We plant cucumbers with seeds in open ground: terms in 2021, rules for sowing and growing

Thanks to their excellent taste and relative ease of cultivation, cucumbers have become regular regulars in every vegetable garden (they are even grown on the windowsill!). Despite the fact that this culture is very unpretentious, not every gardener manages to grow cucumbers. withoutseedling method... The reasons for such a failure, as a rule, lie in the incorrect conduct or lack of seed preparation, as well as in the direct planting procedure, or the incorrect subsequent care of the seedlings. However, you can achieve success in this business without any problems if you follow quite simple rules.

For information on when to properly plant cucumbers in open ground with seeds, read further in this article, in which you will find tips, recommendations and step-by-step instructions for sowing cucumber seeds directly into the ground.

When to plant seed cucumbers in open ground: optimal sowing dates

Since this pumpkin crop belongs to the number of sufficiently heat-loving plants, it is recommended to plant cucumber seeds in open ground only when the soil will warm up above +12 degrees (optimally up to + 15-16), and the ambient temperature during the day will be stably above +15 (optimally + 18-20), and at night it will not drop below +8 degrees.

There is no point in sowing earlier, since the seeds will sit in the ground for a long time and not germinate. As a result, they may not ascend at all, but simply rot in a humid and cold environment.

But it is not worth putting off too much, because optimal temperature for the growth of cucumbers +14 .. + 30 degrees, and if the peak of their development coincides with the July heat, they simply stop growing and begin to dry out.

Obviously, the soil warms up faster in the greenhouse, so you can plant cucumbers earlier (by 1-3 weeks).

Depending on the region and climate

Due to the fact that the climate in different parts of the country is very different, there is no uniform sowing time. It is necessary to choose the time for planting cucumbers in open ground, relying on the climatic characteristics of each individual region, namely, on the weather conditions of the current season.

• In the middle lane (Moscow region) cucumbers are sown in the second half of May.

Sowing dates for cucumbers in open ground in the North-West (Leningrad region), as a rule, are shifted 1-2 weeks ahead of those near Moscow.

• In the Urals and Siberia - in late May-early June.

By the way! In regions with short summers, cucumbers are often grown through seedlings.

• And in the South of Russia cucumbers can be sown outdoors in April.

We repeat! The main condition when choosing a landing date cucumbers in open ground is ambient temperature, which should not fall below +12 .. + 15 degrees, and the temperature of the soil, which should warm up to +12, or even better +15 degrees. Otherwise, the seeds will not sprout.

Advice! Cucumber varieties are divided into early ripening, mid-ripening and late-ripening. To feast on crispy cucumbers continuously, it is better to sow immediately different planting material... Thanks to this “little trick”, the plants bear fruit one by one, which allows you to enjoy fresh cucumbers throughout the season.

According to manufacturer's recommendations, depending on the variety

Specific dates for planting the seeds of the selected variety (or F1 hybrid) can often be found on the back of the package.

According to the lunar calendar in 2021

It can help you to choose specific dates for planting cucumbers in open ground Moon calendar.

Everyone has long known the fact that the moon affects not only the waters of the oceans, but also the juices inside plants. So, the most favorable period when you can sow cucumbers falls on the growing moon.

According to the lunar calendar, in 2021, auspicious days, when you can plant cucumbers in open ground, the following dates are considered:

• in April - 1, 2, 24, 25, 27-30;
• in May - 2-4, 6, 15-17, 20, 21 25-31;
• in June - 2-4, 11-14.

If you fail to plant cucumbers on the above dates, do not be discouraged! The main thing is that the landing day is not among the unfavorable (days of the Full Moon and New moons, as well as the period when the Moon is in Aquarius, because it is a barren and dry sign - italicized):

• in April -5-6, 12, 27;
• in May -2-4, 11, 26, 30-31;
• in June -10, 24, 26-27.

How to pick a good variety of cucumbers

Plant several varieties of cucumbers at once - 3-4 pieces, and preferably 5-6. It is difficult to predict what the conditions of the current year will be, so varietal diversity will increase your chances of getting more stable yields. In addition, different varieties in different years, depending on weather conditions, have their own advantages, since some are better adapted to moisture deficiency, the second are more cold-resistant, and the third are resistant to certain diseases.

