When to sow and raise cucumber seedlings?

Cucumber is a common vegetable that likes warmth. It mainly grows and is harvested in spring and summer. It can be stir-fried, stewed, or eaten raw. Its varieties are also divided into many types, and different regions can choose according to the characteristics of the variety. Let’s learn together when to sow and raise cucumber seedlings ?

When to sow and raise cucumber seedlings?

1. Spring Cucumber

The sowing time of spring cucumbers is usually determined according to the transplanting period. The suitable calendar seedling age for transplanting is 40-50 days, and the physiological seedling age is four leaves and one heart. If calculated according to the calendar seedling age, sowing should be done 40 to 50 days before planting. Different seedling raising methods correspond to different seedling raising times. For example, when using sunbeds or solar greenhouses to raise seedlings, the seedling age is 50 to 55 days; when using heated greenhouses to raise seedlings, the seedling age is 45 to 50 days; when using electric heating wire greenhouses to raise seedlings, the seedling age is 45 days. The time for transplanting spring cucumbers is generally after the late frost, when the local average temperature for the ten-day period reaches above 18°C. In Beijing, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang and other areas, transplanting is generally carried out after late April.

2. Autumn Cucumber

The sowing time of autumn cucumbers is usually after the beginning of autumn, around early August. They can be germinated and sown directly into the autumn delayed plastic greenhouse . The seedling age is about 30 days.

Note: Before sowing, nutrient soil should be prepared. Use fertile garden soil and fully decomposed organic fertilizer mixed in a certain proportion, and add appropriate amounts of superphosphate, urea, wood ash, etc., as well as appropriate amounts of pesticides to disinfect the soil and prevent pests and diseases. When sowing, you should choose sunny weather and avoid cloudy or windy days to facilitate the growth and acclimatization of seedlings.

How long is the cucumber harvest period?

The cucumber harvest period depends on many factors, including variety, planting time, climatic conditions and management level. Generally speaking, the cucumber growth cycle takes about 60 to 70 days from sowing to first harvest, but this time can vary depending on the specific planting conditions.

As for the duration of the harvest period, cucumbers can usually be harvested for a period of time once they begin to bear fruit. Under suitable environmental and management conditions, the cucumber harvesting period can last for 2 to 3 months, or even longer. During this time, cucumber plants will continue to flower and fruit, so they need to be harvested regularly to promote the growth of new fruit and maintain the productivity of the plant.

It should be noted that in order to maintain the quality and taste of cucumbers, they should be harvested in time when they reach the appropriate size and maturity. Overripe cucumbers will become soft and their taste and nutritional value will decrease. At the same time, timely harvesting also helps the plants to better distribute nutrients and promote the subsequent development of fruits.

To sum up, the sowing and seedling raising time of spring cucumbers is generally in mid-to-early March in spring, while the sowing and seedling raising time of autumn cucumbers is in early August in autumn. The specific sowing time needs to be adjusted according to local climatic conditions and the expected planting time.