Growing cucumbers is not considered the most difficult task among vegetable growers, but it has its own nuances. If you make an effort and study these features, you can get the result in the form of a significant increase in yield. Cucumbers are quite undemanding to soil, but love warmth and light.

When to plant cucumbers?

Cucumber is a heat-loving vegetable, so planting dates vary in different regions depending on the time of warm days. If plant cucumbers with seeds, then in the Moscow region the optimal period is considered to be from mid-May for indoor ground, and the beginning of June for open ground.

In the Middle Volga region, you can plant cucumbers a little earlier; open ground is ready to receive seeds at the end of May. In the Rostov region and other southern regions, the best option for cucumber beds is the end of April or the beginning of May.

The general rule is that the night temperature should be at least +15 degrees Celsius. The dates can be shifted a few days later if you sow soaked seeds.

Planting cucumber seeds for seedlings

When to plant cucumbers for seedlings? When planting cucumber seeds, you must remember that 25-30 days must pass from the moment the seeds are planted until the young plant produces three or four leaves and is suitable for planting in the garden. For central Russia, planting takes place in early May or a little earlier. In the case of using greenhouses, the best option is early April.

Many vegetable growers focus their work on the position of the Moon in the firmament. When to plant cucumbers in 2017 according to the lunar calendar? Favorable days are considered to be the 9th, 18th, 22nd, 27th and 28th in April, the 4th, 15th, 19th, 24th and 31st in May, and the 1st, 2nd, 11th, 16th and 20th in June.

How to plant cucumbers?

One common option is planting using seedlings. Cucumber seeds are pre-stored for four weeks at a temperature of +25 degrees Celsius.

After warming up, it is recommended to soak the seeds to speed up germination. A mixture of humus and peat is prepared with the addition of sawdust.

Formation of the first “real” leaf of cucumber seedlings

The mixture is placed in small pots. The seeds are buried to a depth of 1-2 cm and watered. The pots are kept in a warm place in the light. After the plants have sprouted and formed several leaves, cucumber seedlings transplanted into a greenhouse or open ground.

Define, when to plant cucumber seedlings in open ground, you can measure night temperatures. If +15 degrees Celsius has been reached, and the air is getting steadily warmer every day, then it is time to replant the seedlings.

Is it possible to plant cucumbers? at lower temperatures? No, this is fraught with plant disease, and at +10 degrees Celsius, with death.

Planting cucumber seedlings in the ground

How to plant cucumbers in open ground with seeds? It is necessary to first prepare the bed and fertilize it. Cucumbers are not too picky about soil fertility, but applying fertilizer will increase the yield.

A large amount of manure will make the soil of the garden bed warmer, which will speed up the growth of plants. We dig up the ground with a bayonet shovel. We make rows at a distance of approximately 60 cm, planting the seeds a few centimeters apart to a depth of 4 cm. If we planting cucumbers in open ground, then you need to remember about the possibility of night frosts.

What varieties of cucumbers are best to plant?

What cucumbers to plant in difficult climatic conditions, are all varieties productive when grown in open ground? There are some general tips for vegetable growers.

Hybrids (marked with F1 symbols on the packaging) are more resistant to various diseases. The growing season for middle and late cucumbers is longer. Early vegetables are not always suitable for canning; late ones are more preferable.

Choice, what varieties of cucumbers to plant, depends on the preferences and experience of each vegetable grower. Let's look at some common varieties suitable for cultivation in central Russia.

Benefit F1. The fruits ripen 6-7 weeks after germination. Does not require pollination by bees. The fruits are suitable for consumption in all forms.

Fast and Furious F1. Early self-pollinating variety. Grows well in greenhouses and open ground. Fruits up to ten centimeters long.

Ant F1. It is considered one of the earliest ripening, optimal for open ground. Self-pollinating, high-yielding. Fruits without bitterness. Unpretentious and resistant to many diseases.

Phoenix. Late-ripening variety, bears fruit until frost. The fruits are long and good for salads and canning.

Solar. Late variety, 7 weeks from germination to first fruits. Pollinated by bees and other insects. The fruit is elongated, well suited for pickling. Resistant to diseases.