If you are planting only one or 2 varieties, then it is quite difficult to guarantee a stable harvest.

The following detailed review articles will help you choose the best variety (hybrid) the most popular and best varieties of cucumbers:

• The best varieties for outdoor cultivation.
• For growing in a greenhouse.
• The best self-pollinated (parthenocarpic) varieties.
• Bee-pollinated varieties.
• Cucumber varieties with bunch ovary (bunch cucumbers).

How to plant seed cucumbers in open ground

In order for the planting of cucumbers to be successful, it is not enough just to buy seeds and sow them in the first available hour: you need to thoroughly prepare not only the seeds, but also the soil, choose a suitable place (for the garden), and also observe a number of rules for directly sowing seeds in an open priming.

So let's figure out how to sow cucumber seeds correctly.

Seed preparation

As a rule, most gardeners sow this crop with dry seeds. cucumbers sprout perfectly. However, in order to be completely sure of their germination, if desired, you can carry out pre-sowing seed treatment.

By the way! The site has a separate detailed article about how to prepare cucumber seeds for sowing.

Site selection: rules for crop rotation and garden bed preparation

The choice of a place for growing cucumbers should be approached with all seriousness, because this culture is very warm and light-requiring, which means even a slight drop in temperature and shade will certainly negatively affect its yield (although there are relatively shade-tolerant bee-pollinated varietiesas well as cold-resistant self-pollinated (parthenocarpic) hybrids; you just need to select the appropriate hardy variety or hybrid).

After which it is better to plant: good and bad predecessors

The place for cucumbers should be selected in accordance with the rules of crop rotation. So, it is advisable to plant cucumbers after the following crops:

• tomatoes and peppers, eggplants;
• onions and garlic;
• cabbage.

Note! But after pumpkin and melon crops (pumpkins, zucchini, squash, melons, watermelons), cucumbers cannot be planted, since they have common diseases and pests. The same goes for replanting cucumbers in the garden where they grew last year.

You can also do mixed planting of cucumbers with tomatoes (for example, in a greenhouse), turnips, radishes, corn, legumes.

Preparing the soil and beds for planting cucumbers

The basis for obtaining rich yields of cucumbers is high soil fertility. Naturally, it should be light and loose, as well as neutral in acidity.

Of course, ideally, a garden bed for planting cucumbers (and other crops) should be prepared in the fall, but if you have not done this, then it's okay - you can dig up and apply the necessary fertilizers in the spring, at least a month or 1-2 weeks before planting seeds.

Alternatively, you can apply organic matter or mineral fertilizers directly to the planting holes, making them 20-25 cm deep (on a shovel bayonet). Then mix everything thoroughly with garden soil and sow to the recommended depth (1.5-3 cm).

In addition, humus or compost (about 5-8 kg per 1 square meter) can be spread in a thin layer over the area allocated for sowing zelents, wood ash (100-200 grams per 1 sq.m.), and then dig everything deeply (on a shovel's bayonet - 20-25 cm).

By the way! Cucumbers love manure (but it is advisable to use rotted, not fresh).

The applied organic fertilizers will make the soil looser, and also saturate it with nutrients necessary for the active growth and fruiting of the crop.

If you allow the use of mineral fertilizers, then the whole complex of macronutrients should be added for digging, for example, you can use one nitroammophoska (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium - all 16% each) or take all the elements separately - urea or ammonium nitrate, superphosphate, potassium sulfate (according to the instructions).

Note! In autumn, it is recommended to add potash and phosphate fertilizers (they absorb and dissolve for a long time), and in the spring - nitrogen (they act quickly enough and can wash out of the soil if they are applied in the fall).

Worth knowing! No matter how you prepare a bed for planting cucumbers, in any case you you will have to feed them during the growing season, and to do this quite often - during the entire fruiting period (this is especially true for potash fertilizers).

Important! It is not necessary to initially apply an excessive amount of fertilizer to the soil, because exceeding their norm can simply destroy your plant (its roots).

