Spring is in full swing - it's time to switch to a summer menu that is rich in vegetables and herbs. It is almost impossible to imagine a summer meal without green, crispy, tasty and very healthy cucumbers.
Buying cucumbers during the season will not be difficult, but it will be much more pleasant to grow it with your own hands and serve aromatic and tasty vegetables on the table directly from the garden.
Growing cucumbers at home is not that difficult if you follow basic recommendations. But in order for a vegetable crop to produce a stable and large harvest, it is first necessary to select good cucumber seeds, then prepare them for sowing and grow the right seedlings.
Sputnik Georgia asked when to plant cucumber seedlings in 2017, including according to the lunar calendar, in order to get a high-quality harvest.
Landing dates
Planting garden crops, including cucumbers, for seedlings in each region begins at different times. Therefore, when planting seeds for seedlings, it is worth taking into account the variety of cucumbers, the climate of your region, and where the seedlings will be transplanted in the future - into a “greenhouse” or open ground.
To ensure that the seedlings are strong but not overgrown before transplanting to a permanent place of residence, it is important to choose the right time and favorable days for sowing.
© photo: Sputnik / Alexander Kryazhev
The timing of sowing will directly depend on the date of planting the seedlings in a permanent place. On average, cucumber seedlings are ready for transplanting 25-35 days after planting, when the sprouts have two or three leaves.
Remember, the timing of planting cucumber seedlings is very important, since if you miss it, the plants will most likely take root poorly and will not produce any harvest.
In areas with a temperate climate, cucumber seeds are planted as seedlings in separate containers in early May, with the expectation that by the time the plants are planted, the soil has uniformly warmed up to at least 13-15 degrees at night.
According to the lunar calendar of 2017, the favorable days for planting cucumbers for seedlings are May 4, 15, 19, 24, 21 and 30.
Cucumber seeds are planted at a depth of about one centimeter - one per seedling container if they are germinated, and two if they are dry. Then the ground is lightly sprayed with water.
Plastic bags are placed on the cups and before the first shoots form, they are transferred to a warm place where the temperature is within 25-28 degrees. For example, you can turn on the electric heater.
When transplanting from one container to another, the roots of seedlings are often damaged, so transplants are not advisable, therefore, the timing of planting seedlings should be optimally calculated.
About a week before transplanting cucumber seedlings into open ground, they need to be hardened off - lower the temperature, take them out to the balcony, but do not place them in direct sunlight.
© photo: Sputnik / Sergey Subbotin
Don’t forget that cucumbers are very heat-loving, so if you want to grow large yields of cucumbers, after planting the seedlings, be sure to cover the beds with polyethylene or a special covering material at night and on cool days.
You must also remember that cucumbers are a vegetable that cannot do without a sufficient amount of moisture, so you should immediately organize proper and timely watering. Without enough water, cucumbers can be bitter!
Story
Cucumbers are an ancient vegetable crop that appeared more than six thousand years ago. Cucumbers are native to the tropical and subtropical regions of India and China, where this vegetable still grows in natural conditions.
The cucumber was brought to Europe thanks to the conquests of Southeast Asia by the ancient Greeks. The Greeks called the cucumber "aoros", which translates as "unripe", because the fruits were eaten unripe.
The ancient Chinese, Romans, Egyptians, and Greeks enjoyed using cucumbers as food. The Roman Emperor Tiberius demanded that he always be served fresh cucumbers for dinner. In those distant times there were no greenhouses, so boxes with cucumber seedlings were placed on wheels that were turned towards the sun.
In France, cucumbers began to be grown around the 8th century, and a little later in Germany and Spain. In Russia, cucumbers began to be grown about 500 years ago.
It is unknown when the cucumber appeared in Georgia, but to this day it is happily grown in the country and aromatic and juicy vegetables are served on the table all year round.
Beneficial features
Cucumber is the most dietary of all foods - it consists of 95-98% water, which means it contains a minimum of calories. The remaining percentage in the cucumber is a source of valuable alkaline salts, which can slow down the aging process and the formation of kidney and liver stones.
© photo: Sputnik / Denis Abramov
Cucumbers also contain a lot of fiber, so they improve intestinal motility and also cleanse the walls of blood vessels from excess cholesterol. This vegetable is rich in various vitamins - cucumber contains sugar, protein, vitamins B1 and B2, C, carotene, manganese, zinc, copper and so on.
Cucumbers are excellent at removing excess fluid due to their high potassium content, removing swelling, lowering blood pressure, and having a mild laxative effect.
Due to its low calorie content, cucumber is an ideal product for those who want to lose weight. Cucumber seeds also have medicinal properties, which remove excess cholesterol from the body.
Cucumber juice contains many mineral salts, as well as calcium, phosphorus and sodium. It has a healing and rejuvenating effect on the body and skin, improves memory, strengthens the cardiovascular system, helps maintain healthy teeth and gums, and also gives freshness and maintains skin tone.
The material was prepared on the basis of open sources.
