When is the best time to sow cucumbers?

Cucumber is a vegetable with high nutritional value, contains multiple vitamins, and is a common ingredient on the table. Cucumber cultivation has good market prospects. The best time to plant cucumbers should be determined based on their growth habits, and before sowing, cucumber seeds usually need to be germinated to increase the germination rate. Let’s learn together when is the best time to sow cucumbers?

When is the best time to sow cucumbers?

Cucumbers are divided into two types: spring-cultivated and autumn-cultivated. Spring-cultivated cucumbers are usually sown and raised in winter so that they can be harvested in spring; while autumn-cultivated cucumbers are sown and raised in summer and harvested in autumn.

Sowing time of spring cucumbers: The sowing time of spring cucumbers depends on the planting period and seedling raising method. If planting according to seedling age, sowing is usually done one month before transplanting; if seedlings are grown in a solar greenhouse or a heated greenhouse, sowing needs to be done one and a half months in advance. The time for transplanting spring cucumbers should be on a sunny day after the late frost, and avoid transplanting on cloudy or windy days.

Sowing time of autumn cucumbers: Autumn cucumbers are generally sown about 70 days before the Descent of Frost, and transplanting can be done a week in advance. The growing period of autumn cucumber is relatively short, about 3 months, and is suitable for production in greenhouses. Since the weather is often hot and rainy before and after the Frost Descent, special attention should be paid to the prevention of diseases and pests.

Cucumber Planting Tips

Plot selection: The plot for planting cucumbers should be selected where no melon crops have been planted for at least two years, the soil pH value should be between 6.5 and 7.5, and the drainage and irrigation should be convenient and the soil should be fertile. If it is a water-land rotation, the soil should be turned over and furrows dug in October, a season of winter crops should be planted, and then cucumbers should be planted in the spring of the following year.

Seed soaking and germination: Germination treatment of cucumber seeds before sowing can shorten the seedling period. The specific method is to soak the seeds in 55℃ warm water for about 10 minutes, stirring constantly, then soak them in 25℃ clean water for 8 hours, and finally germinate them in an environment of 27-30℃.

Sowing and seedling raising: After germination, the cucumber seeds can be used for seedling raising in seedling cups or seedbeds. The seeds will germinate in about two days. The seedlings can be transplanted after half a month of growth, and the best time for transplanting is in the evening on a sunny day. Water the seedlings once before transplanting, pay attention to protecting the roots of the seedlings, and retain the soil at the roots to prevent root damage. During the growth period of seedlings, water and fertilizer should be properly controlled to prevent the seedlings from growing too tall. In rainy seasons, be careful to prevent waterlogging from causing root rot. After sowing, water should be applied on sunny days and a shade net should be set up to protect the seedlings. Cover with plastic film before it rains to prevent rain.

Pest and disease control in the seedling stage: Pay attention to the prevention and control of common diseases such as damping-off and damping-off in the seedling stage. Metalaxyl-mancozeb and carbendazim can be used for prevention and control; for pests such as the melon borer, highly effective chlorpyrifos can be used for prevention and control.

Planting: Choose a site with fertile soil and good drainage for planting. Apply about 2,000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure per mu and mix it evenly with the soil. When drilling planting holes, the hole spacing should be kept at about 30 cm, and the planting holes should be slightly larger than the roots of the seedlings. It is best to transplant the seeds in the afternoon on a sunny day. After transplanting, cover them with fine soil and water them thoroughly. A dark mulch can be applied to retain soil temperature and moisture and reduce weed growth.

Fertilizer and water management: When applying base fertilizer, in addition to decomposed organic fertilizer , 30 kg of superphosphate should be added. When the seedlings grow 2 to 3 true leaves, start applying top dressing once a week, applying about 10 pounds of urea per mu. When applying top dressing, control the fertilizer concentration and follow the principle of applying small amounts of fertilizer frequently to avoid root burn. When the seedlings grow two, four, and six leaves, apply well-rotted farm manure once. When the young melon grows to 10 cm, apply 20 kg of compound fertilizer per mu in combination with watering. Apply compound fertilizer again after the fruits set, and apply top dressing once after each harvest to increase yield.

In summer and autumn, due to the high temperature, the plants grow vigorously. When applying topdressing, you should focus on applying phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, reduce the use of nitrogen fertilizers, and prevent excessive growth and premature aging. The water requirement increases during the flowering and fruiting period, and watering is usually done once a day. During droughts, watering is done once every 3 to 5 days. In the rainy season, drainage and waterlogging prevention work must be done well.

Build a trellis to guide vines and prune branches: When tendrils appear, use bamboo strips to build a trellis to guide vines. Guide the vines every 3 days to ensure that the vines are evenly distributed. Varieties that bear fruit on the main vine do not require pruning, while varieties that bear fruit on the main side vines or side vines do require topping and pruning. When the vine grows to 1 meter, keep about 3 side branches, leave a cucumber on each side branch, and pinch the top. Remove bent melons and big-bellied melons in time.

Vines should be removed when they grow to the top of the shed and the bottom stems are about 30 cm from the ground without leaves. Do this in the afternoon on a sunny day and avoid doing it in the morning or after watering to avoid damaging the vines. Stop watering one week before the vines fall to reduce the moisture in the vines, increase their toughness and reduce diseases. When dropping vines, they should be coiled in an orderly manner in the same direction, avoiding forced bending to avoid damaging the stems.

Harvesting: The best time to pick cucumbers is when the cucumber skin turns from dark green to bright green and shiny, and the flower buds have not fallen off. It takes about 55 days from planting cucumbers to the first harvest in spring, and 35 days in summer and autumn. The first melons should be harvested early to avoid affecting the growth of subsequent melons, resulting in deformed melons or premature aging of the plant, which will affect the total yield.

The above is an introduction to the sowing time and planting techniques of cucumbers. Cucumber planting needs to be considered in combination with many factors. First of all, the sowing time must be considered according to the regional climatic conditions.