How to grow cucumbers on a windowsill in an apartment? Indoor cucumbers: how to grow juicy and crispy fruits on the windowsill Is it possible for an apartment to grow cucumbers

Growing cucumbers in the winter at home is quite possible, but this requires some effort. These are light and heat-loving plants, therefore they should be placed on the sunny, southern side, the temperature in the room should be within + 20 ... + 25 ° C.

All cucumbers are divided into greenhouse (greenhouse) and garden beds (grown in the open field). The peculiarity of these vegetables is that they can be grown at home: on windowsills, balconies or loggias in the presence of certain factors required for their cultivation. Growing cucumbers at home requires additional lighting with fluorescent lamps (at least 15-16 hours a day). In order to avoid freezing of the roots, it is recommended to insulate the bottom of boxes or pots (install them on a board, foam rubber or other insulation).

Choosing a variety of cucumbers

For home cultivation, special varieties have been bred - self-pollinating, early maturing and high-yielding. As a rule, these are hybrid varieties of cucumbers. Hybrids are marked with the F1 symbol (heterotic), their shoots differ significantly from the parent plant, since their characteristic features appear only in the first generation.

The parthenocarpic hybrid is gherkins with female inflorescences that do not require pollination to set fruit. Depending on the variety, the size of hybrid cucumbers can reach from 12 to 25 cm, the ripening period is 30-50 days.

To grow cucumbers on a windowsill in winter, the following varieties are most suitable:

Masha F1;
Claudia F1;
Bianca F1;
Marinda F1;
Room Rytov F1;
Shchedryk F1;
Prestige F1;
Khutorok F1.

For example, the variety Masha F1 ripens in 30-40 days, the yield is high (5-7 fruits from a branch, on the windowsill - up to 20 pcs. from a branch). Shchedryk F1 yields a harvest in 40-45 days, fruit size 12-14 cm, yield up to 20 pcs. from a branch. Marinda F1 - a high-yielding variety, characterized by the simultaneous ripening of all fruits.

Khutorok F1 - early ripening variety (starting from 30 days), fruit size up to 10 cm, green cucumbers with black thorns, manually pollinated. Crunchy F1- ripening time 50 days, yield up to 7 cucumbers per branch. It is distinguished by its tallness, which allows it to decorate a balcony like a liana. When creating favorable conditions for plant growth, up to 30-40 fruits can be harvested from each bush.

The planting date is determined based on the ripening period of the fruit and depends on the date by which fresh cucumbers are expected. From the emergence of the shoots to the maturity of the fruit, an average of 45-50 days are required.

Dishes and soil for growing cucumbers on the windowsill

For growing seedlings from seeds, it is better to use small plastic cups (from under yoghurts, sour cream, mayonnaise, etc.), or pots with special soil, or peat cups. 3-4 small holes are made in the bottom of the dishes.

For growing cucumber bushes from seedlings, large containers with a capacity of up to 5 liters or 5 kg are required (plastic pots, buckets, special deep boxes). At the bottom of the container, small holes are drilled to ensure soil ventilation and remove excess moisture. The bottom of the container is covered with drainage from small pebbles or sand with a layer of 5 cm, then covered with soil.

The choice of land is of great importance. Gardening shops sell special soil enriched with essential minerals and substances, where you can also get advice on how to grow cucumbers on your own. Experts advise to prepare the soil yourself.

For example, use the following mixture:

2/3 of the container is sod or garden soil, which is previously disinfected with a weak solution of potassium permanganate;
1/3 of the container - fertilizers (5-6 g of potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen, 20-60 g of lime), humus;
1 glass of chalk;
2 glasses of ash;
4 cups ripe garden tree leaves or rotten sawdust

It is better to prepare such a soil mixture in advance, in the fall. It is calcined in the oven to neutralize the eggs of various insects, then watered abundantly. The soil should be well moistened and loose. When cultivating cucumbers in boxes of 60-70 cm, 5-6 bushes of seedlings are planted.

Growing seedlings

The seeds are pre-soaked in a light pink solution of potassium permanganate, and the method of planting dried seeds is also used, or as they are. Germinate the seeds first in a saucer in a warm dark place at a temperature of + 25 ° C. After the appearance of the first sprouts 0.5-1 cm long, they are transferred into cups or pots with soil, covered with polyethylene and placed in a well-lit place. The temperature regime in the room must be at least + 20 ° C. It is necessary to water and feed the seedlings.

After the appearance of real leaves, the seedlings are carefully transplanted into large containers, making every effort not to damage the roots of the plants. If the seedlings were grown in peat cups, then they can be moved into containers without removing them from the cups.

You can use the method of sowing seeds directly into large boxes. Sprouted or dry seeds are planted in moist soil in holes 1.5 cm deep and covered with soil and polyethylene. The boxes are placed in a warm place with a temperature not lower than + 25 ° С. As soon as the first shoots appear, they are rearranged on the windowsill, where the temperature should be + 20 ° C.

Growing cucumbers from seedlings

Containers with seedlings are placed in a warm and lighted place. During this period, special care for the cucumbers is required. After the appearance of 4-5 leaves, the first pinching is carried out, after 5-6 leaves - the second. Then the main stem is pinched over 11 leaves. In the future, as the stem grows, it is necessary to remove the lateral shoots, which take away the vital juices from the plant, interfering with fruiting. Above the ovary, the shoots are pinched and only 1 leaf is left. To maintain the growing lashes and provide better lighting, they make a garter of the growing stems - they stretch the ropes on which the sprouts are fixed.

It must be remembered that cucumbers are a moisture-loving vegetable and bushes must be sprayed 1-2 times a week from a spray bottle. For spraying, as well as for irrigation, use warm, settled water. Watering is carried out when the top layer of the soil dries up. Excess water in the soil can lead to decay of plant roots and its death.

Cucumbers on the window are at risk of dehydration due to dry air. To maintain a humid microclimate, containers with water can be placed near the plants.

Cucumber bushes must be well lit to ensure healthy growth. In winter, additional lighting is used, preferably with special infrared lamps (at least 12 hours a day). The lamps are turned off at night. The cucumbers should be protected from cold air and drafts.

For varieties requiring pollination, manual pollination is required. For this, male inflorescences are plucked and female flowers are pollinated with them. Pollination can be carried out in a different way - with a brush or cotton swab.

Top dressing of seedlings

When growing cucumbers in winter, it is very important to feed the plants with special fertilizers every 10 days. It is good to use organic fertilizers, for example, fermented banana peel infusion (ratio 1:10). After the buds appear, the plants are watered with a solution of wood ash (1 glass per 10 liters of water). During the ripening period of the fruit, nutrition from mineral fertilizers is very useful (12-25 g per 10 l of water), up to 0.5 l of the mixture is watered per bush. Mineral dressings alternate with organic ones.

When weakening plants, it is advisable to use foliar feeding with mineral fertilizers with the addition of microelements. To prepare a mixture, 5-15 g of urea, 10-20 g of double superphosphate, 1-5 g of sulfur magnesium or 10 ml of a mother liquor of trace elements are added to 10 liters of water. The mixture is prepared 1 day before use, is often stirred and filtered through 4 layers of gauze filter. Cucumber bushes are sprayed with the mixture, usually in the afternoon or in rainy weather. At the same time, salt deposits remain on the leaves, which are recommended to be washed off with clean water.

Harvesting

Cucumbers are harvested daily as they ripen. You can not leave the ripe fruit on the bush, as it takes away the strength of the plant.

If all the necessary conditions are met, growing cucumbers at home in winter is quite simple. You can provide your table with these wonderful fresh vegetables throughout the year and get a lot of positive emotions from the growing process itself.

In winter, the lack of fresh vegetables and fruits is especially felt. Although they can be bought on the market for exorbitant prices, the quality of the fruit is often poor. It is much more beneficial to grow vegetables at home.

