Step-by-step cultivation of cucumbers at home on the windowsill and on the balcony. Cucumbers on the balcony Growing cucumbers in bottles on the balcony

This is not a problem; you can grow cucumbers on the balcony in plastic bottles. This is a very budget-friendly method, because you don’t need to look for special containers and a lot of free space. There are empty plastic bottles in every home. It is best to plant cucumbers in 5-liter plastic bottles, but if there are none, then the usual “one and a half bottles” will also do.

• So, first you need to choose a place. Cucumbers are a heat-loving crop that does not like direct sunlight. Therefore, if your balcony is always filled with sunlight, then you need to create partial shade. Growing cucumbers in plastic bottles is not a difficult process at all, but it requires careful and attentive preparation.
• The minimum temperature during the day should be at least 18 degrees. At night not lower than 15 degrees. If your balcony is not sufficiently insulated and does not have good lighting, then take care of it. For light it will be necessary to use additional lamps. It’s good if there are special ones, but if there aren’t any, then regular fluorescent ones will also work. To ensure a comfortable temperature on the balcony, it must be insulated. It is also worth considering that cucumbers do not like drafts.
• Cucumbers on the balcony in plastic bottles will require a garter from you. After all, they have long lashes. To do this, pull the ropes from bottom to top so that each plant can feel free and not get tangled.

How to grow cucumbers in bottles on the balcony?

To prepare a container, or rather a plastic bottle, for planting cucumber seeds, you can use the following techniques:

• A one and a half liter bottle can be cut in half, but do not throw away the top part. It can be used as additional shelter, because we do not forget that seedlings love warmth;
• The bottle can be cut in half. Moreover, the upper part should be used for planting cucumbers in bottles, and the lower part for watering. To do this, water is poured down, after which the upper part with soil and seeds is inserted. In this case, the lid should be open and slightly immersed in water. This technology will always ensure optimal watering.
• A five-liter bottle can be cut lengthwise, making it like a boat. You can cut it crosswise and plant it at the bottom.
• It is necessary to make holes at the bottom of the bottles to prevent water stagnation.

How to plant cucumbers in a bottle?

We have decided on the place and capacity, now we will talk about planting the cucumbers in bottles.

As soil, you can use special soil, which is sold in stores. You can make your own. To do this, you need to take ordinary soil, mix it with wood ash and peat. It is also worth taking care of drainage. Expanded clay, pebbles, and broken bricks are suitable.

Before planting, the seeds must be treated against diseases in a solution of potassium permanganate. After which they are germinated. To do this, you can use simple gauze or cotton cloth, wet it and place the seeds there. In a couple of days they will hatch. The germination stage is important in order to eliminate all seeds that will not sprout.

Now you can start planting. The seeds go 2 cm deep into the soil. If the container is large, then the distance should be at least 10 cm. It is better to plant no more than two seeds in a “one and a half” to ensure normal growth for each.

After the seedlings have sprouted, you can fertilize them with fertilizers. Also constantly monitor soil moisture. After the lashes appear, they need to be carefully guided along the threads.

Important point!

In order to grow cucumbers on the balcony in plastic bottles, you need to use cucumber varieties that do not require pollination and open ground. They are less capricious.

Also, when whiskers appear on the vines, they need to be pinched so that the plant spends all its energy on forming fruits and not greenery.

This simple technology will provide you with your own organic cucumbers at any time of the year.

Planting cucumbers in plastic bottles is a simple matter, very convenient and profitable. Cucumbers can be planted in this way in garden beds, in a greenhouse, or simply on a balcony/window sill. Usually, cucumbers are planted in 5 liter bottles - this gives the plants more space, although a good harvest can also be obtained from smaller containers.

Growing cucumbers in plastic bottles begins with preparing nutritious soil and a “planting site.” Everyone has their own soil recipe. It is important that it is loose, porous, and allows air to pass well to the roots. Alternatively, you can purchase ready-made soil for growing vegetables or seedlings at the store. If you decide to prepare the soil for planting cucumbers in bottles yourself, you can use this recipe:

• 1/4 – turf soil (suitable from the garden),
• 1/4 - leaf soil (rotted leaves from any tree except oak and willow),
• 1/4 - peat,
• 1/4 - drainage mixture.

For drainage, you can use sphagnum moss, husks from sunflower seeds or grains, or eggshells. Cucumbers will thank you for a rich harvest if you add birch ash to the soil.

