Requirements for the soil for cucumbers in the greenhouse and the rules for its preparation

Cucumber is a demanding crop for moisture and soil fertility. To get a good harvest, you need a properly prepared soil for planting. The culture is distinguished by accelerated fruiting, therefore, already at the stage of preparing the soil for planting seeds or seedlings, it is required to provide it with a complex of mineral and nutrients. It is important not only to enrich the soil with nutrients, but also to saturate it with oxygen.

From the article you will learn how to prepare the soil for cucumbers in a greenhouse and get an excellent harvest.

Requirements for the soil for growing cucumbers in a greenhouse

Cucumber is an annual herb belonging to the pumpkin family. Like all species of this family, the cucumber has a weak root system, which does not tolerate heavy soils.

Identifying and structuring soil types

The ability of the soil to separate into particles is called structure, and many particles of various sizes, shapes and qualitative composition are called soil structure.

The main types of soils:

1. Clayy. They are also called heavy, they are difficult to process. Contains more than 50% of the total clay.
2. Loamy. The composition includes from 30 to 50% clay. Loams are heavy and light, it depends on the percentage of sand particles.
3. Sandy loam. Contains 10-30% clay and 90-70% sand;
4. Sandy. The soil contains up to 90% sand and 10% clay.

In sandy and sandy loam soils, mechanical elements are usually in a separate-partial state. Loamy and clayey soils can be structural, unstructured, or low-structured.

Determination of mechanical composition

To find out what type of soil prevails on your site, you need to determine the texture. The mechanical composition is the amount of solids contained in the soil.

You will need water to determine your soil type. Take a handful of earth and moisten it to a doughy mass. Then roll the cord 5 mm thick and fold into a ring.

The mechanical composition of the soil is assessed by how the cord behaves:

• if the soil is sandy, then you will not be able to twist the cord;
• sandy loam soil will curl, but immediately fall apart;
• if the ring forms, but easily disintegrates, then the soil is light loamy;
• cracks will form on heavy loam when twisting;
• if the soil is clay, then the ring will be free of cracks and keeps its shape well.

Loose soil with water-holding capacity is suitable for planting a cucumber, so sandy and clay soils are not suitable.

Preparation of components for soil

To obtain the maximum yield, the soil in the greenhouse must meet the requirements:

• be breathable;
• provide heat exchange;
• when watering, saturate with water;
• absorb all minerals when feeding;
• free from infections and harmful substances.

Humus is an important component of the soil. Humus is rotten manure and is used as biofuel.

Important! To make a soil for cucumbers, it is necessary that all components are in equal proportions, except for sand. It should be the least.

To prepare humus, manure is stacked, covered with peat and regularly watered with slurry. Thus, the manure is saturated with oxygen and useful compounds.

Humus performs important functions:

• saturates the soil with minerals;
• makes the soil looser;
• together with humus, beneficial microorganisms enter the soil.

An important component for the soil is turf. It is added to the composition to enrich the soil with nutrients and increase the soil's ability to absorb moisture.

Attention! Sod for greenhouses is harvested in fields and meadows, preferably near marshy areas. But if horsetail grows nearby, then you should not take the soil - the soil will be too acidic.

Sod harvesting takes place in two stages: the top layer of the earth with the entire root system is removed, then transported to the site and mixed with manure.

Requirements for peat indicators:

• it is not recommended to use too dry peat, it spills poorly;
• its moisture content should not exceed 65%;
• the acidity of the soil should be 6.5.

The use of sand in the soil increases the porosity and makes the soil looser, enriches the root system of the plant with moisture and air.

Once all the components are prepared, they are mixed and placed in the greenhouse.

How to prepare the soil

The composition of the soil includes organic and inorganic components in certain proportions - usually 3-4 positions.

What is necessary

To prepare soil for cucumbers, you must:

• turf - 30%
• humus - 30%
• peat - 30%
• sand - 10%

Step-by-step instruction

To prepare the soil for growing cucumbers, follow the technology:

1. Clean the greenhouse before the season starts. Remove all plant residues and debris.
2. Dig up the ground 25-30 days before planting the cucumbers.
3. Prepare biomass.
4. Prepare the beds.
5. Plant cucumbers.
6. Drizzle with warm water.

Fertilizer application

Two weeks before sowing or transplanting, cucumber seedlings begin to make fertilizers.

