The secrets of growing cucumbers in bags

Many gardeners will be surprised to read about such an idea for planting cucumbers. However, growing cucumbers in bags is a great innovative approach that will not only save space on the beds, but also get a rich harvest of beautiful, tasty cucumbers. In this article you will learn how to plant cucumbers in bags, and the order of their cultivation step by step.

Pros and cons of the method

Planting cucumbers in bags has many advantages. The main ones include:

• high yield;
• saving space in the garden;
• the ability to grow vegetables on the balcony, loggia, in the gallery;
• saving effort on caring for plants;
• convenient to harvest;
• the fruits do not touch the ground, therefore they remain clean and do not rot.

This unusual way of planting cucumbers is very convenient. You will not need to dig the beds, diligently weed them after each rain.Weed plants rarely appear in bags; it is much easier to get rid of them than in an open area. In the bags the plants will curl vertically. It is very convenient for harvesting. The fruits will be clean and have an attractive appetizing look. If the planting is carried out correctly, the cucumbers will ripen a few weeks earlier than those planted in the open area. In addition, the yield of cucumbers grown in bags is several times greater than those growing in the beds.

If the size of the room allows, cucumbers can be planted in bags even in an apartment and grown all year round. The main thing is to create and maintain the necessary temperature, light and water conditions.

However, when choosing such a method should be borne in mind that it has some drawbacks. These include:

• the difficulty of maintaining the desired level of humidity;
• in hot weather, high temperatures may form in the containers, causing the root system of the plant to die.

When growing vegetables in bags, you need to carefully monitor the level of humidity in the containers. In bags, the moisture evaporates quickly, so watering such plants should be carried out more often. If the moisture is not enough, the fruits may taste bitter or the plant will completely dry out. At the same time, containers should not be overwetted, otherwise cucumbers will rot.

Preparation of cucumber seeds

To grow strong plants and achieve a high level of yield, seeds need to be prepared before planting. This process goes through several stages:

• seed selection;
• warming up;
• treatment;
• hardening.

Seeds for planting choose large and full. To select a good seed, soak the seeds in water at room temperature for 5 minutes, then for 10-15 minutes, place in a solution of sodium chloride (50 g of salt per liter of water). Seeds that float up are thrown away - they are empty and unsuitable for planting. After this procedure, the seed must be dried. For this, the seeds are laid out on a shred of cloth and placed in the sun (beware of direct sunlight) or spread on a saucer and put on the battery.

To cucumbers were resistant to fungal diseases and pests, seed need to be disinfected. To do this, the seeds are heated at a temperature of 60 ° C for about two hours. Warming up increases yield. Then the seeds are recommended to be placed for half an hour in a solution of potassium permanganate (10 g potassium permanganate per liter of water). For disinfection, you can use TMTD powders (2 g of the drug for 500 g of seeds) or Granozan (1.5 g of the drug for 500 g of seeds). Seeds are placed in a closed container, sprinkled with powder, then shake the container for about five minutes. After treatment, the seed is washed with water and dried.

In order for the plant to withstand temperature extremes well, it is recommended to harden the seeds. To do this, they are placed on a damp cloth and held there before they swell.If the material dries out, it should be slightly moistened. When several seeds turn out, the seed is placed on the top shelf of the refrigerator for a day, then moved another day to the bottom shelf. After the procedure, the seeds can be planted.

Preparatory work before landing

Before you put cucumbers in bags, you need to prepare the necessary material:

• bags;
• garter sticks;
• priming;
• tubes for drip irrigation.

It is best to choose bags of cucumbers in white, with a capacity of at least 50 liters. Sugar and flour bags are good. Preparation of bags for planting is mandatory drying them. Bags can also be treated with TMTD disinfecting powder. However, if the bags are new, you can do without fungicides.

Sticks in the future will be needed for garter climbers. It is recommended to prepare them immediately, especially if the support is inserted directly into the bag.If you stick the stick afterwards, there is a risk of damaging the root system of the cucumbers. The height of the support should be from one and a half to two meters. The stick can also be inserted into the ground next to the bags.

Then follows the preparation of the soil for the cultivation of cucumbers. The best soil - a mixture of land from the garden with peat and manure. This soil is well breathable and moisture, which contributes to good growth and fruiting cucumbers.

You can water the plants in the usual way, but gardeners who actively use the method of planting cucumbers in bags, recommend watering the plants by droplets. This greatly reduces the risk of root decay.

It is recommended at the very beginning to determine the location of the bags, so that later the containers should not be dragged or injured by the plants. The bag is half filled with soil, then a stick is installed in the middle. In the ground next to the stick, you must place the tube with holes for drip irrigation.After that, the ground is filled into the container, sprinkling it with wood ash on top (this repels aphids). To prevent the soil from spilling out, the edges of the bags are folded into sides, which can be sealed with tape.

It is better to arrange ready bags close to each other, so it will be more convenient to tie up. In addition, costs are saved on pipes for drip irrigation.