Now about preparing the bottle. If you plan to grow cucumbers on the balcony in plastic bottles, then you need to take a suitable container and cut off the top, and fill the resulting pot with prepared soil. It is better not to throw away the cut off tops of the bottles; they can be used to cover the seedlings in the cold season, creating a kind of greenhouse.

If we are talking about planting cucumbers in open ground or a greenhouse, then you will also need to cut off the bottom to create a kind of rim. It will need to be “drowned” 1/3 into the garden bed. Also fill the resulting container with soil, slightly short of the edge. In each such pot, 2-3 sprouted cucumber seeds or a couple of seedling bushes are planted.

Growing bottle cucumbers outdoors provides a number of benefits:

• watering savings. All water goes to its destination and does not spread over the bed;
• the plastic rim of the bottle sunk into the ground protects the roots of cucumbers from mole crickets;
• weeds do not interfere with the growth of cucumber;
• Every year prepare fresh soil that is not contaminated with any diseases.

Cucumbers on the windowsill in plastic bottles are not a myth. True, in order to get a good harvest from the windowsill, the cucumbers will have to be fed. Do not forget about active regular watering, since cucumber is a moisture-loving plant.

Growing cucumber seedlings in plastic bottles is also a profitable and convenient option. You can use both large and small plastic bottles. For a plastic bottle, as in the previous version, you can cut off the top and get a plastic cup or pot, depending on the size of the container. You can cut the bottle in half and insert the top into the bottom with the cap facing down. Pour water into the bottom of the bottle so that the neck of the top reaches it - you will get a pot with automatic watering. This way you can be sure that your seedlings will not die or get sick from lack of moisture.

The third option is how to plant cucumbers in plastic bottles: you need to put the bottle on its side and cut off one side, you get a kind of boat or shoe, which is filled with soil and then seeds or seedlings are planted if necessary.

Seedlings of cucumbers in plastic bottles cut horizontally are not advisable, since cucumbers do not like transplantation and adapt extremely poorly; it is better to plant cucumber seeds in peat tablets or pots, which can then be immediately planted in the ground without damaging the roots.

Cabbage, parsley, tomatoes, petunias and other annual flowers grow well in plastic bottles cut horizontally.

How to plant cucumbers in 5 liter bottles on the balcony

To do this, you need to prepare the container using one of the above methods, then fill it with soil and plant the cucumbers. Cucumbers love warm soil, but do not tolerate exposure to open sunlight. Therefore, you need to choose a slightly shaded place on the balcony or create a shadow artificially. By providing sufficient watering and fertilizing, you can count on getting a good harvest.

On a note

• you can plant cucumbers under a plastic bottle directly on a prepared warm bed in open ground to get an earlier harvest, and cover the top with covering material,
• growing cucumbers in plastic bottles is no different from growing cucumbers in a greenhouse or garden bed; first of all, they need moisture, warmth and light,

A balcony or loggia is often used as a winter garden or simply a place for growing indoor flowers. More economical homeowners rationally approach the use of additional space and, instead of a flower garden, set up a mini-greenhouse. Let's find out how to grow cucumbers on the balcony so that you don't waste your energy and get a magnificent harvest of fresh and healthy vegetables in any season.

It turns out that not only ficus, geranium and petunia grow well on loggias and balconies, but also common vegetable crops, such as cucumbers and tomatoes. Many people practice growing cucumbers on the balcony, achieving really good results.

There are several dozen varieties of greenhouse (greenhouse) plants that also develop well in balcony conditions. Moreover, using breeding methods, hybrids have been bred that feel great on window sills and balconies. For them, a small area of ​​the room and a limited area of ​​soil are not an obstacle - on average 5-10 liters of fertile soil per bush. Externally, they can be distinguished by powerful roots, short stems and small leaves.

Proper care is the key to an excellent harvest

Hybrid cucumbers grow slower than greenhouse varieties and do not have seeds after ripening. They are smaller in size and are more like gherkins. Some species form group ovaries and produce bunches of fruit resembling bunches of grapes, so planting cucumbers on the balcony should take into account the fact that especially prolific hybrids require additional supports. With proper care, cucumbers ripen gradually over a long period of time.

Parthenocarpic hybrids Balcony cucumber F1, Balagan F1, Machaon F1, Calendar F1, Hummingbird F1 have been included in the State Register since 2009 as crops specifically intended for growing on the balcony. They do not differ in taste from vegetables obtained from open ground. In addition, the listed hybrids are also used for salting and pickling.

