Key points of greenhouse cucumber watering techniques: cucumbers like water but watering must be done properly

    Cucumbers like water, have a high water demand and poor drought tolerance. To ensure the temperature needed for cucumbers to grow at low temperatures and normal growth and development, and to achieve high yields, the correct watering techniques for cucumbers at different growth stages should be accurately grasped.

Greenhouse cucumber watering

    Water according to root stubble and crop stage characteristics. For overwintering cucumbers planted at the end of October, apart from watering thoroughly at planting and timely hoeing to conserve soil moisture, no watering is needed until the first fruit sets; after watering at fruit set, plastic film can be added to keep warm and retain moisture, and if needed, water lightly under the film to avoid lowering soil temperature. After the weather turns warm, increase the amount of watering to meet the needs of cucumber growth. For early spring cultivation, after fruit set, water promptly to meet the cucumber's water needs.

    Water according to the characteristics of different growth stages. Generally, cucumbers are watered as they are planted; 3 to 5 days after the planting water, water again for seedling recovery, and until the young fruit grows to 15-28cm, water promptly to promote fruit development. After the cucumber sets, water once more. In the early fruiting stage, when plants are smaller, leaf transpiration is low, the number of fruits is small, and ventilation is low, generally water once every 7-10 days (the amount of water should be small). Later, as the cucumber grows and develops, the number of set fruits increases, ventilation increases, and transpiration increases, so the watering interval should be shortened and the amount of water increased, keeping the soil alternating between dry and wet  (mainly wet); generally water once every 5-7 days. During the harvest period, the soil should be kept moist to increase the weight of individual cucumbers.

    Watering time. During the growth period, watering should be done on sunny mornings; after watering, ventilate and remove moisture. It is not suitable to water in the afternoon, evening or on cloudy and rainy days, otherwise humidity in the greenhouse will be high and downy mildew and other diseases may be triggered; watering at noon is also not suitable, as watering at high temperatures affects the physiological functions of cucumber roots; in the middle and late stages, when the weather is hot, the greenhouse can be ventilated day and night. Water in the early morning and evening to help lower the temperature.

    Water according to growth condition. If the plant is dark green, the leaves are glossy, green and flat, and the heart leaves are spreading, moisture is even and suitable. If the heart leaves are shrunken and do not spread, the leaf color is dark green, and on sunny days the leaves droop slightly, this indicates water shortage, and water should be supplied promptly. If the heart leaves spread excessively, the leaves are large and thin, and the leaves exude too much water, this indicates too much water, and watering should be controlled to prevent excessive vegetative growth.

    Watering in the late growth stage of cucumber. In the late production stage, cucumbers have already had a growth period of more than 100 days; at this time the cucumber plants tend to age. If you want to continue to have a relatively good yield and finish well from beginning to end, you must persist with irrigation and fertilization and not neglect management. At this time, the amount of irrigation should be controlled, watering once every 7 days.