Cultivation of cucumbers in a greenhouse made of polycarbonate is a very common occupation among modern farmers. The popularity of this method can be explained by the fact that in a polycarbonate greenhouse it is not difficult to create conditions for good growth and fruiting of the vegetable. High level of illumination, low thermal conductivity of polycarbonate and its inertness to physical and chemical influences make this material a leader among others.
The best sorts of cucumbers for polycarbonate greenhouses
Among the many varieties of cucumbers are those that are suitable for growing under the open sky and those that are specifically designed for greenhouses. They differ in terms of maturation, the ability to tolerate certain features of the environment, the method of pollination, the resistance to diseases and pests inherent in greenhouse conditions or open ground conditions. To grow cucumbers in a greenhouse made of polycarbonate as little as possible, it is preferable to choose self-pollinating (parthenocarpic) varieties:
- "Orpheus F1" is a fruit 9-12 cm long with barely noticeable light stripes. It is not bitter, it has good yield.
- "Cheetah F1" - differs excellent resistance to diseases, often present with greenhouses (powdery mildew and bacteriosis). The fruit has a beautiful shape, its length reaches 11-13 cm.
- "Cupid F1" - with smooth fruits, which reach 15 cm in length.
- "Glafira F1" - with a "fusiform" fruit 18-20 cm in length. Well tolerates shading, resistant to powdery mildew and cucumber mosaic.
- "Blick F1" - with a smooth fruit, about 15 cm in length. Medium-resistant to powdery mildew, gray rot, askohitosis, Gallic nematode.
- "Emerald F1" is a high-yielding variety with fruits of 13-16 cm in length, distinguished by excellent taste. Suitable for both salting and eating in salads.
- "Mazay F1" is a sort of cornichon type. Its huge plus - very early maturation: already 41 days after emergence. Its cylindrical fruits have a size of up to 10-15 cm, they are formed by several pieces in one outlet and mature at the same time. The variety is resistant to many cucumber diseases.
What cucumbers plant in a greenhouse of polycarbonate, so as not to have problems with the formation, that is, do not pinch the side lashes:
- "Bouquet" - a hybrid that does not require pinching and pollination, differs early ripeness.
- "Temp" - with similar properties, also does not require formation, since it has shortened lateral whips.
Planting cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse
The most successful method and, perhaps, the only true for the middle band is the planting of cucumber seedlings in a polycarbonate greenhouse. Planted seedlings grow faster, develop well and richly bear fruit. As a rule, 25-day seedlings are used. The timing of their landing in the greenhouse depends on the level of heating of the greenhouse and beds.
How to plant cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse?
Before planting the seedlings you need to prepare the soil in the greenhouse: if necessary, decontaminate it, lead to optimal acidity (no more than 6.5), water, dig holes and sprinkle them with a solution of "Effektona-O" 1 liter per well. When the preparatory work is over, it's time to learn how to plant cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse. Planting plants must be strictly vertical, even if some of them are stretched upwards. Such sprouts need to simply fall asleep above peat and sawdust - to the most cotyledonous leaves.
The scheme of planting cucumbers in a greenhouse made of polycarbonate
There are several schemes for growing cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse. The common thing about them is that no more than five plant bushes should grow on 1 square meter. The optimal scheme, according to which it is customary to plant cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse, is as follows:
- width of the bed - 90-120 cm;
- gap between rows - 50-60 cm;
- distances directly between plants - 10-20 cm, depending on the length of the lateral weaves.
Self-polluting varieties are planted according to another scheme:
- distance between rows - 160 cm;
- the distances between the plants themselves are 30-35 cm.
Terms of planting cucumbers in a greenhouse made of polycarbonate
If you have chosen a seedling method of growing cucumbers, then the seeds are sown for 4 weeks on the proposed planting in the greenhouse - around the 20th of March. If you plan to sow seeds in the greenhouse, the period shifts to the middle-end of April, depending on whether you have warm beds or ordinary ones. In the second case, a greenhouse for cucumber from polycarbonate - a measure is insufficient. Holes with seeds are additionally covered with polymer caps or tightened with a film.
How to grow cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse?
An important condition for growing cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse is the exclusion of any significant changes in temperature and humidity. Creating a comfortable climate for this culture involves careful airing, without a hint of drafts. It is also important in what soil grow cucumbers. Good access of oxygen to their roots can be ensured only by loose and air-permeable earth. Mulching beds with mown grass grass is welcome.
