How often and correctly to water cucumbers in the greenhouse, when is it better
When growing a vegetable crop, it is important to follow the rules of how often to water cucumbers in a greenhouse. An equally important role is played by the quality of water for irrigation and its quantity. These criteria largely determine the normal growth and development of the plant.
Landing rules
To make it easy to care for cucumber beds, they need to be planted correctly. The distance between seedlings in a row should be about 55 cm, between the rows themselves at least 75 cm.
Growing densely planted cucumber bushes is much more difficult. Plant growth slows down, fruiting decreases. Sunlight will hardly penetrate through the thickets of greenery in the greenhouse, so an excess of evaporated moisture will remain at the roots. The risk of developing fungal diseases, pest settlement increases. In addition, excess moisture leads to decay.
The roots of densely planted cucumbers in the greenhouse will intertwine with each other, grow and develop incorrectly. The dense, intertwined roots will absorb a lot of moisture when watering and the soil will always be dry. If the volume of liquid is slightly exceeded, bacteria and fungi will begin to develop in the soil.
Greenhouse plant care becomes difficult. It is more difficult for gardeners to weed the beds, monitor the appearance of stepchildren, the irrigation regime is disrupted. Therefore, cucumbers need to be provided with free space so that light and air can easily flow to all parts of the stem.
How to water cucumbers in a greenhouse, important rules
It is very important that the water for watering cucumbers in the greenhouse is warm. What is the normal temperature of water intended for soil moistening? It should be about +20 degrees. It is best to collect water in large tanks and let it sit for a while. Cold water reduces the immunity of cucumbers, slows down the growth and development, the vegetable crop is more likely to get sick and the resistance to pests decreases.
In addition to water temperature, there are other rules for watering cucumbers.
- It is necessary to moisten the soil well, but without allowing moisture stagnation. In this case, there will be a large harvest of cucumbers, without bitterness in taste. The soil should be light, rich in peat and sand.
- After each watering, it is recommended to make shallow loosening with simultaneous hilling of bushes. In this case, the roots will receive sufficient oxygen and nutrients.
- Watering cucumbers in a greenhouse should be carried out with water without harmful additives (for example, salts or fluoride). If it is tough, it is useful to mix with wood ash. It is enough to dilute 55 g of ash in 10 liters of water.
- Watering cucumbers in the greenhouse should be done once a day.If the question is when it is better to water the cucumbers in the greenhouse, in the morning or in the evening, then it is best to choose the evening hours. The best time to water is two hours before sunset. Cucumbers grow more actively at night, so the moisture that came in in the evening will come in handy. A good time for watering is also early morning, at 6-7.
At what time to moisten the soil depends largely on the weather conditions. If it rains for a long time, then the watering of cucumbers is reduced. During this period, it is imperative to monitor the air parameters in the greenhouse. On cloudy days, watering cucumbers is best during the daytime.
If you water cucumbers in a greenhouse in the middle of a hot day, then there is a high probability that the plant will burn, turn yellow and die. Mulching will help keep moisture in the soil and prevent crusting. An additional layer of sawdust, straw, peat or film protects the ground from overheating. In addition, there will be no excessive evaporation and the humidity in the greenhouse will not exceed the norm.
How to water cucumbers in a greenhouse at different periods of development
After planting, you need to water cucumbers in the greenhouse systematically, evenly with the same amount of liquid. If this rule is not followed, then decay of the root system may occur. In the event that several irrigations are missed, you should not replenish them with a large volume of water. The previous volume of liquid returns gradually with each subsequent watering.
Cucumber seedlings can be grown both at home and in a greenhouse. After the first shoots appear, water with a spoon or a small glass so as not to damage the roots. As soon as 2-3 leaves unfold, the cucumber seedlings grow stronger. For seedlings of cucumbers in a greenhouse, it is better to choose thawed or ordinary filtered, warm water. It is useful to water the seedlings by adding nutrients. Watering with yeast, herbal or ash solution is used as a top dressing for cucumbers.
