How to grow cucumbers in a greenhouse in winter: step by step instructions

Tasty fresh cucumbers are hard to find in grocery stores in winter, so some gardeners grow their own vegetables using heated greenhouses. The cultivation process is simple, but creating the conditions requires some effort in equipping the facility and a budget. Also, the result will be influenced by the correctly selected variety.

What else is taken into account when growing cucumbers in the winter in a greenhouse and how to properly prepare the structure, we will tell in the article.

What should be a greenhouse for growing cucumbers in winter

For winter cultivation of cucumbers need a greenhouse installed on a solid concrete foundation... Constructions deepened into the ground have proven themselves well. The soil layer plays the role of additional insulation. By deepening, the structure is made less high, while not limiting the plant in growth.

A well thought-out heating system is essential... Convectors, electric, water, infrared and wood heating are used. For the preservation of thermal energy, the winter greenhouse must be airtight.

Design

The best greenhouses for cucumber culture are built from polycarbonate, which is mounted on a metal frame with an anti-corrosion coating. The greenhouse is not cheap, but the costs pay off in 2-3 years. A high-quality facility for growing cucumbers, tomatoes and other crops will bring the owners harvest all year round.

In addition, it practically does not need repairs. Strong polycarbonate 100 mm thick will not crack under a large layer of snow and can easily withstand temperature changes. Some people use tempered industrial glass greenhouses, but this material is more fragile.

Heating and lighting

Most greenhouse structures heated by electric boilers or compact wood-burning stoves... The required air temperature is maintained with the help of biofuel from humus and straw, spread out in the beds, as well as sheets of roofing material placed around the perimeter of the greenhouse.

The lower the temperature outside, the more perfect the heating system should be.... In especially cold regions, combined heating is used, combining several methods at once.

Most often, cucumbers are grown in soil, but for industrial purposes, they practice rack cultivation of vegetables in 2-3 tiers... This method simplifies harvesting and significantly saves space.

In the winter season, when days are short and solar activity is low, plants need additional lighting... For this, lamps of different types are installed, observing two main parameters - the level of illumination and color temperature.

Culture requires light as close as possible to daylight... The lamp should have a color temperature of 5000 K. Such lighting is provided by metal halide (HNaT and DNaZ), mercury (MHL) and fluorescent lamps. At the stages of growth of cucumbers, lighting devices with a color temperature of 6500 K are used, and during the flowering and fruiting period - about 4000 K. With such parameters, the culture does not stretch, remains strong and forms ovaries well.

Important! In terms of light output, fluorescent lamps are much inferior - much more of them will be needed for the same space.They do not heat up much, but are cheaper.

The specifics of caring for cucumbers in the winter in a greenhouse

Subject to the temperature regime, weather conditions will not affect the plants... In addition to warmth, plants need regular watering. In addition, in the winter season, fruiting depends on the variety of cucumbers.

In general, the rules of care are universal. - a sufficient amount of water and fertilizers, an even harvest.

Preparatory stage

For growing cucumbers in a greenhouse in winter it is necessary to choose the right variety... The process of preparing soil and seed material is of no small importance. The quality and quantity of the crop directly depends on this.

Variety selection

For a winter greenhouse, varieties that are resistant to lack of light, low temperatures, do not require pollination and high-yielding are suitable. For this purpose acquire unpretentious early ripening parthenocarpic hybrids or special varieties for greenhouses:

• hybrids are crops bred by crossing two parental varieties: in their name on the package with seeds there is an inscription F1 - this is April, Anyuta, Calendar, Zozulya, Lukhovitsky, Lilliputian, Machaon, Dynamite and others;
• varieties resistant to a lack of light - Relay, Russian, Regatta, Willow, Domashny, Marfinsky;
• unpretentious crops - Moscow hothouse, Surprise, Pomegranate, Zarya.

Non-self-pollinated varieties require artificial pollination during the flowering period.

Soil preparation

The soil is enriched with organic and mineral fertilizers. When preparing the soil in new greenhouses, manure, potassium sulfate and superphosphate are introduced into the soil.

