The absence of a summer cottage does not mean at all that you will not have the opportunity to eat self-grown vegetables. Indeed, right on the balcony or loggia, you can plant your favorite cucumbers and other crops. To do this, it is enough just to properly prepare the room and select special varieties of plants that are well suited for growing at home. In this review, we will figure out how to plant cucumbers on the balcony.

Choosing seeds

If you decide to grow a vegetable garden right at home, then first decide on the variety of cucumbers. In this case, it should be borne in mind that there are no natural pollinators on the balcony. Also an important factor in a confined space is the yield rate. For home beds, varieties of cucumbers for the balcony are best suited, which allow you to collect the maximum amount of vegetables from a small area.

What else should you know? Choosing varieties of cucumbers for the balcony and windowsill, you can also purchase species that require pollination, such as "Manul" or "Marathon". However, in this case, next to them you will need to plant self-pollinating varieties. The ratio of these plants should be 5: 1. Be sure to consider that this option is more suitable for experienced gardeners who are well versed in all the intricacies of growing vegetables. If this is your first experience, then it is better to give preference to proven hybrids. In addition to the correct selection of the variety, special attention should also be paid to the soil, pots, and top dressing. The future harvest of cucumbers will depend on many factors at the same time.

The garden on the loggia: the main stages

How to grow cucumbers on the balcony at home? Far from everywhere it is possible to equip beds. This culture requires a certain climate. She is thermophilic and does not tolerate drafts. Before sowing cucumbers, you need to carefully inspect the area in which you are going to create a garden. Most likely, the walls of the balcony will need to be insulated. You will also need additional ventilation. For balconies facing southeast or east, this is one of the most important conditions. In the absence of additional insulation in such rooms, strong temperature differences can be observed. This negatively affects the cultivated crop.

Cucumbers for the balcony and windowsill require good lighting. Take care of equipping the beds with additional fluorescent lamps in advance. This will help you create a favorable growing microclimate and achieve an excellent harvest. This completes the preparatory stage. Next, you should go directly to garden work.

Germinating seeds

Many housewives are interested in how you can plant cucumbers on the balcony. We will consider growing step by step in this review. It all starts with germination. The seed package usually contains instructions. She should be guided by the implementation of garden work. As a rule, these instructions indicate the period of time that is required for the appearance of the first fruits. If the room is insulated and equipped with additional light sources, you can plant cucumbers even in the cold season. So you can get your first harvest in the spring.

For germination, it is necessary to prepare a weak solution of potassium permanganate (it should be pinkish). It is necessary to keep the cucumber seeds for the balcony in it for 20 minutes. After that, they are laid out on damp gauze. When the seeds sprout, they can be planted in the ground. For starters, it's best to use small jars or flower pots. Glasses made of opaque plastic will also work. It is better to give preference to products of dark color. If these conditions are met, you can protect the roots of the plant from the negative effects of sunlight. Can be used for seeds and one common box. Only in this case, after the emergence of seedlings, you will have to plant them in different pots. After all the seeds are planted, you just have to cover them with foil and place them in a warm place.

Choosing a container for planting

Cucumbers are a moisture-loving culture. It requires frequent watering. To prevent root decay, experts recommend choosing double bottom pots. You can buy them in specialized stores at an affordable price. Excess moisture in such a container will not linger in the soil, but will go into the pallet. In flower shops you can find special pots designed for growing cucumbers. When choosing a container, it should be borne in mind that its volume should be from 4 to 5 liters. If you have not been able to find a similar pot, then ordinary dark plastic bottles will do. Just make holes in the bottom and substitute a plate for the excess water to drain. Metal containers are not suitable for seedlings. They can rust when exposed to water.

Soil preparation

How to grow cucumbers on the balcony? An important stage is the preparation of soil. For this purpose, soil, peat, compost and other ingredients are used. There are several recipes that work best for growing cucumbers. However, in order to find the best one, you need to try several options at once.