The Moon significantly influences the life of our planet, this fact has been confirmed by thousands of years of observations. But the most interesting thing for us is that gardeners and gardeners can use this influence to their advantage
People have long noticed that there is a connection between the dates of sowing seeds and the subsequent development of plants. This connection has long been identified and actively used.
To make it easier for summer residents to determine “good” and “bad” planting days, the “Lunar Sowing Calendar of Gardeners and Gardeners for April 2017” was compiled. Look into it more often, put it into practice and get an additional harvest.
Moon phase in April 2017
- The moon is waxing - from April 1 to April 10
- The full moon will be on April 11th
- The moon is waning - from April 12 to April 25
- New Moon - April 26
- The moon is waxing again - from April 27 to April 30
Favorable landing days in April 2017
The table shows the most favorable days for sowing seeds for seedlings.
| culture | culture | favorable days for sowing seeds | |
| cucumbers | 2, 3, 4, 12, 13, 30 | tomatoes | 2, 3, 4, 12, 13, 29, 30 |
| eggplant | 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22 | radish, radish | 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 |
| Sweet pepper | 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22 | hot pepper | 3, 4, 14, 15, 29, 30 |
| onion | 2, 3, 4, 12, 13, 14, 15, | potato | 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 24 |
| garlic | 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 | carrot | 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
| White cabbage | 13, 14, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24 | annual flowers | 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
| cauliflower | 2, 3, 4, 15, 16, 17, 28, 29 | flowers bulbous, tuberous | 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 19, 20 |
| different greens | 2, 3, 4, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 | climbing flowers | 9, 10, 19, 20, 21, 22 |
Unfavorable days for sowing seeds.
Favorable days in April 2017 for planting seedlings, cuttings and grafting
| culture | Favorable days for planting seedlings | rooting cuttings, digging in shoots | graft |
| fruit trees | 8, 9, 12, 13, 17, 18 | 8, 9, 12, 13, 17, 18 | |
| grape | 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 12, 13, 22, 23, 28, 30 | 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25 | |
| gooseberries, currants | 3, 4, 7, 8, 9,12, 22, 23, 29, 30 | ||
| raspberries, blackberries | 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9,12, 21, 22, 23, 29, 30 | ||
| Strawberry wild-strawberry | 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 13, 15, 16, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30 |
Attention! The table shows the most favorable There are days for planting and sowing seeds, but this does not mean at all that you cannot plant on other days. You should not plant anything just in prohibited days.
The calendar was compiled taking into account the fact that during the passage of the Moon through different signs of the Zodiac, it does not have the same effect on plants.
On certain days it is better to plant and replant, while on others it is preferable to water, weed or treat the garden for pests.
The table shows the phases of the Moon, its position in the signs of the Zodiac and recommended work for gardeners - gardeners - flower growers for each day of the month.
| date | Moon in Zodiac signs | Recommended works. |
| April 1, 2017 Sat. | Waxing Moon in Gemini |
|
| April 2, 2017 Sun. | Waxing Moon in Cancer |
|
| April 3, 2017 Mon. | First Quarter Moon in Cancer | |
| April 4, 2017 Tue. | Waxing Moon in Cancer | |
| April 5, 2017 Wed. | Waxing Moon in Leo |
|
| April 6, 2017 Thu. | Waxing Moon in Leo | |
| April 7, 2017 Fri. | Waxing Moon in Virgo |
|
| April 8, 2017 Sat. | Waxing Moon in Virgo | |
| April 9, 2017 Sun. | Waxing Moon in Libra |
|
| April 10, 2017 Mon. | Waxing Moon in Libra | |
| April 11, 2017 Tue. | Full Moon Moon in Libra | According to the Lunar Sowing Calendar of gardeners, it is not recommended to disturb plants during the full moon. |
| April 12, 2017 Wed. | Waning Moon in Scorpio |
|
| April 13, 2017 Thu. | Waning Moon in Scorpio | |
| April 14, 2017 Fri. | Waning Moon in Sagittarius |
|
| April 15, 2017 Sat. | Waning Moon in Sagittarius | |
| Waning Moon in Sagittarius | ||
| April 17, 2017 Mon. | Waning Moon in Capricorn |
|
| April 18, 2017 Tue. | Waning Moon in Capricorn | |
| April 19, 2017 Wed. | Last Quarter Moon in Aquarius |
|
| April 20, 2017 Thu. | Waning Moon in Aquarius | |
| April 21, 2017 Fri. | Waning Moon in Pisces |
|
| April 22, 2017 Sat. | Waning Moon in Pisces | |
| April 23, 2017 Sun. | Waning Moon in Pisces | |
| April 24, 2017 Mon. | Waning Moon in Aries |
|
| April 25, 2017 Tue. | Waning Moon in Aries | According to the Lunar calendar of gardeners, the day before the new moon, the new moon and the day after the new moon are prohibited for working with plants. |
| April 26, 2017 Wed. | New Moon Moon in Taurus | |
| April 27, 2017 Thu. | Waxing Moon in Taurus | |
| April 28, 2017 Fri. | Waxing Moon in Gemini |
|
| April 29, 2017 Sat. | Waxing Moon in Gemini | |
| April 30, 2017 Sun. | Waxing Moon in Cancer |
|
Spring work in the garden
Already at the beginning of the month, it is necessary to harrow the soil dug up in the fall as quickly as possible, sow early vegetables, install temporary film covers, sow fast-growing cold-resistant (mustard, phacelia) green manure in the beds that will be occupied by heat-loving vegetables.
