When is the best time to grow cucumber seedlings?

Recently, spring farming activities are in full swing in many areas. In fact, many grain crops, fruit tree seedlings, and vegetable seedlings can be started as soon as possible. Today we will learn when is the best time to raise seedlings of the more common melon vegetable cucumber?

When is the best time to grow cucumber seedlings?

Cucumber seedling cultivation is usually carried out in two critical periods. The first period is from January to March in spring. The climate and temperature are suitable during this period, which is conducive to rapid seed germination and seedling growth. The second suitable period for raising seedlings is from June to August in late summer to autumn.

When selecting seeds, priority should be given to seeds of superior quality, and those that are shriveled or damaged should be eliminated through the screening process. Seed treatment involves soaking in hot water, maintained at around 55 degrees Celsius, for about half an hour, and then removing the seeds. After washing thoroughly in clean water, soak the seeds in clean water for 6 to 8 hours. Next, wrap the seeds with moist gauze and place them in an environment with a temperature of 25 to 30 degrees Celsius for germination. After about 2 to 3 days, the seeds will begin to turn white.

When preparing the seedling tray, first prepare the soil. After watering the hole tray thoroughly, sow the treated seeds in the soil, and then cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil, about 0.5 to 1 cm thick. Finally, adjust the temperature of the seedling environment and keep it between 24 and 30 degrees Celsius to promote the healthy growth of cucumber seedlings.

How to achieve high yield in cucumber cultivation?

1. Determination of sowing time

Cucumbers prefer warm climates and are sensitive to cold. The minimum temperature for seed germination is 12℃, while the ideal temperature range during its growth period is 20-28℃. When the temperature is lower than 15℃ or higher than 32℃, cucumbers are prone to flower and fruit drop. If the temperature drops below 10℃, plant growth will be inhibited. Cucumbers can be grown in greenhouses or in the open air. For open-air cultivation, it is suitable to sow when the average daily temperature is stably above 15℃.

According to the agricultural proverb "Plant melons and beans around the time of Grain Rain", the temperature rises and rainfall increases during the Grain Rain season (mid-to-late April). At this time, the average daily temperature in most parts of my country has stabilized above 15°C, which is suitable for open-air sowing of cucumbers. If you build a small shed yourself, you can start raising seedlings about a month in advance.

2. Cultivate healthy seedlings

Cucumbers can be cultivated by direct seeding or seedling transplanting. The latter is conducive to cultivating stronger seedlings, which is significantly helpful in increasing yield.

The preparation of nutrient soil is the key to cultivating strong seedlings. It is recommended to use 6 parts of fertile garden soil (soil where cucumbers were not planted in the previous crop) and 4 parts of decomposed farmyard manure, add an appropriate amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer , mix well and use it for sowing. After sowing, cover with 1 to 3 cm of soil and water thoroughly. If the temperature is low, you can cover the plants with straw to keep them warm, and then remove the covering after the seedlings emerge.

In order to accelerate germination, it is recommended to carry out germination treatment before sowing. Soak the seeds in warm water for 3 to 5 hours, then wrap them with wet gauze and germinate them in an environment of 25 to 30℃. They can be sown after 70% of the seeds turn white. Before large-scale planting, soak the seeds in 1% copper sulfate solution or 100 times formalin solution for 10 minutes to disinfect and sterilize them, and then rinse them with water.

3. Avoid field closure

Cucumbers transplanted from seedlings can be planted out when they grow 4 to 5 true leaves. Cucumbers like moisture and are afraid of waterlogging, so they should be planted in soil with deep soil layer, rich organic matter and good drainage. When preparing the land, apply 1,000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer and 30 kg of triple compound fertilizer as base fertilizer per mu, mainly by hole application.

After the ridges are prepared, they should be 1.2 meters wide and more than 15 centimeters high. Two rows should be planted in each ridge, with a row spacing of 80 centimeters, a plant spacing of 40 centimeters, and 2 plants in each hole. Avoid over-dense planting to prevent flower and fruit drop and pests and diseases.

For cucumbers grown in greenhouses, DDT and sulfur smoke can be used after land preparation to kill pathogens in the greenhouse and reduce the risk of disease.

4. Reasonable fertilization

Cucumbers require less fertilizer during the seedling stage, but more fertilizer during the flowering and fruiting stage. Fertilization should follow the principle of "light fertilization in the seedling stage and heavy fertilization in the flowering and fruiting stage" to meet growth needs.

During the seedling stage, 1,000 kg of decomposed manure or 10 kg of urea can be applied per mu. After flowering and fruiting, apply 20 kg of triple compound fertilizer per mu. During the peak flowering and fruiting period, spray 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate foliar fertilizer once every 7 to 10 days for 2 to 3 times in a row to prevent premature aging and increase yield.

5. Water at the right time

Cucumbers like moisture, so watering should follow the principle of "control water before the cucumbers set, and water frequently with small amounts of water after the cucumbers set." There should not be too much water in the seedling stage, but sufficient water is needed during the flowering and fruiting period, and water frequently in small amounts, once every 5 days.

6. Pruning and Pinching

When the cucumbers grow to 30 cm in height, set up a trellis to guide the vines in a counterclockwise direction, with the trellis height exceeding 2 meters. When pruning and pinching the tips, remove the side branches that do not produce fruits. Pinch the tips when the main vine and the side vines that produce fruits are over 2 meters long to promote reproductive growth and produce more flowers and fruits. Remove old leaves, diseased leaves and diseased fruits in time to reduce nutrient waste and improve ventilation and light transmission.

Warm reminder: Cucumbers are susceptible to diseases and pests, and pesticides may need to be sprayed during the growing period. To reduce pesticide residues , soak cucumbers in salt water or baking soda water for 10 minutes, then wash them with clean water to reduce pesticide residues.

The above is an introduction to the cucumber seedling raising time. This is actually the most suitable time for cucumber seedling raising in most areas of the year. If you want to plant cucumbers, you need to hurry up according to local actual conditions.