The finished substrate is insisted for two weeks... Before planting plants in a permanent place during loosening, ammonium nitrate is added to the soil. To improve the quality of the soil, this event is held annually.

Interesting. California worms are capable of converting soil into vermicompost.

Seed preparation

For calibration they are placed with a saline solution for 15-20 minutes (for 1 glass of 1 tsp. salt). The seeds floating on the surface are removed - they will not sprout. The seeds that have fallen to the bottom are washed and dried.

Further carry out disinfection... The seeds are placed for 20-30 minutes in a 1% solution of potassium permanganate or 3% hydrogen peroxide, then washed. The procedure is carried out in order to increase the immunity of the culture to infectious diseases.

For hardening seeds they are wrapped in a damp cotton cloth, placed on a saucer and sent to the bottom shelf of the refrigerator for two days. The recommended temperature is from 0 to + 2 ° С. This procedure is carried out to accelerate the emergence of seedlings and activate immunity.

To stimulate culture growth use special drugs, for example, "Zircon" or "Epin". The folk method is also used: seeds are laid out on a cut along aloe leaf for the night and planted in the morning without washing.

How to grow cucumbers in a greenhouse in winter

The technology of winter cultivation of cucumbers in a greenhouse practically does not differ from the summer one... However, it must be remembered that the air in a heated greenhouse is rather dry. For a moisture-loving cucumber, it can be destructive.

Growing seedlings and planting

Seedlings are painful to transplant, therefore, the seeds are planted most often in peat cups or tablets. Young plants are transplanted into the ground together with this container. This does not compromise the integrity of the root system. The peat product becomes limp over time and dissolves in the soil.

To reduce the risk of infection of seedlings with rot, it is transplanted from other containers so that the root collar remains above the ground. Plants are planted in a permanent place at 25-30 days of age, when 3-4 true leaves appear at the bushes.

Planting density depends on the selected variety (hybrid)... For 1 sq. m, 2-4 bushes are planted on average. With a row planting, leave 40-45 cm between the plants. After planting, wire trellises are immediately installed.A special net or twine is tied to them.

Watering

The soil under the plants should be moderately moist.... This is achieved with the help of drip irrigation or regular wetting of plants at the root. The culture is watered separated water with a temperature of + 25-27 ° C. The soil is moistened to a depth of 10 cm, the soil is mulched with straw, sawdust or peat.

Water for irrigation is softened by adding a little organic matter to it (5-10 ml infusion of mullein or bird droppings per 10 liters of water). With this moisture, organic fertilizers are not required for plants. The crop will receive top dressing from irrigation, and soft water will be better absorbed by the roots.

Fertilizers

The first fertilization when sowing with seeds is applied in the phase of three leaves... When planting seedlings, feeding is carried out in 2-4 days. For this, fertilizer solutions are used, for example, "Nitrofoska", "Kristallon" or "Kemira". The concentration of drugs should not exceed 1-1.5%.

The culture is fed the second time during the period of mass bud formation... To do this, use "Nitrofoska" (5 -10 g per 10 liters of water).

The third fertilization is carried out at the beginning of fruiting.... During this period, potassium, phosphorus and magnesium are added. To prepare a solution in 3-4 liters of warm water, stir a glass of ash and leave for two days, then filter. Next, water-soluble superphosphate, potassium nitrate 1 tsp are added to the mixture, the solution is brought to 10 liters and watered along the furrows.

Foliar fertilization is carried out with the same solution.by adding trace elements to it. During fruiting, the culture is fed with an interval of 10-14 days with a filtered ash infusion or a phosphorus-potassium composition. Also, a solution of nitrophoska is well suited as a fertilizer - 1.5 tbsp. l. on a bucket of water.

Garter and shrub formation

A trellis is installed in the greenhouse, to which, as the culture grows, it is tied the ends of a strong rope or twine that serve as a support for the whips.

