Latest Cultivation Techniques and Methods Tutorial for Dutch Mini Cucumbers
The Dutch mini cucumber is a major greenhouse cultivation variety. What is special about the Dutch mini cucumber is that it can set fruit without pollination or fertilization, only the seeds do not develop fully, and it is a gynoecious cucumber. The main advantage of the mini cucumber is that it produces more fruit in a dense set. High yields are relatively easy to achieve. At present, the Dutch mini cucumber has begun to be widely planted in the country. The specific cultivation techniques are what growers care about, so next let us give a brief introduction.
I. Site Selection and Land Preparation
It is best to find a gently sloping piece of land close to a water source with convenient roads. Try not to plant in rice paddies, as the water table is too low and water easily accumulates after rain. The soil is best if it is neutral, and deep soil that retains fertility and is loose and airy is the best planting soil. Straw compost can be added to increase the humus content of the soil. For field preparation, plow about 30 cm deep, then after fine-tilling the soil, rake it level, and dig drainage ditches 20 cm deep around the perimeter.
II. Sowing and Raising Seedlings
Seeds are relatively expensive, so it is best to sow in seedling trays for precise seedling raising. Use vermiculite or sand together with peat, grass peat and the like to make a culture medium or nutrient soil. Sow one seed per cell; for smaller seeds, put two. After covering, water once or twice a day, depending on the moisture content. When raising seedlings in a greenhouse, maintain 24°C to 26°C. After emergence, the daytime temperature can be lowered by one degree, and at night keep it above 15°C and below 18°C.
III. Planting Out
The land should be ridged for row planting. The ridge rows are 30 cm wide, with the length determined by the terrain. The middle ditch is 40 cm wide and 10 cm deep is enough; the row spacing can be adjusted. The planting spacing is about 25 cm. Planting out is carried out when 4 true leaves have grown. After planting, the seedlings need to recover; water and apply diluted fertilizer water during the recovery period to retain moisture and restore normal growth. After the recovery period, gradually increase fertilizer and water.
IV. Planting Management
After the recovery period, increase the amount of fertilizer and watering to ensure rapid plant growth. Water together with fertilizer; apply 20 jin of urea per mu each time, once a week. During the fruiting period, spray 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate. Within one week of planting out, keep the daytime temperature at 25°C to 30°C and the nighttime at 18°C to 20°C; after the recovery period, lower it by 2°C to 3°C accordingly. Prevent strong light. When the plants grow to 50 cm, insert stakes and set up trellises. Increasing carbon dioxide in greenhouse cultivation can increase yield.
The Dutch mini cucumber has the habit of setting fruit without fertilization, so cultivation management does not need to focus on managing the flowering period. The main things are the key points to note in planting and the fertilizer and water management during the fruiting period.