What cucumbers to plant in a greenhouse? We can recommend the high-yielding variety Emelya F1 or Dynamite F1. Greenhouse varieties are usually self-pollinating, since it is difficult to provide access to a closed room bees and bumblebees.

For the greenhouse you should choose self-pollinating varieties of cucumbers

Cucumber care

Cucumber is a less demanding vegetable compared to peppers. The most important condition for obtaining a good harvest is timely watering. Drying out the soil will lead to wilting of the foliage and loss of taste.

The root system of a cucumber spreads outwards, so it is not necessary to water at the root. The best time is evening or early morning. The water must be warm enough, otherwise various diseases will occur. Consumption rate - a bucket for a large bush, frequency - once a week at normal times, once every three to four days - during fruiting.

After watering, it is useful to mulch the soil, usually using straw or rotted grass. A bed with such a covering retains moisture well and does not form a crust. Excess moisture is also harmful.

If it rains too often, it is necessary to make a small drainage to drain excess water. Periodically loosen the soil and remove weeds. During such procedures, you need to remember about the vulnerability of the root system.

Fertilizing can be done with both organic mixtures and mineral fertilizers. Manure or bird droppings are used as organic matter; 1 liter is diluted in a bucket of water.

Mulching cucumber seedlings

As an alternative, you can take 10 grams. saltpeter and potassium salt plus 45 gr. phosphorus fertilizer and dilute in water. The consumption rate is a bucket of mixture for ten to twenty bushes. During the fruiting period, more saltpeter and potassium salt are added depending on the needs of the plants.

Features of growing cucumbers in a greenhouse and in open ground

It is necessary to remember some differences between growing greens in a greenhouse and open ground. In a greenhouse, a cucumber bush must be properly shaped to obtain a large harvest. Usually part of the side shoots is removed. In open ground there is no such need.

In an enclosed space, cucumbers need to be tied up, otherwise you will end up with real plant chaos. There is more space in the garden bed; cucumber vines can grow freely. In greenhouse conditions, bee-pollinated varieties should not be used, since access of insects to the room is limited or impossible.

Harvesting cucumbers

Cucumbers are eaten unripe; an overripe vegetable is only suitable for obtaining seeds. For pickling, fruits of 5-8 cm are usually chosen, for salads - larger ones. The frequency of harvesting is at least once every two days, otherwise rapid overgrowth occurs. Cucumbers are harvested early in the morning or evening, carefully cutting the fruits with a knife. The shoots should not be turned over and the leaves should not be trampled.

There are 2 ways to plant cucumbers. The first is sowing seeds in the ground, the second is. How to sow seeds in the ground correctly? Let's take a closer look at the process.

• First, you need to choose the right time for planting. Many people believe that they need to be planted very early, back in April. But this is wrong, because the cucumber loves warmth very much, and if it is planted in soil that is not yet warmed up, then flowers will appear, but there may be no ovaries or fruits. Then, as a rule, at an average temperature, the earth is already sufficiently warmed up.
• The place to plant the vegetable is also of great importance. The bed must be well prepared. Excellent predecessors to cucumber are tomatoes, peppers, onions and cabbage. You should not plant cucumbers in the same place for several years in a row.

• It is recommended to sow vegetables in a very interesting way - in trenches. To do this, you need to mark the lines of future trenches in the garden bed. Then, along these lines, we begin to dig with a shovel, laying out the earth from the sides. You need to dig deep enough, along the entire length, going about 10-15 centimeters deep.

Very important! If, when preparing a site for planting (when digging), white caterpillars twisted into a ring are found in the ground, then these are the larvae of the cockchafer. It is necessary, if possible, to carefully inspect the area and remove all pests. The presented larvae eat everything they can, including cucumber seeds.

How to plant cucumber seeds for seedlings (video)

• A little about the soil!. It shouldn't be too sour. It's no secret that all plants love fertile, loose soil, including cucumbers. He loves organic fertilizers, and not even humus, as is commonly thought, but manure. After all the holes have been dug, you need to take manure and pour it generously into the trenches. If it's not crumbly, it's okay.
• It is good if the weather is sunny during planting. It is most favorable for cucumber. It is better to plant seedlings in the evening.

