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When to start growing cucumbers


Growing cucumbers in home gardens

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Quick facts

A summer vine crop 

Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) are common garden vegetables in all regions of Minnesota. You can eat them pickled, or raw in salads.

Like other vine crops such as squash, melons and pumpkins, cucumbers grow best in warm weather. Some varieties form long vines that may need a trellis. Others are bush-types that fit better in a small garden.

Soil pH and fertility

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Selecting plants

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Planting

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How to keep your cucumber plants healthy and productive

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Managing pests, diseases, and disorders

Many things can affect cucumber plants. Changes in physical appearance and plant health can be caused by the environment, plant diseases, insects and wildlife. In order to address what you’re seeing, it is important to make a correct diagnosis. 

You can find additional help identifying common pest problems by using the online diagnostic tools What insect is this? and What's wrong with my plant? or by sending a sample to the UMN Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic. You can use Ask a Master Gardener to share pictures and get input.

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Authors: Marissa Schuh, Extension educator, Vincent J. Fritz and Carl J. Rosen

Reviewed in 2022

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How To Plant & Grow Cucumber Seeds: Complete Step-By-Step Guide

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Growing cucumbers from seed is fun and easy! You can start them indoors, or direct sow them right into your garden. In this post, I’ll show you exactly when and how to plant cucumber seeds, step-by-step.

If you’ve never tried growing cucumbers from seed before, you’re in for a real treat! It’s simple to do, and they germinate very quickly.

In fact, cucumbers are one of the easiest vegetables to grow from seed. Once you learn how simple it is, you’ll wonder why you ever bought starts before.

Even if you have struggled with it in the past, you’re sure to be successful following this guide.

Keep reading to learn exactly how to plant and grow cucumber seeds, step by step.

 

Table of Contents

Growing Cucumbers From Seed

If you want to try growing cucumbers from seed, you’ll need to choose which type(s) you want to plant first. Then you can figure out what method to use for starting them, and how long it will take.

Types Of Cucumber Seeds To Plant

There are tons of different types, and the variety you choose depends on what you want to use them for, and your preferred flavor or texture.

A few of my favorites are Marketmore, Homemade Pickles, and Baby Persian. It’s also fun to grow lemon cucumber.

Different types of cucumber seed packets

Recommended Cucumber Seed Starting Methods

There are two methods you can use for planting cucumber seeds: direct sowing or starting them indoors.

Since they grow so fast, I prefer to plant them directly into my garden. But you can do it either way.

Related Post: 3 Seed Starting Methods That Every Gardener Should Try

How Long From Seed To Harvest?

In general, the number days from seed to harvest is between 50-70. The exact days depends on the variety you have, as well as the growing conditions.

Mature cucumbers ready to harvest

Planting Cucumber Seeds

Read through this section to make sure the conditions are right for planting, and that you follow the proper steps to be successful.

When To Plant Cucumber Seeds

Plant cucumbers seeds directly into your garden a week or two after your last frost, once the ground warms up to 60°F or higher in the spring. You can use a soil thermometer to check it.

If you want to start them indoors, then plan to do it 4-6 weeks before the average last frost date in your area.

Preparing Cucumber Seeds For Planting

There’s nothing special you need to do to prepare cucumber seeds for planting, you can just sow them directly out of the packet.

However, soaking them in warm water for 12-24 hours beforehand can help them germinate faster.

Related Post: 13 DIY Cucumber Trellis Ideas For Small Or Large Spaces

Preparing cucumber seeds for planting

Cucumber Germination Time

One of the reasons it’s so fun to grow cucumbers from seed is because they sprout very quickly. Their germination time can be anywhere from 3-10 days.

They will germinate faster in warm soil. So if you want to speed it up, then use a heat mat indoors to keep them warm, or wait to plant outside them until the ground has reached at least 60°F.

What Do Cucumber Seedlings Look Like?

The first two leaves that form right after germination are called the “seed leaves”. Those are oval and slightly pointy at the tips.

All of the others that grow after the seed leaves are called “true leaves”, and they look like tiny cucumber leaves.

Related Post: Why Do Cucumbers Turn Yellow & How To Prevent It

Cucumber seeds germinating

How To Care For Cucumber Seedlings

If you planted cucumber seeds right in the garden, then you can skip this entire section. But, if you started them indoors, it’s important to properly care for the seedlings.

Light

Cucumber seedlings grow very fast. So it’s important to use a grow light as soon as they germinate if you started them indoors, otherwise they will quickly get tall and leggy.

Water

They also need consistent waterings. Never let the soil dry completely, it should always stay moist. Use a moisture gauge to ensure proper watering.