Sowing Cucumber Seeds

Sowing material is carried out in mid-May, when the air temperature reaches at least 15 ° C. If you are interested in how to compactly plant cucumbers, then the seeds should be sown not only from above, but also on the sides. On the top layer of planted no more than four pieces. The incisions on the side is carried out evenly at a distance of 7-10 cm from each other. In one notch is placed no more than two small seeds, or one large. To preserve moisture, it is better to cover the top of the bag with foil.

Care for cucumbers in bags

Planting cucumbers and caring for them in bags does not require much effort. The most important point when using this method is the correct watering.With this growing vegetables it is difficult to withstand the necessary water regime. Like any other plants, cucumbers in bags need a garter. The garter not only serves to support the climbing stems, but also allows you to form even vertical rows, which will greatly facilitate the harvest.

Irrigation features

Cucumbers need wet soil. Watering should be regular. The most optimal time for its implementation is after five or six in the evening. The plants will also benefit from periodic spraying of the foliage with water.

The best way to water is drip - through the tubes. This method will allow cucumbers to create an optimal amount of moisture for growth and fruiting, as well as prevent rotting of the root system. When watering plants with a hose or a bucket, you must be carefully monitored so as not to overwet the soil. On the surface, it may be dryish, and inside - wet.

Fertilization

Feed cucumbers with organic and mineral fertilizers. Among the organic are very popular chicken manure, infusion of nettle, honey solution. They fertilize the soil when the first shoots appear, and then once a month after watering.

Among the mineral fertilizers, cucumbers are suitable superphosphates, potash salt. The dosage must clearly comply with the instructions, otherwise the plants can be harmed. Mineral fertilizers are applied to the soil about three times during the summer period. For the first time they fertilize when well-formed sprouts with several pairs of true leaves appear from the soil.

Formation of the bush and garter to the support

After the sprouts grow by 20-25 cm and five true leaves appear on them, it is necessary to make a plant garter. There are two varieties of garter cucumbers: vertical and horizontal.

With a vertical garter, a two-meter support is installed near each bush, and the plant is tied to a stick with ropes. The knot is fixed between the second and third leaf.Then the rope is slightly tensioned and tied to a support. Thus, each bush will have its support. This method will take more time and effort than a horizontal garter. However, it is more reliable, and also simplifies the further care of plants.

In the case of a horizontal garter, wooden or metal supports are placed on both opposite sides of the row, between which two rows of wires or strong threads are tied. In the future, the sprouts will be tied to these threads. This method is simpler than the previous one, however it has many drawbacks:

• over time, the threads begin to sag;
• it is difficult to equally calculate the tension force when each new bush is tied up;
• reaching the first row, the cucumbers will curl along it, not wanting to grow further upwards.

Horizontal garter unsuitable for growing cucumbers in bags. It can be used only in extreme cases, when the bags are located in the garden and will definitely not move to another place.

Most of the traditional varieties and hybrids of cucumbers form fertile female flowers on lateral stems, while male flowers grow on the main shoots - barren flowers. Therefore, before the formation of bushes it is necessary to carry out pinching. This will provide an opportunity to get more lateral stems and harvest. The process consists in pinching off the top of the central stem after the sixth leaf.

After pinching, side shoots need to be tied to a stick so that they do not shade the ovary of each other and do not interfere with the formation, growth of fruits. In this case, several side shoots are left to form a bush. This will increase the amount of the crop. The process of the formation of bushes takes place in such stages:

• central stem tied to a support;
• after the appearance of the first ovaries on the lateral stems, the shoots are tied to the central stalk with the help of its whiskers.

Such a mustache garter during the growth of the plant will need to be carried out several more times. Also, do not forget to regularly remove all yellow or damaged leaves.

Some Tricks for a Great Harvest

Care for cucumbers in bags is simple. To get more harvest, there are some secrets:

• do not thicken the planting, in one bag with a capacity of 50 l should not be planted more than 15 seeds;
• pinch central shoots to increase the number of side, which develop fertile female flowers;
• periodically remove the lower leaves that form below the ovary so that they do not shade the flowers and do not interfere with their pollination;
• a couple of times a month, it is recommended to spray cucumbers with honey solution for better flowering and pollination of plants (a teaspoon of honey per liter of water);
• harvest in time;
• fertilizing plants with superphosphates and potash fertilizers will help improve yields.

Harvesting

Cucumbers in bags bear fruit faster than those planted in open ground. Therefore, their collection should be carried out more often. Harvesting must be done carefully, holding the stems with one hand, so as not to damage the plant.It is best to carry out the process in the evening - after five to six hours. Cucumbers that you want to grow on seeds should be left on the stems until the fruit turns yellow.

Grow cucumbers in bags is not difficult. The most important point in the care is to comply with the irrigation regime. Pinching and the formation of bushes will significantly increase the amount of harvest.