Now they sell collapsible greenhouses of various sizes. They are installed over the prepared bed in a few minutes. You can simply cover the bed with a frame covered with film, or insulate the area with film on the arches.
The simplest shelter will allow radishes, lettuce, spinach, carrots, onions sown with nigella, and kohlrabi to sprout earlier than in open beds. Seeds of cold-resistant crops begin to germinate at low positive temperatures, but if the microclimate is warmed by several degrees, seedlings will appear faster and plants will develop more actively.
In addition to the hints of the Lunar sowing calendar, gardeners use hints from nature:
They begin to sow in open beds in April, when crocuses bloom in the garden.
A small greenhouse can be equipped for sowing seeds and picking tomato seedlings. You can sow dry tomato seeds directly into the garden bed and cover the arches with film. The result will be low film tunnels that will provide favorable conditions for friendly shoots and at first will protect the seedlings from changes in April weather. On warm days, such shelters can be slightly opened or removed, accustoming the tomatoes to direct sunlight and wind, and in May they can be removed altogether.
The birch trees have turned green - we are planting potatoes.
At the beginning of the month, we continue to prepare potatoes for planting: while inspecting the tubers, we remove diseased, unsprouted ones with thread-like sprouts.
Some summer residents germinate cleanly washed tubers in plastic bags, having previously made holes in them. In more humid conditions, not only eyes, but also roots begin to develop on the tubers. It’s just important not to break off both during transportation and landing.
When warm weather sets in (the birch trees turn green), we plant potatoes, even if the eyes of the tubers have not reached the required centimeter length: the tubers become more active in the soil faster.
First daffodils for early cabbage
In the second half of April, we plant hardened seedlings of cabbage - Brussels sprouts, Chinese cabbage, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, kohlrabi - into the beds. You can navigate by the flowering of early daffodils growing in the sun. In cool weather, cabbage takes root well and begins to intensively grow leaves. In case of severe cold weather, it is necessary to provide temporary cover for plants with non-woven material or film.
When the soil in the greenhouses at a depth of 10 cm warms up to 14 degrees, we plant tomato seedlings in unheated greenhouses. To plant seedlings or sow cucumber seeds, we will wait for warmer weather. Cold soil is fraught with root rot for these heat-loving plants.
If the soil in the greenhouse has not been changed for a long time, it is generously moistened with extrasol solution: 10 g (tbsp.) per 10 liters of water, consumption - 7-8 liters of working solution per square meter. m. This helps to populate the soil with beneficial microflora and suppress pathogenic ones.
Around the middle of the month, at home or in a greenhouse, we sow the seeds of cucumbers and zucchini in separate cups, so that in May we can plant the not overgrown seedlings in open ground.
We plant seedlings of nightshade plants (tomatoes, peppers, eggplants) for open ground, feed them (1 g of complex fertilizer per liter of water), and begin to harden them in the open air. In April, it is not too late to sow tomatoes as seedlings - in small cassettes or cups, so that in May (without picking) they can be planted in open ground.
We try not to spoil the seedlings that have begun to outgrow: we lower the temperature (open the windows or take the plants out onto the loggia), water less, do not feed with nitrogen, and improve the lighting.
At the end of the month, we dig up green manure (both overwintered and sown in spring) in areas allocated for planting seedlings of heat-loving crops.
Lunar calendars for the following months:
The lunar calendar is an excellent way to determine the most suitable period for working at your summer cottage. Depending on what stage the moon is in, you can carry out various activities: weeding, fertilizing or harvesting.
The waxing moon has a positive effect on crop development; it is not recommended to plant plants on the waning moon. There is a time when it is strictly forbidden to plant cucumbers. These days fall on the location of the moon in such zodiac signs as Libra, Aquarius, Gemini, Leo. During this period, the moon can influence the germination of seeds.
The most optimal days are the following:
- March: 2-3, 6-7, 29-30 (in the first ten days of March it is worth sowing seedlings only in the southern regions or for growing cucumbers in greenhouses);
- April: 1-3, 11-13;
- May: 2, 9, 10.
Favorable days for planting cucumbers in open ground in 2017 according to the lunar calendar
The end of spring and June are optimal for sowing cucumbers in a summer cottage. The most suitable days for planting cucumber seeds are the following dates:
- May: 21, 26-28;
- June: 8, 9.
It is advisable to devote these days to planting seeds directly in open ground. Read about it in a separate article.
