How to Grow Cucumbers for High Yield? Detailed Explanation of Cultivation Techniques
1. Soil selection and land preparation before planting
Cucumbers like warmth and cannot tolerate cold; they like moisture but cannot tolerate waterlogging. They should be planted in fertile, slightly clayey sandy soil rich in organic matter with good drainage and water retention. Be sure not to practice continuous cropping with cucurbit crops. When preparing the land, pay attention to deep furrows and high beds. Generally, the bed width is about 1.8 m and the bed height is about 30 cm, with double-row planting and a plant spacing of 25-30 cm.
2. Correct sowing, seedling raising and transplanting
In cucumber cultivation, the method of soaking seeds to promote germination is commonly used. For spring sowing, generally seedlings are raised after soaking seeds to promote germination, or seeds are sown directly with plastic film mulching, with sowing in January to March. For summer and autumn sowing, the seeds can be sown directly after soaking, with sowing in June to August.
If raising seedlings for planting in early spring, small arched sheds can be used for heat-preserving seedling cultivation. When the seedlings have two true leaves (about 15-20 days), they are transplanted and set out, and this work is best done on a clear evening. The most important thing to note when transplanting is not to damage the roots. Try to ensure the plants are watered thoroughly before lifting the seedlings, and when lifting the seedlings, transplant them in order with soil attached.
3. Fertilizer and water management
Applying sufficient base fertilizer is one of the key steps for cucumber cultivation to achieve high yield. The principle for topdressing is small amounts applied frequently, and the use of farmyard organic fertilizer is recommended.
Spring cucumbers have a relatively high water requirement. On sunny days, water generally once a day; in dry weather, irrigate once every 3-5 consecutive days. However, when there is a lot of rain, pay attention to preventing waterlogging.
In summer and autumn, temperatures are higher, cucumbers grow and develop faster, and because rainfall is relatively heavy, fertilizers and water are lost quickly. Therefore, in addition to applying base fertilizer, topdressing should also be done in a timely manner according to the situation.
4. Increase the number of female cucumber flowers
Increasing the number of female cucumber flowers means increasing the fruit-setting rate, thereby increasing yield.
Specific methods include:
Spraying triiodobenzoic acid during the cucumber seedling stage, spraying sodium naphthaleneacetate after cucumbers grow 2-3 true leaves, or spraying ethephon after the first yellow leaf appears. All of these methods can increase the number of female flowers while controlling the number of male flowers.