Here is some of them:

1. The first version of the soil for cucumbers is easy to prepare yourself, but you can also purchase it at a flower shop. It includes the following ingredients: compost, sawdust, ash, peat. All formulations are taken in the same quantity and mixed thoroughly.
2. Second option: the first composition is used as a basis. 15 grams of nitrophoska and 10 grams of urea must be added to a bucket of soil already prepared according to the first recipe. Mix all ingredients thoroughly. The resulting earth must be filled
3. The third option contains half a bucket of sod land, half a bucket of compost, two glasses of wood ash and 50 grams of lime. You can also add 5 grams of potash and phosphorus fertilizers. All of the above ingredients must be thoroughly mixed and transferred to a polyethylene bag. After that, a hole is dug in the summer cottage, the prepared package is lowered there and covered with earth from above. The rotten mixture will be an excellent soil for growing cucumbers on the balcony.

Planting seeds

How to carry out this process correctly? Planting seeds is a critical step on which the entire crop will depend.

Therefore, it is extremely important to follow certain rules when performing this procedure:

1. The room temperature should be 22-25 degrees. These are the best conditions for picking cucumbers on the balcony. Growing at lower degrees can lead to a significant increase in ripening times.
2. Before filling the pots with soil, rinse the inner walls of the containers with a solution of potassium permanganate. This will significantly reduce the risk of damage to plants by diseases and pests.
3. To plant seeds, you just need to deepen them a couple of centimeters into the soil.
4. Seeds should germinate in a warm and well-ventilated area. You can leave the pots in a room with additional lighting. Arrange them so that the seedlings are not exposed to direct sunlight.
5. The plant should be watered every other day. If the air in the room is too dry, then the amount of watering should be increased. The water should be between 22 and 23 degrees. Fill several bottles at once so that, if necessary, you always have something to water the seedlings.

Transplanting seedlings

How to properly plant cucumbers on the balcony? Growing cucumbers on the balcony necessarily involves a procedure such as transplanting seedlings. It should be started after the first sheets appear. For this purpose, you will need special wooden boxes with a double bottom. You can buy them at the flower shop. Make sure there is a pallet in them. The optimal size of the seedling box is 20x30x60 cm. In this case, you can easily keep moisture in the soil.

When transplanting seedlings, the following instructions should be followed:

1. The containers should be about half full with soil. The earth must be watered with a solution of potassium permanganate.
2. After half an hour, you can place a sprout from a glass in a previously prepared box with earth. Seedlings should be transplanted directly along with an earthen clod.
3. Sprinkle the soil in such a way that the plant fits better in the new container.

The transplanted seedlings should be watered every day using warm, settled water. Try to protect the cucumbers on the balcony from drafts. When ventilating, containers should be removed. After 40-50 days after transplanting, you will be able to get the first harvest.

Top dressing

An essential condition for obtaining a good harvest of cucumbers is high-quality feeding. It is not enough just to water the beds. For a plant to develop properly, it needs nutrients. Cucumbers are fed twice - 14 days after the appearance of the first shoots and another 10 days later.

We form cucumber lashes

Pinching is an important step in growing cucumbers on the balcony. This procedure is necessary so that the plant does not have to waste energy on shoots that are not able to bring a good harvest. The pinching method depends on the variety you have chosen. If we are talking about self-pollinating crops, then it is necessary to pinch off the first 2-3 ovaries on the shoots. Next, you should remove the side shoots on the third or fourth cucumber. It should be noted that self-pollinated varieties are easier to care for.

On plants of pollinated varieties, fruits mainly appear on lateral shoots. Therefore, the main vine should be pinched. After the third leaf appears on the seedlings, it should be cut off, capturing the growth point.

It is imperative to tie up cucumber shoots. A wire is pulled at a height of 0.5 meters above the soil. A strong thread is launched from it, with the help of which lashes are formed.

To get a good harvest, you need to listen to the advice of experienced gardeners. How to properly grow cucumbers on the balcony? This culture requires special attention.