Unfavorable days
By turning to the lunar calendar for help, it is possible to determine unfavorable days for planting. It is recommended to avoid this time and it is advisable to postpone work related to planting to a later period. Unfortunately, the lunar calendar often does not coincide with the gardener’s personal calendar, and you may not find time to plant a plant in the allotted period. However, there are days that are definitely better to avoid so as not to harm the harvest.
They fall on the following numbers:
- March: 4, 5, 25, 26, 31;
- April: 10, 21, 22, 26, 29.
- May: 20, 24, 29.
When to plant seedlings in the ground
To start planting cucumber seedlings in open ground, it is necessary to observe the appropriate sowing dates. The best time is April-May. The appropriate timing depends on many factors:
- depending on the crop variety;
- seed germination;
- climatic conditions;
- selected area;
- soil fertility.
Seedlings are planted in open ground, provided that the night temperature is within +5 degrees. On average this occurs in the month of April.
The timing of sowing must be given special attention. If planted early, the seedlings may become very elongated and weakened. Late planting is also undesirable; the seedlings will not have time to gain strength by the right time.
Seedlings should be planted in the ground after several true leaves have formed.
Also, the sowing time can be determined by folk signs: when dandelions are in mass flowering.
Care after landing
In order to obtain a high yield of cucumbers, you need to be careful about growing the crop. The basic care of crops is as follows: watering, fertilizing, tying, forming a vine, pest and disease control.
Watering
The crop prefers constant watering; it must be carried out in a timely and efficient manner.
A special need for moisture manifests itself during the period of active fruiting. During this period, watering must be carried out daily. If the soil is not sufficiently moistened, the cucumbers will taste bitter and grow disproportionately.
However, you also need to be careful with watering. There are days when the Moon comes under the influence of zodiac signs such as Libra and Gemini. During this period, it is recommended to avoid watering.
Favorable days for feeding cucumbers
During the entire period of development, cucumbers need fertilizing approximately 5 times. For the first time, fertilizing is carried out when several true leaves are formed. The second is necessary during the flowering period. Subsequent feeding is needed during the formation of ovaries and mass fruiting. The frequency of fertilizing is once every two weeks.
The most optimal days for this event:
- March: 19-21, 23-28;
- April: 12, 13, 19-23;
- June: 8, 9;
- July: 3-5, 21, 24;
- August: 3-4, 12.
Planted cucumbers must be mulched. This procedure is carried out after weeding. Ideal mulches include: mown grass, sawdust, and humus.
Weeding also plays an important role in crop care. It consists of destroying weeds.
Forming cucumbers
To hold this event, you should choose a period when the moon is waning. According to the calendar, this falls on the following dates:
- April:19-20 ;
- May: 16-17, 23-24;
- June: 13-14, 20-21;
- July:10,11,17.
Disease and pest control
In order for the harvest to be of high quality, it is necessary to combat diseases and pests in a timely manner. The best results from spraying can be obtained if the activities are carried out at the optimal time.
A rich harvest can be obtained if you adhere to the appropriate technology for cultivating the crop and carry out further care measures in a timely manner. In order for all caring procedures to bring maximum benefit, you should seek help from the lunar calendar. This will increase the crop yield several times, and, accordingly, reap a higher yield.
Back in the fall, the gardener determined a place to plant cucumbers grown through seedlings. I cultivated the bed and applied organic fertilizers.
In the meantime, the garden is covered with snow, you should take care of growing cucumber seedlings. This article explains how to do this better and more correctly.
When to plant cucumbers for seedlings in 2019
Determining the optimal timing of sowing cucumber seeds
This is perhaps the most difficult question regarding growing cucumber seedlings. Therefore, when planning to sow cucumbers at home, it is necessary to take into account the following factors:
- Specific weather conditions for your region.
- Take into account the age of the seedlings intended for planting.
- Pre-sowing seed treatment and the time of their germination should also be taken into account when determining the sowing time.
- The choice of place for further growth of cucumbers significantly affects the time of their preparation for sowing.
Central Russia is rich in spring surprises; return frosts can occur at the end of May or the first five days of June. This period will serve as a countdown point.
The best age for cucumber seedlings is 25-30 days.
These are the plants that will tolerate transplantation best. During this time, the seedlings will have time to grow stronger and form a good root system. With sufficient lighting, the stem will not stretch, which is one of the main disadvantages of growing seedlings at home.
It takes a little time to process the seeds. Basically it consists of disinfection, hardening and germination of seed material. Treated and hatched seeds will produce more vigorous shoots. These manipulations most often relate to seeds that were collected from your site and will not take more than 5-7 days.
Seeds purchased from gardening stores are usually already prepared for sowing. In addition, the manufacturer warns against the use of water procedures, which can destroy the nutritional and protective properties of the treated seeds.
If in the future the cucumber seedlings are planted in protected soil, you should take into account the difference of two weeks, which will allow the vegetable to ripen earlier.
Thus, starting the countdown from the beginning of June, the sowing of seeds will occur in the last days of April. But work on the preparation of seed material should begin no later than April 20-23, if seed treatment is required.
When transferring cucumber seedlings to a greenhouse, the sowing period becomes possible 15 days earlier, and you can start working at the end of the first week of April.