Bunches of hybrid cucumbers

Balcony varieties are characterized by another useful property: they have increased resistance to common vegetable diseases - common cucumber mosaic, olive spot, powdery mildew, etc.

Which balcony is suitable for growing crops?

Before planting cucumbers on the balcony, you need to find out whether the selected area is suitable for growing vegetables. Any plants need special conditions, otherwise they simply will not develop, much less bloom and bear fruit. The main factors that determine the choice of planting site are lighting and sufficient heat.

The open space of the loggia is suitable for a home garden, provided that the house is located in the south: apartment owners have six months at their disposal to quietly engage in vegetable growing. A sufficient amount of sunlight and high temperatures outside do not prevent the cultivation of cultivated plants. It is more difficult for residents of the northern regions: without a greenhouse or hotbed, it is unlikely that they will be able to harvest a good harvest.

Vegetables in a home flower garden

This means that the room must be insulated and protected from the negative influence of the external environment. A comfortable temperature for growth and fruiting is 18-20ºС, therefore, ordinary “cold” glazing will not be enough. The fact is that greenhouse cucumbers grow on the balcony in winter, and ordinary varieties are also sown in February, so even in the cold pre-spring period, the room temperature should be at least room temperature.

The second condition is an abundance of light. From this point of view, balconies, loggias and verandas are ideal places for planting crops. At least one side of the room is occupied by double-glazed windows that transmit maximum sunlight. But in March, when there is a lack of natural light, special greenhouse lamps are used that do not turn off even at night.

Additional lighting for seedlings

Of course, the south side of the building benefits in terms of growing vegetables, but if desired, suitable conditions can be created regardless of the location of the room. It remains to find out what kind of cucumbers are grown on the balcony - the quality and volume of the harvest depends on the correctly selected variety.

Selecting a variety based on pollination method

For growing in a relatively closed space, where there is no wind or insects, only parthenocarpic varieties and hybrids are suitable. They are often called self-pollinating varieties of cucumbers for the balcony - this is incorrect. It would be more accurate to call them unpollinated, since pollination is not required in principle for the development of the ovary and fruit.

Parthenocarpic hybrids have unusual taste qualities: they are meatier, juicier, and aromatic. After ripening, the fruits are devoid of seeds, so they are more readily used for preparing various dishes. But, like traditional varieties, greenhouse varieties are divided into salad and pickling varieties, and the second category appeared relatively recently. Previously, greenhouse cucumbers were intended exclusively for fresh consumption; they were not suitable for long-term storage and did not tolerate canning.

Greenhouse hybrids begin to bear fruit a little earlier than garden plants

According to reviews from amateur urban gardeners, the best varieties of cucumbers for growing on a windowsill (window) or balcony are proven hybrids:

• Zozulya F1 is an early ripening variety with fruits up to 22 cm, suitable for preservation;
• Emelya F1 – distinguished by its fertility and neat cucumbers;
• Matilda F1 – 12-centimeter cucumbers ripen in groups of 6-7 pieces;
• Zyatek F1 – small, only 10 cm gherkins with a pleasant taste.

It is also worth paying attention to hybrids and varieties: Balcony Miracle, Bettina F1, Angelina, German, Vesna, Claudia. The last three varieties are universal, that is, they are also used for growing in open ground.

In terms of taste, crops grown indoors are not inferior to their counterparts from the garden.

When choosing a variety, it is necessary to take into account the speed of fruit ripening. Hybrids that actively bear fruit within 45-50 days are considered early ripening. They are distinguished by thinner skin, juicy pulp and a soft green hue.

Instructions for growing cucumbers

Good yields are achieved by diligently following the rules of planting, watering, and fertilizing plants, so we will analyze growing cucumbers on the balcony step by step, stage by stage. You should start by preparing containers for soil, which will require a lot.

Before planting seeds, it is necessary to resolve issues with the containers that will replace the beds and the soil. Moreover, for germinating seeds you will need smaller containers, and for planting plants in the ground - large boxes, buckets, pots or trays.

Plastic flower boxes and netting for shoots

Seeds are usually sown in small plastic disposable cups. Peat cups are sold, from which the sprouts do not need to be removed for planting in the ground. It is believed that the walls of the container will collapse over time and mix with the soil. However, such preparations are not suitable for early ripening plants - the root grows faster than the peat dissolves in the soil.

Cups are placed on a pallet or tray

The root system of cucumbers loves free space, so for growing adult plants you will need a fairly large container - 5 liters, and ideally 10 liters. Large pots for indoor plants or buckets are suitable, taking into account the fact that one plant is planted in 1 container.

