Balcony cucumber planting method

Planting time

The planting time for cucumbers is generally from January to March or from June to August. It is recommended to plant in June and August as it is easy to maintain. For spring sowing, the seeds can be soaked to germinate, while for summer and autumn sowing, the seeds can be soaked to germinate and then sown directly as dry seeds. Seedlings usually emerge in 3 to 4 days, and when the seedlings grow 1 to 2 leaves, they can be transplanted and planted.

Container soil

When planting cucumbers, you need to choose better containers, such as flower pots, wooden basins, foam boxes, and professional cultivation boxes. It is important that the selected container pot has good drainage and the depth should be 40 cm. Choose soil with good drainage and fertile nutrient soil, which is more conducive to the growth of cucumbers!

Seed treatment

After choosing the container, you need to soak the seeds. This step is very important, as it can promote seed germination and shorten the growth cycle.

Soak the seeds in 50°C warm water for 20 minutes, keep the water temperature constant and stir constantly during the soaking process.

After 20 minutes, soak the seeds in water at room temperature for 6 to 8 hours.

Take out the seeds, wrap them in wet hair, and place them in an environment of 25~28℃ to germinate. When more than half of the seeds turn white, they can be sown.

sowing

Sprinkle the soaked seeds evenly on the surface of the nutrient soil and cover with 1 cm of thin soil.

Water immediately after sowing, which is called planting water, and keep the soil moist for the next 4 to 5 days.

Maintenance

Fertilization

Adequate fertilizer is conducive to the growth of cucumbers. Its roots have weak absorption capacity and are sensitive to high concentrations of fertilizers. Pay attention to applying thin fertilizers frequently, and apply top dressing once every 6 to 8 days. During the fruiting period, top dressing should be done every 5 to 7 days, mainly with compound fertilizer.

Scaffolding

When cucumber tendrils appear, a growing rack should be built for them. Insert two bamboo poles on the outside of the seedlings and tie the upper ends of the poles together. When the vines are long, tie them directly to the bamboo poles and let them grow upright. Don't tie it too tight, just enough to fit your fingers in. The cucumbers grow in abundance under the racks, and the fruits are large and straight.

Harvest

It takes 45 days from sowing to planting cucumbers, 30 days from planting to rooting, and they can be picked 10 days after pollination. The harvesting period is 1 to 2 months. So it takes 85 days from the time you plant the seeds to the time you eat the cucumbers.

Topping

When the cucumber vines climb to the top of the rack, pinch them off in time to promote the growth of the cucumber. Usually pinching is done when the leaves grow to 30 to 35 pieces, and the top branches, tendrils and old leaves are removed. These steps are essential. Only in this way can the cucumber grow, bloom and bear fruit normally.