These same time periods are best suited for growing cucumbers in seedlings in the Moscow region.
For all their love for warmth, cucumbers are also grown in regions with colder climatic conditions. To do this, you need to choose a variety that takes less time to form fruit. And fruiting should occur in July and August; it is at this time that the most favorable time for the ripening of fruits and vegetables begins in Siberia and the Urals.
Having sowed a parthenocarpic variety of cucumber as seedlings in early May, the gardener will have a crisp cucumber on his table in July.
It must be remembered that the main harvest will be obtained within a month, then the yield will decrease.
Sowing cucumbers for seedlings according to the lunar calendar 2019
It is impossible to completely deny the fact of the influence of the lunar disk on plants, just as it is impossible to blindly be guided only by the dates recommended by the calendar. Therefore, a combination of its reasonable use with the practical experience of a gardener will certainly give the desired result.
The root system of the plant develops better when the moon is in its waning phase; the above-ground parts are actively formed when the moon is waxing.
Experts carry out their calculations taking into account the fact that sowing must be done immediately after the new moon or a few days before the full moon. If you soak the seeds, then the planting date should be counted from this date, since when moisture gets inside the seed, growth processes immediately begin in it.
The following dates will be favorable for sowing cucumbers in 2019:
- in January - 1, 19, 20, 28, 29;
- in February – 6, 8, 12, 13, 16, 17;
- in March – 8-10, 14, 15, 21-23;
- in April – 7, 11, 12, 17, 18, 21, 24, 25, 28.
Cucumbers planted on the waxing moon grow quickly, become stronger, and begin to bear fruit earlier. Watering the crop should also be coordinated with the recommendations of the Lunar calendar. On certain days, the roots perfectly absorb water, giving it to the above-ground parts, but on other days they can rot due to the abundance of moisture in the ground.
You should not plant cucumbers on the following unfavorable days:
- February - 5, 19;
- March - 6, 21;
- April - 5, 19;
- May - 5, 19;
- June - 3, 17;
Cucumbers are one of those vegetables whose seeds improve their quality during storage. Naturally, if all the necessary standards have been met.
By sowing the seeds of the previous harvest, the gardener will receive a strong plant with a large number of male flowers. Seeds with a three-year shelf life will produce less developed vines, but will produce predominantly female flowers and therefore bear more fruit.
An important circumstance is the timing of vegetable ripening and its pollination ability.
Those that enter the fruiting phase in less than 45 days are classified as early ripening varieties. They will be a good option for growing in regions with short periods of heat in the summer. In addition, self-pollinating varieties provide a guaranteed harvest, even if there are few sunny days in the summer.
However, it should be remembered that early varieties of cucumbers produce the largest part of the harvest within a month. Further, fruiting decreases significantly, which cannot be said about cucumbers with an average ripening period.
Mid-season varieties begin to bear fruit in 45-55 days. This is the most common group of seeds in which the gardener will find a suitable option for himself. Among them are varieties such as “F1 Farmer”, “F1 Lord”, “F1 Saltan”, “F1 Thumb Boy”.
If the choice fell on a bee-pollinated variety, then up to 10% of parthenocarpic seeds should be sown in the garden bed; this will help the vegetable with pollination in the absence of flight of pollinating insects.
Pre-sowing work to improve the quality of seed material begins approximately a week before the sowing procedure itself. It will consist of the following stages.
- Sorting. Seeds that, even upon visual inspection, are suspicious should be removed: damaged, stained or moldy. Irregularly shaped grains will also not produce full-fledged sprouts.
- Checking seeds for completeness. The selected seeds should be kept for several minutes in a saline solution (soup spoon per 1 liter of water). You can stir vigorously with a spoon, you can pour the contents from one bowl to another. These procedures speed up seed wetting and reduce testing time. The floating grains are separated from the full grains. Those seeds that have sunk to the bottom are washed and proceed to the next stage.
- Disinfection. The most accessible and common method is to treat it with a pink solution of manganese. A 30-minute procedure will protect the seeds, and then the sprouts, from possible damage by fungal and viral diseases.
- Hardening consists of keeping moist seeds at t=+2°C for 24 hours; a longer stay in the refrigerator is possible (up to 5 days), if the time has not come to send the prepared seeds for germination.
- Germination. Gardeners approach this procedure differently. Some people are afraid of damaging the delicate roots when immersed in the soil, and therefore sow with swollen or dry seeds. For some summer residents, the desire to get quick and friendly shoots is placed above minor risks.
In the meantime, the seeds are hardening and germinating, you should begin preparing the soil.
What should be the soil for cucumber seedlings?
Capricious, at all stages of cultivation, the cucumber also makes special demands on the soil. Organic matter should predominate in it; if it is deficient, the vegetable slows down its growth. Half of the finished soil mixture should be peat. The second half may consist of humus or ready-made compost (30%) and garden soil (20%).