Instead of more conventional containers, you can use plastic boxes. Wooden ones will also work, but only as a flowerpot: inside the wooden box you need to place a sealed container with drainage and holes to drain excess liquid.

If there is no suitable container, cucumbers are grown on the balcony in plastic bottles placed along the windows or hung from the walls. By cutting off the top or wall of the vessel with a construction knife, it is turned into a convenient tray.

Modified bottles are as functional as plastic pots

Vegetables are demanding on the soil, which must be loose, fertile, and fertilized. For balcony beds, purchased universal soil for vegetables, flowers, or labeled “for seedlings” is suitable. If you come across dry peat soil, it must be enriched - diluted with humus, black soil and fine sawdust. To ensure looseness, add river sand, perlite or vermiculite.

When watering, the soil does not form lumps and does not float

Wood ash is considered a good soil additive (0.3-0.4 l per 10 l of soil). Potassium sulfate, superphosphate or combined liquid fertilizer is used as fertilizer in the proportions specified in the instructions.

Sowing seeds

If you want to time the cultivation of the crop to coincide with the traditional ripening time, before the sowing procedure you should calculate - add 40-60 days (depending on the ripening period), and you will find out when the first cucumbers will appear. It turns out that early ripening plants planted at the end of February will delight you with a harvest by the beginning of May.

Seeds ready for sowing

The order of sowing cucumber seeds for the balcony:

• untreated seeds are soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 10-15 minutes;
• the disinfected seeds are rinsed and placed on a napkin, which must be periodically moistened for 2-2.5 days;
• add a growth stimulator (Epin, Zircon) for several hours;
• sowing is carried out.

The strongest and healthiest hatched seeds are selected and planted 1 at a time in a small container with prepared moistened soil and sprinkled with a thin layer of the same soil on top.

A sprouted seed in the ground turns into a sprout

It is important to remember that germination requires a temperature slightly higher than usual – +24-25°C. It is gradually reduced to +18°C, but especially resistant varieties can withstand +15°C.

Growing seedlings

As soon as the seedlings emerge from the ground, they need to be placed in a well-lit area on the balcony. In early spring, the daylight hours are not as long as in May, so artificial lighting can be provided during the dark period. Seedlings should be in the light for 16-18 hours, under the rays of the sun or under a phytolamp.

While small sprouts are gaining strength, the soil must be constantly moistened and the temperature regime must be maintained at +21-22°C. Stagnation of water in cups should be avoided, as should drafts during ventilation. For irrigation, use only clean, settled water at room temperature; cold water cannot be used directly from the tap.

When the first leaves appear, fertilize. This is easy to do by purchasing in the store liquid complex fertilizers specifically designed for cucumber seedlings. As the plant grows, fertilizing is repeated, usually timed to coincide with the appearance of the next leaf.

Healthy and strong shoots

The period for growing seedlings in small containers is approximately 25-26 days, after which they are transplanted into the ground, in our case, into closed ground (in greenhouse conditions). Picking cannot be done, as cucumbers react poorly to any damage to the root system.

Planting in closed ground

Until planting in a permanent place of growth, the seedlings could be in the warmest zone, that is, on an insulated loggia or right in the apartment - on the window sills. Now it is necessary to plant cucumbers on the balcony, that is, in the place where after some time they will bloom and begin to bear fruit. There is no point in waiting until the flowers appear; it is better that they give color after being planted in the ground.

Plants ready for transplanting

1 seedling is planted in pre-prepared pots or buckets, carefully handling the roots. The approximate dimensions of the container are 30 x 30 x 30 cm or more. Each pot has drainage and a system for draining excess liquid (a tray is provided for this). It is desirable that the soil be “native”, that is, the composition is the same as in the cups for seedlings.

Make a hole in the center of the soil backfill, spill it with warm water, then insert the seedling into it along with a also moistened lump of earth from a cup. Sprinkle soil on top, lightly compact and irrigate again. It would be a good idea to immediately install trellises or secure a net - climbing plants cling to them as they grow.

Mesh as a support for shoots

If there are a lot of healthy seedlings and the container has run out, you can use thick garbage bags. They are wider than pots, so 2-3 plants can fit in one bag (at the rate of 3 pieces per 1 m² of soil).

Rules for caring for plants

In order for cucumbers to develop properly and bring the expected harvest on time, you must follow the plant care requirements, which relate to watering, loosening, and fertilizing. If all conditions are met, urban vegetable growers achieve amazing results, proof of this is the numerous photos of cucumbers on the balcony posted on the Internet.

