Key Points of High-Quality, High-Yield Cucumber Cultivation Techniques
In recent years, along with the continuous advancement of cultivation techniques, people's demand for agricultural products has also been growing. Traditional agricultural product cultivation techniques can no longer meet people's needs. As a traditional vegetable variety, cucumber occupies an extremely high position among vegetable products in China due to its bright color, crisp and delicious taste, and diverse ways of eating, making it a fine product suitable for all ages. The following will introduce the cultivation methods and techniques for high-quality, high-yield cucumber, from the initial land preparation to the final harvest.
I. Land Preparation
Cucumber cultivation requires selecting loose, fertile soil rich in organic matter, with strong water and fertilizer retention capacity, weakly acidic to neutral sandy loam soil, with the optimal pH value between 5.7 and 7.2. When the pH value is below 5.5, the plants will develop various physiological disorders and turn yellow and die; when the pH value is above 7.2, it is easy to burn the roots and kill the seedlings, causing salt damage.
II. Seed Selection ⟧7⟧Select varieties with disease resistance, strong stress resistance, good commercial quality, and high yield, such as Jinyou No. 10, Bonai No. 3, etc.
Select varieties with strong disease resistance, strong stress tolerance, good market quality and high yield, such as Jinyou No. 10, Bonai No. 3, etc.
III. Seed Soaking ⟧9⟧Place the seeds in warm water at 55°C and soak for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring continuously until the water temperature drops to 30°C, then soak for another 3 to 4 hours. Then rub and wash the seeds repeatedly, rinse off the mucilage with clean water, air-dry and promote germination, which can prevent diseases such as black spot and anthracnose. Wrap the soaked seeds in a clean wet cloth and place them under conditions of 28°C to 32°C to promote germination for 1 to 2 days. When 70% of the seeds have sprouted, they can be sown.
Soak the seeds in warm water at 55°C for 10-15 minutes, stirring constantly until the water temperature drops to 30°C, then soak for another 3-4 hours. Then rub and wash the seeds repeatedly, rinse off the mucilage with clean water, dry them and sprout them. This can prevent diseases such as black spot and anthracnose. Wrap the soaked seeds in a clean wet cloth and sprout them at 28°C-32°C for 1-2 days. When 70% of the seeds have sprouted, they can be sown.
IV. Seedbed Preparation ⟧11⟧Select garden soil or field soil that has not grown cucurbit vegetables for 3 to 5 years, and thoroughly mix it with high-quality decomposed organic fertilizer at a ratio of 3:1, adding 2 kg of ternary compound fertilizer per cubic meter. Mix 50% carbendazim wettable powder and 50% thiram wettable powder at a 1:1 ratio, and mix at a ratio of 8 to 10 grams of the agent to 15 to 30 grams of fine soil per square meter. Use 2/3 for spreading the bed and 1/3 for covering after sowing.
Use garden soil or field soil that has not grown cucurbit vegetables for 3-5 years and mix it thoroughly with high-quality decomposed organic fertilizer at a ratio of 3:1, adding 2 kg of three-element compound fertilizer per cubic meter. Mix 50% carbendazim wettable powder and 50% thiram wettable powder at 1:1, and mix 8-10 g of the preparation with 15-30 g of fine soil per square meter; 2/3 is used for the seedbed and 1/3 for covering after sowing.
V. Sowing and Seedling Raising ⟧13⟧The sowing time for spring cucumbers is determined by the planting time. The suitable calendar seedling age at planting time is 40-50 days, and the physiological seedling age is four leaves and one heart. If calculated by calendar seedling age, sowing should be carried out 40 to 50 days before planting. The length of the physiological seedling age is related to the seedling raising method: 50 to 55 days when using a sun-facing bed or solar greenhouse; 45 to 50 days when using a heated greenhouse; 45 days when using an electric heating wire greenhouse. Therefore, different seedling raising methods require different sowing times. Practice has proven that rapid seedling raising not only saves time, but also produces fast and robust seedlings with high early yield. Where conditions permit, rapid seedling raising should be adopted as much as possible.
The sowing date of spring cucumber is determined by the planting date. The suitable calendar seedling age at planting is 40-50 days, and the physiological seedling age is four leaves and one heart. If calculated by calendar seedling age, sowing is carried out 40-50 days before planting. The length of physiological seedling age is related to the seedling raising method: 50-55 days when raising seedlings in a sun-facing seedbed or solar greenhouse; 45-50 days when raising seedlings in a heated greenhouse; 45 days when raising seedlings in an electric heating wire greenhouse. Therefore, different seedling raising methods mean different sowing times. Practice has proved that rapid seedling raising not only saves time, but also produces fast and sturdy seedlings with high early yield. Where conditions permit, rapid seedling raising should be adopted as much as possible.
VI. Seedling Stage Management ⟧15⟧1. Temperature management. From sowing to emergence, the daytime temperature should be controlled at 28°C to 32°C and nighttime at 10°C to 18°C; from emergence to heart-breaking, the daytime temperature should be controlled at 25°C to 30°C and nighttime at 16°C to 18°C; from heart-breaking to planting, the daytime temperature should be controlled at 20°C to 25°C and nighttime at 12°C to 16°C.
