Cucumber cultivation technology and management methods

Cucumber is a common fruit and vegetable in daily life. It not only has a unique flavor, but also has good edible value. Therefore, it is favored by consumers and has a high planting value. Let’s talk about cucumber cultivation technology and management methods.

1. Planting site selection

Cucumbers can be sown directly or transplanted after seedlings are grown. Cucumber is a crop that likes light, warmth, fertilizer and water. When choosing a planting site, pay attention to the above points and try not to repeat the same crop. That is, if you planted cucumbers the year before, you can change the place to plant them this year.

2. Seed treatment

Cucumbers are usually planted in spring or autumn. Before sowing, choose high-quality seeds and disinfect and germinate them. The disinfection method is to soak the seeds in potassium permanganate solution for 15 minutes or scald them in 50℃ warm water for 15 minutes, then soak them in about 30℃ warm water for about 2-4 hours, spread them evenly on wet paper towels, wrap them in nylon bags, and place them in a constant temperature box at about 25℃ or a warm place to moisturize and germinate. You can open it in the middle to check the germination situation, spray water to moisten it when appropriate, and it will basically turn white in about three or four days.

3. Sowing and seedling raising

For the seeds that have germinated and turned white, we can sow them directly, or we can use seedling trays to grow seedlings first. When growing seedlings, we must use nutrient soil and sow them in the seedling trays. Place 1-2 seeds in each hole and cover with a layer of fine soil. When the seedlings have grown to about 5 cm in length and have two true leaves, they can be transplanted into the land or planting box where they are to be planted.

4. Seedlings and planting

After the seedlings emerge, they must be strictly screened to remove diseased and weak seedlings. Then dig planting holes with a spacing of 20-30 cm between plants, plant the seedlings in the holes, and water them. When preparing the land, you should first deep plow the soil to loosen the soil layer and improve soil permeability and water retention. Then you need to apply enough base fertilizer, which is also the bottom fertilizer. Generally, fermented organic fertilizer or balanced fertilizer is used, that is, sheep manure fertilizer and compound fertilizer .

5. Post-management

(1) Intertillage and loosening the soil : After the seedlings have been planted and have grown, intertillage and loosening the soil should be carried out 2-3 times, from near to far and from shallow to deep. Combine this with intertillage and add soil to the cucumber seedlings. This should be done when the cucumber grows to about 15 cm in height. Add soil to facilitate root development and branch and leaf growth. Soil cultivation can increase the vitality and absorption area of ​​the root system, improve drought resistance and lodging resistance, and prevent root diseases and pests.

(2) Fertilization and watering: Cucumbers require a lot of water, and the suitable soil moisture is 60-90%. However, too much water should not be provided during the seedling stage, and sufficient water should be guaranteed during the fruiting period. As for fertilization, it can usually be combined with watering, or the fertilizer can be buried 5-10 cm away from the side of the plant. Fertilization should be carried out according to different growth stages, and is generally divided into top dressing, flowering fertilizer, fruiting fertilizer and fruit-preserving fertilizer. Top dressing should be done 10-15 days after cucumber planting, using 15-20 kg of urea or 25-30 kg of compound fertilizer per mu. Flowering fertilizer should be applied before and after the cucumber blooms, using 10-15 kg of urea or 20-25 kg of compound fertilizer per mu, and combined with some phosphorus and potassium fertilizers or trace element fertilizers. Fruiting fertilizer should be applied when cucumbers begin to bear fruit, using 5-10 kg of urea or 15-20 kg of compound fertilizer per mu, and combined with some organic fertilizer or biological agents. Fruit-preserving fertilizer should be applied during the cucumber fruiting period, using 5-10 kg of urea or 10-15 kg of compound fertilizer per mu, and combined with some quality-promoting fertilizers such as calcium, magnesium, and boron.

(3) Putting the vines on the rack and tying them up: When the vines grow too tall to stand upright, they should be tied up in time. Cucumbers are mostly grown on a herringbone rack, but a straight rack can also be used depending on the situation. A bamboo pole is inserted into each seedling, and it is inserted on the outside of the seedling. The pole should be 1.8 meters to 2 meters long.

(4) Pruning and branching: Pruning and branching cucumbers is very important. It is used to control the growth of the plant and prevent the side vines from consuming too much nutrients, which will affect the growth and yield of the main vine. The main methods include: retaining the main vine when pruning, pinching off the side vines after they have produced 1-2 fruits, and paying attention to removing the old and yellow leaves at the bottom. When crossing out the branches, the principle of "removing the weak and keeping the strong" should be followed. The side vines with weak growth potential should be removed, and the side vines with strong growth potential should be retained.

It should be noted that pruning and branching should be done on sunny days to reduce the risk of bacterial infection. Water the plants before pruning to increase soil moisture and reduce damage to the plants. After pruning and splitting, top dressing should be applied in time to promote the growth and recovery of the plants. Be careful when pruning and branching to avoid damaging the plants and affecting yield.

6. Pest and disease control

The main diseases of cucumber are powdery mildew, gray mold, downy mildew, blight, bacterial angular leaf spot, etc., and the main insect pests are aphids, red spiders, thrips, etc. Pest and disease control must be carried out before cucumbers are harvested, and no pesticides should be sprayed after the cucumbers are picked.

That’s it