Fertilizer

As soon as the seedlings get their true leaves, feed them with a 1/2 dose of organic liquid fertilizer. They love fish emulsion or compost tea as well.

Potting Up

It’s essential to repot them as soon as the seedlings are twice as tall as the original pot or seed tray. Use a plantable pot made out of peat moss, coco coir, or dried cow manure.

Related Post: How To Grow Cucumbers Vertically

First true leaves on cucumber seedlings

Transplanting Cucumber Seedlings Into The Garden

If you started cucumber seeds indoors, it’s crucial that you take the proper steps to transplant them into the garden.

The first step is to harden them off to prepare them for the transition. Do not skip this step, or they may not survive.

They hate the cold, so wait until all chance of frost is gone, and the soil has warmed up before transplanting the seedlings into your garden.

Next: Learn all you need to know about caring for them after planting cucumbers in your garden.

Baby cucumber seedling in my garden

FAQs

You might still have a few more questions about growing cucumbers from seed. Here are answers to some of the ones I get asked the most. If you can’t find yours here, ask it in the comments below.

What is the best way to plant cucumber seeds?

The best way to plant cucumbers seeds is to sow them directly into your garden. You can start them indoors if you prefer, but they don’t like to be transplanted. So use either plantable pots or large pellets.

Why won’t my cucumber seeds germinate?

If your cucumber seeds won’t germinate, it is likely that the soil was too wet or too cold, and they rotted. Otherwise, the seeds were old and no longer viable. Wait to plant them until the soil has warmed to 60°F or more.

How many cucumber seeds do you plant per hole?

You should only plant one cucumber seed per hole if you’re using a fresh new packet. For older ones, plant 2 per hole, and then thin them later if more than one germinates.

How deep do you plant cucumber seeds?

You should plant cucumber seeds twice as deep as they are wide. So, about one inch deep.

Can you plant cucumber seeds in the ground?

Yes, you can plant cucumber seeds in the ground. In fact, this is my preferred method. Just make sure to wait until the soil has warmed up to 60°F, and all chance of frost is gone in the spring.

Do cucumber seeds need light to germinate?

No, cucumber seeds do not need light to germinate. However, the seedlings need tons of light as soon as they begin to sprout, or they will quickly become leggy.

How can you germinate cucumber seeds faster?

You can germinate cucumber seeds faster by giving them plenty of warmth, keep the soil between 60-80°F at all times. You could also try soaking the seeds before sowing them, as that can also help to speed things up.

Planting and growing cucumbers from seed is simple and fast. No matter which variety you choose, you are sure to be successful if you follow these step by step instructions.

Do you want to learn all you need to know about how to start your own seeds? Then you need to take my online Seed Starting Course! It’s a fun, self-paced, and very detailed step-by-step course that will teach you how to easily and successfully grow any type of seed you want. Enroll and get started today!

Otherwise, if you just need a quick-start guide that will give you what you need to begin growing your own seeds inside, then my Starting Seeds Indoors eBook is for you.

More About Growing Seeds

Share you tips for how to plant cucumber seeds in the comments section below.

How To Plant Cucumber Seeds Step-By-Step

Materials

Tools

Instructions

    1. Prepare the soil or pellets - When planting outdoors, loosen up the top few inches of soil and remove any weeds. Indoors, pre-moisten the pellets or seed starting soil before filling the trays or pots.
    2. Decide how many seeds to plant - Indoors, plant one seed per pellet hole or pot. In the garden, sow the seeds 12-18" apart.
    3. Plant your cucumber seeds - Cucumber seeds should be planted about a half to one inch deep. Lay them on top of the soil, and gently push them down, or make holes first, and drop them in.
    4. Cover the seeds - Fill the hole back in with soil, then gently press it down to ensure it comes into contact with the seeds.
    5. Water them - Make sure the soil is evenly moistened, but never soggy or completely saturated. Use a moisture gauge to get it just right.
    6. Cover the trays (optional) - Indoors, cover the seed trays with a plastic dome lid, and place them in a warm location. A heat mat will help them germinate faster.

Notes

Cucumber seedlings don't like to be transplanted, and doing so can stunt their growth. So, if you want to start them indoors, I recommend using plantable pots or large pellets, rather than the small trays. The plantable pots will help to minimize transplant shock, and give you the best success.

When to plant cucumbers for seedlings in 2022 at home 🌱🥒

Author: Elena N. https://floristics.info/ru/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=19 Category: garden plants reprinted: Last amendments:

Content

We all love cucumbers. They are especially tasty in the spring, because during the winter the body yearned for vitamins, and the aroma of fresh cucumber seems simply delicious. And in order to get greens as early as possible, it is necessary to prepare for sowing seeds for seedlings from the middle of winter.