Adding substrates that improve soil structure will provide plants with unhindered access of air and water to the roots. They can be sawdust or ash, which will also enrich the earth with phosphorus and potassium. A handful of dolomite flour will reduce the acidity of the soil.
If the soil has not been prepared since the fall, you can buy it at a gardening store. The soil mixture “Rodnichok” meets all the necessary parameters. There you can also purchase the necessary containers for sowing.
The cucumber does not tolerate encroachment on its root system, and this circumstance must be taken into account when choosing containers for planting seeds for seedlings.
Peat pots are a good option. Their use will allow you to plant ready-made seedlings without causing any harm to the plant. But when growing seedlings, it is better to wrap them in plastic film. This will protect the plant from lack of moisture.
Peat cups tend to absorb water, taking it from the ground. This precaution will not hurt if the gardener needs to leave the seedlings unattended for a day or two.
Growing in peat tablets will require an increase in the feeding area as the seedlings grow. But this process will be painless, since the plant will be moved to a new container without removing the root system.
The roots will receive a minimum of stress when transplanting the sprouts into “diapers”.
Sowing seeds for seedlings 
When everything is ready, sowing will not take the gardener much time. In containers with soil, depressions of 1.5 cm are made and seeds are placed in them.
Sprinkle with earth and cover with glass or other transparent material. This will make it possible not to disturb the seeds by watering in the first days.
At t=25°C, germination will occur in 2-3 days. It is important not to miss this moment, so it is necessary to check the condition of the crops twice a day.
At the first signs of emergence, the container is moved to the lightest windowsill. Another important moment comes: the sprouts should not be allowed to stretch out.
It's still early spring, the sun often hides behind the clouds. The lack of light on such days should be compensated by artificial lighting.
Young seedlings are very sensitive, and a rapid increase in the subcotyledon will not allow the plant to fully develop. Fluorescent lamps will replace the missing warmth of the spring sun for seedlings.
Lamps should be placed directly above plants that require at least 14-16 hours of light during the initial growth stage. It also helps to cope with this problem by installing mirrors on the sides of containers with seedlings, reflecting the light falling from the window, they will improve the illumination of the seedlings.
You should very carefully monitor the condition of the soil in pots or other containers. When the top layer has dried, it is necessary to water the plant with water, which should always be prepared in advance. During this time, it manages to get rid of harmful impurities and become equal to the ambient temperature, i.e. become water at room temperature.
At first it is convenient to do this with a tablespoon. A small amount of water will not allow the root system to be exposed. If this still happens, you should immediately add soil.
Seedlings need additional nutrients, despite the fact that the soil was well filled with everything necessary before sowing. This occurs due to the rapid development of plants. You shouldn’t take risks and combine the fertilizer composition yourself.
It is safer and more reliable to purchase a ready-made complex fertilizer for seedlings and use it according to the recommendations on the package. You cannot fertilize cucumbers on dry soil; the roots must be moistened before fertilizing.
Plants grown at home are fertilized twice. The first falls at the time when the second leaf appears on the sprout. The next one is carried out two weeks later, this is almost before planting the seedlings in the ground.
The month allotted for growing cucumber seedlings flies by. It's worth summing up.
- The soil for sowing cucumber seeds for seedlings must be fertile, with a neutral reaction to acidity.
- It must be prepared and processed in advance, at least two days in advance.
- A day before sowing, the container is filled with soil and disinfected with a weak solution of manganese.
- Seeds should not be “young”, but have a 3-year shelf life, with mandatory disinfection and hardening.
- The seeding depth is 1-1.5 cm.
- Germination temperature – 25°C.
- Germination time is 2-5 days.
- Cucumber seedlings do not tolerate drafts.
- It is necessary to maintain air humidity.
- Watering without stagnant water in the soil.
- Additional lighting during short daylight hours.
- Fertilizing for successful development of seedlings.
A cucumber bush ready for planting should have 5-7 well-developed leaves, short internode spaces and a strong root system. Such seedlings will survive transplantation into the ground without much stress.
When and how to plant rassau cucumbers: video
They begin to bear fruit much faster. You now know when to sow seeds for seedlings.
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Gardener's lunar calendar 2017 - Planting tomato seedlings, sowing cucumbers
May 2017
The table of the lunar calendar given on this page is a thematic selection from a universal one made for the convenience of planning work related to work in the beds. Garden strawberries are present in this section, since it is more convenient for us to view works related to them in the “garden” section of the calendar.
May decorates the forests, summer awaits visitors.
May is the most favorable time for planting most plants. In central Russia, at the beginning of the month, cold-resistant crops are planted in open ground: carrots, turnips, radishes, spring garlic. In the middle of the month they plant onion sets, at the end - strawberries, beans, beets, and potatoes. Grow pumpkin seedlings. Depending on weather conditions, seedlings of various types of cabbage, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, celery, leeks, spicy and medicinal plants are planted in May.
On a note: Abundant watering helps plants survive spring night frosts, which still occur in May - moistened soil brings heat to the surface from its deeper, uncooled layers, and moisture-saturated air cools more slowly - excess steam condenses and releases heat. By watering, you can increase the temperature in the ground layer of air by 2-3 degrees.
