New techniques for cultivating grafted cucumber seedlings for the overwintering crop

To cultivate grafted cucumber seedlings for the overwintering crop in a greenhouse, the cucumber seeds should be sown 5-7 days earlier; when the pumpkin cotyledons have flattened out and the first true leaf is half-unfolded, and the cucumber has 2 true leaves and 1 heart leaf, it is the suitable time for grafting.

At present, there are 3 methods for raise seedlings by approach grafting of overwintering cucumbers:

The first is to sow and raise cucumber and figleaf gourd (black-seeded pumpkin) seedlings in separate beds; at grafting time, the seedlings are dug up separately, and after grafting they are planted in another bed;

Another method is to sow cucumber seeds in a sand bed, and after pregerminating the black-seeded pumpkin seeds, sow them by dibbling into nutrient pots; at grafting time only the cucumber seedlings are dug up, and after grafting the roots of the cucumber seedlings are heeled in on one side of the nutrient pot, then placed into the seedling bed for cultivation. The nutrient pots can be moved for management according to seedling condition, and at planting time the seedlings are easy to carry and the roots are not easily damaged.

The 3rd method is to sow pumpkin seeds directly on the bed ridges; at grafting time the cucumber seedlings are dug up, and after grafting the roots of the cucumber seedlings are heeled in on one side of the bed ridge. Each of the 3 methods has advantages and disadvantages; all that is required is skilled grafting technique to ensure the grafting survival rate.

Do the post-grafting work well: for the first 3 days after grafting, keep the temperature at 25-30°C and the humidity at 90-95%, then gradually lower the temperature and humidity. After grafting, promptly spray with New High-Fat Film to keep warm and retain moisture, prevent disease infection, raise the grafting survival rate, and cultivate sturdy seedlings.