It is necessary to germinate purchased or personally collected seeds, disinfect the seedling substrate, wash the containers in which you will grow seedlings.

In our article you will read about:

Preparing for the new season, it is necessary to put garden tools in order, replenish stocks of fertilizers, seed and planting material, and also determine the dates for sowing seeds for seedlings. We have already posted material on the site about:

In this article we will tell you everything about growing cucumber seedlings: when to sow cucumber seedlings, how to grow cucumber seedlings and when to plant cucumber seedlings in open ground.

When to plant cucumbers for seedlings in 2022

In order to know which days of which month it is better to sow cucumbers for seedlings, you need to refer to the lunar sowing calendar.

Cucumber seedlings in 2022 can be sown on the following days:

Sowing cucumbers for seedlings in

January 2022
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat BC
1 NL
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 PL 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31

9015

Dates for sowing cucumbers for seedlings at

February 2022
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
NL 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 PL 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 PL
28

9015

Sowing cucumbers in

March 2022 for seedlings
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1 NL 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 PL 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31

9015

Sowing cucumbers for seedlings in

April 2022
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
NL 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 PL 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 NL

9015

Cultivation of cucumber seedlings in

May 2022
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
PL 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
NL 31

The color in the table indicates which day is for sowing:
Excellent Good Normal
Bad Terrible

Remember that if sowing cucumbers for seedlings occurs on an unfavorable day, this will affect the health of seedlings, and the further growth and development of seedlings, as well as the quantity and quality of the crop. Therefore, planting cucumbers for seedlings should be carried out precisely on a day favorable for this activity on the rising moon.

Growing cucumber seedlings at home

Soil for cucumber seedlings

An important role in growing seedlings is played by the composition of the soil and its preparation for sowing. Land for seedlings of cucumbers should be loose, moisture and breathable. Avoid substrates that contain a large amount of peat - it is too oily for cucumbers.

If the pH of the soil is not so important for adult cucumbers, then the seedlings react painfully to increased acidity, which can be neutralized with lime materials. The soil mixture prepared by oneself must be disinfected - calcined in the oven or spilled with a strong solution of potassium permanganate. And do not forget to add fertilizer to the substrate - 6 g of urea, 10 g of superphosphate, 6 g of potassium sulfate and 2 g of magnesium sulfate per 10 kg of soil mixture. Ready-made store soils do not need nutritional supplements and sterilization.

In the photo: Cucumber seedling sprouts

After the substrate for cucumber seedlings is disinfected and fertilized, cover the container with soil with a film and place it for two weeks in a warm place to stimulate the formation of bacteria necessary for the nutrition and growth of seedlings.

Growing cucumber seedlings from seeds

Cucumber seeds also need pre-sowing treatment. First, they need to be lowered into a three percent solution of table salt at room temperature - empty seeds will float up after a while, and full-grained seeds will settle. Then, seeds suitable for sowing, washed in running water, are kept for 30 minutes in a one percent solution of potassium permanganate, after which they are washed and germinated in a damp cloth at a temperature of 25-30 ºC for 2-3 days. When the seeds have white sprouts 3-4 mm long (no longer!), They are ready for sowing for seedlings.

Growing pepper seedlings from seeds

Since pumpkin seedlings do not tolerate picking, cucumber seedlings are sown in separate containers - one hatched or two non-germinated seeds in each. As a container, plastic or peat-humus cups filled with a disinfected substrate with drainage holes are used. The cups are filled with the substrate so that about 1 cm to the edge remains empty, and the germinated seeds are very carefully, so as not to break the fragile sprouts, immersed in holes 1.5-2 cm deep and sealed. Then the cups are placed on a pallet, watered, covered with glass or film and kept at a temperature of 23-28 ºC in anticipation of germination, moistening the substrate from the sprayer twice a week.

How to grow cucumber seedlings in tablets

You can grow cucumber seedlings in peat tablets.

Pills for cucumber seedlings should be from fine peat, neutral reaction, at least 42 mm in diameter - smaller diameter tablets seedlings outgrow quickly and you will have to replant them. Peat washers are placed in a tray or tray and poured with warm water for 10-15 minutes to swell, then the excess water is drained. Cucumber seeds are laid out in the recesses in the center of each tablet, sprinkled with peat mixture, after which the tablets are placed in a common container, covered with a transparent film, placed on a warm surface and kept waiting for germination at a temperature of 23-28 ºC.

In the photo: Growing cucumber seedlings

Growing cucumber seedlings in cassettes

Good cucumber seedlings are also obtained when growing in cassettes with large cells of a cylindrical shape - the cassette does not take up much space, so you can save electricity when seedlings are illuminated. Before sowing, the cassettes are washed in a strong solution of potassium permanganate, after which the cells are filled with a disinfected wet substrate, into which cucumber seeds are sown to a depth of 1.5-2 cm. The crops are covered with a film and kept at the optimum temperature for seed germination - 23-28 ºC.