ATTENTION! Our gardener's lunar calendar is kept by Moscow time. (The calendar can be used throughout Russia, taking into account the difference between Moscow and local time *)
Gardening work, activities for caring for vegetable plants |
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| from May 01, 2017 00:01 (Mon) to 02 May 2017 07:12 (Tue) Waxing Moon in the sign of Cancer | Pinching vegetables is unfavorable. A favorable time for watering plants and applying mineral fertilizers. Sowing seedlings of super-determinate tomatoes, early-ripening varieties of peppers, and physalis. Sowing pumpkin seeds for seedlings; green, spicy-flavoring, medicinal crops, seeds of cold-resistant flowers in a greenhouse under a film. Sowing possible cucumbers for seedlings. Planting seedlings of early and mid-ripening varieties and hybrids of cauliflower and white cabbage for late consumption in a cold nursery. Sowing corn. Possible picking tomatoes and peppers. We still have a blog: Cottage and garden, entry only from the lunar calendar. Perhaps someone will be interested in how we do it: You can watch the VIDEO by clicking on the picture (a new window will open). (picking seedlings is advisable if there are more than two weeks left before the planned planting in a permanent place) |
| from May 02, 2017 07:12 (Tue) to 04 May 2017 12:46 (Thu) Waxing Moon in Leo |
Possible tillage, thinning of seedlings, weeding and pest and disease control, as well as economic work. A favorable period for sowing, planting and picking up growing plants (peas, hops, etc.). The grass sown these days will sprout in an even layer. The collected medicinal herbs will have the greatest power. Any household work is possible. |
| from 04 May 2017 12:46 (Thu) to 06 May 2017 21:20 (Sat) Waxing Moon in Virgo |
Fertilizing with mineral fertilizers. The best time to plant hedges, replant plants and vegetables grown indoors and on the balcony. May 6 (23.04 art. style) - St. George the Victorious, Egor (Yuri) Veshny |
| from 06 May 2017 21:20 (Sat) to 09 May 2017 08:00 (Tue) waxing moon in the sign of Libra |
Soaking seeds of melons (pumpkins, zucchini, cucumbers, etc.) and sowing them in open ground. It is possible to plant legumes in open ground: beans, peas, beans, lentils. Planting seedlings of heat-loving vegetable crops (peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, pumpkins) in greenhouses and greenhouses; planting seedlings of zucchini, pumpkins, squash in open ground, seedlings of cucumbers in open ground under cover. Planting seedlings of cabbage, remontant strawberries, and aromatic herbs in open ground. Transplanting new strawberry bushes in place of dead ones. Application of mineral fertilizers (azophoska, urea). |
| from May 09, 2017 08:00 (Tue) to 09 May 2017 18:31 (Tue) Waxing Moon in the sign of Scorpio |
Favorable days for watering and fertilizing vegetable crops with mullein infusion. Sowing legumes (beans, peas, beans) and green crops (various varieties of lettuce, dill, etc.). Soaking seeds of zucchini, pumpkins and cucumbers and sowing them in greenhouses, under film cover or for seedlings (depending on weather conditions). Planting white cabbage seedlings. Sowing seeds of late varieties of cauliflower into a nursery for autumn consumption. It is possible to plant seedlings of peppers, tomatoes, and eggplants in greenhouses under additional cover; planting seedlings of zucchini, pumpkin, and squash in open ground under cover. Rooting strawberry rosettes, which will be required to update the plantation. Loosening and mulching the soil, composting. Description of our method planting tomatoes to the greenhouse and you can watch the VIDEO by clicking on the picture. |
| from 09 May 2017 18:31 (Tue) to 11 May 2017 20:43 (Thu) FULL MOON | It is not recommended to sow, plant, replant, or prune anything. Thinning seedlings, loosening and mulching the soil, removing garbage, preparing beds. May 11, 2017 00:42 Moscow time - astronomical full moon (mid-lunar month, until May 11, 2017 19:59 Moon in the sign of Scorpio, then in the sign of Sagittarius). |
| from May 11, 2017 20:43 (Thu) to May 14, 2017 08:37 (Sun) Waning Moon in Sagittarius | Plowing, digging, loosening and mulching the soil. Sowing root crops of radish, daikon, summer radish, turnip. It is possible to plant onions on turnips, spring garlic and early potatoes. Beans and beans planted together with potatoes enrich the soil with nitrogen and repel the Colorado potato beetle. It is effective to spray heat-loving crops with growth stimulants. May 13 (30.04 art style) - Jacob the Apostle |
| from May 14, 2017 08:37 (Sun) to May 16, 2017 20:50 (Tue) Waning Moon in the sign of Capricorn |
The best period for controlling weeds, thinning seedlings, applying fertilizers and mulching the beds with humus or compost. A favorable time for planting celery, potato radishes and all root vegetables. Planting tomato seedlings, pepper, eggplant, cucumbers in greenhouses or under film cover. Dividing perennial vegetable crops. Growing tomatoes.