We create conditions in the apartment - selection of dishes and soil

Cucumbers can be grown on an insulated loggia, glazed balcony or windowsill. It is important to equip a place for active growth of bushes with good lighting where there are no drafts. It is desirable that this is the south side. We create conditions as close as possible to natural ones.

Young plants require not only a lot of light, but also heat. It is best to place the cucumber pots where there is heating. With sufficient light, the stems will not stretch too much, and the fruits will have an ugly shape. If you want to grow cucumbers on the windowsill, insulate the window, make additional thermal insulation, exclude drafts. To protect the root system from hypothermia, we install cucumber containers on a heat insulator.

In winter, the daylight hours are short, and for the rapid growth of cucumbers, daylight is needed. Therefore, we provide additional lighting for seedlings, artificially increasing the length of the day to 12-14 hours. For this we use special phytolamps, fluorescent or infrared lamps, including them over shrubs.

The optimum temperature for the growth of seedlings is 20 degrees above zero. If the temperature in the room is higher, we monitor the soil moisture.

Seedlings can be grown in small disposable cups filled with special soil or in peat cups. We make several holes at the bottom. For cucumbers, it doesn't matter in what container they are planted:

Large deep flowerpots can be purchased for planting multiple seedlings.
If space permits, plant each plant in a separate pot.
One of the container options can be a plastic 5-liter water bottle, in which we cut off the upper part with a neck.
You can make your own wooden boxes 60-70 cm long, planting no more than 5-6 plants in them, otherwise they will interfere with each other's growth and increase the mass.

The container should be large enough with openings at the bottom for excess moisture and ventilation. It should be remembered that cucumbers have a developed root system. We take the volume of a flowerpot or box at least 4 liters so that the cucumber sprout feels comfortable. We put drainage at the bottom: small pebbles, brick chips, crushed stone or expanded clay. You can pour a layer of sand at least 5 cm thick. Pour soil on top and cover with mulch.

The accelerated growth and ripening of fruits depend on the soil in which vegetables will grow. It should be loose, saturated with nutrients, it should be good for air and water. In stores, ready-made soil for indoor plants and for pumpkin crops is sold, which has the listed characteristics. It is better to prepare the soil substrate yourself by mixing the following ingredients:

garden soil, peat;
leafy soil;
fertilizers: phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium 5-6 g each, lime 20-60 g;
humus;
wood ash;
rotted sawdust, which has acquired a dark shade;
coarse sand.

We disinfect the resulting soil mixture. First, we ignite in the oven, setting the temperature to +200 degrees, then spill it with a solution of potassium permanganate. This will destroy harmful bacteria and insects that may have been present in the soil.

Choosing seeds - which varieties grow better at home?

For planting, breeders have bred a large number of self-pollinating, fast-growing, high-yielding varieties, mostly hybrid species. They are marked with the F1 symbol, which means that the varieties are heterotic. For such crops, bees are not needed to pollinate flowers; they have the ability to form fruits on female peduncles on their own. These hybrids are called parthenocarpic.

For growing in winter on the windowsill, the following varieties of cucumbers are suitable:

Shchedryk. The fruits ripen after planting in 1.5 months. Up to 6-8 pieces are formed in the ovary. The length of cucumbers reaches 11-12 cm, they have a rich green color of a dark shade. Productivity from a bush on the windowsill is up to 20 fruits.
Khutorok. Cucumbers ripen 30 days after the first shoots appear. This is one of the super fast varieties. Cucumbers have black thorns, grow up to 10 cm in length. The peculiarity of this variety is that it requires pollination. To carry out pollination, we pluck a barren flower - this is a male flower with stamens, we transfer pollen from it to the pistil of a female flower. Only through this procedure will ovary occur.
Crisp also belongs to early ripening varieties, but the fruits, ready for consumption, ripen only after 50 days. Its advantage is that it does not require pollination, it gives a high yield. Differs in tallness, can decorate a loggia or balcony, like a liana. If properly cared for, you can get up to 40 fruits per bush.

Among the varieties suitable for growing at home, you can name the Miracle on the window, Our Masha, Courage, Prestige, Room miracle, Klavdia, Marinda. Cucumbers of the Nasha Masha variety ripen in 30-40 days, the Marinda variety has a high yield and simultaneous ripening of all fruits. When choosing a variety, pay attention that it is suitable for growing in an apartment.

How to plant seeds correctly?

Theoretically, seeds can be planted at any time, taking into account that the plant will bear fruit in 2-2.5 months. The best time for planting is February, when daylight hours increase significantly, this makes it easier to care for cucumbers. In spring, the sun shines brighter and warms better. Purchased seeds, when packaged, undergo appropriate processing. To test them for germination, put them in a saline solution: dilute half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of water. Seeds that have settled to the bottom are considered suitable for planting, those that have surfaced are not suitable, we throw them away.

We sow seeds either in a seedling box or in a container without subsequent transplantation. Before landing, we carry out preparatory measures. We place the seedlings in a solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes. Then we rinse and put in a saucer on a cotton cloth or cotton swabs. We put the dishes in a warm, dark place with a temperature of +25 degrees. We make sure that the fabric does not dry out. When sprouts from 5 to 10 mm long appear, we transplant them into a container with soil. Before planting, dry the germinated seeds a little, this contributes to the active growth of seedlings.

We plant the planting material in pre-soaked soil. If planted in dry soil, then after watering the seeds will sink too low. We bury the germinated seeds in the soil by 1.5 cm. Cover the container with plastic wrap to create a greenhouse effect, so that the seedlings grow faster. We put the containers in a well-lit place. We keep the temperature in the room at least 20 degrees. As soon as the first shoots appear from the ground, we remove the film to prevent fungal diseases that may arise due to condensation under the film. We regularly water and feed the seedlings.

After the appearance of the first true leaves, we transplant the seedlings into large containers, making every effort not to damage the root system. If the seedlings were grown in peat cups, we plant them in the ground without removing them from the cups.

Watering and fertilizing - how regularly should it be?

To successfully grow cucumbers at home, you need to follow the basic rules:

regular watering and feeding;
ensuring the required temperature regime, sufficient humidity and illumination;
the formation of the correct bush.

Water the newly transplanted seedlings sparingly, without flooding the roots. If the roots are bare, add earth. Watering young seedlings can be done with a syringe, burying it in the ground, this will prevent the root system from washing out. Pour boiled water over the cucumbers, which should settle for at least 3 hours. We water every day, if additional lighting is installed, you may need to water it twice a day.

Watering is especially important during flowering and fruit ripening. In summer, we spray the plants on the balcony with water, this will not only humidify the air, but will also be an additional food for the cucumbers.

We regularly feed the plants:

You can fertilize the seedlings with fermented banana peel infusion, diluting it 1:10. Use once every two weeks.
Young seedlings can be fed with urea or other mineral fertilizers with similar properties.
When the first flowers appear, water the plants with a solution of wood ash, diluting a glass of ash in a ten-liter bucket.
During the ripening of the fruits, we apply mineral fertilizers, diluting 12-25 g in 10 liters of water. Pour half a liter of solution under each plant.

If the plants are weak, we carry out foliar dressing from mineral fertilizers with the addition of trace elements. Prepare the solution as follows: add 10-20 g of double superphosphate, 5-15 g of urea, 10 ml of a mother liquor of trace elements or 1-5 g of sulfuric magnesium to 10 liters of water. Prepare the solution 24 hours before use. After stirring, the solution is filtered through 4 layers of gauze. It is advisable to spray the bushes with the resulting mixture in the afternoon. Rinse off the remaining salt from the leaves with clean water. Consideration should be given to the feeding recommendations for each variety. It's important not to overdo it with fertilizers.