Since soil dries faster in cassettes than in one common container, you will have to moisten the substrate more often, but you can solve the problem if you add Bio Master Gel to it, which retains moisture and creates comfortable conditions for the development of seedlings.

Cassettes may seem expensive to some, but they are made of polystyrene and can be reused many times. For greater convenience, you can purchase cassettes on a pallet and even in a large box with a transparent lid, which will successfully replace both glass and plastic wrap. However, when it comes time to transplant the grown seedlings into a large container, this will not be easy, because cucumbers have thin, easily torn roots, and if you do not have experience and skill, then it is better to grow seedlings in tablets or in peat pots.

Growing tomato seedlings from seeds

Cucumber seedlings in a greenhouse

To grow cucumber seedlings in a greenhouse, you first need to prepare compost or manure beds, which gardeners call "hot". How to do this is described in detail in the article already posted on our website. We only recall that fresh manure or compost is laid in a layer on a high bed, a layer of fertile disinfected soil at least 25 cm high is placed on top of it and watered abundantly. Then they start sowing: no more than 4 bushes are placed on each square meter, throwing 2 seeds into one hole. Seeds are not germinated before sowing, but only treated in saline, and then in a strong solution of potassium permanganate. The sown and watered bed is covered with a film, stretching it over the dug-in metal arcs.

Pictured: First true leaves on seedlings

Be aware that the temperature of the "hot" bed can be so high that if you are not careful, you can get burned. Watch the intensity of the sun and the temperature outside, otherwise, under the film, the seedlings from the heat will simply burn out.

Buy cucumber seedlings - is it worth it?

For a novice gardener who is not confident in his talents, it is better to purchase seedlings for the first time. However, you need to know which seedlings you can buy and which you should not. Seedlings ready for planting in the ground should be no more than 20 cm in height, and the stem of the seedlings should be the size of a pencil or a little thinner - if the stem is larger in diameter, most likely the seedlings were overfed with nitrogen, which means that the bushes will grow well, but the ovaries there will be few of them.

Cucumber seedling leaves should be developed and bright green. Any spots, brown patches, or plaque may be signs of disease. Ready seedlings should have 4-5 leaves, and the presence of withered cotyledon leaves indicates that the seedlings were poorly cared for.

In general, to be afraid of wolves - do not go into the forest, and if you decide to grow cucumbers, then start by sowing seeds for seedlings, because there is nothing difficult in this, especially if you know in advance that the root system of cucumbers suffers greatly during transplantation . That is why we recommend sowing cucumbers in peat tablets - when roots sprout from under the net of mature seedlings, seedlings can be transplanted directly with a tablet into a peat pot without damaging the roots. If you buy seedlings in a nursery or in the market, then when planting in open ground, you will almost certainly damage the roots of several seedlings.

Pictured: Cucumber seedlings ready for planting

Care of cucumber seedlings at home

Growing conditions for cucumber seedlings

While waiting for the first shoots, the substrate is kept slightly damp by watering it with a sprinkler twice a week. As soon as shoots appear, move the crops as close to the light as possible, but most likely you will still need to provide additional lighting for the seedlings, or at least install mirrors on the side and top of the seedlings that will reflect the light on the seedlings.

How to grow eggplant seedlings at home

As for the temperature of the content, as we have repeatedly written, before germination it should be at the level of 23-28 ºC, and when the seeds begin to germinate, it is desirable to lower the temperature to 20-22 ºC. After the mass emergence of shoots, the optimum temperature for the development of seedlings is 21-23 ºC on a sunny day, 19-20 ºC on a cloudy day, and 18-20 ºC at night. If you don’t have the ability to regulate the temperature, then at least try to create conditions under which during the day it will not rise above 25 ºC, and at night fall below 15 ºC. Seedlings need regular air exchange, but care must be taken to ensure that seedlings do not end up in a draft during ventilation.

Watering cucumber seedlings

As soon as the seeds sprout, it is advisable to moisten the substrate a little, as the top layer dries up - with such watering, the seedlings will develop a strong root system. Seedlings are watered once or twice a week with warm, settled water for two days - the water temperature should not be colder than 22 ºC, otherwise the seedlings may die. However, you should not boil water for irrigation, because when it boils, oxygen comes out of it - just put the water to settle in a warm place. Magnetized water works well on seedlings. When watering, drops should not fall on the leaves of seedlings.