To familiarize yourself with how tomatoes are formed and watch a VIDEO of their pinching, click on the picture (pinching is only one of the formation procedures necessary for many varieties of tomatoes). There is no need to wait for favorable days to plant tomatoes. Tomatoes begin to shoot no earlier than two weeks after transplanting the seedlings to a permanent place, but then, the sooner you remove the stepson, the better - the plant will not waste its energy in vain... |
| from May 16, 2017 20:50 (Tue) to May 19, 2017 06:52 (Fri) Waning Moon in Aquarius | Unfavorable days for planting and sowing. Spraying vegetable plants against diseases and pests, as well as growth stimulants. Mulching the soil with humus, rotted sawdust, compost. Lawn care. Weeding, soil loosening and pest control. |
| from May 19, 2017 06:52 (Fri) to 21 May 2017 13:10 (Sun) Waning Moon in the sign of Pisces | The best time for watering, root and foliar feeding of plants with organic fertilizers. A favorable time for planting potatoes, sowing onions on turnip sets, spring garlic, radishes, turnips and rutabaga, beets, carrots, parsley, celery. Planting tomato seedlings, pepper, eggplant, cucumbers in greenhouses or under film cover; seedlings of zucchini, pumpkins, squash in open ground. Weed control. Treatment and fertilizing with mullein and complex strawberry fertilizer. |
| from May 21, 2017 13:10 (Sun) to 23 May 2017 15:33 (Tue) Waning Moon in Aries | Plowing and loosening the soil, controlling pests and plant diseases. These days you can weed and mulch the plantings. The best time for watering, root and foliar feeding of vegetable crops. Collection of early greens and its processing. Growing tomatoes. |
| from May 23, 2017 15:33 (Tue) to May 25, 2017 04:22 (Thu) Waning Moon in Taurus | A favorable time for planting sprouted potato tubers, the next batches of non-shooting varieties and hybrids of radishes, sowing seeds of beets, carrots, parsley, celery, radishes, daikon; sowing onions and spring garlic. The best time to fertilize root vegetables, garlic and onions. Loosening and mulching the beds, adding compost. Possible planting seedlings of tomatoes, cucumbers (alternative days) . |
| from May 25, 2017 04:22 (Thu) to May 27, 2017 05:47 (Sat) NEW MOON | It is not recommended to sow, plant, replant, or carry out any work with plants. It is possible to thin out seedlings, loosen and mulch the soil, remove garbage, prepare beds and other types of work not directly related to plants. Checking gardening equipment, purchasing missing supplies. May 25, 2017 22:44 Moscow time - the beginning of the lunar month - until May 25, 2017 15:15 The moon is in the sign of Taurus, then in the sign of Gemini. |
| from May 27, 2017 05:47 (Sat) to 27 May 2017 14:24 (Sat) Waxing Moon in the sign of Gemini |
This period takes only half a day, so it’s worth choosing those jobs that will bring the greatest benefit: Unfavorable time for watering. Loosening, digging the ground, thinning out seedlings. Planting new strawberry bushes to replace those that died in winter. May 27 (14.05 style) - Sidor Borechnik. |
| from May 27, 2017 14:24 (Sat) to May 29, 2017 15:12 (Mon) Waxing Moon in the sign of Cancer |
Pinching vegetable crops is prohibited. Watering vegetable, fruit trees and shrubs and applying mineral fertilizers are beneficial. Soaking melon seeds (pumpkins, zucchini, cucumbers, etc.) and sowing them under film cover. Sowing green crops, corn in the ground. Planting seedlings of late-ripening cabbage varieties in open ground. Planting seedlings of physalis, tomatoes, peppers and eggplants in greenhouses. Planting seedlings of remontant strawberries in the ground. May 28 (15.05 art style) - Pakhomiy Teply, Pakhom Bokogrey. |
| from May 29, 2017 15:12 (Mon) to 31 May 2017 19:16 (Wed) Waxing Moon in Leo |
The period during which only sowing, planting and picking fast-growing plants stretching upward (towards the sun) (onions, peas, etc.) are allowed. Possible tillage, thinning of seedlings, weeding and pest and disease control, as well as economic work. The collected medicinal herbs will have the greatest power. The grass sown these days will sprout in an even layer. Blog post |
| from May 31, 2017 19:16 (Wed) to from May 31, 2017 23:59 (Wed) Waxing Moon in Virgo |
Fertilizing with mineral fertilizers. The best time to transplant vegetable plants grown indoors and on the balcony. I suggest making a table with sections: Moon data and date, vegetables, flower garden, garden. And distribute information across these columns. May : Based on one rather interesting folk sign, it was compiled (for Moscow, St. Petersburg and N. Novgorod). * To determine the local time of a lunar calendar event in Kaliningrad, you need to subtract -1 hour, in Samara: add +1 hour, in Yekaterinburg and Perm: +2; Novosibirsk: +3, Krasnoyarsk: +4 hours... in Vladivostok: +7, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky: +9 hours. |