We take care of cucumbers and fight pests

After the appearance of the first 4-5 leaves, we do the first pinching: we break off the upper growth point. This is necessary in order for the plant to sprout lateral shoots. We leave 3-4 lashes. When 6 leaves appear, we make a second pinch. Next, letting 11 leaves grow, pinching the main stem. In the future, we remove the lateral processes that take away the forces from the plant, interfering with the growth of fruits. Set aside one leaf over the ovaries. We tie the overgrown lashes to provide sufficient lighting and support the plant. We stretch out strong threads or twine, we tie shoots to them.

You can install meter props and tie bush lashes to them. We remove excess whiskers, as they take away from the plant a lot of nutrients necessary for the growth of fruits. To form a beautiful bush, the pots should be rotated regularly so that the plants stretch evenly.

Cucumbers are very fond of moisture, so we spray the stems 2-3 times a week from a spray bottle. We spray the plants in the same way as we water them with settled water at room temperature. We regularly water, preventing the top layer of the soil from drying out. Do not overmoisten the ground, as excess moisture can lead to rotting of the root system and the death of the bush. Plants placed on the windowsill may lack moisture due to dry air. To maintain the required moisture level, place containers with water next to the cucumbers or place the pots in large containers filled with water.

For good plant growth in winter, we provide additional lighting that prolongs the daylight hours. Turn off the lamps at night. We protect cucumber bushes from drafts and cold air. If the varieties require pollination, we do it manually when the flowers appear.

Without proper care, the following diseases of green vegetables are possible:

Anthracnose is a fungal disease that affects fruits and leaves.
Powdery mildew - the causative agent is a fungus. It is manifested by the appearance of white bloom on the leaves.
Root rot is accompanied by complete wilting of the bush. The disease occurs due to waterlogging, the root system begins to rot.
White rot - affects fruits, foliage and stem, they are covered with a white bloom.

It is important to identify the disease in time and fight it by spraying with special chemicals. If you do not fight, the disease will affect the entire plant, and the bush will die. In addition to diseases, the whitefly, spider mites and aphids can harm the bushes. If there are few insects, they can be removed by hand. With a large number, the bushes will have to be sprayed with chemicals against pests. If control measures are applied in time, then it is easier and faster to overcome the disease and destroy pests, the main thing is to observe the reaction of the plant.

Picking vegetables is a reward for your efforts

The timing of ripening and harvesting of fruits depends on the variety of cucumbers. Most of the sprouts appear 1-2 days after planting. The duration of the growth of the bush is different for each type of cucumber. The earliest ripening varieties give their first fruits in a month, while others take 40-50 days before the first harvest appears. Determine that the cucumber can be plucked by size. If the fruit has reached a length of 10 cm, we pluck it. We collect the fruits every day to remove the load from the bush, which has to supply food to the ripe fruit. If you pick the cucumbers on time, the plant can begin to bloom again and bring additional harvest.

Some varieties for growing on a windowsill are not only suitable for fresh consumption, but also suitable for salting. But you should not count on a bountiful harvest from the windowsill to make a reserve of conservation for the winter. Taking care of green vegetables is better and healthier for the sake of getting fresh vegetables.

It should be:

Short-fruited, with a length of zelents from 6 cm to 25 cm.
Shade-tolerant, not afraid of temperature changes.
Early or mid-season, with a fruiting period of 4 to 6 months.
Harvest.

Parthenocarpic F1 hybrids are preferred... These self-pollinating plants only have female flowers. Early and ultra-early are the most popular for growing cucumbers at home:

April;
Benefit;
Zozulya;
Carmen;
Goosebump;
Sail;
Regina;
Shchedryk;
Crunch.

Of the medium early varieties of cucumbers for growing at home, the following are preferable:

Athlete;
Full house;
Balagan;
Bianca;
Berendey;
Urban;
Far Eastern;
Claudia;
Courage;
Marinade;
Masha;
Pallas' cat;
Romance;
Solar.

IMPORTANT! Late-ripening cucumber hybrids are not suitable for home cultivation.

Bee-pollinated cucumber hybrids, in indoor and greenhouse cultivation, require manual pollination.

The process requires certain skills and additional investment of time.

But despite this, vegetable growers grow at home bee-pollinated cucumber hybrids:

Gribovsky 2;
Zarya;
Pallas' cat;
Surprise;
Khutorok;
Relay race.

Grow and bee-pollinated varieties of cucumbers:

Room Rytov;
Marfinsky.

Advice! Manual pollination of cucumbers is carried out in the morning... With a cotton swab, a soft brush, they transfer pollen from a male barren flower to flowers with an ovary (female). You can touch the pistil of a woman with a male flower with torn petals.

Female single flowers grow separately. The males form groups in the leaf axils.

Pollination of cucumbers continues throughout the entire flowering period, up to the appearance of the first ovaries. To increase the yield of cucumbers experienced amateurs advise pollinating female flowers with pollen of different varieties.

Seat selection

It is better to grow cucumbers in an apartment on warm bright balconies, loggias, verandas, windows oriented south, east, west.

The north side is not suitable for growing. There should be no drafts in the room.

What to grow?

There are many options: hanging baskets, buckets, containers, boxes, flower pots, tubs. The main thing is that the volume of the container is at least 5 liters.... Drainage is laid out on the bottom - small pebbles, pieces of expanded clay, large sawdust. Holes are made to remove excess water.

Advice! To save money, they cut off large plastic bottles, use double cellophane garbage bags.

How to grow cucumbers in an apartment: step by step instructions

Landing dates

Timing depend on the selected variety of cucumbers, growing conditions. They take into account the area of \u200b\u200bthe room, the ability to provide optimal temperature and light conditions, air humidity, and climatic zone.

Cucumbers planted at the end of October will ripen to the New Year's table. From January plantings, they begin to harvest in March. The average time for the onset of fruiting from the appearance of the first shoots is 40-50 days... By the May holidays, February seedlings ripen.

Preparing the soil

In the store they buy universal soil or mixture for growing pumpkin crops.

They prepare themselves according to proven recipes:

Equal shares of peat, humus. A glass of wood ash on a bucket of mixture.
1/3 of the turf, garden soil, compost with the addition of a small amount of calcined river sand, ash, rotten sawdust.

The earth is disinfected in one of the following ways:

Steamed.
Spill hot (+ 90 ° С) solution of potassium permanganate of dark pink color.
Warm up in the oven.
Process special industrial preparations.
Apply nitrophosphate or complete complex fertilizer. Poured into containers, spilled abundantly, left for a day to seal.

Sowing

Cucumber seeds etched for 20-30 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate... Washed out. Dry. Leave for 2-3 days to swell in a saucer of warm water, wrap it in damp gauze, spread on cotton pads. Read more about before.
Hatching cucumber seeds sow to a depth of about a centimeter... Plant 1-2 seeds per liter volume at a distance of 2-3 cm from each other. ...
Exposed to a bright place... Maintain a temperature of + 22-25 ° С during the day, + 16-18 ° С at night.
To maintain the required humidity covered with foil, glass.
When cucumber shoots appear, the shelter is removed. Weak sprout is removed. Additional lighting is started.

Advice! To eliminate the danger of hypothermia of the root system of cucumbers, a sheet of foam, drywall, thick plywood is placed under the containers with plantings.

Lighting

It is impossible to grow cucumbers at home in winter without backlighting... Daylight hours should last 12-14 hours. from December to February, supplementary lighting is carried out from 16 to 20 hours.

Lighting devices for supplementary lighting (energy-saving, luminescent, LED) are fixed at a distance of 30-40 cm.

To enhance the effect, light-reflecting foil sheets and mirrors are installed.

Temperature

Until the plants form lashes, the temperature is maintained not higher than + 16 ° С... After the formation of lashes, the temperature on sunny days is maintained at + 24-26 ° С, in cloudy weather and at night + 18-20 ° С.

Watering

Water in sunny weather daily, in cloudy - every other day... Water must be defended, brought to room temperature. Several times a season they are watered with a weak pinkish solution of potassium permanganate.

