DIY greenhouse designs for cucumbers
At any cottage, greenhouses for cucumbers will certainly not be superfluous. They are able to protect grown vegetables from the influence of negative climate factors. Of course, building a greenhouse is not an easy task, and first of all it is necessary to determine the location.
Content
Choosing a place for growing
The growing place must be chosen very carefully. It all depends on the following key factors:
- Seedlings and seeds planted in the ground should have maximum access to the sun's rays during the so-called "light" days;
- There must be substantial wind protection;
- It should be placed according to the cardinal points, but it is best to place it starting from the west and east;
- In no case should water drip onto the area covered by the greenhouse, so it should be placed on flat surfaces without nearby trees.
As for the greenhouse, it should be set up according to the same rules. In addition, in this case, the power supply of the greenhouse still plays an important role, so it should be placed as close to the house as possible.
Greenhouse requirements
The most common are not very tall greenhouses, since the ground in them has the ability to warm up much faster, and the heat is stored much longer. They managed to win the trust of many summer residents. The main requirement is a high level of protection and ease of design. It is not very difficult to build it with your own hands, but financially it is very profitable.
First of all, you need to remember about the need to open the greenhouse on very hot days. Otherwise, the cucumbers inside will simply burn. Since with the approach of evening, and therefore night, coolness comes to replace the heat, it is time to close the greenhouse again so that the grown vegetables do not freeze. It is extremely important to control the temperature regime inside the greenhouse. In addition, drafts are undesirable, because they are also capable of causing irreparable harm to cucumbers.
This in turn creates a new requirement for good ventilation. To ensure proper air exchange, it is enough to provide simple windows. Depending on the goals of the greenhouse construction and the capabilities of the engineering infrastructure, it can be heated with biofuel, water or electricity. However, the sun's rays remain the most common heating method. The scale of the greenhouse being built also depends on the scale of the desired sowing.
Film greenhouse - how to make?
In order for the film greenhouse to be easy to build, you should purchase special arcs, stick them into the ground, but the distance between them should be at least sixty centimeters. A soft wire is stretched above them to connect them, and then covered with a film, the ends of which are fixed to pegs stuck in the ground. The last action can be done with bare hands, since great strength is not needed.
There are cases when it is necessary not soft, but on the contrary - a thick wire to form a frame higher, and then cover it with a polyethylene film. A suitable microclimate is simply necessary for cucumbers, so in the next few days after erection, it must stand for a while so that the required temperature and other conditions form inside it. Cold at night is very dangerous for cucumbers due to the fact that it is during this period of the day that it actively develops and grows.
Thus, a highly mobile structure of compact dimensions is obtained. Such a film greenhouse for cucumbers with your own hands is quite easy to make and dismantle, if necessary, in order to move to another place.
The greenhouse can also be installed on a finished foundation, but then its volume will be much larger. In fact, you will get a greenhouse in which you can freely move and care for cucumbers. Of course, the installation of such a greenhouse is much more complicated, so this option is definitely not suitable for beginners.
Greenhouse made of metal, wood, pvc
If you make a temporary greenhouse, then the foundation is not at all required. It is irreplaceable only in the case of building a permanent type greenhouse. First of all, for this you need to dig a meter-long hole, at the bottom of which burnt (or broken) brick is poured, as well as rubble. For additional strength, the base of the foundation can be reinforced with a reinforced mesh or reinforcement. This is especially useful if it is glass.
If the design is not designed very large, then such complications are unnecessary. In all cases, the frame should act as the basis of the greenhouse, and the strength of the structure as a whole depends on its strength. Depending on the goal pursued, materials are also distinguished from which greenhouses for cucumbers can be made. Available in wood, metal, polycarbonate or polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
If the wooden option was chosen, then in this case the wooden surface must be covered with a special antiseptic, which will protect it from dampness, insects and prolong the durability of such a demanding material. The positive side of wood is that it is a natural material, environmentally friendly and easy to install.
The frame made of steel and metal is stronger and more reliable. It is able to withstand more physical activity, and it is more resistant to atmospheric factors. Unfortunately, it is corrosive and must be treated properly.
As for PVC, such a frame is quite safe, although all its strength directly depends on the thickness of the profile itself. It is also ecological. Its advantages include the complete tightness of the greenhouse system, and the regulation of the internal microclimate is carried out personally by its owner. It is clear that in order to perform accurate and professional work, you first need to create an action plan and drawings.
Recommendations for growing cucumbers in a greenhouse
All cucumber greenhouses require certain conditions to be met. Cucumbers themselves differ from other plant species in their flowers. On their stem, female and male flowers are formed at once. They are very sensitive to the quality and type of fertilizer. It is recommended to use humus and compost. Re-fertilization with saltpeter and poultry droppings is not necessary.
If you grow cucumbers in a film greenhouse, then you do not need to plant the plants too densely. It is important to regularly remove unnecessary shoots and shorten them. Available in the form of those that are on the side. It is because of them that humid air stagnates, which leads to the formation of fungus. In the case of the presence of fungal diseases on cucumbers, diseased leaves are collected (preferably with gloves) and burned. After such a procedure, it is necessary to ventilate the greenhouse. As for irrigation, cucumbers are irrigated with half percent potassium permanganate or one percent copper sulfate.
If root rot has formed, then it is necessary to make holes next to the cucumber roots, and then fill them with chilled calcined river sand.
Having knowledge of how to make a greenhouse for cucumbers, one should not forget about some important nuances. For example, a shelter should not obstruct sunlight. Cucumbers, like all other plants, need the light of the sun, which they need for development and fruiting. You should take care of the availability of a cover made of material with excellent light transmittance.
When it comes to heating the soil, the top fertile layer should be removed and the resulting depression should be filled with grass, branches and straw. After all this begins to rot, natural protection from the cold will begin to form. The removed earth is poured back in a small amount. Then you need to pour manure or compost, and then again fertile soil. Having done all this work, you can sow the treated area with peace of mind. At first, the bed will be in a raised state, but after the used materials rot, it will drop over time.
Video "Greenhouse with your own hands"
A video with instructions for building a greenhouse with your own hands. The video touches upon the nuances associated with the construction of this structure.