After carrying out the work, it is necessary to cover the soil with a thin layer of manure. Then we pour water into each trench 1-2 times very generously. Afterwards, the cucumbers are covered with film to minimize moisture evaporation.

Next, we place the seeds in the trench, following the pattern: the distance between plants should reach 20-30 centimeters. We level the trench, cover the seeds with soil, and pat down a little, compacting the soil. Cucumbers love condensation, so you need to wait a while, then water the bed generously with a watering can and install the arches. Stretch a film over these arcs, preferably thicker (150 - 200 microns) and wait until shoots appear.

How to properly grow cucumber seedlings

Today, many summer residents choose to grow cucumbers not with seeds, but with seedlings. This way you can get the first harvest in the spring. The first mass harvest of cucumbers is possible at the end of March. For winter growing in a greenhouse, even with good artificial lighting, shade-tolerant hybrids are mainly used.

In pots filled with planting soil consisting of garden soil and rotted manure or humus in a ratio of 3:1. Before planting seeds, the prepared soil is well watered with hot water and fed with complex fertilizers. With this soil preparation, the seeds germinate within a day or two after sowing.

Cucumbers love heat very much, so the optimal temperature for germination should not be below +18°C; at low temperatures, the seeds may not germinate or the seedlings will grow very slowly, increasing the time for fruiting to begin.

Seedlings with formed ovaries are planted for further growth in low, which are made of stabilized film that retains ultraviolet radiation. In such greenhouses it is easiest to maintain the optimal temperature; the plant receives sufficient sunlight and does not stretch out.

Along the entire length of the greenhouse, trenches up to 50 cm deep are dug with a bayonet shovel, which are laid with film and covered with the husks of any cereals. This mixture is compacted tightly and serves to retain heat inside the greenhouse. Row spacing is set at an optimal width of 90 centimeters.

Ten days before transplanting the seedlings into the greenhouse, the husks are generously watered with warm water and urea, covered with a mixture of garden soil, ash and humus; Cover with thick black film for good heating.

A week before planting the seedlings, cross-shaped holes are made in the film approximately every 50 centimeters, which are repeatedly shed with warm water and a nutrient solution.

After the bushes are rooted and their initial growth, trellises are installed along each row of plants on which the cucumber vines will be attached. In greenhouses, a stove with a hot water boiler is installed, from which pipes are stretched along the entire perimeter; Water for irrigation is also taken from here. Electric lighting is turned on only on cloudy days - in spring there is already enough daylight.

Important! If a decision has been made to plant seedlings rather than seeds in the greenhouse, the holes in the beds should be made of such a size that they can accommodate cups. If the cup is made of peat humus, then we place it in the ground and dig it in with earth. If not, then carefully pull out the plant so as not to damage the root system.

Planting cucumber seedlings in the ground (video)

Cucumber, unlike other plants, has very sensitive roots. You can sprinkle special “Kornevin” powder (a stimulator of root formation) into the hole and onto the earthen ball. This will provide an additional guarantee of the survival rate of the cucumber. You need to water the plant at the root using a ladle.

Lunar calendar for planting cucumbers for 2019: favorable and unfavorable days by month

It's no secret that there are favorable days for planting vegetables and unfavorable ones. A special lunar calendar will help you find out about them, which reflects when you can work with the plant.

Planting cucumbers during favorable periods will allow you to get a good harvest. On unfavorable days, on the contrary, you should not carry out any work with the crop.

The lunar calendar for sowing and planting cucumbers for 2019 is made in the form of two tables indicating favorable timing of work for growing cucumbers in a greenhouse, greenhouse and open ground. The calendar has been compiled for growing cucumbers in central Russia.

The first table contains sowing and planting dates for growing cucumbers in a greenhouse or greenhouse using seedlings. The second table contains the timing of sowing and planting cucumbers through seedlings for open ground and favorable days for sowing directly into open ground.

The lunar calendar for 2019 indicates work days in fertile zodiac signs. Sometimes the agricultural timing of sowing seeds and subsequent planting forces sowing or planting to be done during the waning Moon. It is advisable to sow cucumbers on the waxing Moon, and it is permissible to transplant seedlings during the waning Moon. In the Lunar calendar, we indicate among the dates for sowing seeds the most favorable days that fall on the waxing Moon and the fertile zodiac sign.

