Cucumbers are nutritious and have a crisp texture, making them a popular fruit and vegetable, and many rural households grow them. So, is it a good time to grow cucumbers now? Let's find out.
Is it okay to plant cucumbers now?
Whether or not cucumbers can be planted now depends mainly on the local temperature. Generally, cucumbers require nighttime temperatures no lower than 15℃ to grow. The best time to plant cucumbers is usually from January to March or from June to August, but the specific planting time varies depending on the variety and region.
How do you grow cucumbers?
1. Sufficient base fertilizer
Cucumbers have relatively high nutritional requirements and grow better in soil rich in organic matter, well-drained, well-aerated, and with a pH of 5.5-7.2. Proper base fertilization is crucial, with a focus on organic fertilizer ; 3000-5000 kg of well-rotted farmyard manure can be added per acre.
2. Seed selection and germination
Choose varieties that are disease-resistant, tolerant of low temperatures and low light, and have good marketability. Sun-dry the seeds for 1-2 days to activate their activity. Then soak them in 55℃ warm water for 10 minutes to kill most bacteria. Alternatively, soak the seeds in clean water for 3-4 hours to allow them to absorb sufficient moisture, then let them germinate at room temperature. Once 80% of the seeds have sprouted, they can be sown on a seedbed.
3. Planting
When the seedlings grow to 12-15 cm, they can be transplanted. The row spacing should be 60 cm and the plant spacing should be 30 cm. There should be 3,500-4,000 seedlings per acre.
4. Scaffolding
After transplanting, it is necessary to set up a trellis. Generally, the trellis should be set up when the cucumber has 4-5 leaves to facilitate its upward climbing.
5. Proper pruning
Lateral shoots consume a lot of nutrients during their growth. When cucumber leaves reach 10-13, the lateral shoots can be removed. This should not be done too early, otherwise the growth of the underground root system will be restricted. During cucumber pruning, it is also necessary to remove old leaves promptly; leaves generally become senescent after 40 days.
6. Water and fertilizer management
Cucumbers are not drought-tolerant and require a lot of water, but they also cannot be deprived of water, so they need to be watered properly at each stage. Before the cucumbers set fruit, it is essential to control watering, watering only once every 10-15 days. After each watering, it is necessary to loosen the soil and remove weeds. During the fruiting period, the water consumption is relatively high, and coupled with the hot weather, watering should be done every 5 days.
Cucumbers have high nutrient requirements during their growth. Ten days after transplanting, apply 5 kg/mu of urea to ensure better plant growth. However, do not add too much nitrogen fertilizer, otherwise the seedlings may grow excessively. During the fruiting period, apply compound fertilizer every 10-15 days, about 25 kg/mu, plus 10 kg of potassium sulfate.