Temperature for cucumber in polycarbonate greenhouse
Temperature plays a decisive role in many processes - cucumber growth, moisture absorption, quantity, quality and time of harvest, the likelihood of developing diseases. For the cultivation of cucumbers, the temperature of not only air, but also soil is important. At the time of planting seedlings or seeds, the soil must be heated to + 18 ° C. Early cucumbers in a greenhouse made of polycarbonate are best planted in warm beds. The air temperature in the greenhouse should be + 25 ° C. As the seedlings grow, this indicator is reduced to +19-20 ° C by day and + 16-17 ° C at night.
Cucumber primer in polycarbonate greenhouse
If you want to get a good harvest, cucumber seedlings in the greenhouse of polycarbonate should be planted in neutral soil, without excess of nitrogen, with a light and loose structure. Ideally, it should be a mixture of fresh humus and turf. Another variant of the soil, in which it is possible to grow cucumbers in a greenhouse made of polycarbonate: a mixture of peat (50%), field soil (20%) and humus (30%) with additives in the form of coniferous sawdust in a ratio of 1: 1. The use of sawdust not only reduces the cost of greenhouse cucumbers, but also has a great effect on crop yields.
Care of cucumbers in a greenhouse made of polycarbonate
The main aspects of the proper care of cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse include the formation of shoots, regular watering, loosening (mulching) of the soil, fertilizing fertilizers and airing the greenhouse. Without observing all these important rules, growing cucumber crops in a polycarbonate greenhouse will be less effective, and the money expended will not justify itself.
How to water cucumbers in a glasshouse made of polycarbonate?
The first watering of cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse after planting should be carried out on the 10th day. It is necessary to pour water into the root zone, very carefully, so that the root blur does not occur. Before the first ovary appears, you should water it 2-3 times a week, then - every day until you start harvesting fruits. Several rules for watering cucumbers in a greenhouse:
- Never pour water on the cucumber leaves. In the conditions of a greenhouse and lack of good ventilation, the plants will begin to ache. Water the cucumbers under the root.
- Use stagnant water heated to + 20-22 ° C. Using cold water, you will eventually see how yellow the cucumber ovaries in the polycarbonate greenhouse and they are dumped.
- Water the cucumbers in the evening. Watering under the sun's rays with a fall on the leaves is a direct answer to the question - why are cucumbers burning in a polycarbonate greenhouse. The fact is that drops of water play the role of lenses, refracting the rays, which causes the plant to burn.
- Do the watering regularly. Rare watering is the reason why the cucumber in the greenhouse of polycarbonate wilt. Remember that this vegetable is almost 90% water, and its shortage will sharply and negatively affect the health of the plant and the harvest itself.
Top dressing of cucumbers in a greenhouse made of polycarbonate
The first fertilizing of cucumbers in a greenhouse made of polycarbonate is made nitric, then, with the beginning of flowering, it is necessary to switch to potassium and phosphorus, supplementing them with microelements. During the flowering period, you can water cucumbers of manure solutions or mineral fertilizers . The lack of organic inevitably leads to an increase in the number of colorless, but it is impossible to go too far with organic. For a season it is possible to do up to 5 additional dressings.
Pollution of cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse
Pollination is the most important stage, which is part of the overall care for cucumbers in the polycarbonate greenhouse. If you do not self-pollinating varieties of cucumbers, they can be pollinated in two ways - natural or artificial. In the first case, you need to draw in the greenhouse pollinators (bees). You can spray the plants with a solution of honey or jam and open the windows of the greenhouse. Or, arm yourself with a soft brush and do pollination by yourself.
How to tie a cucumber in a greenhouse made of polycarbonate?
Garter cucumber in a greenhouse made of polycarbonate can be carried out in several ways:
- A standard garter , when a string is tied to a stretched wire or a profile of the greenhouse itself, located under the ceiling, and a plant stem is tied to it. As it grows, it is twisted around the twine in the same direction.
- V-shaped garter . This cultivation of cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse differs from the previous one in that the twine from each bush is stretched in two directions and two shoots are tied on them.
- Use trellis grids . This method of growing and gartering cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse has many advantages, including simplifying harvesting due to good visibility, uniform air distribution and access to sunlight throughout the plant's height, and so on.
How to form cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse?
Since the cucumber vine is very fast, a pinch of cucumber in a polycarbonate greenhouse should be done every week. Branched varieties of cucumbers are plucked over the 6th leaf - this ensures the formation of many fruit bearing shoots. Hybrid parthenocarpic varieties are also grown in a single stem. All male flowers need to be cleaned completely, along the way breaking off the antennae, thickening shoots, damaged leaves and ovaries.