Detailed Explanation of Key Points of Soilless Cucumber Cultivation Techniques
In many places, soil-based cucumber cultivation is no longer particularly suitable. Due to the scarcity of land resources, soilless cultivation techniques have been developed. In many developed countries abroad, soilless cucumber cultivation methods are basically adopted. However, in China, soilless cultivation techniques have not yet been fully popularized, so today let us learn how cucumbers are grown through soilless cultivation.
1. Seed Treatment
Seeds should be treated before sowing. The usual treatment method is scalding the seeds with warm water, that is, putting the seeds into hot water at 55 to 60 degrees, and after 10 to 15 minutes adding cold water to the hot water until it is about 30 degrees, then soaking for 5-8 hours before removing, wrapping them in cotton cloth, and placing them at a temperature suitable for seed germination to promote sprouting.
2. Sowing and Raising Seedlings
After the seeds germinate, place them into soilless plug trays for soilless cultivation to raise seedlings. The soilless plug trays generally use 100 cells, and 1 to 2 seeds can be placed into each cell. Then sprinkle a layer of peat and vermiculite, moisten with clean water, and control the environmental temperature well. At a suitable temperature, the cucumber seedlings will emerge completely after 3 to 4 days.
3. Planting
Before planting, prepare the cultivation bed and mix the nutrient solution. Try putting the nutrient solution into the cultivation bed to see whether it can normally deliver the nutrient solution. After everything is normal, wait until the seedlings have 3 to 4 leaves, then lift the seedlings out from the bottom together with their roots and transplant them into the cultivation bed. After planting, remember to water once. The seedlings grow through the nutrient solution flowing past their roots. After about 3 to 4 days, the survival rate can be checked, and it is basically 100 percent survival.
4. Seedling Stage Management
An important step in seedling stage management is to control the concentration of the nutrient solution well. During soilless cultivation, the seedlings grow relatively quickly and are more prone to aging. After planting, generally water 400 to 500 milliliters of nutrient solution each day. During the development period, 2,000 to 2,500 milliliters are needed each day. When the melon seedlings have basically completed development, the concentration of the nutrient solution should be lowered in time. Secondly, the temperature must be kept at around 15 to 25 degrees, and the water requirements are also relatively strict. When the plants grow to 15 to 20 cm, install supports or set up lines in the greenhouse so that they grow along the supports and lines.
5. Pest and Disease Control
The most common diseases of cucumbers are downy mildew and powdery mildew, and the pests are generally whiteflies and aphids. Downy mildew is basically caused by unsuitable indoor humidity and temperature, and is generally controlled with metalaxyl and propanocarb, while powdery mildew is controlled with triadimefon. As for these pests, there are specialized pest-resistant pesticides. When there is nothing else to do, try to remove the pests and diseases yourself and pick off the leaves that have already been damaged.
The above is the soilless cultivation technique for cucumbers brought to you by Qinnongwang. We hope it can be helpful to everyone. If you want to learn more agricultural knowledge, you can follow us.