The flowering and fruiting process is successful

So, what you need to pay attention to:

• Watering. Plants are regularly watered with settled water at room temperature, making sure that the soil in the pots does not dry out.
• Drainage. The soil should be moist, but not swampy, so water for irrigation flows freely into the pan.
• Aeration. Loosening is done carefully, trying not to damage the roots. To compensate for the settled soil, add a small amount of soil.
• Spraying. Moisture is needed not only by the roots, but also by the leaves. Air humidification is carried out traditionally - with a spray bottle.
• Shading. Direct sunlight, which is quite hot already in April, has a negative effect on cucumber shoots and leaves, so it is better to cover the windows with a tulle curtain.
• Feeding. It is risky to use organic fertilizers (bird droppings, manure) in a residential area, so you can get by with liquid fertilizers such as Fertika-Lux, Ovary.
• Removing the mustache. The lateral shoots do not participate in the formation of fruits; they can be pinched off.

Wherever the pots with crops are located, there must be support for the shoots nearby. A thin wire or stretched twine will help only at first, before the fruits are quite heavy. It is better to immediately make a strong wooden lattice or wire mesh on the frame.

Metal rods for support

Please note that overgrown bushes take up a lot of space, so try to place them along the wall so that there is a path for free movement. Shoots that reach the ceiling must be pinched.

How to achieve a good harvest of cucumbers on the balcony - video from A to Z:

Successful experience of growing cucumbers on a balcony with windows facing north:

Analysis of varieties and tips for choosing:

As you have already seen, growing cucumbers on a window or balcony is a great opportunity to get a good harvest of fresh and tasty vegetables. Using the recommendations of vegetable growers, you can also achieve remarkable results and after just one and a half to two months you can already crunch on fresh cucumbers grown by yourself.

Growing cucumbers on the balcony is a pleasant and entertaining activity. If you do not have a garden plot, you can easily, following the recommendations, create a green vegetable garden on the loggia.

Basic growing rules

Before you get to work, you need to consider the location of the balcony, because cucumbers, like all plants, love sunlight. The north side is not suitable for planting this crop; it is better to choose the southeast or east. In addition, shoots do not like drafts, so a glazed balcony is suitable for them.

The growing process begins with the selection of seeds, because not all varieties are suitable for these purposes.

You need to pay attention to the following factors:

• the size of the resulting fruit;
• shade tolerance;
• no need for pollination;
• a note about the possibility of growing in a city apartment.

For growing cucumbers at home, hybrid varieties have been bred that adapt to balcony conditions:

• F1 “Balcony miracle”;
• F1 "Courage";
• F1 "Balagan";
• F1 "Claudia";
• F1 "Urban cucumber".

Seeds for the summer should be sown in late April - early May. If you start the germination process early, the stems may become very elongated due to insufficient sunlight. Also, the formation of buds will occur before the establishment of warm, suitable weather, and they may dry out and fall off.

In the cold season, it is necessary to provide plants with certain conditions.

1. Add additional light sources, which will increase daylight hours, which are shortened in winter.
2. Additionally, insulate the balcony or loggia with special materials.
3. Install heating devices to maintain and also to avoid freezing of the plant at night.
4. Provide good ventilation to provide fresh air without drafts.

Growing technology

To get a good harvest and tasty cucumbers in your apartment, you need to follow the vegetable growing technology step by step. It includes:

• soil preparation;
• planting seeds;
• creating conditions for the development of seedlings;
• picking seedlings and moving them into larger pots;
• mineral fertilizing;
• care until the last cucumber is harvested.

Soil preparation

Soil saturated with microelements and nutrients is the key to intensive, healthy growth of all sown seeds. It is prepared by mixing several ingredients in a certain proportion.

1 way

It is the most labor-intensive because the soil is made from 5 different components, which are taken in the same quantity - half a 10-liter bucket.

You will need:

• turf;
• compost;
• peat;
• ash;
• sawdust.

They need to be poured into a large container or into a film spread on the ground, mixed and moistened with a solution of potassium permanganate to disinfect the soil.

If it is not possible to prepare the soil yourself at home, you can purchase it at a specialized store.

Method 2

This cooking method uses the same ingredients, per 1 bucket of which you need to add:

• 10 – 15 g nitrophoska;
• 8 – 10 g urea.

Thorough mixing promotes uniform distribution of substances throughout the entire mass of prepared soil.

