they are bubbled for 18 hours. To do this, lower the aquarium processor into a jar filled with water. Then the seeds are lowered there, wrapped in a porous cloth diaper (gauze is also suitable). After this procedure, the seeds can be sown immediately.

Additional lighting will help speed up aging. To do this, place fluorescent lamps above the seedlings (approximately 5 cm from the seedlings). As the seedlings grow, the lamp will need to be lifted slightly.

The pre-germination process will make your seedling procedure much easier and stronger.

We plant in the ground

When the seedlings have grown well enough, you can start planting them in open soil in fresh air. Usually, the timing of disembarkation is determined by weather and climatic conditions. This process is carried out only after all spring frosts have passed. The most optimal time is considered to be the beginning of June. It is possible earlier, but only if you live in a mild and warm climate. In greenhouses, you can make an earlier planting - in May. They start planting only when the soil has warmed up to + 16-18 ° С, and the air temperature is set at an average of + 18-20 ° С.

Before planting, the seedlings are hardened by exposing them to the open air. The day before planting, the sprouts are watered with water. Before direct planting, the soil must be fertilized with compost or manure.Holes are dug in the ground with a depth of about 15 cm. The hole must be watered abundantly with water. The landing pattern is absolutely any.

If you grew seedlings in a separate plastic glass, then everything is very simple - you just need to carefully cut the glass and lower the sprout along with the earth from the glass into the previously prepared hole. Then the seedling is sprinkled with earth and tamped a little. High-quality seedlings are planted vertically, and overgrown ones - obliquely. It is recommended to treat the root necks with river sand (just sprinkle it with it), this will protect the vegetable from root rot.

Before planting cucumbers for seedlings, you need to remember that when planting them, crop rotation should be observed. Cucumbers are not recommended to be planted in places where they already grew last year. In the place where the pumpkin grew, cucumbers can only be planted after 4 years. The optimal precursors for these plants are cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes, as well as legumes and green crops.

You need to plant cucumbers in well-lit areas that are well protected from northern winds. They grow best on light, loose and fertile soils. After planting, during the first days, the seedlings are watered abundantly with water. You can set arcs and cover the plants with foil.

Observing the above technology, you can get good and strong plants, and subsequently a good harvest.

Video "Growing seedlings of cucumbers"

In this video, you can see how to properly carry out the entire process of obtaining seedlings.