To get a high-quality harvest, it is enough to follow a few simple recommendations, namely:

• loosen the soil from time to time;
• pinch;
• tie up shoots;
• monitor the degree of soil moisture, in no case do not allow it to dry out;
• maintain the temperature regime on the balcony where you grow cucumbers;
• do not forget about additional lighting.

If you follow these simple requirements, you can easily collect cucumbers on the balcony in a short time. The cultivation of this culture does not involve significant financial costs. Using the simple guidelines presented in this article, you will get a rich harvest of cucumbers.

Yellowing of leaves

Very often housewives who grow cucumbers on the balcony face this problem. Varieties in this matter do not play a special role. Leaves can burn due to too high a temperature on the balcony. If it exceeds 30 degrees, it is necessary to artificially create a shadow for the cucumbers. Not only leaves, but also fruits can turn yellow from such heat. Care in this case must necessarily include mulching the soil and irrigating plants with water from a spray bottle. Also, experts attribute poor pollination, an overabundance of ovaries and the presence of diseases to the possible reasons for the yellowing of cucumbers.

If you notice that cucumbers are growing too slowly, then perhaps this is due to insufficient feeding. In this case, it is necessary to add mineral or yeast feeding to the plant and check whether the plants have enough water and light. Also try to take good care of the pots. If the ovaries turn yellow and dry out, then it may be worth checking the plant for damage. The reason is most likely because the cucumbers simply don't have enough energy to grow. Proper care and feeding can fix this. A similar picture can still be observed with insufficient pinching. By the time of fruiting, the plant simply does not have enough resources. In this case, proper care will be reduced to feeding, protection from sunlight and careful watering.

Conclusion

Today, cucumbers on the balcony are the cherished dream of many residents of large cities. Unfortunately, not every citizen of our country can afford their own personal plot. But even in limited space, you can get a good harvest. To grow cucumbers on the balcony, you need to choose the right variety and create all the necessary conditions for the culture. You may need to re-equip your loggia a little for this. It is also worth considering that cucumbers require daily care. Only in this case you are guaranteed to get delicious homemade fruits rich in vitamins.

It is not difficult to grow balcony cucumbers at home, you just need to choose the right varieties, plant seeds in the required time frame and properly care for the plantings. In this article, all the subtleties on how to grow cucumbers on the balcony.

Five rules for growing cucumbers

Cucumbers are among those vegetables that can be grown on loggias without any problems.

Crispy cucumbers are good fresh and pickled, many grow them in the country and in their personal plot. Residents of cities who do not have a summer cottage or a country house are deprived of the opportunity to grow a rich harvest of pimpled cucumbers.

It's another matter if the city apartment has a balcony or loggia. Today's article will help you grow a rich harvest of cucumbers on your city balcony.

Cucumbers on the city balcony will surely grow, and the harvest will be excellent, if you follow simple rules. Excellent cucumbers on the balcony growing step by step in compliance with the requirements of agricultural technology is not difficult at all, pay attention to the five basic rules.

Rule one

Cucumbers are very light-loving plants and wither in the dark.

Cucumbers are light-loving crops, so it is very important to choose the right place on the balcony for placing containers with plants.

The dark northern balcony is not suitable for these purposes, so there is no point in fiddling with planting cucumber seedlings, because you can not wait at all for the harvest.

The ideal place for growing cucumbers is the balcony facing south and west. Healthy, sturdy plants grow on such loggias, because the sun illuminates them most of the day. If the cultivation of cucumbers is planned on an insulated balcony in winter, it will be necessary to organize artificial lighting with fluorescent or LED lamps.

The plant needs light to synthesize nutrients that the plant needs to function normally. Sunlight consists of spectra of different colors, visible and invisible to the human eye, each of which includes a certain range of waves. The process of photosynthesis takes place with the intensive use of a part of the blue-violet and red range.

The rays of the blue spectrum contribute to the formation of amino acids, the red ones stimulate cell growth and the growth of green mass. For normal development, each type of plant requires illumination with lamps of a certain spectrum, for cucumbers, when grown in an apartment or on a balcony, it is advisable to limit the proportion of red rays.