3 way

Take:

• turf and compost - half of a 10-liter bucket;
• ash – 400 g;
• lime – 50 g;
• fertilizer complex – 15 g.

Mix these ingredients until a homogeneous mass is obtained, transfer the resulting mixture into a bag and bury it to a shallow depth. After 7–10 days, the rotted mass will become crumbly and suitable for planting.

To prevent viral and infectious diseases that affect plants, the resulting soil should be treated with a solution of potassium permanganate. It must be diluted following the recommendations on the package.

How to sow seeds correctly

The choice of seeds is not the main stage in growing cucumbers; it is more important to sow them correctly.

Method 1 – germination.

1. Place the seeds in a pinkish solution of potassium permanganate and leave for 15–20 minutes.
2. Fold gauze soaked in warm water into several layers and place the seeds in it.
3. Plant the hatched specimens in prepared containers.

Method 2 – planting dry seeds.

1. Make small indentations in the prepared pots (in elongated containers, the holes are made at a distance of 30–35 cm from each other).
2. Place 2 seeds in each to ensure germination.
3. Deepen the seeds 1.5 cm.
4. Lightly moisten the soil and cover with film.

For seedlings, you need to purchase special containers that have a double bottom, which prevents the accumulation of moisture and rotting of the roots, and drainage holes. You can make such a container for growing cucumbers on a windowsill at home yourself.

The soil in the pots should not remain dry; the surface should be moistened regularly (it is more convenient to do this with a spray bottle once a day).
After 3 full-fledged leaves appear, you can begin the stage of hardening the seedlings. It takes place in several stages.

1. Remove the film for several hours.
2. Sunbathing near an open window in the pre-lunch hours.
3. Take it out to the balcony after the frost ends.

Seedlings are fed twice before transplanting:

• 14 days after emergence;
• 7–10 days after 1 treatment.

The soil is completely moistened with a mineral solution after 2–3 leaves appear; 1 cup of diluted fertilizer is used per plant.

Transplanting seedlings

At this stage of growing cucumbers at home, you need to purchase long plastic containers measuring 60x30x20. Prepared soil is poured into each of them in a 7-centimeter layer.

If the sprouts have sprouted in peat pots, then the seedlings should be placed in a box without being removed from them. Fill with soil, lightly compact and moisten the surface.

Seedlings sown in plastic cells are transplanted with a ball of earth. To do this, you need to fill the plant with warm water, push a lump of earth through the drainage hole with your index finger and carefully pull out the sprout. Distribute the seedlings throughout the container at a distance of 35–40 cm from each other.

A long stage begins when proper care of cucumbers allows you to reap a rich harvest.

Care involves:

1. to form a cucumber lash;
2. removal of antennae once every 10 days;
3. maintaining optimal humidity by spraying dried soil;
4. loosening the soil around the plant;
5. systematic feeding with potassium and phosphorus fertilizers (once every 2 weeks);
6. foliar treatment of shoots to prevent diseases and pests (once every 2 weeks);
7. lash garter to prevent fragility.

Growing cucumbers in the cold season

Many consider growing cucumbers in winter almost a miracle, but the technology for germination and planting seeds is the same for any time of year. The only differences are in the conditions of detention.

• Indoor plants need additional moisture during the heating period. involves daily watering. To humidify the air around the cucumbers, place a container of water nearby.
• Provide additional lighting because cloudy days prevail and plants lack light.
• If there is no frost, you can open the window to ventilate the room.

How to grow cucumbers in plastic bottles

This option is recognized as the most economical, since no one has a shortage of plastic containers. You can sow seedlings in both one and a half liter and five liter bottles. For such purposes, there are special varieties - F1 “Khrustik” and F1 “Shchedrik”, which ripen quickly and are characterized by high yields.

1.5-liter containers take up less space and provide optimal hydration to the sprout.

1. Cut the bottle in half.
2. Pour soil into the upper part without covering the neck with a lid.
3. Plant a seed.
4. Pour water into the bottom part.
5. Insert the half with the soil into a container of water so that the water covers the neck.

With this method, the water is changed daily.

Holes are made in 5-liter plastic bottles, previously cut in half lengthwise, to drain excess liquid when watering.

Caring for cucumber seedlings grown in a window follows a familiar pattern.


Growing cucumbers on the windowsill and loggia brings a lot of trouble, but the result is worth it. You can plant vegetables both in winter and in summer, observing the growing conditions, because indoor cucumbers require additional lighting and moisture.