Subsequent activities for the care and planting of cucumbers should be carried out based on plant growth. If cucumbers are sown early in a given lunar calendar, then the time for transplanting to a permanent place should also be early among those indicated in the calendar.

Lunar calendar for growing cucumbers in a greenhouse or greenhouse

To grow cucumbers, we recommend choosing the most favorable days for sowing from those indicated in the lunar calendar table, because These days fall on the waxing moon. When sowing seeds on a windowsill, they will germinate in six to eight days.

The best air temperature for germinating seeds and growing seedlings for planting in a greenhouse or greenhouse: on sunny days 20-25°C, on cloudy days 18-22°C and at night 16-18°C.

Lunar calendar for growing cucumbers in open ground

	Favorable days sowing and planting cucumbers FOR OPEN GROUND according to the Lunar calendar in 2019
Sowing seeds for seedlings	May 6-7
Planting seedlings in open ground	June 5-6, 11-14
Sowing seeds in open ground	June 5-6
Pinching	19-20, 28-31 August, 1 September
Picking cucumbers	July 22-24, 27-28, August 7-10, 19-20, 23-25, August 28

Cucumbers grown in open ground can be sown as seedlings or directly into open ground. If you sow seeds in open ground, then choose from the days indicated in the second table a day such that, according to the weather forecast, the last severe frost will occur in the first week from the day of sowing the cucumbers. Experience shows that the most frost-resistant seeds are those sown dry, although they will germinate later. Soaked cucumber seeds, too, but a little less frost-resistant and will sprout a little later. Germinated seeds will sprout the earliest, but more often die during freezing. Cucumber seeds sprout approximately two weeks after the soil temperature reaches 15°C. When sown in warm soil, cucumber seedlings may appear in six to eight days.

Any cucumber seeds germinate at temperatures above 12°C. Seed hardening promotes earlier seed germination.

Many summer residents sow cucumbers on their first spring visit to the dacha, sow the seeds in boxes or 8x8 pots and then water the seedlings every 7-10 days. There is no need to pick cucumber seedlings. For an early, abundant harvest, we recommend providing cucumber seedlings with bright lighting for 6-8 hours and complete darkness for 12-14 hours.

Cucumber seedlings one month old, which has 3-4 leaves, planted in a greenhouse, greenhouse or open ground at appropriate times, on favorable days according to the lunar calendar.

Cucumber seedlings are planted in the greenhouse when the temperature in the greenhouse reaches 15°C, but to meet the deadlines indicated in the first table, cucumbers can be planted at a temperature of 10°C, but not lower. Covering material allows you to increase the temperature by 5°C. Cucumber seedlings can be planted in a greenhouse at a temperature of 10-12°C.

Seedlings are planted in open ground when the average daily temperature rises above 10°C, cover at night and on cold days with covering material (in central Russia, spring frosts may occur until June 12). If in your area the groundwater is located high, then it is better to move the sowing and planting of cucumbers to the very latest date so that the groundwater warms up and does not interfere with the formation of ovaries in cucumbers.

In addition to favorable days according to the lunar calendar, we recommend planting cucumber seedlings on a cloudy day or in the late afternoon.

The best air temperature for cucumber growth before fruiting: on sunny days 20-25°C, on cloudy days 18-22°C and at night 16-18°C.

Three to four weeks after planting the seedlings, the cucumbers will begin to bloom. Cucumbers form an ovary and the fruits grow at temperatures above 15°C, so there is no need to rush into early sowing in open ground. During the fruiting period of cucumbers, the optimal temperature on sunny days is 25-27°C (not higher than 30°C), on cloudy days 22-24°C and at night 20-21°C. The cucumber harvest can be harvested a month after transplanting the seedlings to a permanent location. Cucumbers are harvested daily or every other day.

When to plant cucumbers in open ground in 2018? To find out the answer to this question, owners of small plots of land also take into account weather conditions and the lunar sowing calendar. The first factor allows you to determine from what period you can safely start planting cucumbers in open ground, and the second influences the choice of the most suitable date for this activity.