It is useful to spray the plants twice a day, but the leaves should dry out by night. Watering cucumbers is carried out at the root or water is poured into trays.

Advice! To increase the humidity in the room, cover the heating batteries with wet towels. Place dishes of water next to the cucumber bushes. Includes humidifiers.

Support

Home-grown lashes reach heights of up to two meters and require a garter... The garter is made with a sliding loop. Use twine or nylon cord.

Bush formation

After the appearance of the fifth true leaf, pinch the top to form a bush in two stems. When the next five leaves grow, the procedure is repeated.

The pinching of the lateral lashes is carried out in the lateral lower nodes above the 1-2-3 sheet.

Top dressing

The first is carried out after the appearance of two true leaves... They are fed with a solution of 3-4 g of nitrophoska per liter of water. The consumption rate for the plant is a glass.

Can be used solution of one teaspoon of urea in 5 liters of water... Feed once every 2 weeks.

With the advent of zelents, the plant is fed every week, alternating mineral and organic fertilizers. As organic additives, 20% solutions of chicken manure or superphosphate are used. For minerals, dissolve 30-40 g of nitrophoska in a bucket of water, add a teaspoon of Agrolife or 2 caps of the Growth preparation together with watering.

Alternatively, after a week feeding cucumbers with biohumus agents... The bushes are sprayed twice with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Advice! An excellent organic matter is a solution of fermented chopped banana peels and rye bread.

Diseases

Cucumbers grown in the apartment also suffer from whitefly. Spraying with soapy water helps, it is dangerous to use insecticides in the apartment.

Harvesting

Zelentsy harvested every day to prevent overgrowth... This promotes the formation of new ovaries, lightens the load on the lashes, prevents plant depletion, deterioration of the palatability of cucumbers.

Growing in a private house

Does not differ in agricultural technology from growing cucumbers in an apartment. However, villagers and cottage owners have more opportunities to successfully grow cucumbers in heated greenhouses all year round.

Features of greenhouse agricultural technology

Stop choosing greenhouse varieties cucumbers.
When planting, at least a bucket of well-rotted compost or manure, with the addition of 10 g of phosphorus, 5 g of nitrogen, 15 g of potassium per 1 m², must be added to the hole.
When landing place seedlings of cucumbers at a distance of 40 cm from each otherleaving a meter between the rows. Water abundantly.
Equip trellises, supports.
A cucumber bush is formed as if grown at home.
Remove yellowed and deformed leaves.
First feeding after 4 weeks. For each plant, 1-2 liters of 0.3% aqueous phosphorus-potassium solution are consumed. During the fruiting period, feeding is carried out every week.
At the optimum air temperature, watering is carried out at the rate of 2-3 liters of water per bush.

Prevention and control of diseases

Should change the soil annually... Develop beneficial microflora. Introduce preparations such as Fitosporin M, rotted manure, nettle infusion.
Observe the ventilation mode.
For, whitefly, the soil is disinfected. Once every 5 days, the bushes are sprayed with karbofos.
Dill, mustard, coriander, garlic, basil, tobacco are planted between rows.... They repel pests of cucumbers.
Aphids and whiteflies are washed off with a stream of cold water. Wipe the cucumber leaves with soapy water.

Can you grow in a basement?

In an equipped basement, up to 200 kg of cucumbers are removed from 1 m².

The main costs are to ensure optimal light and thermal conditions.

Requirements for the basement for growing cucumbers

Temperature should not fall to minus indicators throughout the year.
Lack of rodents, mold, fungus.
Tightness, protection from drafts, penetration of groundwater.

Basement equipment

Insulate the floor and walls insulating materials.
Install heaters, thermal and lighting devices. Mercury arc lamps or incandescent lamps are the most suitable luminaires. For convenience, a time relay is used.
Organize a ventilation system.
Choose a growing medium: hydroponics or soil.
The soil requirements are the same as for growing cucumbers at home and in greenhouses.

Hydroponics are more effective for basement gardening. They use quartz, granite granules with a diameter of 50-20 mm and a nutrient solution with a high content of nitrogen, potassium, calcium, phosphorus. The nutrient solution can be purchased at the store or prepared by yourself.

Growing features

The seedling method is cultivated.
Seedlings of cucumbers planted at any time of the year.
They comply with the general requirements of cucumber agricultural technology.
To combat insects, rodents, dust, smoke bombs, traps with poisoned bait, special paints with insecticides are changed.
From fungi, mold, moss primed walls with compounds with anti-fungal additives.

Advantages and disadvantages of basement growing

The undoubted advantages include high yield, obtaining cucumbers regardless of the season, weather conditions... Reduced time from emergence of cucumber seedlings to harvest. Already two months after planting the seedlings, the first greens ripen.

The main disadvantage is the high cost of cucumbers.

Is it possible to grow cucumbers at home in winter? If you wish, you can grow cucumbers all year round. From a home-grown bush, enthusiasts get 35-40 cucumbers.

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How to grow cucumbers on a windowsill in an ordinary city apartment, recommendations for novice gardeners.

Cucumber varieties for growing on the windowsill

For growing cucumbers on a windowsill in winter, only parthenocarpic hybrids of an early ripening period with small lashes are suitable. Bush cucumbers are also unacceptable, as they require a large area of \u200b\u200bfood that cannot be provided on a windowsill.

Parthenocarpics have a predominantly female or only female flowering type and do not require pollination. Bee-pollinated cucumbers are categorically unsuitable for winter cultivation, and self-pollinated varieties need the pollen to somehow get onto the pistil. Since there are neither insects nor wind on the windowsill in winter, it is necessary to artificially pollinate each flower when growing such cucumbers.

Long-leaved cucumbers are also not suitable for growing on windowsills. Their whips are 3 meters or more, and they will have nowhere to develop. In addition, long-leaved cucumbers tend to grow longer and begin to bear fruit later. With winter cultivation at home, it is necessary to get a harvest of greens as soon as possible. This saves a lot of time and money.

Cucumbers, with proper care, can be grown all year round. The cultivation of crops in greenhouses is based on this feature. You can grow cucumbers in winter and on the windowsill in an ordinary apartment.

Seed sowing dates

In winter, cucumbers can be grown on the windowsill in 3 terms.

Sowing in December. Zelentsy appear by the beginning of February
Sowing in January. The crop is harvested in late February and early March.
When sown in February, the first cucumbers appear at the end of March.

But in reality, the best options for sowing are January and February. In December, cucumbers do not have enough light for normal development, and they will grow only with prolonged illumination.

At home, you can plant cucumbers in September-October, but with a decreasing daylight hours, it is impossible to get a good harvest of zelents.

To get a very early harvest, cucumbers are planted on the windowsill in March-April, but this method is suitable for those who do not have a summer cottage, as well as those who grow early cucumbers for sale. At this time, everyone else's windowsills are occupied by other seedlings and there is no time for cucumbers.

How to grow cucumbers on the windowsill

Cucumbers in the apartment are grown only in a seedless way. Seeds are sown in prepared containers. The root system of the culture is rather weak, but when planted in a common seedling box, each plant needs a feeding area of \u200b\u200bat least 100 cm 2, and a depth of at least 15 cm.

Therefore, it is better to grow cucumbers at home in individual containers. Large plastic cups with a volume of at least 1 liter, plastic bottles, flower pots are suitable for this. At the bottom of the container, a drainage hole must be made to drain excess water.

Peat pots are suitable for cucumbers in the initial period of growth. When the plants grow up, they, together with the pot, are placed in a larger container and covered with earth. With this method, the roots of the culture develop evenly, do not braid with an earthen ball, and, therefore, do not suffer from a lack of nutrition and moisture.

Soil preparation

For the cultivation of cucumbers, highly fertile, loose, water- and air-permeable soil mixtures with an environmental reaction of 5.5-6.5 are needed. Plants can grow well on slightly acidic soils with a pH of 5.1-5.4, but the yield in this case decreases, albeit slightly.