For 1 m2 of the garden, make:

• compost 10 kg;
• superphosphate 40 g;
• potassium sulfate 40 g;
• magnesium sulfate 15 g.

Fertilizers are applied for digging, after which the ridge is spilled abundantly. A week later, add ammonium nitrate in the amount of 30 g. The ridge is loosened and watered again. The soil is now ready for growing cucumbers.

How to prepare the beds for cucumbers

To grow a cucumber in a greenhouse, medium-level beds are most often made. This uses a wide-row and tape method.

For the wide-row method, the distance between the rows is 0.8 m. With the belt method, the gap is formed by 0.4 m. Such cucumber beds will help to grow an excellent harvest.

Neutralization of soil in a greenhouse for cucumbers

Soil disinfection is carried out in cases where nothing has been grown in the greenhouse for a long time or, on the contrary, the same crop has been planted for several years in a row.

Methods for neutralizing soil in a greenhouse:

• The easiest way is to treat the soil with steam. For this, the soil is poured with boiling water and covered with foil. When exposed to high temperatures, harmful microorganisms die.
• Using copper sulfate. The solution will require 10 liters of water and 1 tbsp. l. copper sulfate. The solution is used to treat the beds in the fall, after harvesting.
• Sulfuric checker. Set fire to the checker and leave it inside for an hour. After that, the greenhouse is ventilated for some time.
• Bleach is a versatile pest control. It should be scattered over the beds.
• The use of biopreparations "Trichodermin" and "Fitosporin" will allow you to destroy pathogens and enrich the soil with beneficial microorganisms.

But it is not enough to neutralize only one soil, the entire greenhouse should be disinfected completely. To do this, you must first thoroughly wash the entire structure, and then wipe the windows and doors with a solution of potassium permanganate.

When is it necessary to replace the soil and how to do it

Replacement of soil is required if:

• the greenhouse has been used for many years without changing the soil cover;
• in the previous season, the plants were sick, there was a poor harvest;
• despite fertilization, the plants did not develop well;
• an unpleasant smell comes from the ground.

In these cases, you should:

1. Remove plant residues.
2. Remove the old soil 30 cm around the perimeter of the entire greenhouse.
3. Treat the soil with copper sulfate or bleach.
4. Lay fresh, prepared soil.
5. Apply fertilizer.
6. To maintain a healthy soil, it is recommended to grow green manure.

Soil heating

Naturally, the soil in the greenhouse warms up only by June, depending on the region. In order to plant cucumbers in early spring, the greenhouse should be heated artificially.

There are three options for artificial heating of the greenhouse:

• using electrical appliances;
• water heating;
• due to warm beds.

Electrical appliances - heaters, special electrical plates, electrical cables. The advantage of this heating method is that it is possible to adjust the heat supply power; the ability to heat the greenhouse even in winter. But there are two drawbacks: the high cost of equipment and installation.

Water heating is used using special pipes made of polymer material, which are laid under the ground. Heating is done by hot water that flows through the pipes.

Warm beds. This heating method is the most economical. The soil is heated by natural biofuel placed in the lower layer of the ridge. The remains of plants, cardboard, manure, sawdust are taken as a filler. Heat is released during the decay process and is capable of heating the soil for two months.

General recommendations for preparing soil for cucumbers and caring for them

General requirements for the soil for growing cucumbers:

• the soil should be loose, saturated with oxygen;
• contain a large amount of organic and mineral matter;
• have an acidity level of 6.2-6.5;
• the soil must be free from infections and harmful microorganisms.

Proper soil care is as follows:

• in order for the soil to not dry out, regular watering is required;
• the introduction of mineral fertilizers contributes to the enrichment of the soil with nutrients;
• creating a favorable microclimate inside the greenhouse to avoid excessive soil moisture;
• regularly ventilating the greenhouse to prevent fungal diseases.

Read also:

Mid-season cucumber hybrid "Prestige" from domestic breeders

What to do if cucumbers in the jar are cloudy: how to fix mistakes

How to store pickles in an apartment

Conclusion

The use of properly prepared soil, timely application of fertilizers, compliance with all the rules for disinfecting the greenhouse are the key to obtaining high-quality soil for growing cucumbers. Only by using all the tips in the complex, you can grow strong, healthy plants and get an excellent harvest of cucumbers.