The Latest Management Techniques and Methods Tutorial for Greenhouse Cucumbers
After cucumbers are planted, the most important and longest-lasting work is nitrogen fertilizer planting management in the cucumber field. Open-field planting has its own key points, methods, and some precautions for open-field management. However, the management techniques for greenhouse planting are different. In response to the warm microclimate conditions, growth management methods and so on must also be adjusted to a certain extent, and the key management points must be grasped well. You can take a look at some of my views on cucumber greenhouse management.
1. Control water and fertilizer
When cucumbers are planted under plastic film in a greenhouse, because of the film covering, water vapor is not easy to discharge out of the greenhouse and requires opening the door or windows to let it evaporate out. Therefore, irrigation should preferably be set up with drip irrigation facilities, so that the water slowly drips into the soil. Do not use large-volume flooding irrigation, as it easily breeds diseases. Alternatively, irrigate in small amounts multiple times. When transplanting seedlings, apply about 30 jin of nitrogen fertilizer per mu, such as urea. During the flowering and fruiting stage, apply a topdressing once, applying about 45 jin of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer per mu, then spray a 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution. Fertilization should be combined with watering. During the fruiting stage, a large amount of water is needed, and irrigation can be done about once every five days, but do not overdo it, as the flavor can become bland.
2. Control temperature
After planting, the seedlings need to recover, which requires heat preservation, so the greenhouse needs to be closed, and the temperature can increase slightly without ventilation. Only after the seedling recovery period has passed and normal growth begins can ventilation be gradually introduced, maintaining a daytime temperature of 20 to 28 degrees and a nighttime temperature above 12 degrees. When the outside nighttime temperature can remain stable above 12 degrees, ventilation can be kept open throughout the night.
3. Plant adjustment
When cucumbers begin to vine, trellises should be set up in time so the vines can climb smoothly. When branch and vine growth shifts to reproductive growth and the branches and vines almost stop growing, vine tying should begin, tying the branches and vines with rope at intervals of about 20 cm. During the vigorous growth period, remove old leaves at the bottom in time to improve ventilation and reduce humidity, and promptly remove excess branches, leaving healthy main branches. Remove the tips of all retained branches and vines to concentrate nutrients for fruit supply.
4. Disease and pest control
The main targets are downy mildew and Phytophthora blight. To prevent disease occurrence, mainly use broad-spectrum fungicides, spraying once every week or a little more than a week, with two consecutive sprays. After disease onset, in the early stage of disease, use agents such as 58% metalaxyl for spraying. It can be sprayed continuously, generally once every three days, and three or four consecutive sprays are enough. The main pests to control are aphids and red spider mites, both of which are piercing-sucking pests. You can use 3% acetamiprid emulsifiable concentrate at 2000-2500 times dilution or 10% imidacloprid wettable powder at 2000 times dilution.
The management of greenhouse cucumber cultivation consists of the above major aspects, but in actual production management, attention should be paid to refining these major points for detailed management. It is also necessary to pay attention to the actual environmental conditions, climate, and some other practical factors, and to adapt flexibly in practice.