To improve the quality of cucumber seedlings and increase future yields, gardeners use different methods, changing the composition of the soil, using mineral or organic fertilizer. Of considerable importance is the choice of packaging.
Cucumber seedlings can be planted in peat cups, plastic bottles, bags, and even egg shells. It is worth trying a few options, and then stop at the most appropriate.
Cucumber seedlings in plastic bottles
Empty beverage containers - excellent container for planting cucumbers. They can grow seedlings or adult plants. Large plastic bottles are successfully replaced by ordinary pots and containers.
For seedlings, you can use bottles of different sizes. From small convenient individual cups turn out. The upper part is cut with a sharp knife, prepared soil is poured into the lower part and 1-2 seedlings are planted. Cut the tip is not necessary to throw, it can cover the seedling, creating an improvised mini-greenhouse. Read more about seed preparation before sowing.
It is easy to make 2 cups from a bottle, one will be a cut bottom, and the other will be an inverted tip with a screwed cap. Before transplanting the plant, the plant is carefully removed from the plastic container along with the intact clod of earth.
In large five-liter bottles you can plant several plants.. Another option is to cut off not only the top of the bottle, but also the bottom, put it on the tray and fill it with earth. 2-3 seeds are planted, after germination the weakest seedlings are cut, the stronger remains.
When several true leaves appear on the seedlings, it can be moved to the ground or greenhouse along with a plastic rim. It will protect the plant from weeds, will serve as a reliable barrier for the bear and other insect pests.
Wasteless way: bags or barrels?
Many gardeners prefer seedless cucumber growing method. Seeds are sown in the ground, picks and transplants are excluded. On open beds this method does not give good results., but you can try more advanced methods and grow cucumbers in barrels or bags.
Bag method allows you to place plants in the garden, greenhouse or on the balcony. Large bags of dense plastic are filled with prepared soil, a stick with nails is stuck in the center, on which ropes for cucumber lashes are attached.
Small bags will replace the usual cups for seedlings. They are filled with soil, 1-2 seeds are planted in each. Improvised pots retain their seedlings before landing on the beds. Before moving it is easily removed with a clod of earth.
Planting a barrel is ideal for cucumbers who love the warmth and abundance of organic fertilizers.. It will take a barrel with a volume of 100 to 200 liters. Organic waste is laid out in it: cut branches, weeds, grass, food debris.
The mass is compacted and covered with garden or turf soil mixed with rotted compost. The main volume falls on greens, the ground layer should not exceed 10-15 cm. The mixture is filled with hot water, after cooling 6-8 cucumber seeds are planted in a circle. Capacity tightly closed with a lid or film.
After 7 days, the barrel opens, around it are established supporting arches of thick wire. Further care of the seedlings consists of timely watering.
Falling down, she makes cucumbers reach for the light. Hanging over the edge, the lash will fall down. The method is ideal for gardeners who do not have greenhouses and want to save time on growing seedlings.
Watch a video on how to get a good harvest in a small area by planting cucumbers in a barrel:
Cucumber seedlings in sawdust: cheap, practical, eco-friendly
Sawdust is an unusual, but interesting variant of the substrate. The method has many advantages. Sawdust is cheap, non-toxic, they perfectly retain the necessary moisture, preventing it from stagnating. Plants are not affected by rotten or blackleg.
When transplanting to a permanent place of residence, the seedlings are easily removed, the roots and stems are not injured, young plants quickly take root and do not get sick.
Old sawdust sifted, debris and foreign matter are removed from them. Then the substrate is decomposed into containers, filled with boiling water and cooled.If plastic or paper cups are used, sawdust is first poured with boiling water, and only then laid out in containers.
In each cup 2 seeds are planted, previously germinated in a damp cloth. Cucumbers are grown until 2-3 pairs of true leaves appear, and then moved to the beds. After transplanting, seedlings need organic or mineral supplements..
We offer you a video on how to grow cucumber seedlings and not only without any land at all:
Egg shells: gardeners' fantasies
The original way to quickly grow cucumber seedlings is to use egg shells. Plants grow well, they do not need to swoop, risking damage to the roots. For landing, you need intact shells with the top removed, as well as paper containers for packaging eggs.
How to plant cucumbers for seedlings in eggshells? The bottom of the shell is punctured with an awl or thick needle.. A drain hole is necessary to drain excess water. The shells are filled with prepared soil, 2 seeds are planted in each with a small deepening.
Egg pots are placed on paper cassettes.covered with foil and placed in heat for seed germination. After the emergence of shoots compact bed moves to the light.
When 6-7 of these leaves unfold on the seedlings, it can be moved to the garden bed. The shell is gently squeezed by hand to break the integrity of the structure. Placed on prepared holes cucumber seedlings in the egg shell, sprinkled with earth. The remains of egg packaging will serve as additional fertilizer for young cucumbers.
Peat, plastic or cardboard: what's best for cucumbers?
Proven and well-proven way - to grow cucumbers in cups for seedlings. They are made from a mixture of peat and extruded cardboard. For cucumbers it is better to use small containers with a diameter of about 10 cm.
The cups are filled with light soil from a mixture of garden soil with humus or peat. In each tank, 2 seeds, treated with a growth stimulator, are sown. The cups are placed on a pallet and covered with a film. The design is placed in heat until germination.
Grown seedlings do not need a pick. The weakest sprout should be cut with a knife, not pulling. After the appearance of 2-3 pairs of true leaves of the plant are planted in the beds along with pots.
Before transplanting, they are cut, plants, together with a lump of earth, are removed and moved to the beds.
Cucumbers in diapers: an option for creative
Another original way - planting cucumber seedlings in a diaper.
Convenient and neat seedlings can be made from rolled plastic film or grocery bags. Seeds are recommended to be treated with a growth stimulator or germinated in a damp cotton fabric. In the center of the plastic bag, laid out on the table, poured a pile of earth.
On it is placed cucumber seed, sprayed with water, slightly pressed into the ground. The package neatly wraps around the earthen coma so as to make a small cup. The lower part bends and tucks under the edge of the roll. Improvised containers are installed on a pallet.
Before transplanting the film unfolds, the plant, together with a clod of earth, moves to the garden bed.
Choose an appropriate method of growing cucumber seedlings can only empirically. Each of the proposed options has its supporters. It is possible that during the experiments it will be possible to come up with a new, not yet tried, but very effective method of obtaining a strong, healthy, promising seedlings.
Useful materials
Check out other helpful cucumber seedlings articles:
- How to grow on the windowsill, balcony and even in the basement?
- Find out the planting dates depending on the region.
- The reasons why the seedlings are pulled out, the leaves dry and turn yellow, and what diseases are affected?
