Every gardener necessarily grows cucumbers on the site. Some people like to grow them in greenhouses, others in open beds, but there are also those who can harvest a good cucumber crop right on the balcony. This versatile vegetable crop can grow in any conditions, if you know some rules of cultivation and care. The process itself is simple and even interesting.
An important condition is the location of the glazed balcony on the east or south-east side. This will provide the crops with the necessary amount of light and heat, and the glazed balcony will protect the vegetable plants from drafts.
All About Sowing Cucumber Seeds
Growing cucumbers on the balcony begins with the selection of seeds and their sowing. Since the conditions on the balcony are non-standard, it is necessary to choose the appropriate varieties that are suitable for such conditions. It can be the variety "Courage", "Balagan", "Manul" and others. Such hybrids self-pollinate, can grow in shady conditions and have compact fruits.
The container for sowing seeds should be bright light so that it does not overheat in the sun, always with drainage holes and a tray, about 80 centimeters in length and 25 in width.
At the bottom of the container, it is necessary to pour a small layer of expanded clay, and then a soil mixture consisting of peat and perlite. This soil is considered versatile and is well suited for growing cucumbers on the balcony.
A favorable time for sowing cucumber seeds is from the beginning of April to the end of May. At this time, the plants will have enough warmth and light on the glassed-in balcony or loggia.
Preparing a container for cucumbers
A universal soil mixture is sold in retail chains, but you can prepare the soil yourself. The mixture for cucumbers should be nutritious and consist of garden soil and compost (rotted), as well as a small amount of perlite. For the purpose of disinfection, the prepared soil must be steamed with hot water (more than 90 degrees) or poured with a fungicide solution shortly before planting the seeds. Each cucumber bush will require approximately 5 liters of potting soil.
At the bottom of the prepared container, it is necessary to pour at least 2-3 centimeters of expanded clay, then about 90 percent of the soil. After abundant watering and sedimentation of the soil, you can add some more soil mixture.
Growing cucumbers in winter
In the cold season, you can also grow cucumber crops on a glazed balcony, but it must be heated.
Many seeds must be soaked before sowing, but this can only harm the seeds of cucumbers, since the seedlings of this culture are rather fragile and can break during the planting process. Therefore, it is more favorable to sow cucumbers with dry seeds.
To disinfect the seeds of cucumbers from diseases and pests, it is necessary to carry out a disinfecting treatment immediately before sowing. This is necessary if the seeds are not purchased.Specialized shops sell seeds that have already undergone preventive treatment. This will be seen by their painted shell.
Planting holes must be at least fifty centimeters apart. In each of them, two cucumber seeds are placed to a depth of no more than two centimeters (suddenly one of them, for some reason, will not germinate). Immediately after sowing, cover the container with thick transparent polyethylene or glass to create greenhouse conditions for the plants. Until sprouts appear, the container should be in a well-lit and warm place with a constant temperature of 22 to 25 degrees Celsius.
After the appearance of all the seedlings, sorting must be carried out - to get rid of all weak plants. It is important that the seedlings are not pulled out of the soil, but carefully cut with a knife. This will help maintain healthy and strong specimens without damage. Watering should be done regularly with a spray bottle.
It is better to remove the glass or film about a week after germination. In the future, it is necessary to observe the temperature regime of the soil and air in the room. The soil should not warm up by more than 20 degrees, since the shoots in warm soil will begin to stretch upward. The favorable air temperature for cucumber seedlings is about 23 degrees Celsius.
After about 20-25 days, when there are already three full-fledged leaves on the seedlings, you can put containers with plants in fresh air for a short time, but without drafts. In the morning, cucumber bushes will benefit from sunbathing.
In the future, the main care for vegetable plantations will be to maintain a constant air temperature and regular watering. As soon as the danger of night frosts disappears, the seedlings can be left on the balcony all the time.
Fertilization must be started from the moment 3-4 leaves appear on the seedlings. Each bush will need 250 milliliters of liquid fertilizer once a week.
It is worth taking care of the support for weaving already at the initial stage of the growth of cucumber bushes, and later on the garter. The garter is best done when at least 8 leaves appear on the seedlings.
Basic tips for caring for cucumbers on the balcony
- Watering must be carried out daily, but only in the morning and evening, when there is no scorching sun.
- During the day, there should be containers with water next to the plants, which will help create the necessary moisture on the balcony.
- During the sun, it is advisable for plants to create a small shade. It will protect the leaves from sunburn.
- Since this vegetable crop is moisture-loving, you need to help it stay constantly moist. The mulching layer will provide plants with such conditions without much difficulty. You can take sphagnum as mulch.
- Balcony hybrid cucumber varieties do not need to be pinched.
- As the cucumber lashes grow, the garters are gradually tied to a great height.
- If the cucumber bush grows too actively, then you can do the pinching procedure when 11-12 leaves are formed on it.
- To reduce the difference between night and day temperatures at the end of the summer season, it is recommended to insulate containers with cucumbers using a covering material. This will help protect the root system of vegetable plants from hypothermia.
- After harvest, the plant bushes are discarded and the soil can be left until the next planting season. It can be reused by adding fresh soil mixture.