Peat soil mixture is the best suited for planting cucumbers, provided that such soil has low acidity and a sufficient humus content. In winter, if the land has not been prepared since autumn, cucumbers are grown on purchased soil mixtures with a peat content of no more than 50%.

If possible, you can prepare the ground yourself. The soil mixture is prepared from peat, humus and fine-grained river sand in a ratio of 3: 3: 1. The sand can be replaced with coconut flakes.

Coconut shavings have a neutral reaction (pH 7.0), retain moisture very well, loosen the soil well and allow air to pass through. To prepare the soil, pour coconut flakes with water according to the instructions. After 1-2 minutes, the shavings will begin to absorb moisture and swell strongly. After 30-40 minutes, the soil will be ready and can be added to the soil mixture.

Cucumbers can also be grown in pure coconut soil, but it is necessary to slightly acidify it before sowing the seeds. To do this, the chips are soaked in a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate.

To remove spores of diseases and wintering pests, the earth is frozen. Freezing is preferable to calcining, because at high temperatures, fertilizers applied to the soil mixture decompose, and at low temperatures, they remain. The earth is taken out into the street or in a room with subzero temperatures and left for 5-7 days, then brought into the house. The earth must completely thaw and warm up, then it is again taken out into the cold. The procedure is repeated 3-4 times.

Fertilizers are applied to any self-prepared soils:

ammonium nitrate or urea 1 tbsp / kg;
superphosphate 1 tbsp / kg;
potassium magnesium or potassium sulfate 3 tbsp / kg.

You can apply liquid or solid complex fertilizers according to the instructions.

The soil must be warmed up before sowing. At ground temperatures below 17 ° C, the seeds will not sprout. To warm up, the earth in bags or boxes is placed on a battery and kept for several days.

2-3 before sowing, the soil is disinfected by spilling it with a warm pink solution of potassium permanganate or Fitosporin. Instead of Fitosporin, you can add Trichodermin to the soil, but they cannot be used together, since these are different types of microflora, and they will only mutually destroy each other. If the soil is purchased and biological products have already been introduced into it, then it is not necessary to additionally disinfect it.

Preparing seeds for planting

Cucumbers are usually warmed up before sowing. This is done to increase the production of female flowers. However, all modern hybrids have a predominantly female type of flowering, a small number of male flowers are formed, or they do not appear at all. Therefore, it is not necessary to warm up such seeds.

Before sowing, the seeds are soaked for 1-2 days. If they are old, then growth stimulants (Gibbersib, Gibberellin, Zircon) are added to the water. Although it is written on the bags with the seeds of the hybrids that they are sown without preliminary treatment, experience shows that then their germination capacity is much worse.

To prevent the black leg, the seed is immersed for 20 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. The skin of the cucumbers is sensitive and, if the solution is too strong, they can be burned. The seed is always processed, even though it has already been processed. The period of protective action of fungicides is several months and by the time of sowing, as a rule, it has already expired.

1-2 days after soaking, the seed is dried, without waiting for it to peck, and sown.

Sowing seeds

After soaking, there is no need to wait for the seeds to peck. After a maximum of 48 hours, they are dried and sown. Sprouted cucumber seeds (and pumpkin seeds in general) do not germinate well, since the root that appears (and it is it that sprouts) breaks off very easily when covered with earth. Damage to the seedling root means the death of the seed. It will be better if the seeds are swollen but not yet germinated.

Cucumbers are sown immediately in the container in which they will grow. The prepared warm earth is well spilled and 3-4 seeds are sown in each pot. Sprinkle them with a layer of 1.5-2 cm dry earth. After sowing, the soil is not moistened, otherwise the seeds will go deep into the soil. The pots are covered with foil and placed on the battery until shoots appear.

As a rule, 1-2 cucumbers sprout in one pot. But even if everyone sprouts, it will be possible to choose the most powerful one, cut the rest off the ground.

Caring for cucumbers on the windowsill

If the ground is warmed up, seedlings appear quickly - for 4-6 days.
At a soil temperature of 18-20 ° C, sprouts appear in 10-12 days.
At soil temperatures below 17 ° C, cucumbers will not sprout.

Once the plants have sprouted, they are placed on a windowsill, where the temperature is at least 20 ° C. The culture tolerates partial shading well, and in the southern regions, where there are enough sunny days in January-February, cucumbers can be grown on the eastern and even northeastern windowsill. In northern areas, with sufficient light, the east side is suitable, but the south and west windows are more suitable for growing.

Temperature

Immediately after germination, the temperature cannot be lowered, since at this stage it is very sensitive to cold. Until 2-3 true leaves appear, the plants are kept on a warm windowsill (temperature is at least 20 ° C, and preferably 23-25 \u200b\u200b° C). And only after the appearance of a few true leaves can the temperature be reduced. But this is extremely undesirable, since for fruiting the plant needs to gain the sum of active temperatures. In winter, this can only be done with artificial heating.

If it is cold on the windowsill, the plants are additionally heated, otherwise there will be no harvest. In winter, soil cooling often occurs on the window. Cucumbers stop growing,. For heating, boxes with containers are placed on a battery for several hours, and in order to keep heat in the future, each pot is lined with foam.

Backlight

In winter, plants must be illuminated. Cucumbers need at least 13-15 hour daylight hours to grow. But in winter, when there is not enough light, the backlight should be more intense. Therefore, before the formation of the lashes, they are supplemented by at least 17-18 hours in December-early January, 15 hours in February-March. To increase the illumination, reflective materials are placed on the windowsill: foil, mirrors.

For the beginning of flowering and fruiting, a cucumber needs a shorter daylight hours. Therefore, as soon as the lashes are formed, the additional lighting is reduced. If the culture bears fruit in December, then the supplementary lighting should be at least 16 hours. This is due to the fact that in December it is almost always cloudy, and the sun lamps will not be completely replaced anyway. If December is sunny, then the cucumbers are illuminated for 15 hours.

In January-February, for the formation of buds, the plants are supplemented for 12 hours.

Watering cucumbers

Water the cucumbers only with settled warm water (not lower than 20 ° C). Cold water in winter, especially when there is a lack of heat, can provoke the death of roots.

Cucumbers are very moisture demanding. Watering is carried out as the soil dries up. If the ground is damp to the touch, but does not leave marks on the hands, it is necessary to water, if the hands get dirty, watering is not required. Drying out has a detrimental effect on plants.

When growing cucumbers on a windowsill in winter, water them in the morning, or in the afternoon, but not in the evening. The culture evaporates the largest amount of moisture in the morning. Therefore, with evening watering in the morning, there will be droplets of moisture on the leaves and the window, since the plants saturated with water begin to release water. Such intense evaporation in the dry air of the apartment is extremely undesirable and does not occur during watering in the morning and afternoon. Wet leaves and moist soil are a source of fungal infections.

Cucumbers are watered only at the root.

Air humidity

The culture requires 80-85% air humidity for normal growth. In winter, the humidity in the rooms is 40-50%, which is bad for cucumbers. At low humidity, the lower leaves begin to turn yellow and dry in plants, the stem is gradually bare. Seedlings on the windowsill can dry out without producing true leaves.

Therefore, immediately after the emergence of seedlings, cucumbers are sprayed at least 1 time in 2-3 days. Water containers are placed on the batteries under the windowsills.

Feeding cucumbers in the apartment

If the soil was filled with fertilizers during sowing, then fertilizing begins only when the first true leaf appears. They are carried out during the entire growing season with an interval of 5-6 days.

