annually from January to March each gardener comes the exciting moment - preparation of seedlings favorite vegetables.All gardeners, of course, have their own proprietary secrets obtain an excellent harvest.But what about those who do not have too much experience in such matters?Preparation of planting the seeds of cucumbers and a cucumber in an open ground or greenhouse - these issues are keenly interested in many novice gardeners.So let's cover the basics.
Choosing the right seeds
First of all, the preparation of cucumber seeds for planting begins with the selection of high-quality seed.If we ignore this point, all the efforts can go to the dogs, you do not get the crop.
highest quality are complete, tyazhelenkie seeds of major proportions.Identify these very simple - it is done with a solution of common salt.In one liter of water to dissolve 30 grams (a little more than a tablespoon) salt and mix thoroughly.This solution should be deleted and retain seeds for 10-15 minutes.After this time, you will see that part of the seed sank, and some stayed to swim on the water surface.This is the "dummies", from which you can easily get rid of - the harvest from them still fail.After the performed manipulation rinse the remaining seeds with clean running water for a few minutes and proceed to the next step.
Choice containers for seedlings
next item, which includes the preparation of cucumber seeds for planting - is the choice of the container where they will grow.The beauty of cucumber cultivation of seedlings is that it can be done in just about anything - most importantly, to comply with two conditions:
- diameter of the container shall not be less than 5-7 cm;
- need to do as much as possible drainage holes;
can use for planting plastic cups, containers of yogurt or sour cream, Tetra paks of milk or yogurt, and so on.You can also spend a little bit - is now in stores for gardeners offered a huge variety of plastic and peat cups, small containers of greenhouse equipped with transparent covers, and much more.You can also grow seedlings in peat pellets.Experienced gardeners prefer the still-capacity square shape - is that they create for the root system more favorable conditions than round.
Another way to save money on the container - this is to make them yourself from several layers of newspaper or cardboard.Their only drawback - such cups will dry up, but this problem can be solved by having spread into the pan under the seedlings of a capillary mat, thin piece of foam or padding polyester.
Soil
Even if preparation of cucumber seeds for planting is successful, you will still not be a good harvest, if you choose the wrong soil.This stage is also extremely important - it depends on whether your seedlings are strong and powerful, and the rich harvest.
For seedling does not fit the usual land taken in the garden or near the garden.Firstly, it may contain the seeds of weeds, which will not allow cucumbers to climb well, and secondly, this soil is very compacted and shoots quickly get a little air and moisture.
for cucumber is most suited pochvosmes this composition:
- 2 parts compost or manure compost;
- 2 parts peat, taken from the lowlands;
- one of the old, last year filings;
All components must be thoroughly mixed.Then, for each bucket of Peat mixture must be added:
- 3 tbsp.l.wood ash (pre-sifted);
- 1 tbsp.l.preparation "Kemira-wagon" or "Rastvorin";
- 1 tbsp.l.nitrophosphate;
- 1 hour. L.urea;
- 1 tbsp.l.powdered superphosphate double;
- 1 hour. L.potassium sulfate.
course, possible to use other mixtures, and the easiest way to buy a ready shop substrate.If you decide to harvest their own soil, then it must be done in the fall to the winter blend thoroughly frozen in the shed or on the balcony.This greatly reduces the number of pathogenic bacteria.Also, for the destruction of pathogens of various diseases recommended steamed soil.This is done very simply:
- in the old bucket poured about a liter of water;
- placed on top of a fine mesh sieve or some kind of jar with holes in it has done;
- sieve placed in the ground and make a stick or spoon in the center of a wide funnel.
steam bath is ready.Further, the design cover with a lid and put on fire by 40-45 minutes.After pochvosmes well steamed, it cooled, mix well and spread out in a container planting.
Cooking seeds
Prepare cucumber seeds for planting seedlings - it is very responsible, because you need to properly prepare not only the soil but also the seed.First of all, it is also necessary to disinfect.For this purpose the selected seeds are soaked for 15-20 minutes in a dilute solution of manganese-potassium acid (1 g per 0.5 liter of water), then washed with pure water.
further training cucumber seeds for planting is as follows - clean, disinfected seeds are placed in bags made of a soft cloth or several layers of cheesecloth and soaked for 12 hours.A solution of the nutrient mixture can be such:
- 1 hr. Liter nitrophosphate;
- 1 hour. L.wood ash;
- 1 liter of clean water.
After this time, the seeds are washed again and put on a damp cloth or gauze to swell for 1-2 days at t = + 23 ° C. In this case, be sure to keep an eye to the future cucumbers not sprouted, and just a little "hatch".Upon completion of all procedures seeds are placed in a refrigerator for 24-40 hours.
Sprouting
After all done manipulation training cucumber seeds before planting can be considered finished.Next, go to the next step - seedling germination.You can do this in two ways:
- Put the seeds on a flat plate or saucer, placing it between several layers of cheesecloth.Place the design in a warm place and make sure that the seeds, on the one hand, not dry, but on the other - do not float in water.The fastest process will at a temperature 28-30 ° C.
- incipiently germinating seeds can sow directly in pots.It's certainly faster, but you can not understand what the seeds sprouted, and what - no.
planted in open ground
Prepare cucumber seeds for planting in the ground is different from the greenhouse by just one point - a good hardening.If you remember, after all the treatments the seeds are placed in the refrigerator.That it is - hardening.This is done so that germination was going well and at a low temperature.Also, when planting cucumbers in the open ground, the last hardened at the stage of seed, much earlier "throw" the female flowers, and, therefore, the harvest will be more mature and faster.
In order to improve plant resistance to outdoor temperatures drop, subjected to hardening and adult seedling.One week before planting containers slowly bring to the street (to the balcony) in the afternoon, evening and at night, with a daily increase in the residence time of 15-20 minutes.
Greenhouse - when to plant
Preparations for planting the seeds of cucumbers in the greenhouse virtually no different from the "dirt."Different here except that the timing of planting, and seeds of hardening in this case, many neglected.
Seeds can be sown in a greenhouse in the early to mid-April, and the full seedlings will feel good there in early May.If your Teplička film and has no heating, it is possible to make a structure consisting of two layers of polyethylene, leaving a gap in between 2.5-3.5 cm. This will avoid any spring frosts and save your crops.
Features landing
When preparation for planting the seeds of cucumbers in the greenhouse is made, it should also prepare the soil.It is best to start training in the autumn - to handle the ground bleach solution.In the spring before planting the soil should be well "steamed" boiling water to dilute it in the manganese-sour potassium solution should not be very strong, bright pink.
If there is such a need, the soil should be made fertilizers and properly loosen.
Planting cucumbers need in a small groove depth of 1.5-2 cm, and sprinkle on top Peat mixture mixed with sawdust.This method of planting allows longer trap moisture and ensure a good harvest.
Care cucumber
course, correct preparation of cucumber seeds for planting is very important, but no less important, and the subsequent care of the plants.Cucumber is very hygrophilous, so, first of all, you need to provide an excellent watering, best with a drip system.Note that you need to be watered with warm water as cold or even cool significantly slows the growth of plants.Thus it is necessary to make sure that water and especially fertilizers, falling on the leaves of cucumber, or they can "burn".
Also worth as often as possible to loosen the soil, trying, however, not to damage the stem - it is very fragile.If you are growing cucumbers in the greenhouse, then try to ensure constant ventilation, especially in warm weather.This is a very good impact on the growth and yield of cucumber.