In the photo: Planted seedlings of cucumbers

In winter and early spring, heaters work indoors, drying up the air, and the required humidity for cucumber seedlings is 75-80%, so it is sometimes advisable to spray the seedlings with water at room temperature.

In pots where both seeds have sprouted, leave the stronger seedling and cut off the other with scissors, but in no case pull it out, as the root system of a more developed plant may be damaged.

Top dressing of cucumber seedlings

Seedlings of cucumber seedlings need two or three top dressings before planting in open or closed ground. The first time top dressing is applied to the soil after the appearance of a real leaf, and it consists of 7 g of ammonium nitrate, 8 g of potassium sulfate and 15 g of superphosphate dissolved in 10 liters of water. It would be nice to add a little organic matter to the mineral fertilizer solution, for example, mullein diluted in water 1:4, or fermented bird droppings, which must first be diluted with water in a ratio of 1:7.

The second, optional top dressing is carried out in the second leaf development phase, and the third - two weeks after the first. For these dressings for the same amount of water, you will need a double dose of mineral fertilizers. In addition to root, seedlings of cucumbers and top dressing with a solution of trace elements along the leaves are shown - they stimulate the development of seedlings and increase their resistance to diseases.

Illumination of cucumber seedlings

When cucumber seedlings appear, they will need a lot of light to develop. In March and April, the southern window sill and mirrors located on the sides and top of the seedlings will be enough, but in January and February the daylight hours are not long enough, so you will need to increase it with artificial lighting. In the first 2-3 days, seedlings should be in the light around the clock, for the next two weeks, until the leaves close, they need light for 16 hours, then for two weeks a fourteen-hour daylight day will be enough, and the last days before planting on the garden, the seedlings should be in the light at least 12 hours a day.

Lighting is especially important in the first days: if you do not give the right amount of light to seedlings at this time, you can get such a nuisance as elongated seedlings of cucumbers with subsequent “surprises” in the form of improper development, poor health and low yields.

In the photo: Cucumber seedlings in individual pots

For additional lighting, it is best to use phytolamps, high-pressure sodium lamps with a built-in mirror reflector or LED lamps, placing them above the seedling box at a height of 20 cm. However, first you need to calculate how much you will need lamps per m² of crops, otherwise your efforts may not be sufficient.

Picking seedlings of cucumbers

If you grow seedlings in a common container, sooner or later the moment will come when the seedlings will have to dive into a separate container. This is not an easy task, because the root system of cucumbers is fragile. That is why it is better to dive seedlings at the age of 5-7 days, in the phase of development of cotyledon leaves. Plants should be transplanted in containers with a volume of at least 700-800 ml.

Fill pots with drainage holes with soil and let it settle. Water the soil in pots well the day before picking, and water seedlings on the day of picking. The sprouts are taken out of the box along with a lump of earth, trying not to damage the roots, they are moved to a deep hole made in advance in cups so that the hypocotyl knee remains above the surface, the hole is covered with soil, compacted and watered again so that no air remains in the roots. The first time after picking, keep the seedlings around high humidity and a temperature of 18-20 ºC, protecting them from drafts.

Diseases of cucumber seedlings and their treatment

Cucumber seedlings turn yellow

We are often asked why cucumber seedlings turn yellow. There are several reasons for this phenomenon:

As you can see, any of these reasons can be easily eliminated, but it is better to simply prevent their occurrence.

Cucumber seedlings are pulled out

Cucumber seedlings are pulled out mainly for two reasons - due to insufficient lighting or too high room temperature. Try to follow our recommendations throughout the seedling period, and your seedlings will be strong and healthy. But if the seedlings suddenly stretched out, do not panic, eliminate the cause, and the seedlings will quickly recover.

In the photo: Fake seedling leaves

Cucumber seedlings rot

This, unfortunately, is also a common occurrence, which can be caused by fungal diseases, root rot and black leg. Usually, the black leg appears with regular waterlogging of the substrate against the background of high room temperature - the base of the stem begins to rot, causing the seedlings to lie down. Affected specimens must be removed, and healthy ones should be seated in separate cups with a sterile substrate. As a preventive measure, it is best to add wood ash to the substrate before sowing.

What diseases cucumbers have and how to fight and prevent them

Signs of root rot appear even when it is too late to do anything: seedlings suddenly stop growing and developing, wither and die. The fungus is activated when the substrate is watered with cold water or when crops are kept on a cold surface.

Seedlings of cucumbers also suffer from other diseases, including powdery mildew, fusarium wilt, downy mildew and viral cucumber mosaic, however, with proper maintenance and good care, cucumber seedlings become resistant to any diseases.