When growing cucumbers in winter, you need to feed them more intensively than in summer. They are very fond of fresh manure (except for pork). But when grown on a windowsill due to a persistent unpleasant odor, this method is excluded. Those who keep birds in cages (or chickens in the yard) are in a more advantageous position. Cage bedding soak in hot water for 20-30 minutes, until the droppings get wet, then filter. The resulting solution is diluted 1:10 and the cucumbers are fed. Bird lovers are usually less sensitive to odors in the room.

Plant residues from indoor plants (broken twigs, wilted and fallen leaves, potato peels, banana skins) are suitable for preparing herbal infusion. Plant residues are placed in a saucepan, poured with water and insisted for several days. Then the solution is filtered, diluted 1: 3 with water and the cucumbers are fed.

Ash infusion... Ash is now sold in garden stores, so it's easy to find even in winter. Prepare the infusion according to the instructions on the package. The finished solution is diluted with water and top dressing is done.

Humates and liquid fertilizers for cucumbers used only if there are no other organic fertilizers. 1 cap (5 ml) is diluted in 10 liters of water, the resulting solution is fed to cucumbers.

Complex mineral fertilizers this is the worst feeding option. But when growing cucumbers in winter, in the absence of other fertilizers, you have to use it. For cucumber, those fertilizers are suitable where there is a sufficient amount of nitrogen, and the dose of potassium exceeds the dose of phosphorus. But on some mineral fertilizers, the cultivation of cucumbers in winter is impossible. During the growing season, there should be at least 4 organic dressings.

It must be remembered that organic matter improves soil fertility, while mineral water has an effect on plants. Cucumbers need not so much food as high soil fertility.

When feeding, you should not abuse nitrogen. Zelentsy easily accumulate it and become dangerous to humans.

But a lack of nitrogen leads to a decrease in yield.

Cucumbers are gaining a lot of green mass, but bloom poorly - an excess of nitrogen.
Cucumbers are weak, their whips are thin, the greens that have been tied up are crumbling (with proper watering) - a lack of nitrogen.
In order not to upset the balance of elements, fertilizing containing nitrogen is alternated with ash that does not contain it.

After the first week of fruiting, cucumbers, if they were previously fed with mineral water, need intensive organic feeding, since during this time they consume all the substances introduced into the soil before.

Forming cucumbers on the windowsill

Strong-leaved cucumbers always lead to one stem. It is impossible to feed several stems on a windowsill in winter; neither the plant nor the owner can pull it. Cucumbers definitely need a trellis to curl. On a bare windowsill, the lashes will be too cold and dry. All emerging lateral shoots are pinched.

Weak varieties can be led in 2-4 stems. A small lash is unable to produce a large number of cucumbers, especially when grown in winter. The main stem is pinched after 3-4 leaves. Of the lashes of the 2nd order that have appeared, 2-3 are the strongest, which are allowed to go along the trellis or tied up. When grown in winter, the plant cannot feed more than 3 short strings. So that the lashes do not get confused, they are directed in different directions. Each lash should have its own support.

After removing the first cucumbers in winter, the lower leaves of the culture begin to dry very quickly. This is a normal process. The plant cannot feed all the leaves, flowers and greens at the same time, so it gets rid of unnecessary "freeloaders". If the lower leaves turn yellow, they are removed.

Harvesting rules

Early varieties of cucumbers (and others are not grown on the windowsill in winter) begin to bear fruit 40 days after germination. At this time, the plants have not yet matured. Therefore, the first set fruits are plucked at the ovary stage.

The first zelents for culture are the most difficult. A plant that is not yet fully formed gives them all the strength, which inhibits its growth and further development. Thus, having given the lashes to grow stronger, in the future they collect a much larger harvest than if the first-borns are raised to a normal full-fledged state.

Zelentsy is removed every 2-3 days. On the windowsill, the borage can be viewed every day and take off full-fledged fruits. If the crop is not harvested in time, the growth of further ovaries and the formation of new fruits are noticeably inhibited. One overgrown cucumber in winter stops the growth of the entire lash. If this is allowed, then in winter conditions on the windowsill, the plant can generally finish its development.

In winter, cucumbers do not grow to the same condition as in a greenhouse. Such a fruit in winter conditions, with a lack of all growth factors, is an overgrowth and inhibits further fruiting. This is especially true in the cultivation of cucumbers in December-January. Zelentsy shoot smaller in winter than in summer.

Diseases and pests of cucumbers in the apartment

Pests

When growing cucumbers at home in winter, they are not threatened by any insects, most of which have a dormant period at this time. But in indoor conditions in the spring and late autumn, mushroom mosquitoes are active. They are omnivorous and cucumbers will not be ignored either.

Mushroom mosquitoand these are the same indoor midges that annoy so much in autumn and spring, when supplies of vegetables appear in the house. The gnats themselves, apart from aesthetic discomfort, are not harmful. Plants are affected by their larvae, which live in damp earth. They eat up the roots. Even minor damage is dangerous for cucumbers. They mainly attack plants in October and from mid-March.

Midges and their larvae do not tolerate dry air and insufficiently moist soil. But when growing cucumbers on a windowsill, you can neither reduce the intensity of watering, nor reduce the humidity of the air. Therefore, the only way out is to water the plants with insecticides: Mukhoed, Zemlin, Aktara, Bazudin.

Diseases

There are also few diseases in cucumbers on the windowsill. Indoors, with all diligence, the air is dry enough, so pathogens practically do not develop. The only thing that can seriously threaten cucumbers during winter cultivation is a black leg. It can appear at any stage of development, but most often it affects seedlings and young plants with 1-2 true leaves.

If the stem has become thinner near the ground, and a constriction has formed, the plant is removed, the rest are watered with a solution of potassium permanganate.

Mistakes in the winter cultivation of cucumbers

All of them are associated with the inability to create favorable conditions for plants on the windowsill.

Seeds don't sprout. If they are fresh, then there are no shoots due to the cold ground. Cucumbers need a soil temperature of at least 18 ° C for germination. It is necessary to warm up the ground and re-sow.
Seedlings are stretched. Insufficient lighting. To gain green mass in winter, the culture must be supplemented. Although it grows well in the shade, light is necessary for normal development.
Cucumbers do not bloom for a long time. Excessive lighting. 35-40 days after germination, the plants are illuminated for only 12 hours a day. Then they will move on to flowering and fruiting.
Plants shed their ovaries. Lack of nitrogen. Organic feeding should be done.
The culture is powerful, actively growing, but blooms poorly and forms few greenbacks. Excess nitrogen. You should reduce the nitrogen component and increase the dose of potassium in the top dressing.
Leaves dry. Air is too dry. It is necessary to increase the humidity. Cucumbers are regularly sprayed.
Only the lower leaves dry, otherwise the cucumbers are healthy and bear fruit well. Normal phenomenon. Culture pays all attention to the Zelensk people. She lacks the strength to feed the extra "freeloaders". The yellow and dry leaves are removed.

In early varieties, fruiting ends 30-35 days after the first cucumbers appear. Further feeding and other favorable conditions cannot change the situation. Plants have given up everything they could and their potential has been exhausted.

Conclusion

Growing cucumbers at home in winter is extremely troublesome.

First, it is very expensive. The costs of growing several dozen zelentz far exceed the costs of buying finished products in the store.
Secondly, the process is very time consuming. Cucumbers on the windowsill constantly need to be given a sufficient amount of time and effort. If this is not possible, then there is no harvest.
Thirdly, the taste of zelents is not up to par. They taste like cucumbers grown in greenhouses, that is, there is practically no cucumber smell and taste.

If you have the opportunity and desire to get fresh cucumbers for the holiday, you can try to grow them. Unlike tomatoes and peppers, they are easier to care for, but the culture takes up much more time.

You might be interested in:

Modern technologies and achievements of breeding make it possible to grow cucumbers all year round, not only in greenhouses, but also at home.

The article is intended for those who prefer fresh vegetables from their own garden and are ready to start the exciting process of growing cucumbers in their home in the Russian winter. Our practical tips and tricks will help you succeed in this business.