1. Temperature management. From sowing to emergence, the daytime temperature should be controlled at 28°C-32°C and the nighttime temperature at 10°C-18°C; from emergence to heart breaking, the daytime temperature should be controlled at 25°C-30°C and the nighttime temperature at 16°C-18°C; from heart breaking to planting, the daytime temperature should be controlled at 20°C-25°C and the nighttime temperature at 12°C-16°C.
2. Water management. During the seedling stage, water should be properly controlled, alternating between dry and wet, and watering should be thorough.
3. Hardening of seedlings. 7 to 10 days before planting, water should be controlled and ventilation increased for low-temperature hardening. The daytime temperature should be 18°C to 20°C and nighttime 8°C to 10°C. When the seedlings reach a plant height of 15 cm, with 3 leaves and 1 heart, and a seedling age of about 35 days, they can be planted.
VII. Watering and Intertillage Loosening of Soil ⟧19⟧4 to 5 days after planting, when the heart leaves begin to grow and a large number of new roots have developed underground, water once to help the seedlings recover. After watering, do not water again until the root cucumber has set, and carry out intertillage loosening of the soil. The first intertillage should be deep, thorough, and fine, about 7 cm deep, and the soil around the seedlings should also be hoed through, but without damaging the roots. The purpose of intertillage is to loosen the soil, raise the ground temperature, and promote root growth. Control stem and leaf growth and restrain the seedlings. When the first cucumber (called the root cucumber) of most plants has set (when the cucumber has grown to about 12 cm and is not easily aborted, it is called set), stop restraining the seedlings and begin watering for the first time, and this watering should be appropriately larger. When the soil surface is no longer sticky, carry out the second intertillage, which should be shallow hoeing, and remove weeds along with the intertillage. After the first watering, water shortage should no longer occur, and subsequent watering should depend on the weather and the vines, managed flexibly. During the root cucumber harvest period, the weather is not yet too hot, evaporation is relatively small, and the vines are not too tall, so watering should not be too frequent, and the amount should not be too large, generally watering once every 6 to 7 days. From harvesting the middle cucumbers to harvesting the top cucumbers is the peak cucumber period, when the temperature is already high, evaporation is large, stems and leaves are lush, growth is vigorous, and many cucumbers have set. This is the period of greatest water demand in the entire life of the cucumber, generally watering once every 3 to 4 days, and the amount should not be too large. Small amounts of frequent watering are advocated, and flooding irrigation must be avoided. After harvesting the top cucumbers, the vines gradually age, stem and leaf growth has decreased, and it is also the rainy season, so the frequency of watering should be controlled. When it does not rain, water once every 5 to 6 days, keeping the soil surface from drying out. As for watering time, it is best to water in the morning during the early fruiting stage, and in the evening during the peak and late harvest stages, which can lower the ground temperature. Cucumbers are afraid of waterlogging, so drainage should be noted after rain to avoid water accumulation in the beds.
4-5 days after planting, when the heart leaves begin to grow and a large number of new roots grow underground, water once to help the seedlings recover. After watering, do not water again until the root cucumber has set, and carry out intertillage and loosening of the soil. The first intertillage should be deep, thorough and fine, about 7 cm deep, and the soil around the seedlings should also be hoed through, but the roots must not be damaged. The purpose of intertillage is to loosen the soil, raise the ground temperature and promote root growth. Control stem and leaf growth and restrain seedling growth. When the first cucumber of most plants (called the root cucumber) has set (when the cucumber has grown to about 12 cm and is not prone to aborting, it is called setting), stop restraining the seedlings and begin watering for the first time; this watering should be appropriately heavier. When the soil surface is no longer sticky, carry out the second intertillage, shallow hoeing, and remove weeds together with intertillage. After the first watering, do not let the plants lack water again. Later watering should depend on the weather. Look at the vines and manage flexibly. During the root cucumber harvest period, the weather is not yet very hot, evaporation is relatively small. The vines are not too tall either, so watering should not be too frequent and the amount should not be too large; generally water once every 6-7 days. From harvesting the middle cucumbers to harvesting the top cucumbers is the full fruiting period. The temperature is already high, evaporation is large, stems and leaves are luxuriant, growth is decisive, and many cucumbers have set. This is the period when cucumbers need the most water in their whole life; generally water once every 3-4 days, and the amount should not be too large. It is advocated to water little but often, and absolutely avoid flood irrigation. After harvesting the top cucumbers, the cucumber vines gradually age, stem and leaf growth has decreased, and it is also the rainy season, so the number of waterings should be controlled. When it does not rain, water once every 5-6 days, so that the soil surface does not dry out. As for watering time, it is best to water in the morning in the early fruiting stage, and in the evening during the peak and late harvest stages, which can lower the ground temperature. Cucumbers are afraid of waterlogging, so pay attention to drainage after rain to avoid water accumulation in the beds.