Planting cucumbers in 2018: determining the appropriate time based on the weather

Cucumbers are very heat-loving, so planting them in open ground in April, when the threat of return frosts is still high, is a risky undertaking. It is necessary to wait until the night temperature is guaranteed not to drop below +5 C. Lower mercury readings are equally dangerous for both seedlings planted in open ground and for seedlings emerging from sown seeds. Wait until the ground warms up well.

In the middle zone (for example, in the Moscow region), it is customary to plant cucumbers in open ground no earlier than May 20, but no later than June 10. If it is possible to build a film shelter over the cucumber beds, planting seeds or seedlings can be done a little earlier.

Seeds and seedlings of cucumbers can only be planted in well-warmed soil.

Planting cucumbers in open ground in 2018: what does the lunar calendar tell you?

Many farmers have learned from their own experience that if they plant a particular crop on days that are favorable according to the lunar calendar, then better results are achieved. But what does the Moon have to do with the development of cucumbers?

The satellite of our planet, although it is far away, has an impact on life processes on Earth. In particular, it is known about its ability to attract or repel water. Thus, during the growth phase of the Moon, the juices in plants rise upward, and during the waning Moon they descend to the roots.

Based on this, it is easy to come to the conclusion that all crops with above-ground fruits, including cucumbers, should be planted on the waxing Moon. In May 2018, the full Moon will be visible in the sky on the 11th, and in June - on the 9th. On the full moon and on the day preceding it, experienced farmers and gardeners avoid planting.

Planting cucumbers in open ground should be done on the waxing Moon.

So, based on this principle, in 2018, cucumbers can be planted in open ground during the following periods:

• until May 10,
• from May 25 to June 8.

However, in addition to the phases of the lunar cycle, when planning excavation work, it is also customary to take into account in which constellation our satellite is located. This is how the most suitable dates for planting are calculated using the lunar calendar. According to this factor, the most successful days for planting cucumbers in 2018 are:

• April 27 and 30,
• May 1, 2, 5-7, 28-30,
• June 5-8.

• When growing cucumbers in seedlings, plant three-week-old sprouts with well-developed three leaves in open ground.
• For planting, choose a sunny, draft-free area—high beds work well. Make a small shaft on the side where the wind often blows.
• The best predecessors: crops of the nightshade family, legumes and onions.
• The soil should not be acidic or heavy.
• In the phase of two or three knees, as well as on the eve of flowering, hill up the cucumbers.
• Do not change the location of the adult vines, as it will take a lot of effort for the plant to adapt, which is necessary to grow greenery.

Experienced farmers hill cucumbers

Now you know how to determine when to plant cucumbers in open ground in 2018. Consider the climatic features of your region. The main thing is not to plant cucumbers too early, when the ground does not have time to warm up, and if there is a threat of frost, cover the beds. Also choose favorable days according to the lunar calendar. Following these tips will give you reason to expect a bountiful harvest.

Every experienced summer resident always uses the lunar calendar to choose the most suitable days for planting his plants, and since cucumbers are quite whimsical, they will have to pay especially much attention.

In addition, this article will describe those days when it is generally not worth carrying out planting work in the greenhouse and in the garden, as well as caring for young plants.

Gardeners are well aware that there is a special energetic connection between the night luminary and our planet; it is through this connection that the lunar calendar is compiled, which helps to start planting correctly and on time. Since in this article we are talking about cucumbers, it is necessary to understand that it is best to plant these vegetable crops after the moon rises, this is precisely the time when the plants grow upward and gain strength.

When the moon begins to wane, gardeners should plant any root crops on their plot, but this is not the time to plant cucumbers, since the waning star gives rise to plant roots.

If the star has begun to grow, the gardener can use a special calendar of lunar phases and use it to determine the most suitable dates for planting seedlings in open or greenhouse soil. The waxing moon actively affects plants that have ground fruits, so it’s time to start growing any variety of cucumbers.

After planting this plant in the ground at a favorable time, the plant will grow faster, it will become strong and will not succumb to diseases, and in the end it will show a very large harvest. It is useful not only to plant cucumbers in May according to all the rules of the calendar, but also to care for the seedlings at the most favorable time for this.