Second rule

Dolomite cucumbers are self-pollinated and great for balconies

Indoor cucumber will enter the fruiting phase only if the flower has been pollinated. In cucumbers, according to the method of pollination, two types of plants are distinguished: bee-pollinated and self-pollinated.

Bee-pollinated species have two types of flowers: male and female, cucumbers require the help of insects for pollination during the flowering period, because bumblebees or bees, flying from flower to flower, transfer pollen on the abdomen and legs.

If you plant cucumbers of bee-pollinated varieties on the balcony, then you may not wait for the harvest, or you will have to pollinate the cucumber bushes by hand, which is very troublesome and laborious. But these varieties have one huge advantage - they grow well in the shade, which is important if the balcony is oriented to the north side.

Self-pollinating (parthenocarpic) varieties do not require external intervention during flowering and fruit setting.

Each flower that opens on a cucumber lash has a stamen and a pistil, so pollination takes place inside the flower without the help of insects or humans. To guarantee a harvest of cucumbers on the balcony, it is worth choosing self-pollinating varieties.

Third rule

Peat pots are suitable for planting young seedlings

Cucumbers are a thermophilic culture; under unfavorable conditions, fungal diseases quickly appear on the leaves (powdery mildew, downy mildew).

If the balcony is poorly insulated, it is best to plant cucumbers when a steady heat sets in; depending on the region, the planting period may shift from late April to late May.

Planting cucumbers is possible in two ways: by seeds in the ground and seedlings. If the second method (seedling) is used, take care of sowing seeds in peat pots in the middle of winter. The use of peat containers is very convenient - they do not need to be removed from the roots when replanting young plants to a permanent place.

With this method of transplantation, the plants take root better and get sick less.

Rule four

The balcony cucumber will grow and develop well, will give a rich harvest if the soil mixture for planting is chosen correctly.

Small expanded clay will help organize the drainage system

Containers for growing cucumbers should be deep enough, you can use clay pots, plastic containers, tall flower boxes, even old plastic buckets. But at the bottom of all planting tanks, it is required to pre-make several drainage holes for water drainage. Stagnant water at the roots will negatively affect the development of the plant.

A layer of fine expanded clay should be laid at the bottom of the landing container, which will act as drainage. Cucumbers are more willing to grow and bear fruit only in fertile land, so it is not enough to buy a package of universal land in the nearest garden center.

The ideal option is to choose a balanced soil yourself, for which you should mix the necessary ingredients:

• Overripe compost - 1 part.
• Garden land - 1 part.
• Peat universal soil - 1 part.
• Vermiculite, perlite, sand - 0.5 liters per seat.

If it is impossible to prepare the ground mixture yourself, you can use a ready-made universal soil for vegetables with the addition of sand or perlite.

Prepared pots are filled with ready-made vegetable mixture, 5 cm must be retreated from the upper side of the pot.

One cucumber bush will require nutrient soil - up to 5 liters. For the cultivation of vegetables, including cucumbers, the soil prepared for planting must have an acidity of pH in the range from 6.3 to 6.8.

The fifth rule

Fertilizers saturated with the necessary elements are sold in many stores.

How to grow cucumbers with a good yield? Plants need to be watered periodically with warm water, especially in the cold season. If you dry the cucumber bushes even once, the plants will immediately start to wither, and will be long and difficult to recover. In a hot summer, watering may be required twice a day, and even spraying the leaves must be carried out daily.

Do not forget about fertilizers, which are applied several times per season. During the period of growing leaf mass, nitrogen fertilizers are used, which accelerate the growth of plants.

At the beginning of flowering, it is useful to feed cucumber seedlings with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. When the plant enters the fruiting phase, feeding is carried out with potassium, micro and macro elements.

A grown crop of cucumbers can signal a lack of certain elements in the diet by changing its appearance.

What cucumbers lack

The reason for the appearance of yellow spots on the leaves may be a lack of trace elements.