Planting cucumber seedlings

When to plant seedlings in open ground

Cucumber seedlings are planted 25-27 days after emergence: film - May 10-15, and in open ground without shelter - in the first decade of June. The time frame may vary, the main condition is the soil warmed up to 15 ºC. Before planting in the garden, it is necessary to carry out hardening procedures with seedlings, for which days in 10-12 they begin to take out for some time in the open air under the sun's rays, daily increasing the duration of the procedure. When the seedlings can be outside around the clock, they are ready to be transplanted into the garden.

In the photo: Growing cucumber seedlings in cassettes

How to plant cucumber seedlings

The soil on the site should be loose and fertile, so it is necessary to fertilize it since autumn, and in the spring before planting, you just need to loosen the soil on the site. If for some reason you didn’t succeed in preparing the site in the fall, you will have to apply fertilizer directly into the holes when planting.

Growing cucumbers in the open field - planting and care

Planting seedlings is carried out on a cloudy day or in the afternoon - from 17 to 20 hours. The holes in the garden are staggered at such a distance that there are four plants per 1 m². The pits are shed with water, manure is placed in them (if the site was not manured in advance), sprinkled with soil, a seedling is carefully planted in the hole, trying not to damage its roots, the hole is covered with earth, compacted and poured under each plant at least a liter of warm water. When the water is absorbed, the area is mulched with straw.

Do not plant cucumbers where beets, zucchini, squash, squash or marrow grew last year.

FAQ

How to grow eggshell cucumber seedlings?

In order not to injure the seedlings during transplanting to the garden, it is better to sow the seeds in separate containers. But if the seedlings are grown on a large scale, then you have to improvise with containers: you can use cups from yogurt or sour cream or eggshells, which can be collected throughout the year.

The shell must be topless, clean inside and dry. Fill the shell with moistened sterile soil and deepen the cucumber seed into it. Arrange the shells on one pallet and cover them with foil. As soon as shoots appear, remove the film and care for the seedlings in the usual way.

Before transplanting into the garden, carefully remove the bottom of the shell and plant the seedling in the hole with the shell.

How to grow cucumber seedlings without soil?

Growing seedlings without soil allows you to save not only the substrate, but also space. In addition, this is the best way to protect seedlings at an early stage of development from blackleg.

Spread a plastic tape the width of a toilet paper tape on the table, lay several layers of toilet paper on it, soak them with Epin's solution and, stepping back from the edge of 1 cm, spread the seeds along the length of the tape at the required distance from each other. Lay a couple more layers of toilet paper on the seeds, moisten them with a growth stimulator solution, and put another plastic tape on top. Now roll this “sandwich” into a roll, fix it so that it does not unfold, and place it in a transparent container filled with water to a height of 1.5 cm so that the edge with the seeds is above the container. Place a transparent plastic bag over the dishes and place them in a warm place.

Several of these rolls can be placed in one container. Make sure there is water at the bottom at all times. As soon as shoots appear, transfer the seedlings to the light.

Is it possible to germinate cucumber seedlings in three days?

You can speed up the germination of cucumber seeds in the following way. Assure the disinfected seeds in wet gauze, put the bundle in a plastic bag and place it for a day in a warm place, for example, on a battery. After 24 hours, unwrap the cheesecloth and you will see that tiny sprouts have appeared on the seeds. Fill small cups with wet sterile soil, place a seed in each (be careful not to break off the sprout), sprinkle the seeds with soil and lightly compact the surface. Cover the crops with a black plastic bag and place in a bright spot. After a day or three, the cotyledon leaves will appear, and after a few more days you can transplant the seedlings into the greenhouse. However, it is better to wait with a transplant until the moment when two true leaves are formed on the seedlings.

Which pest eats cucumber seedlings in a greenhouse?

Sometimes cucumber seedlings planted in a greenhouse bed suddenly begin to dry out, and some seedlings fall down as if they had been cut down. It seems that some insect damages the roots of the seedlings. As a rule, these suspicions are confirmed: bears, wireworms or slugs are found in the soil. They fall into the greenhouse along with garden soil. The larvae of these pests can doze in the ground, but with warming they wake up and look for food. Medvedka and wireworms are especially activated after watering, when the earth becomes loose.

Slugs also hide in the ground during the day, and at nightfall they crawl out and feed on the leaves of seedlings, leaving large holes on them. They also eat tender stems of seedlings.

To prevent this from happening, pour 2-3 liters of boiling water into each hole before planting, and then water the seedlings with infusion of onion peel. If traditional methods of protection do not work, you will have to use chemical agents.

Stepson seedlings - how is it?

