Cucumber planting technology and management fertilizer

The root system of cucumber is shallow and the root mass is not very developed, so it has high requirements for soil ventilation, water retention and drainage. The roots of cucumbers prefer fertile soil, but cannot withstand too concentrated fertilizers, so it is appropriate to choose soil that is rich in organic matter, has good air permeability, can effectively retain water and has good drainage for cultivation. Such soil conditions help cucumbers thrive. Let’s learn in detail about cucumber planting techniques and fertilizer management.

1. Seedling stage

Before raising cucumber seedlings, you need to prepare the seedbed and choose soil where no melon crops were planted in the previous season to prevent the spread of diseases. Sufficient organic fertilizer should be applied to the seedbed, and the soil clods should be broken up to ensure that the soil is level. The typical ratio of nutrient soil is 2/3 garden soil mixed with 1/3 decomposed organic fertilizer, add an appropriate amount of superphosphate, and use 200 to 300 times of carbendazim for soil disinfection.

2 to 3 days before sowing, air the cucumber seeds , then soak them in 60°C warm water for 15 minutes, stirring constantly to ensure that the seeds are evenly heated. Then transfer the seeds to warm water at 25℃ to 33℃ and soak them for 3 to 4 hours, then rinse them with clean water and place them in moist gauze for germination. About 1 day later, when 20% of the seeds have white sprouts, they can be sown.

2. Land preparation and planting

After selecting the cucumber planting plot, apply compound microbial fertilizer and mix it with the soil, and then make ridges in preparation for planting. When preparing the land, the high ridge and deep furrow method is adopted. The ridge width is generally 1 to 2 meters (including the furrow), and the ridge height is not less than 25 centimeters. It is best to adopt a north-south direction, double-row planting, and keep the plant spacing above 25 centimeters.

Before planting, use a suitable fungicide to disinfect the soil, dig trenches on the ridges and water them, then place the seedlings at appropriate intervals, with approximately 3,500 plants planted per mu. Usually, the seedlings can be transplanted when they are 15 to 20 days old and have two true leaves.

3. Pruning and trellising

When cucumbers are in the tendril stage, you should start inserting bamboo frames to guide the vines, and guide the vines every 3 to 4 days to ensure that the plants are evenly distributed.

The side branches of cucumbers grow vigorously and the stems and leaves grow rapidly, which can easily lead to mutual shading between plants and affect photosynthesis. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out management measures such as pruning, branch cutting and pinching in a timely manner. Cucumbers mainly rely on the main vine to bear fruit, so all side branches below the root cucumber should be removed; the side branches in the middle and upper parts also have a certain ability to bear fruit, so you can leave two leaves and pinch off the top after 1 to 2 fruits are produced. As the fruit-bearing area moves upward, the leaves at the bottom of the plant are prone to aging and infection by diseases, and should be removed in time to reduce nutrient consumption and improve ventilation and light transmission. When the plant has climbed all over the trellis, it can be topped off.

4. Temperature control

Cucumber planting is usually divided into two seasons, spring and summer, which are from January to March and from June to September each year respectively. The growth and development of cucumber seeds require suitable humidity and temperature, which can be achieved by transplanting after seedling raising or direct sowing.

For growers who have the conditions, multi-layer covering and heating measures can be adopted after planting to maintain a higher temperature and humidity in the greenhouse, which is conducive to the acclimatization of seedlings. It is recommended to keep the temperature at 32-35℃ during the day and 17℃ at night. After a week of acclimatization, lower the temperature appropriately, maintaining it at around 30℃ during the day and 16-18℃ at night.

5. Irrigation and fertilization

The root system of cucumber is shallow and underdeveloped, and it has a large demand for water and fertilizer throughout the growth cycle, but the absorption rate is relatively low. Therefore, in the process of cucumber cultivation, the principle of "small amounts and multiple times" should be adopted.

Irrigation management: Water once to help the seedlings grow immediately after planting, and then water appropriately according to the dryness of the soil. After the cucumbers have grown 12 leaves and about 60% of the plants have small cucumbers about 12 cm in length, the second irrigation is carried out. After entering the fruit-bearing period, adjust the irrigation frequency according to the growth of the plants and the weather. Irrigate once every 7-10 days in the early growth stage, once every 5-7 days in the middle stage, and once every 3-5 days in the late stage. It is recommended to irrigate in the morning on sunny days.

Fertilization management: 2-3 days after planting, use rooting agent for irrigation to promote root growth and improve survival rate. Subsequently, according to the fertilizer deficiency of the plants, apply nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers in a timely manner to ensure that the stems at the base of the plants are strong from the seedling stage to before the vines emerge, laying the foundation for high yields.

During the fruit-bearing period, in addition to ensuring adequate water supply , sufficient nutrients are also needed. You can choose balanced water-soluble fertilizer and spray it in small amounts multiple times to promote the plant to absorb nutrients quickly. This approach is particularly important in arid regions.

During the fruit expansion period, the plant's demand for fertilizer and water reaches its maximum. You can use multiple small amount of spraying to ensure the growth and development of the fruit and improve the taste and quality of the fruit.

6. Pest and disease control

During the cucumber planting process, you may encounter pests and diseases such as aphids and downy mildew. You can use 10% imidacloprid to spray to control aphids, and use ethylene phosphatenic acid aluminum wettable powder solution to spray to control downy mildew. To avoid soil-borne diseases, try to avoid planting in fields where the previous crop was melons.

7. Harvest

Studies have shown that cucumbers grow less between 13:00 and 17:00 a.m., but grow rapidly within an hour from 17:00 to 18:00. Therefore, it is recommended to harvest in the morning, once every 2-3 days in the early stage, and once every 1-2 days during the peak period of fruit setting, in order to improve economic benefits.

When harvesting, deformed melons, melons with fallen vines and melons with thinned fruits should be removed. In the early stage of harvesting, the plants are small and the nutritional area of ​​the leaves is limited. Generally, each melon weighs about 100 grams. Early harvesting helps promote nutritional growth. During the peak period of fruit bearing, the plants grow vigorously, and each fruit weighs about 200 grams, so the harvesting time can be appropriately extended. In the later stage of fruit setting, the plant gradually ages, and each fruit weighs about 150 grams.

Regardless of when they are harvested, the standards for commercial melons should be that the skin is fresh and tender, the melons are smooth, they have no seeds and are of a certain weight.

The above is a summary of cucumber planting and management. Growers can make appropriate adjustments based on actual conditions to improve cucumber yield and quality.