VIII. Trellising and Vine Tying ⟧21⟧To prevent wind from whipping the seedlings, trellising should be done on the same day as planting if possible. Cucumbers mostly use A-shaped flower trellises, with one bamboo pole inserted per seedling on the outer side of the seedling. The upper ends of the bamboo poles in two rows are tied together. When the vines grow too tall to stand upright, they should be tied promptly, and thereafter tied once every 3 to 4 leaves. The tying rope should form a figure "8" with the trellis pole and the vine, which can prevent friction or slipping between the vine and the pole. Do not tie too tightly; the gap should be enough to insert an index finger. Each tying should fix the top of the vine at the same height for easy management. Vine tying is best done in the afternoon, as it is less likely to break the vines and leaves.
To prevent the wind from whipping the seedlings, try to set up the trellis on the same day after planting. Cucumbers mostly use A-shaped trellises, with one bamboo pole inserted for each seedling on the outer side of the seedling. The upper ends of the bamboo poles in the two rows are tied together. When the cucumber vines grow too tall to stand upright, they should be tied to the trellis in time, and thereafter tied once every 3-4 leaves. The tying rope should form a "8" shape with the trellis pole and the vine, which can prevent the vine from rubbing against the trellis pole or sliding down. Do not tie too tightly; the gap should be about the size of an index finger. Each time you tie the vines, keep the top of the cucumber vine fixed at the same height for easy management. It is best to tie the vines in the afternoon, so the vines and leaves are less likely to be broken.
IX. Pest and Disease Control ⟧23⟧Common diseases of cucumber include fusarium wilt, downy mildew, powdery mildew, etc., and the main pests are melon aphids and pill bugs. According to the development trend of cucumber pests and diseases in recent years, comprehensive control must be carried out, implementing reasonable crop rotation and strengthening field management, and timely spraying or removing diseased seedlings at the early stage of disease onset. For fusarium wilt, use 70% dexon at 1000 to 1500 times dilution or 50% carbendazim at 500 times dilution to drench the roots; for downy mildew, use 64% oxadixyl mancozeb at 400 times dilution, or 70% mancozeb at 500 times dilution, or 77% copper hydroxide at 500 to 800 times dilution for spray control; for powdery mildew, use 25% triadimefon at 2500 times dilution, or 25% triflumizole at 2000 to 3000 times dilution, or 30% triflumizole at 2000 times dilution for spray control. For melon aphids, use chlorpyrifos emulsifiable concentrate at 800 to 1200 times dilution, or 2.5% bifenthrin or derris extract emulsion at 3000 times dilution for spraying; for pill bugs, use 25% deltamethrin or 20% fenvalerate at 50 to 100 grams per mu mixed with 10 to 20 kg of fine soil and spread on the bed surface for poisoning, or use 50% dichlorvos at 500 times dilution for spraying.
Common diseases of cucumber include Fusarium wilt, downy mildew, powdery mildew, etc. The main pests are melon aphid and pill bug. According to the development trend of cucumber diseases and pests in recent years, comprehensive control must be carried out, reasonable crop rotation and strengthened field management should be implemented, and pesticides should be sprayed or diseased seedlings removed in time at the early stage of disease onset. For Fusarium wilt, 70% dexon 1000-1500 times solution or 50% carbendazim 500 times solution can be used to drench the roots; for downy mildew, 64% oxadixyl-mancozeb 400 times solution, or 70% mancozeb 500 times solution, or 77% copper hydroxide 500-800 times solution can be sprayed for control; for powdery mildew, 25% triadimefon 2500 times solution, or 25% triflumizole 2000-3000 times solution, or 30% triflumizole 2000 times solution can be sprayed for control. For melon aphid, 800-1200 times solution of Kulong emulsifiable concentrate, or 3000 times solution of 2.5% fenpropathrin or derris emulsion can be sprayed to kill them; for pill bug, 50-100 g of 25% deltamethrin or 20% fenvalerate per mu can be mixed with 10-20 kg of fine soil and spread on the bed surface for poisoning, or 500 times solution of 50% dichlorvos can be sprayed to kill them.
X. Harvesting ⟧25⟧Generally, cucumber harvesting begins about 25 to 30 days after planting, and the harvest period is about 40 to 60 days. The general yield per mu is 3500 to 4500 kg. Harvesting should be timely; harvest when the top of the cucumber fruit changes from pointed to round. At this time, the cucumber has fully grown but is not yet old, making it the appropriate harvest time.
Generally, harvesting begins about 25-30 days after planting, and the harvest period is about 40-60 days. The general yield per mu is 3500-4500 kg. Harvest at the right time, when the top of the cucumber fruit changes from pointed to round. At this time the cucumber has fully grown but is not old, which is the suitable harvest stage.
Finally, one more point: cucumber is a vegetable harvested multiple times. During the flowering period, a small amount of sugar water can be applied to the petals and leaves, which helps attract bees for pollination and increases yield. The above is the complete set of experience for high-quality, high-yield cucumber cultivation, and we hope it can provide some reference and help for everyone.