When is the best time to sow cucumbers?

Cucumbers are divided into spring cucumbers and autumn cucumbers according to the sowing and harvesting seasons. Spring cucumbers are sown and raised in winter so that they can be harvested in spring. In contrast, fall cucumbers are planted in the summer and harvested in the fall. So when is the best time to sow cucumbers?

When is the best time to sow cucumbers?

The sowing time of spring cucumbers depends on the planting method and seedling period. If the seedling planting method is adopted, the seeds should be sown one month before transplanting. If you use a solar greenhouse or a heated greenhouse for raising seedlings, you should sow them one and a half months in advance. The best time to plant spring cucumbers is on a sunny day after the late frost, and avoid cloudy or windy days.

The sowing of autumn cucumbers is usually arranged 70 days before the frost, and transplanting can be done about a week after sowing. Since the growth cycle of autumn cucumber is short, about 3 months, it is suitable for planting in a greenhouse . Given that it rains a lot and the temperature is high during the Frost Descent season, special attention should be paid to the prevention of diseases and pests.

Cucumber Planting Tips

1. Land preparation

The land chosen for growing cucumbers should avoid being planted with melon crops for two consecutive years. The soil pH should be between 6.5 and 7.5, ensuring convenient drainage and irrigation and fertile soil. If water-land rotation is implemented, the soil should be turned over and winter crops planted in October, and cucumbers should be planted in the spring of the following year.

2. Seed treatment

Soak cucumber seeds in warm water and germinate them before sowing to shorten the seedling period. The specific method is to soak the seeds in 55℃ warm water for 10 minutes and stir, then move them to 25℃ clean water and soak them for 8 hours, and finally germinate them in an environment of 27-30℃.

3. Seedling cultivation

The germinated seeds can be grown in seedling cups or seedbeds and usually begin to germinate after two days. After the seedlings have grown for about half a month, choose a sunny evening to transplant them. Water before planting, and carefully lift the seedlings to protect the root system and retain the soil at the roots. During the seedling raising period, pay attention to controlling water and fertilizer to prevent excessive growth. Prevent water accumulation in rainy seasons, water on sunny days and build shade nets to promote the differentiation of female flowers. On rainy days, cover with plastic film to protect the seedlings.

4. Planting

Choose fertile and well-drained land, apply about 2,000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure per mu, mix well and make planting holes with a distance of 30 cm between the holes. Transplanting should be done in the afternoon on a sunny day. After transplanting, cover the soil and water thoroughly. Dark mulch can be used to retain moisture and reduce weeds. Add 30 kg of superphosphate to each acre of base fertilizer.

5. Fertilizer and water management

When the seedlings grow 2 to 3 true leaves, start applying top dressing once a week, applying 10 kg of urea per mu. Pay attention to the concentration of fertilizer and follow the principle of applying small amounts of fertilizer frequently. When the seedlings grow to two, four, and six leaves, apply well-rotted farmyard manure once each time. When the young melon grows to a certain length, apply 20 kg of compound fertilizer while watering. Apply fertilizer once after picking twice to increase yield.

6. Scaffolding and pruning

When tendrils appear, set up a trellis to guide the vines, and guide the vines every 3 days to keep the vines evenly distributed. Main vine fruiting varieties do not require pruning, but side vine fruiting varieties require topping and pruning. When the vine grows to 1 meter, leave 3 side branches, one cucumber on each side branch, and pinch the vine. Remove bent melons and big-bellied melons in time.

7. Falling vines

When the vines grow to the roof and the leafless stems at the bottom are 30 cm from the ground, they can be dropped on a sunny afternoon. Stop watering one week before the vines fall to reduce the moisture in the vines and increase their toughness. When dropping vines, be careful to coil them to avoid damage.

8. Harvest

The best time to harvest cucumbers is when the cucumber skin turns from dark green to bright green and shiny, and the flower buds do not fall off. It takes about 55 days from planting to first harvest of cucumbers in spring, and about 35 days in summer and autumn. Harvest the first melons in time to avoid affecting subsequent growth.

The above is an introduction to the sowing time and planting points of cucumbers. As a common crop, the planting time of cucumbers mainly depends on the planting method and local temperature conditions.