Cucumber seedling raising time and method

As the weather gets warmer and the rainfall increases, the best time to grow cucumber seedlings is about to arrive. March is almost over and the Grain Rain solar term in April is approaching. Friends who want to plant cucumbers can hurry up. Let’s learn about the time and method of cucumber seedling cultivation .

1. Cucumber seedling raising time

The cucumber seedling cycle varies depending on the planting area and environmental conditions. In China, it usually takes about 45 to 50 days to grow seedlings in protected areas (such as greenhouses or sheds ) in northern regions, while the period for growing seedlings in protected areas in southern regions is about one week shorter. As for cucumbers grown in the open field, the seedling period is generally about 35 days. These time frames provide growers with a rough guide to ensure that cucumber seedlings are healthy and ready for transplanting within the appropriate time.

2. Cucumber seedling raising method

1. Preparation before seedling cultivation

First of all, choosing the right cucumber seeds is key. It is recommended to germinate the seeds by placing them in warm water at about 50 degrees Celsius and stirring them for 10 minutes, then moving them to clean water and soaking them for 4 to 5 hours. After the seeds are drained, place them in a moist cloth and germinate at room temperature of about 25 degrees Celsius. About two days later, when the seeds turn white, you can start raising seedlings. The seedling medium should be garden soil that has not been used to grow melon crops, and should be mixed with an appropriate amount of organic fertilizer and wood ash. After sowing, cover with a thin layer of soil and maintain the room temperature at around 25 degrees Celsius. About ten days after germination, the seedlings should be transplanted in time to promote the healthy growth of the cucumber seedlings. When the cucumber seedlings have four to six true leaves, they can be transplanted.

2. The best time for transplanting

Choose a sunny afternoon to transplant, and be careful to protect the stems and roots of the cucumber seedlings from damage. Depending on the planting conditions, about 3,500 cucumber seedlings are planted per acre. Pay attention to shading and watering after transplanting. Within three or four days after transplanting, the greenhouse should be sealed to help the cucumber seedlings adapt to the new environment.

3. Management after transplanting

After transplanting, the cucumber seedlings grow rapidly and enter the initial flowering period shortly after planting. At this stage, the focus should be on root development, with vegetative growth as the main focus and a gradual transition to reproductive growth. After planting, the humidity in the greenhouse should be maintained at around 90%, and the temperature should be controlled at 28 to 30 degrees Celsius during the day and 15 to 18 degrees Celsius at night. After the seedling acclimatization period, the greenhouse temperature should be appropriately lowered by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius to enhance the seedlings' adaptability to low temperatures, and ventilation should be carried out in a timely manner. After watering to help the cucumbers grow, avoid watering again until the cucumbers set fruit.

The above is an introduction to the best time and method for cucumber seedling cultivation. You can choose the appropriate time, and the seedling cultivation method also needs to be firmly mastered.