When is the right time to plant autumn cucumbers?

Best time to plant autumn cucumbers

Autumn cucumbers are best planted one month before the beginning of autumn. They are heat-tolerant and cold-sensitive. They grow slowly or even stop growing when the temperature is below 15 degrees. Autumn cucumber seeds are best planted in July and August. They will bloom and bear fruit after August and September. At this time, the temperature difference between day and night is large, and cucumbers can grow faster.

How to plant autumn cucumbers

1. Choose a good variety

According to the climatic characteristics of the autumn melon growing period, choose varieties with good heat resistance, waterlogging resistance, strong disease resistance, high yield and strong growth potential, such as Jinyou No. 1 and Yanbai Cucumber. Local varieties suitable for autumn cultivation can also be selected in various places.

2. Planting

Germination: Soak the seeds for germination first, that is, soak them in warm water at about 55℃ for 10-20 minutes. This process should be shorter. After stirring, cool to 28℃~30℃, soak the seeds for 5~6 hours, and germinate at 28℃. Generally, they can germinate in 15 hours.

Sowing: Direct seeding can be done by spot sowing. First cover the film, then make holes according to the row spacing of 50×27~40 cm. Sow 2~3 seeds in each hole, cover the soil with a thickness of 1~2 cm, water enough, and control the temperature in the seedling stage within the required range. The cucumber growth period has certain requirements for the temperature difference between day and night. The daily temperature difference is between 25℃~30℃, and the daily temperature difference is between 13℃~18℃, which is conducive to inhibiting plant growth and preventing fruit drop.

3. Planting

Sandy loam that is fertile, can retain fertilizer and water, and has convenient irrigation and drainage should be chosen for planting. Generally, after the previous crop is harvested, deep plowing and land preparation and ridge making should be carried out in a timely and appropriate manner.

4. Field management

According to the characteristics of cucumbers in different growth stages, different measures such as fertilization, irrigation, and tillage should be taken in a timely manner to promote, control and regulate, so that nutritional production and reproductive growth develop in a balanced manner, thereby achieving high yield.

Precautions for autumn cucumber planting and management

1. Pest control

Autumn cucumber pests are the main factor affecting yields, and prevention and control should be carried out from the seedling stage. During the seedling stage, 90% crystalline trichlorfon 1000 times liquid or 50% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate 1000-1200 times liquid can be sprayed. In addition, there are aphids that are harmful, and attention should be paid to prevention and control. In autumn when downy mildew is prone to occur, 1:0.5-0.8:240-300 times liquid should be sprayed in time for prevention.

2. Do a good job in rigging, binding and harvesting

Autumn cucumbers have a short growth period and grow fast in autumn, so they need to be planted early. However, the temperature is high in summer and autumn, and the fruit is easy to age, so they should be harvested in time. Usually, they start to be harvested 40-50 days after sowing, and are harvested every 3-5 days.