How often you need to water cucumber beds is influenced by their development period. Considering this factor, it is possible to significantly reduce infection by infections, prevent the attack of pests and get a high-quality harvest. How many times the soil should be moistened depends on the age of the seedlings. The first watering of cucumbers after planting in the greenhouse is carried out immediately after transplanting the seedlings. Subsequently, it is enough to water once every 5 days.
A young plant has roots about 4 cm in length, so the rate of fluid consumption will be about 4 liters per 1 sq. m. The length of the roots of an adult vegetable is about 15 cm, so the amount of liquid increases to 15 liters.
Watering cucumbers in the greenhouse before flowering is recommended to be carried out with a moderate frequency, while approximately 4.5 liters per 1 sq.m. are consumed. During flowering and the formation of ovaries, it is necessary to water the beds more often. During this period, it is recommended to water the cucumber beds at intervals of one day. Water should go about 11 liters per 1 sq. M. If it is hot outside, it is recommended to water once a day and sprinkle.
Experienced growers advise that the frequency of watering during active fruiting should be reduced. This will stop the growth of the tops and accelerate the ripening of the fruit. The plant will direct all the forces and nutritional components to the formation of fruits, and not greenery.
How to water cucumbers in polycarbonate greenhouses in combination with feeding
After watering cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse, it is recommended to apply fertilizers. It is useful to carry out not only root, but also foliar feeding. How often you need to fertilize depends on the appearance of the plant, the quality of the soil and the conditions in the greenhouse. It is recommended to apply fertilizer at least four times during the entire growing season.
Root feeding begins after the appearance of the first leaves and is repeated at intervals of two weeks. The appearance of the plant will tell you what fertilizers to apply. For example, gardeners recommend: "If the leaves are pale green, the plant develops slowly, water the seedlings with water with nitrogen, urea or nitrate."
A useful fertilizer for cucumbers is a mixture of urea (15 g), superphosphate (25 g) and potassium sulfate (17 g). All components are poured with 10 liters of water. A similar solution is enough for about 12 cucumber bushes.
The next feeding is carried out after about 2.5 weeks. By this time, the formation of flowers and the formation of ovaries should begin. It is useful for seedlings at this time to prepare a composition based on a mullein. The selected component is left to soak in water for about three days. You can add 200 g of wood ash. Before watering, the prepared mullein solution is diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 6. Superphosphate 50 g can be added.
For the third and fourth time, cucumbers are fed during the period of mass ripening of fruits. They are carried out at intervals of two weeks. Foliar dressing of cucumbers by spraying, it allows the absorption of nutrients through the leaves. The same formulations can be used as for root feed, but the concentration should be lower.
How to properly water cucumbers in a greenhouse
There are some rules for watering cucumbers in a greenhouse. It is not recommended to pour water under the root during watering, so as not to provoke rotting. It is best to leave the soil around the base of the stem dry. Do not use hoses for irrigation. Under the pressure of water near the stem, the earth will erode, exposing the root system.
A polycarbonate greenhouse retains heat well, but in hot weather this can cause plants to overheat. Planting cucumbers in the greenhouse, the following tips should be followed.
- The room must be ventilated. Do not open the vents that are located opposite each other, as cucumbers do not tolerate drafts well.
- When caring for beds, it is useful to carry out a sprinkling procedure that helps to cool the greens.
- You can darken the roof of the greenhouse for a period of direct sunlight.
Drip irrigation of beds is popular. Drip irrigation allows moisture to flow to the root system, while the topsoil remains dry. Underground watering also reduces the risk of top rot. A drip irrigation system in a greenhouse is easy to build with your own hands. They take an ordinary plastic bottle, cut out the bottom of it, and close the neck with a lid. Small holes are pierced across the entire area of the bottle.
The prepared container is dug into the ground near each cucumber bush with the cut bottom up. As needed, the container is filled with water, and it will slowly seep through the holes to the roots.