Growing cucumbers in winter

The development of retail chains makes it possible to consume fresh vegetables and fruits all year round. However, more and more people are choosing to eat organic food grown in their own vegetable garden. After all, the harvested crop is a whole complex of vitamins and microelements that are important for the full functioning of the body, especially in the winter season, when vitamin deficiency is not so rare.

As a result of the work of breeders, it became possible to grow vegetables at home even in winter: on windows, balconies and even in basements. Therefore, it is not particularly difficult to acquire a small garden bed in a city apartment. Below you will find information about the features of growing zelents at home.

Cucumber varieties for winter cultivation

The winter harvest of cucumbers is highly dependent on the right variety.

Zelentsy for winter cultivation is chosen based on the following requirements:

Cold resistance and shade tolerance;
Early maturity and high yield;
Unpretentious care;
Ability to produce fruit without pollination (i.e., the ability to parthenocarpicity);
Resistant to bacterial and viral infections, as well as fungal rot.
Limited branching and few side shoots;
Purpose of fruits (salad, for canning, universal);
Personal preferences.

Based on the foregoing, the following are the most popular hybrid varieties of cucumbers for winter cultivation:

Salad - Tamerlane F1, Makar F1, Zozulya F1, April F1
For salting and canning - Emelya F1, Mastak F1, Moscow evenings F1, Cadet F1, Danila F1, Advance F1, Red mullet F1, Zyatek F1, Dvortsovy F1, Dachny F1, Lukhovitsky F1, Usadebka F1, Tsarsky F1, etc. The fruits of these varieties have a compact shape and have a thin skin through which brine can easily seep. The available thorns are darker than those of salad cucumbers, and the bumps on the skin are larger.
Universal (used fresh and suitable for pickling) - Courage F1, Dynamite F1, Severyanin, Magnificent, Competitor, etc.

Figure 1. Sorts of cucumbers for winter cultivation: 1 - Tamerlane, 2 - Emelya, 3 - Courage

As a rule, the purpose of the cucumbers is indicated by the manufacturer on the seed bag (Figure 1). If such information is not available, the color of the thorns on the peel will help you navigate. In salad-type cucumbers, they have a whitish tint, and their skin is more delicate in color.

Growing cucumbers on the windowsill

Winter cultivation of cucumbers is possible even in a city apartment.

When building a home garden, you should adhere to the following rules:

Keeping in a bright place: southern windows or a heated loggia are best for this purpose.
Sufficient daylight hours (up to 15-16 hours a day): the lack of natural light can be compensated for by using fluorescent lamps, as well as mirrors and foil as reflectors.
Heat: when germinating seedlings, the required temperature regime is +25 degrees, and after the emergence of seedlings - not lower than +20.

The choice of the variety is also important. For home cultivation in winter, preference should be given to early ripening parthenocarpic productive hybrids, among which such varieties as Shchedrik and Marinda, Masha F1 and Prestige F1 can be named. Peat pots or small cups for seedlings are used as containers for growing cucumber seedlings in room conditions, which are filled with a special substrate. It can be purchased at the store or prepared on your own from ordinary garden soil with the addition of chalk, ash, rotted leaves and fertilizers.

Note: So, to prepare a nutrient mixture, you will need 2/3 of a bucket of earth and 1/3 of a bucket of fertilizer. The resulting volume is supplemented with chalk, ash and leaves in a ratio of 1 cup: 2 cups: 4 cups. For the purpose of disinfection, it is recommended to spill the prepared mixture several times with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

When the seedlings grow up, they are moved into deeper containers, which can be plastic or iron containers, plastic buckets or pots, where at least 5 kg of soil can fit (Figure 2). At the bottom of each container, holes should be made for the outflow of excess water, drainage from small pebbles should be placed, the remaining space should be covered with a nutritious substrate, not filling up to the edge of 3-4 cm. The germinated seeds are deepened into the ground, watered and covered with foil. Until germination, containers with seeds are kept in a warm (+25 degrees) dark place. In the future, they are transferred to a permanent place, for example, on a windowsill, where it is light and a little cooler. In this case, the seedlings should be protected from hypothermia and drafts. Therefore, it is recommended to put containers with seedlings on an elevation made of foam, boards or thick paper. Seedlings with two pairs of true leaves are transplanted into larger containers by transferring, taking care not to damage the delicate roots and leaves. For the first time, the tops of the bushes are pinched at the stage of 4-5 leaves, the second - at the level of the next 5-6 leaves.

Figure 2. Cultivation of greenery on the windowsill

Further care consists in maintaining the required air humidity and optimal temperature conditions, regular feeding and timely picking of fruits. It is also worth taking care of organizing whip holders on the window, which not only support the plants, but also allow you to increase the yield. To provide cucumbers with a specific humid climate, it is necessary to spray them from a sprayer, and to obtain a bountiful harvest, carry out regular fertilizing with ready-made complex fertilizers. When caring for homemade cucumbers, remember that they are very vulnerable and tender, so you need to handle them very carefully.

Growing cucumbers in a greenhouse in winter

In winter, cucumbers can only be grown in a heated greenhouse, because this southern culture does not tolerate temperature extremes, is afraid of drafts, suffers from a lack of light and is often infected with various diseases (Figure 3).

Based on the above, when planning the winter cultivation of cucumbers in a greenhouse, a number of preparatory work should be carried out:

Put in order the heating system, lighting and irrigation system;
Fill up cracks to avoid drafts;
Clear the greenhouse from debris and weeds;
Disinfect and prepare the soil.

If the greenhouse is used for the first time, the soil must be disinfected, fertilized and dug to a depth of 25-30 cm. It is recommended to remove the previously used soil and replace it with a new soil mixture made up of humus and turf soil in a 1: 1 ratio. The substrate must be disinfected by spilling a 5-7% solution of copper sulfate. Seeds are planted at the rate of 2-4 bushes per 1 sq. or after 40-45 cm when planting in rows.

Note: The optimal soil temperature for the full development of cucumbers is called + 23 + 25 degrees during the day and + 18 + 20 at night. Lower temperatures increase the risk of fungal infections on plants.

Regular watering is also important for harvesting. At different stages of the development of cucumbers, it is produced with different intensities. So, from the beginning of the emergence of shoots and until the onset of flowering, moderate watering is carried out 1 time in 4-5 days. In the future, the rate of water is increased, and the intensity is reduced to 2-3 times a week. Cucumbers consume the greatest amount of moisture during active fruiting: up to 10 liters per 1 sq.m. area. For irrigation, it is recommended to use settled water, the temperature of which is close to the temperature of the soil, that is, it is about +20 degrees. In this case, it is advisable to water the aisles, and not the soil under the bushes, in order to prevent decay of the root system of cucumbers.

Note: If the root system is exposed as a result of watering, it should be covered with soil or hilling. Since the heating robot dries up the air, it is recommended to increase the humidity inside the greenhouse using sprinkling and spraying procedures.

Figure 3. Greenhouse cultivation

As a top dressing, solutions of complex fertilizers such as "Kemira", "Kristallon" are used, the concentration of which does not exceed 1.5%. The first fertilization is carried out 2-4 days after planting the seedlings, the second - at the stage of mass budding, and the third coincides with the beginning of fruiting. In this case, during the first feeding, complete fertilizer is applied, with the second - nitrophoska (at the rate of 5-10 g per bucket of water), with the third and subsequent ones during fruiting - a solution rich in magnesium, potassium and phosphorus.

Growing cucumbers on the window of the house

To grow cucumbers at home, you should arm yourself with patience, some knowledge about the biological characteristics of this culture and familiarize yourself with growing tips. First of all, be careful about purchasing seeds (Figure 4).

Note: Preference should be given to shade-tolerant hybrids of the parthenocarpic type, which calmly tolerate temperature extremes, tolerate a lack of light, have the ability to produce fruits without pollination and have good yields. For example, such properties are possessed by the varieties Ant F1, Miracle on the window F1, Prestige F1, etc.