When forming cucumber bushes, it is necessary to remove side shoots - stepchildren. But if you want to eat cucumbers until frost, do not throw away stepchildren, but use them as seedlings. But first they need to be rooted. Cut off the top of the stepson with two leaves and put it in the water. If the leaves are too large, cut the leaf blades in half. In about a week, white roots will grow at the stepson, and he will be ready to be transplanted into a cup with soil or immediately to the garden, but in the open field you need to protect him from direct sun for the first days.

This method is good because it allows you to save money, time and effort: when pinching each bush, you will receive several future seedlings at once. Stepsons root quite quickly.

How to feed cucumber seedlings with yeast?

Yeast contributes to the growth of fruits, and among the greens there will be practically no hollow ones. Stimulates this fertilizer and the formation of ovaries with a much smaller number of empty flowers. In addition, seedlings increase resistance to fungal diseases.

In the greenhouse, seedlings can be fed with yeast twice: the first time - a week after transplantation, but before that it is advisable to apply nitrogen fertilization; the second time - after the application of phosphate fertilizers.

Dissolve 10 g of dry yeast in 10 liters of water, add 5 tablespoons of sugar, half a liter of chicken manure extract and half a liter of wood ash. Infuse the solution for a day, then strain and bring water to 10 liters.

Instead of a yeast solution, you can use black bread-based mash, or you can simply spread black crackers under the bushes and then water the soil with warm water.

How to get rid of powdery mildew on seedlings?

Fruits are not affected by powdery mildew, but they become smaller and acquire a bitter taste. In addition, peronosporosis leads to a decrease in yield by almost half. The disease develops rapidly, so it is necessary to deal with it with the detection of the first signs, that is, with the appearance of white plaque on the seedlings.

For the prevention and destruction of infection at an early stage, it is advisable to treat the soil with the Alirin-B biological product. At the later stages of the development of peronosporosis, the preparations Raek, Bayleton, Topaz and Tilt are used, and after two weeks the seedlings are re-treated with a change in the drug: the pathogen exhibits high resistance.

From folk remedies in the fight against powdery mildew, use a solution of 1 bottle of medical iodine in 10 liters of water or a strong pink solution of potassium permanganate. Good results are obtained by treating cucumbers with a solution of 50 g of soda ash and 40 g of liquid soap in 10 liters of water.

Cucumber seedlings stopped growing - what to do?

Cucumber seedlings need warmth, nutrition and moisture to develop normally. If the seedlings endured a drop in temperature of 10 ⁰C or if you forgot to water or feed them, they will stop growing.

Seedling growth retardation after transplanting to the greenhouse can occur for the following reasons:

you did not change the soil in the beds after the previous season;

seedlings planted too close together;

you are feeding incorrectly;

irrigation regime violated;

the nights are too cold.

Seedlings in the open field stop developing if transplantation was carried out with a delay. In this case, you need to continue to care for them and wait until they take root well.

What to do with overgrown seedlings?

Elongated seedlings can be dug in: dig the ground near the seedling, place a part of the stem in the hole, sprinkle it with earth, and it will soon take root. If the planting is too dense, the seedlings need to be planted, deepening part of the stem into the soil.

If the seedlings have just begun to stretch, you can simply pour a little dry, heated soil into the container, but at the same time it is necessary to eliminate the reason why the seedlings began to stretch.

The overgrowth process can be stopped by lowering the temperature to 15 ⁰C. Take out seedlings during the day to a bright, cool loggia, and bring them into the house at night.

Seedlings can be slowed down by pinching them over the second true leaf.

Why do cucumber seedlings wither?

If the stems of some seedlings become thinner in the basal area during wilting, then this is a sign of a black leg. The fallen plants must be removed along with a clod of earth, and the soil should be shed with a solution of potassium permanganate, soaking only the top layer. After that, do not water the seedlings for a while.

Sometimes seedlings wither because their roots freeze: if the soil temperature drops below 16 ⁰C, the root system stops absorbing nutrients and moisture, which leads to seedlings withering.

Cucumber seedlings may wither if grown in old soil: cucumbers are very capricious in this respect. Be sure to change at least the top layer of soil 5-6 cm thick on the beds before transplanting the seedlings into the greenhouse.

And, of course, do not allow the soil to dry out: seedlings, like adult cucumbers, grow well only in moist soil.

How to deal with cucumber mosaic on seedlings?

If the disease has already appeared, it is impossible to cure diseased plants. Remove seedlings with signs of disease along with a clod of earth and spill the hole with a strong solution of potassium permanganate. Keep a close eye on healthy seedlings and immediately dispose of those that show mosaic symptoms.

This viral disease can only be controlled by preventive measures:

grow mosaic-resistant varieties of cucumbers;

disinfect soil and seeds before sowing;

do not sow seeds too thickly;

water seedlings only with warm water;

Keep out weeds and aphids, the main carriers of viral diseases.