Flower pots and containers are used for planting; cucumbers can also grow in plastic bottles and wooden boxes equipped with good drainage.

There is not a single person who would not like a dish like cucumber salad. It is especially pleasant if the cultivation of greens was carried out step by step on a windowsill or on a balcony with your own hands. There is a category of gardeners who are not limited to cultivating tasty and healthy fruits in their garden beds, balcony cucumber is the pride of any specialist.

Cucumbers on the windowsill

For many novice gardeners, it may seem impossible to grow cucumbers on a windowsill, but this is quite possible. Of course, you will have to work hard to get a harvest, but for those who like to show their talent in agricultural technology, this process is a real pleasure. In addition, such an activity can become a family hobby.
There are no restrictions on the timing of disembarkation. But planting is one thing, but caring for it—following a step-by-step action plan, especially in winter—is quite another. Conditions for success are installation of a lamp with daylight near the improvised bed from November to February, proper watering, attention to flowering, pinching and tying. Insufficient lighting negatively affects the growing season.

Due to the absence of time limits, fruits can be planted and harvested at any time of the year.

The best varieties to grow on a windowsill

It’s easy to get lost in the abundance of varieties

The main rule on how to grow greens in a room is the correct choice of seeds. What variety should I use for planting? If you take for cultivation the first variety that comes to hand, the development of seedlings will be slowed down, which will most likely lead to the death of the seedling.
The following varieties are suitable for cultivating cucumbers on a windowsill.

Balcony

An unpretentious early ripening variety with a fruit ripening period of 40-42 days from the moment of germination. The yield per square meter is 8-11 kg. To successfully grow this variety and get a large harvest, the main thing is to water it correctly according to the instructions.

Brawler

The variety, which does not require pollination, has a long fruiting period. Zelentsy ripen 44-48 days after the first shoots appear. The average yield is 3.5-5 kg ​​per m2.

Ant

The characteristic quality of the variety is ultra early ripening, the fruits appear 37-38 days after massive seed germination. The plant does not require pollination. With proper care, you can remove 10-12 kg from 1 m2.

Marathon

The hybrid, which requires pollination, is characterized by high yield (over 25 kg per 1 m2). It is ideal for window growing due to its compact cane size and high disease resistance.

Olympics

Although the plant has a long vine, it adapts well in a home environment. The fruits ripen 47-49 days after the seeds germinate onto the surface of the soil. When grown in a greenhouse in compliance with the technology, up to 45 kg are removed from 1 m2; in a home environment, it is also noted high yield - over 24 kg per 1 m2.

Basic growing rules

Cover with a lid to protect the seedlings

The key to obtaining a good harvest of cucumbers will be the inviolable implementation of the basic rules of agricultural technology:

• Plant only varieties suitable for window growing.
• Disinfect soil and seeds.
• Observe the temperature regime characteristic of each stage.
• Avoid drafts.
• Control the degree of soil and air humidity, as well as the level of lighting.
• Timely replanting and staking, introducing fertilizers and fertilizing
• Hand pollinate flowers of those varieties that require it.
• Periodically loosen the soil to provide oxygen to the roots.

When to plant cucumbers at home?

Seedlings sprout and gain strength in pots

More often, sowing seeds for seedlings is done step by step in March. A month later, the strengthened seedlings are transferred to separate pots. This decision is due to the right time of year when there is simply no shortage of good lighting.

What time period according to technology is most suitable for planting?

You can start sowing in January, this is also practiced quite often. There are no strict restrictions on the timing of planting outdoors; when determining the period, one must be guided by the ability to create favorable conditions for the plant’s growing season.

The necessary soil for growing early varieties in a pot

Loose, fertile soil is used to grow cucumbers. A ready-made universal substrate or a self-prepared mixture of equal parts is suitable: fertile soil, humus, sand, ash, rotted sawdust. Why shouldn't you do this at home? For aesthetic reasons, you should not fill your house with these odors.
To disinfect the substrate, you need to heat it in the oven. Using this procedure, it will be possible to get rid of various larvae and spores, which can subsequently infect young shoots.

Preparing seeds for planting

The preparatory process for sowing on the balcony does not differ significantly from the usual procedures used when growing crops in open ground or in a greenhouse. In addition to disinfection, carried out in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, you need to sort the highest quality seeds. A feature of home cultivation is the preliminary germination of seeds. This must be done in order to determine the exact number of bushes that fit in the box. During the cold season, there is nowhere to transplant mature seedlings, and throwing away developing shoots is blasphemous. Covering all the windows with cucumbers is not a solution, so It is better to sow exclusively sprouted specimens.