When planting cucumbers in the garden, it is initially necessary not to select the best days, but to monitor the position of the moon; in this case, you may not even need a calendar, because as soon as the moon begins to rise, you can begin the process of planting ground vegetable crops, which include cucumbers. In this case, planting in open ground and in a greenhouse follows the same rules; together with cucumbers, you can plant tomatoes, bell peppers and parsley, since these vegetables bear ground fruits, which means the moon can have a beneficial effect on them during its growth period.

It is also worth remembering that each month has its own days on which it is best to plant; the most active planting of the first seedlings in the ground occurs in May, since at this time the weather becomes warm enough, which allows vegetables to develop and grow normally.

Below we will describe the most favorable day, and also tell you about those days when it is better not to plant at all. It is also worth remembering that it is necessary to choose the optimal time to sow new seedlings, since the future harvest will also depend on sowing.

The best days in May for planting cucumbers

Planting days should be selected in accordance with the night star, or rather its position and energy; the most positive days for planting seedlings will be the fourth, twenty-fifth and fifteenth day, in addition, astrologers note the last day of the month, as it has a beneficial effect on the survival of seedlings and their growth. The remaining days for planting terrestrial plants cannot be called favorable; for this reason, it is better to refuse sowing and planting on other days.

It is worth remembering that you cannot trust only the lunar calendar, since first the gardener must monitor the weather conditions; if they allow you to start planting young plants in the ground, then you can choose a suitable day. Thus, planting begins only if the plants are transplanted into the greenhouse, or when the air temperature outside does not drop below ten degrees.

You will also have to monitor the daily weather; if the calendar indicates a positive day for planting cucumbers, and it is raining outside, you will have to postpone planting to another good time for this, when the weather is better.

It should also be noted that during major holidays, planting will have to be abandoned; this is usually written in the calendar, but sometimes astrologers simply indicate the best days for planting. It is worth remembering that church holidays may become a ban on planting new plants in the garden and.

The calendar itself can also tell you what days it is worth caring for young plants, when it would be better to feed the cucumbers and water the plants. Astrologers indicate all lunar eclipses, as well as the new moon and full moon, it is strictly prohibited to carry out planting work on these days, and in general at such times it is better not to work in the garden.

How do signs affect the growth of cucumbers?

May is the month of planting, but there are several especially favorable days on which it is simply necessary to plant vegetables. It is very important to pay attention to the position of the moon, or more precisely in which constellations the lunar body is located. Constellations such as Cancer and Capricorn have the most positive effect on the growth of cucumbers, and it is also worth planting under the constellation Pisces or Taurus; on these days, planting will be as successful as possible, and the future harvest will be quite large. It is especially important to sow seeds at this time, since the seedlings will grow stronger and stronger, and the fertility of the bushes will depend on this in the future.

If you plant under such signs as Sagittarius or Virgo, you should not expect rapid growth of sprouts; most likely, the seeds will take quite a long time to germinate, and germination will occur at different times, even if the seeds were planted at the same time. The yield of such plants will ultimately be average, but if the gardener is satisfied with this result, then the seeds can be planted in such constellations; this result will also be obtained if the lunar body moves into the constellation Aries.

But besides this, there are also unfavorable days when the night star begins to move into signs under which planting is strictly prohibited, for example, it could be Aquarius, Leo or Libra; the constellation Virgo will also be unfavorable for planting seedlings. Such signs are considered sterile; for this reason, you should not expect any yield from planting on such days.

When do you start transplanting seedlings?

The current year will probably be remembered by many gardeners, because the weather is constantly changing, for this reason it is not rational to follow only the planting calendar, since some regions simply cannot plant plants due to low air temperatures in May. It is also worth remembering that it is also necessary to rely on the variety of the selected vegetable crop, since early varieties can be transplanted into the ground in early May, but later ones can be planted at the very end of the spring month or even at the beginning of summer.

It is equally important to monitor the temperature regime; in the middle zone, the warm time comes at the beginning of May, for this reason you can plant seedlings in the ground by the time the temperature remains at ten degrees.