Scourges are tied up after 6-8 leaves appear. To do this, one end of the lace is tied around the plant over the third or second leaf. The loop is not tight because the stem gets thicker over time. The other end of the rope is tied to a trellis wire. In the future, the lash is periodically twisted around a vertically stretched cord (twine).

As crops grow, they form bushes – pinch all lateral shoots so that they do not grow to the sides. Do this after the appearance of 8-9 of this leaf. New branches are removed at the bottom 3-4 nodes, then at 4-5 nodes. In this case, one leaf or fruit is left. Above the fifth knot, lateral lashes 20 cm long are left. The higher along the main stem, the longer the lashes are left.

Closer to the trellis, the length of the shoots should be about 50 cm, they are fixed on a support. When the top of the plant reaches the trellis, then the whip of the main stem is wrapped around it and the top is pinched over 2-3 leaves from the last fruit.

Disease and pest control

It is becoming easier to grow a cucumber crop in a greenhouse, as new hybrids with high resistance to diseases and pests appear every year. However, there is still a small risk of plant disease.

1. Peronosporosis - appears on foliage with yellow or green oily spots, which darken over time, acquiring a brown tint. When a disease appears, watering and fertilizing are stopped. The disease is treated with a solution of polycarbacin or copper oxychloride. Spraying with systemic fungicides is also effective. After applying the funds, the greenhouse is ventilated. With peronosporosis, the air temperature during the day is maintained at a level not lower than + 20 ° С, and at night at least + 18 ° С.
2. Powdery mildew - most often occurs during warming. A mealy bloom appears on the leaves. The disease quickly destroys plants. Powdery mildew is disposed of with the help of sulfaride, potassium permanganate or preparations "Quadris 250 SC", "Impact 25%".

Often culture is attacked aphids, which greatly complicates the care of plants. Small insects cause great harm to cucumbers. In damaged bushes, leaves wither and turn yellow, buds and ovaries die.

Pests multiply quickly, and in a short time they are able to destroy an entire garden... To combat aphids, a soap-ash solution is used. In 1 liter of water add 2 tbsp. l. ash and laundry soap diluted in hot water. Leaves and stems of cucumbers are washed with this product. After five days, the procedure is repeated.

For your information. The soil under the bushes is sprinkled with ash. This scares off pests and feeds weak plants when watering.

Harvesting

Ripe cucumbers are harvested regularlyso that they do not slow down growth and the appearance of new fruits. The crop is harvested in the morning or evening after watering.

Productivity of cucumbers in winter in a greenhouse

As for the yield of cucumbers in winter, then in heated rooms with 1 sq. m vegetable growers collect about 12-14 kg of fruits, and in unheated greenhouses - 8-10 kg.

Growing cucumbers in winter as a business

Growing cucumbers in the greenhouse as a business has many advantages:

• heated facilities allow harvesting vegetables all year round;
• there are many varieties and hybrids that independently pollinate and are resistant to temperature extremes and lack of light;
• the product is in great demand in shops and catering establishments;
• cucumbers are stored for a long time and do not deteriorate during transportation
• the price of this product rises significantly in winter, and there are fewer competitors.

Having decided to do industrial vegetable growing in greenhouses, take into account the peculiarities of such a business:

• the construction and equipment of greenhouses requires a large initial investment;
• heating in winter is expensive;
• for the successful cultivation of cucumbers, you need a flat area with a water supply to organize an irrigation system;
• cultivation of cucumbers requires fertilization costs.

The profitability of a greenhouse for growing cucumbers for sale is 50-70%... In a productive year, it can exceed 100%. The greenhouse will pay off in about two years. With an increase in the area of ​​the structure, the payback period is reduced.

Conclusion

Cultivating cucumbers in a greenhouse in winter is not easy. This requires skill, time and financial investment. The most difficult thing is to equip a winter greenhouse: install heating equipment and lighting. Otherwise, the cultivation of cucumber does not differ from the traditional agricultural technology of vegetables. Useful, crispy organic cucumbers that will bring income from sales will be a gift for your efforts.