Since the roots and leaves of cucumbers in seedlings are very delicate and vulnerable, it will be wise to sow their seeds immediately in large containers (at least 5 liters in volume), so as not to transplant in the future. Each such container should have holes at its bottom through which excess moisture will flow. Stagnant water leads to root decay and plant death. The containers are filled with a nutrient mixture prepared from ordinary garden soil, mixed with sawdust or peat. To enrich the soil, potash, phosphorus or nitrogen fertilizers are added to it (at the rate of 2 matchboxes per 1 bucket of soil), as well as a small amount of wood ash, which lowers the acidity level.

Figure 4. You can grow a decent harvest of vegetables on the window

Containers with seedlings are located on the southern windows, since it is in this place that they can receive the maximum amount of light and heat. At the same time, the ambient temperature should not fall below +20 degrees, and the plants should be protected from drafts. Seedling care consists in regular watering, which is carried out using settled water at room temperature, maintaining the indoor temperature and its humidity, as well as timely harvesting to stimulate flowering and correct regular feeding.

There are the following requirements for winter cultivation of cucumbers at home:

Adequate light and space: to obtain a good harvest, it is recommended to supplement the illumination of cucumber seedlings in winter using fluorescent lamps. Under these conditions, sowing can be carried out in any month. If artificial lighting is not used, it is better to sow cucumbers in February, when daylight hours begin to increase significantly. The need for sufficient space is that the cucumber bushes grow rapidly. Therefore, it is necessary to take this fact into account in advance and immediately sow the seeds in containers of the required volume, since the transplanting process is often destructive for cucumbers.
Maintaining humidity levels: carried out with the help of regular watering and spraying of plants with warm, settled water.
Creation of the required temperature regime: includes not only heating, but also protection of crops from drafts.
Timely feeding: complexes of fertilizers at the most important stages of development.
Formation of bushes: involves pinching the stems at the stage of emergence of 4-5 leaves and removing the antennae.
Securing the stems: they need to be fixed on special props for easy maintenance.
Timely collection harvest.

Growing cucumbers in an apartment in winter

Modern varieties of cucumbers can be grown all year round, including in winter. You don't have to be a greenhouse owner to do this. This beloved vegetable grows well in an ordinary apartment. The culture feels good both on the window and on the balcony or loggia, subject to certain conditions for care. However, it should be noted that not all varieties of cucumbers are suitable for growing in an apartment (Figure 5).

Based on the capabilities of the premises and the climatic characteristics of the cold season, the greenhouses should be:

shade-tolerant
medium or early maturing
short-fruited
parthenocarpic
productive.

The best place for the location of seedlings will be the southern, eastern or western windows, a warm glazed balcony, a heated loggia, a veranda.

Seeds are sown in pre-prepared soil purchased in a specialized store or made independently from equal parts of peat and humus with the addition of wood ash at the rate of 1 glass per bucket of soil. The resulting mixture should be disinfected, since cucumbers are very vulnerable to all sorts of infections and fungi. This procedure can be done by steaming the soil or heating it in the oven, spilling it with a hot strong solution of potassium permanganate, using special chemicals. Seeds are sown into the prepared soil to a depth of about 1 cm and watered. It is best if they are already hatched. The seeded containers are covered with foil or glass to maintain the humidity level. This shelter is removed along with the emergence of seedlings. The growing seedlings are kept in a bright, warm place at a temperature of about +25 degrees.

Figure 5. In a city apartment, only certain varieties of zelents can be cultivated

An important point is the length of daylight hours. So, for cucumbers, it should be from 12 to 14 hours. Various lighting fixtures, foil sheets and mirrors that reflect light will help to compensate for the short winter day. Regularly water the cucumbers with settled water at room temperature, increase the humidity in the room.

Note: After the appearance of the 5th true leaf, it is necessary to pinch the top of the plant to form a bush into 2 stems. This procedure is repeated with the growth of the next five leaves. The formed lateral lashes are also pinched in the lateral lower nodes over 1, 2, 3 sheets. The cucumber lash is tied up using twine using a sliding loop.

You cannot do when growing indoors and without proper feeding. So, the first fertilization is carried out after the appearance of two true leaves. To do this, you can use a solution of nitrophoska at the rate of 3-4 g of substance per 1 liter of water. With the appearance of fruits, the plants should be fed every week, alternating the introduction of organic (20% solution of chicken manure) and mineral (nitrophoska) fertilizers. The overgrowth of the formed fruits should not be allowed, because this delays the formation of new ovaries and leads to the depletion of plants, and also impairs the taste of the cucumbers themselves.

Growing cucumbers on the balcony in winter

You can even grow cucumbers at home in the winter on the balcony. To do this, he must meet some requirements:

Be glazed;
Have no drafts;
Be well lit. The amount of light directly affects the amount of the crop. Therefore, the balcony located on the south side is best suited for growing cucumbers.

Not all varieties are suitable for growing on the balcony, but specially bred for these purposes (Figure 6). They have increased shade tolerance and do not need pollination. An example of such hybrids are varieties such as Balkonny, Gorodskoy gherkin, Courage, etc.

Figure 6. A glazed and insulated balcony is a great place to grow vegetables

The yield of cucumbers is determined not only by the growing conditions, but also by the fertile soil. Therefore, it is best to use universal earthen mixtures for growing vegetables, which are sold in specialized stores. Before use, it is recommended to disinfect any soil by treating it with a fungicide or steaming it in the oven. The prepared seeds are planted in containers, which can be any plastic or iron containers of a suitable size. To do this, holes are made in the soil at a distance of 30-40 cm from each other, in which seeds are planted to a depth of approximately 2.5 cm.The sown container is covered with a film or placed under glass and left in a warm sunny place where the temperature is +25 degrees. After germination of seeds, containers with crops are transferred to a permanent place.

Subsequent care of the seedlings includes maintaining the moist state of the soil, feeding and forming bushes. Pour cucumbers with settled water at room temperature. Watering frequency depends on the overall humidity level in the room. So, during the operation of heating devices, the humidity of the environment decreases significantly, therefore it must be increased by spraying cucumbers or other known methods. Plants with five true leaves should be pinched to form side shoots. Vines stretching upwards should have a support for fixing. Therefore, it is necessary to provide for the installation of trellises or other supporting structures on the balcony. Feeding cucumbers on the balcony is done in the same way as when growing on a window. In this case, both ready-made preparations and mixtures prepared independently from potassium, magnesium, ammonium nitrate, superphosphate are used.

Among the premises suitable for growing cucumbers is the basement. In such conditions, the yield does not depend on the season and weather conditions, and the time for obtaining finished products from the moment of germination to the moment of harvesting is significantly reduced. Of course, the basement must be equipped so that it is possible to maintain optimal thermal and light conditions (Figure 7).

Note: So, the walls and floor of the basement are insulated with insulating materials; install heating and lighting devices, equip a ventilation system. In addition, you should pay attention to the presence of rodents, fungus, mold, the tightness of the room and the possibility of groundwater penetration into it.

For example, for the prevention of fungal diseases, it is recommended to prime the walls with a composition with antifungal additives. All these activities cause the high cost of cucumbers, which is the main disadvantage of this growing method.

Figure 7. Growing vegetables in the basement can only be done using a hydroponic plant

After arranging the basement, they proceed to agrotechnical work. First of all, you need to choose a medium for growing cucumbers. Most often, the choice falls on hydroponics - a material consisting of granules up to 50 mm in diameter, and a nutrient solution with a high content of minerals such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium. In a basement, the seedling method of growing cucumbers is most often used. Care procedures are standard: moisturizing, feeding, forming bushes, tying whips, harvesting, fighting insects.

From the video you will learn how you can grow cucumbers at home in winter.