Cucumber Growing Daily Management Methods and Fertilizing and Watering Tips
Cucumbers with a crisp texture are an indispensable part of the summer table. Just like tomatoes, whether eaten fresh or served cold, they are very delicious. Cucumbers are a very cost-effective vegetable, so they are very suitable for growing in a balcony vegetable garden!
Basic information about cucumbers
| Chinese name | Cucumber |
|---|---|
| Cultivation difficulty | Normal |
| Growth cycle | About 60 days |
| Main diseases | Beto disease, powdery mildew, brown spot disease, anthracnose, gray mold |
| Main pests | Aphids, root-knot nematodes, whiteflies, spider mites |
Attention, friends who want to grow cucumbers in a balcony vegetable garden: the Juqiao.com editor will introduce the cucumber seedling planting methods in detail.
How to make well-drained soil
Soil cultivation
To grow delicious cucumbers, it is very important to use well-drained drainage.
If bottom stones are used in the planting trough, drainage can be made easy. Place stones into the planting trough until the bottom cannot be seen, and put the potting soil on top. In addition, if you do not use the original soil the seedlings were grown in, it is best to put in a mixed soil with added fertilizer.
To prevent the soil from flowing out during watering, leave a rim 2 to 4 cm from the edge and do not fill the planting trough completely with cultivation soil. diyjucom
Tip: If the bottom of the planting trough is a mesh structure, or if you use a granular cultivation soil with high drainage quality, stones at the bottom are not needed.
How to choose strong cucumber seedlings
If you are a beginner at balcony gardening, it is recommended to buy seedlings rather than seeds. When buying, pay attention to the following points.
1. Choose durable seedlings
The two cotyledons remain firm
Roots have soil attached
Root development is well developed
2. Choose healthy seedlings
Thick leaves
Seedlings not damaged by pests
3. Choose seedlings that have grown 3 to 4 leaves
Three to four true leaves
Tip: "Grafted seedlings" are resistant to disease and easy to grow. Most cucumbers sold in supermarkets are made from "grafted seedlings."
How to plant cucumber seedlings
Planting procedure
Cucumber seedling planting method: first dig a hole in the planting trough the same size as the seedling roots, then usepotting soilgently cover the seedling,plant shallowlyabout 1/5 potting soil, straighten the plant, and water randomly.
When planting, pour ina large amount of water,sprinkle 2 to 3 cm of soil.
Tip: When planting seedlings, "light" is the foundation. Doing so can improve drainage and make it less prone to disease.
Be careful when planting
Because seedling roots are very delicate, we must handle them gently to avoid damaging the seedlings. If the roots are damaged, they are prone to disease or may not survive easily.
Planting time
The suitable time to plant cucumber seedlings is from late April to early May, because there is no need to worry about damage from late frost. The optimal temperature for growth is 22 to 28°C during the day and 17 to 18°C at night. Seedlings that have grown 3 to 4 true leaves are most suitable for planting.
After planting, it takes about 2 months to harvest delicious and tasty cucumbers.
The above is the cucumber seedling planting method introduced to everyone by the Juqiao.com editor.