This method is considered the most effective for owners of small plots of land. After all, you really want to grow as many vegetable crops as possible on your beds, but the area of the garden does not always allow you to do this. Growing cucumbers on a willow frame will not only save the area of the land, but will also allow you to multiply the yield from one square meter of the plot.
Preparing the soil and beds for cucumbers
A plot for a garden with cucumbers needs to be prepared in the fall. Approximately five square meters of land (1 m by 5 m) must first be dug up, and in early spring, when the ground becomes dry, loosen well and make furrows.
In total, three grooves will need to be made in this area: two along the edges (retreating by about 10 centimeters) along the entire length, and one in the center. Furrows are made using a conventional shovel. Each recess should be approximately the same width and depth (just over 10 centimeters). Before planting cucumber seeds, all the furrows are filled with humus and watered abundantly.
Planting cucumber seeds
Seeds, previously soaked in a special solution or in ordinary water, must be laid out in prepared furrows on humus and sprinkled with a small layer of earth (no more than 2 centimeters). The distance between the seeds in the outer rows is about 25 centimeters, and in the central one is about 15 centimeters.
Across the entire area, at a distance of 50 centimeters from each other, you need to insert arcs of hard wire, and cover from above with a transparent film or any covering material.
Watering and caring for cucumbers
When the first shoots of cucumbers appear, watering should be carried out once or twice a week. At this stage, waterlogging of the soil is not desirable.
To avoid overheating of the soil, the covering film in hot weather is folded straight along the arcs.
The optimal time for pinching the top of the shoot is if the cucumber bush has at least four full leaves.
Now is the right time to place the willow arcs. Arcs are placed near each furrow. In the future, they will serve as an excellent support for weaving cucumber bushes. Each bush will rest on intersecting willow arches. Cucumbers don't even need to be tied up.
The plant practically does not come into contact with the ground and is well ventilated. Good air exchange reduces the possibility of decay of cucumber bushes. And the covering film will protect the plants during the cool night time. If the summer weather is stably warm, then you can refuse the covering material.
Feeding cucumbers
When growing cucumbers in the open field, no special feeding is needed. It is enough to water the cucumber bushes with herbal infusion. This infusion is prepared from fresh herbaceous plants and water. The container is filled to the brim with green mass and filled with warm water. After ten days, the infusion is ready. Before watering, it must be diluted with water: add ten parts of water to one part of the fertilizer.
This uncomplicated method of growing cucumbers not only makes the most of a small area, but will also delight you with a bountiful harvest in the middle of summer.