Literature

  1. Read related topics on Wikipedia
  2. Peculiarities and other plants of the gourd family
  3. List of all species on The Plant List
  4. More information on World Flora Online
  5. Planting (more information)
  6. Read more: Seed
  7. Sprout (on wiki)


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favorable days for planting according to the lunar calendar

How to determine planting dates in your region

Seedlings of cucumbers are planted in open ground or in a greenhouse at the age of 3-4 weeks. So the calculation here is simple.

Cucumber seedlings can be planted in the greenhouse after 20 April. Therefore, seeds for seedlings should be sown from March 20 to 30.

Cucumber seedlings can be planted in open ground under a film cover or under a non-woven cover after May 10th. This means that seeds for seedlings should be sown from April 10 to April 20.

Cucumber seedlings are planted in open ground without shelter after 10 June. It turns out that seeds for seedlings should be sown from about May 10 to May 15.

Auspicious days for sowing cucumber seeds for seedlings according to the Lunar calendar: 1, 8 - 9, 13 - 15, 21 - 22 April, 1 - 15 May.

How to prepare seeds for sowing

Fresh cucumber seeds that were harvested last year or the year before produce a lot of empty flowers and the yield is always lower. Therefore, for sowing, take seeds that are 3 to 4 years old. And even older, because their germination lasts 8-10 years (2).

However, last year's seeds can be stimulated by warming up before sowing at a temperature of 55-60 °C for 2-3 hours (1).

“Shops often sell already processed seeds, so it makes no sense to soak them in potassium permanganate or some other preparations,” says agronomist-breeder Svetlana Mikhailova. - They can be sown immediately dry, or they can be wrapped in a damp cloth and put in a warm place. As soon as they peck, you can sow.

To increase the resistance of cucumbers to cold, the seeds can be hardened before sowing. In this case, the seeds are also wrapped in a damp cloth and sent to the refrigerator for 2 days. But here it is important that the fabric is wet all the time, and the seeds do not germinate. After hardening, the seeds are immediately buried in the soil.

Cucumber seeds are sown to a depth of 1 - 2 cm in peat pots or plastic cups. And in no case in boxes, because when transplanting, seedlings take a long time and take root poorly.

Tips for caring for cucumber seedlings

Pots are kept at 28-30°C until emergence. But as soon as the first sprouts appear, the seedlings are removed to a cooler place with a temperature of 18 - 20 ° C. Otherwise, the seedlings will stretch.

- The place for seedlings should be very bright, ideally - a southern or eastern window, - agronomist Svetlana Mikhailova recommends . - On the western and northern window sills of the cucumber, illumination with phytolamps will be required - 12 hours a day.

Photo: pixabay.com

Feeding cucumber seedlings is not required - for a month before planting on the beds, young plants have enough nutrients that are in the soil.

- Before planting seedlings in the ground, it is useful to harden them off - they need to be taken out into the open air for about a week. A day before planting - water, - advises agronomist Svetlana Mikhailova.

Favorable days for planting seedlings at home or in a greenhouse

Start planting cucumber seedlings in a greenhouse after April 20th. It is possible later, but then the crop will ripen later.

Auspicious days for planting seedlings of cucumbers in a greenhouse according to the Lunar calendar: April 25 - 26, May 1 - 15, 31.

Favorable days for planting seedlings in open ground

Planting cucumber seedlings in open ground begins on May 10 - under a film or non-woven fabric.

Photo: pixabay.com

Without shelter, cucumber seedlings can be planted in the beds when the threat of frost has passed - after June 10th. Cucumbers do not tolerate even the slightest cold snap - even short-term frosts below 1 ° C lead to their death (3).

Auspicious days for planting seedlings of cucumbers in open ground according to the Lunar calendar: May 1 - 15, 31, June 1 - 12.

Popular Questions and Answers

There are a number of questions that gardeners ask year after year, especially beginners. We will answer them too.

What is the best way to grow cucumbers: in spreading or on a support?

The cultivation method does not affect the yield of cucumbers. On a support, they take up less space in the garden and are easier to collect. But when growing in spreading, you save time - you do not need to build additional supports and tie up the whips.

Is it possible to grow cucumbers in the shade?

Cucumbers are photophilous plants, but they can also grow in the shade. But the harvest will be less. And it is more likely that they will become affected by diseases ahead of time.

If it is not possible to plant cucumbers in a sunny area, choose varieties intended for greenhouses - they are more shade-tolerant.

Is it possible to sow cucumbers in summer?

Yes, you can. Early varieties have a ripening period of about 40 days, therefore, they can be sown even at the end of July - they will have time to yield before the autumn frosts.

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