To speed up the germination of seedlings, it is recommended to treat the seed with a growth stimulant before sowing.

How to plant and replant at home

It is convenient to do sowing in wooden boxes or separate pots. You can also use plastic cups, it is important that there is a hole in the bottom to release excess moisture. After germination, the seeds are buried 1.5 cm into the moist soil. Until the seedlings appear on the surface of the soil, the container should be covered with glass or plastic film to create a greenhouse effect. The temperature at this stage is at least 25°. After 2-3 days, you will be able to observe how little green dots break through the soil. After the shoots appear, you need to remove the shelter and reduce the room temperature to 20°.
Strong seedlings with 3-4 leaves need to be replanted into larger pots that can hold up to 5 liters of soil. Also, some owners use boxes where 3-4 bushes are planted per 1 m2.

The shoots are transferred to a new location carefully along with the soil so that the weak root system is not damaged.

Caring for the first shoots and seedlings in the apartment

Caring for seedlings is characterized by care; it is at this stage that it is important to help the shoots get stronger, which will play a positive role in further development.

Lighting in spring and summer

Cucumbers need a lot of light, so it is better to choose a window sill or loggia for a garden bed on the south or southeast side. On cloudy days and in spring, you need to compensate for the lack of lighting by installing daylight lamps. To prevent the plant from drying out from the sun's rays in the apartment in summer, the glass is tinted with thin tulle. Light shading will protect the lashes from ultraviolet radiation.

You can create additional lighting using mirrors, foil and other reflectors that will redirect sunlight onto the bushes.

Watering indoor cucumbers

Moistening of seedlings is carried out by spraying. For this it is better to use a spray bottle. It should be filled only with settled heated water.

Feeding seedlings

After sowing, the seedlings are kept in a warm place with a temperature of at least 23° for 25-28 days. During this time, it is necessary to introduce several feedings: the first time 15 days after emergence and another 10 days later. It is recommended to use complex fertilizers as a nutritional composition.

Garter of grown-up lashes

Garter is a necessary condition for plant development

The growing lash needs to be helped - tied up.

For gartering, use a trellis net, which is easier to wrap in a semicircle. After immersing it in the ground and fixing it, you should launch a stalk onto the formed wall. Then he will wrap himself around the net. You can correct it, but do it carefully so as not to damage the plant. Excess antennae are removed.
The garter is also organized using a cord, which is fixed on a specially made frame made of slats. The sequence of the process is as follows:

• a cord is attached to the top of the frame ( made from natural fibers);
• the end of the cord is lowered to the root zone of the bush, wrapped (not tightly!) several times around the stem and
• returns to the top rail;
• both ends of the cord are connected to each other.

When and how to pinch?

To increase the yield, it is necessary to form a cucumber bush. Often the plant lays male shoots on the stem, the so-called barren flowers. To prevent their formation, after tying the lash, you need to remove the side shoots from the bottom. Next, pass 6-8 leaves along the stem and pinch it (cut off the edge). This procedure provokes the formation of lateral branches on which greens are well tied.

Watering and fertilizing

Only warm water is used for irrigation, cold liquid inhibits the development of roots and reduces the formation of ovaries in the sinuses. You need to irrigate the bushes once a week. In the summer, the intensity of moisturizing, if necessary, is increased to 2-3 times a week. You can also spray the lashes throughout the day using warm, clean water.
Fertilizer should be added to the soil regularly, approximately once every 10 days. The first time this should be done 2 weeks after sowing. For these purposes, ready-made mixtures of mineral substances or organic-based solutions are used:

• mullein and water (1:10);
• bird droppings and water (1:15);
• infusion of onion skins, etc.

How to pollinate correctly

How to manually pollinate cucumbers

When choosing pollinated varieties, it is necessary to ensure artificial pollination, In open ground conditions, bees perform this function.
Before you carry it out, you need to learn to distinguish barren flowers from female flowers. The female inflorescence forms on a green seal that looks like a mini cucumber. The process of pollination involves the transfer of pollen from the male flower to the fertile one. To do this, pluck the barren flower and open the stamens as much as possible, removing all the petals. All that remains is to touch the stamens of the female flower, repeating the procedure several times (to be sure). This should be done carefully so as not to damage the delicate inflorescence.
How to successfully grow cucumbers on a windowsill? The secret lies in the systematic care of plants, which will certainly reward you with a generous harvest.