Methods for planting and growing cucumbers

All gardeners plant cucumbers on their site in accordance with their capabilities. However, there are several rather original and quite effective ways of growing cucumbers.

In barrels

Perhaps this is the most original method of planting cucumbers, which has a fairly simple technology for preparing the barrel itself, sowing seeds, as well as further care and harvesting.

Advice!The site already has a detailed article about how to grow cucumbers efficiently in barrels.

In bags

In general, this method is similar to the previous one, except that now dense plastic bags or bags of sugar (or flour) are used as a landing container. However, in this case, you will have to make supports and tie whips on them, as well as monitor watering, in other words, it will be quite serious to get confused.

By the way! Similarly, you cangrow potatoes in bags.

However, the effectiveness of this method is rather doubtful.

Growing methods depending on the methods (methods) of the garter

There are a huge variety of ways to tie cucumbers.

Of course, the most popular and effective of them is on the tapestry, but there are also much more original ones.

Advice!The site has detailed material abouthow and in what way can cucumbers be tied.

Landing on black agrofibre (spunbond)

Alternatively, you can grow your cucumbers on black agrofibre (like strawberries).

What needs to be done?

Lay agrofibre, make cuts at the required distance (according to the recommended scheme) and plant seeds.

Or you can do the opposite, that is, first sow the seeds, wait for the shoots, and only then cover the bed with spunbond.

Planting cucumbers under a black film lowers the soil temperature by 2-4 degrees, so in the summer heat such cucumbers feel better.

On a warm bed

Since there is always a risk of recurrent spring frosts in the temperate zone, it is safer to plant cucumbers in warm (high) beds.

And already on a warm garden bed you can tie up (grow) cucumbers in any way most suitable (convenient) for you.

Direct landing

Step-by-step instructions for planting cucumber seeds in open ground:

• Make planting holes or even rows (barbs).

The planting depth of cucumber seeds is 1.5-2 cm (maximum-3 cm if you have very loose and sandy soil).

• Lightly spill holes and grooves with water.
• Spread dry seeds into grooves at a distance of 5-10 cm (if you are sowing already germinated seeds or are 100% sure of their germination, then you can immediately sow according to the recommended planting scheme for this variety or hybrid, when, as a rule, 1 sq. no more than 3-5 plants are placed per meter: 20-40 cm in a row, 60-100 cm between rows).

It is better to put 2-3 seeds in one hole at once, in order to subsequently remove the weaker ones.

• Cover the holes with earth or level the grooves.

Advice! To protect your seeds from ants, after you put the seeds in the holes or grooves, you can sprinkle tobacco dust or mustard oil on top of them (because to say to mulch the seeds), and only then cover them with earth.

By the way! Tobacco dust is also a prevention against nematodes.

• Water lightly again.

Video: the easiest planting of cucumbers in open ground

Video: planting cucumber seeds in high beds

Shelter after landing

To create high humidity, which cucumbers love so much, after sowing, the garden bed is covered with polyethylene (or even better with white spunbond).

Some gardeners mount over plantings mini greenhouse on arcs.

Cucumbers covered in this way, due to the high humidity, will quickly sprout and will not suffer from recurrent spring frosts.

And as soon as the seedlings germinate and seedlings appear, the film will need to be promptly removed.

In the case of a mini-greenhouse, it will need to be periodically opened (ventilated), gradually increasing the time the plants stay in the open air.

In the future, when the flowering period begins, it is recommended to completely remove or open the shelter (greenhouse) from the end sides so that bees can fly inside (if you are growing bee-pollinated varieties).

Video: planting cucumber seeds in a greenhouse for an early harvest

Further care for cucumbers in the open field

Note! All the information about how to care for cucumbers outdoors you'll find in this detailed article.

Thus, we can say that as such there are no special secrets of planting cucumbers in open ground, but there are some nuances and rules that need to be taken into account. Besides, planting is only half the battle or even a quarter of the job. To get a rich harvest, you need to properly care for and grow. Good luck!

Video: growing cucumbers in the open field - planting and care