Sometimes planted cucumbers do not develop well, deformed fruits appear on the lashes, they do not tie a color. The main reasons for violations are listed below:

• Lack of nitrogen - growing cucumbers on the balcony is impossible without nitrogen feeding. Hungry plants signal a malnutrition by yellowing the edges of the leaf blade and the appearance of fruits with a thin, sharp tip.
• Insufficient lighting - fruit softening occurs. Treatment is to increase the degree of illumination.
• Lack of moisture (underfilling) - fruits of irregular shape appear, pointed at the bottom, rounded, curved. Treatment is uniform watering with warm water.
• Lack of potassium - there is a rapid wilting of young lashes, the leaves turn yellow, the edge of the leaf blade is tucked inward.
• Lack of calcium - with a deficiency of this element, cucumber leaves become covered with light spots and stripes, after which they quickly die off. Inflorescences do not develop, they can be affected by rot.
• Magnesium deficiency - yellow "freckles" appear on the leaves, which quickly cover the entire leaf blade. Fruits ripen rapidly, are not suitable for food, seeds are not formed.
• Lack of copper - will cause the appearance of weak shoots and shedding of flower buds.

We recommend that you look at the experiment of growing cucumbers on the balcony:

With a lack of chemical elements in the diet of cucumbers, it is necessary to timely feed the plants with fertilizers containing the missing substances.

Varieties

To simplify the task of selecting fruitful varieties of cucumbers for planting on loggias, we will focus on self-pollinating species:

• Zozulya (F1 hybrid) is an early ripening variety, high-yielding, partially parthenocarpic, resistant to diseases. Medium-sized fruits with high palatability.
• Claudia (F1 hybrid) - refers to mid-season varieties, resistant to viruses, high-yielding.
• Connie (F1 hybrid) is a medium-ripening hybrid variety, resistant to the main pathogenic infections of cucumbers. High-yielding.
• Ant (hybrid F1) - early maturing gherkin, resistant to a number of diseases. Excellent taste.
• Balcony miracle (F1 hybrid) is a super productive variety, resistant to drought, adapted for balcony and indoor cultivation, including growing well in the shade.
• Zyatek (F1 hybrid) is a precocious variety with a female flowering type, parthenocarpic. Zelentsy are medium-sized, with thorns, with a pleasant fresh taste.

Watch the video on how to choose the right variety of cucumbers for growing.

Breeders annually offer new varieties with improved qualities, which can be purchased from specialized seed companies.

The ideal soil substrate for seedlings of future cucumbers is ready. Tip: Approximately 5-7 minutes before planting the seeds, hot water (55-65 degrees) is poured into cups filled with earth. One seeds are sown in each cup, to a depth of about 1.5 - 2 centimeters. The cups are placed in a warm (+25 degrees) place.

Seedling care

Lighting

As soon as the shoots have appeared, the cups are placed in a bright, sunny place, for example, on a windowsill. In this case, there should not be the slightest breeze. Tip: For better seedling quality and accelerate fruiting, you can use additional lighting - fluorescent lamps.

Watering

Watering the seedlings is done once a day - without additional lighting and twice a day - if there is additional lighting. The water should not be cold and settled. Please note: There should be a hole at the bottom of the glasses, this is necessary so that excess water does not linger.

Top dressing

• Seedlings are grown for about 25 days. During this time, it is advisable to feed, and twice. The first feeding should be done 14 days after germination (for 3 liters of water - one teaspoon of urea). About one glass of top dressing goes to one plant. The second top dressing is carried out a week after the first.

Planting seedlings

• The resulting seedlings of balcony cucumbers are planted in containers, which are pre-filled with soil of the same composition as for seedlings. The containers should be at least 15 centimeters high. Before planting the seedlings in a permanent place, the soil is watered abundantly with warm water (30 degrees). The seedlings are removed from the glass and, together with a lump of earth, are moved to a permanent place.

Important: To create acceptable conditions, the balcony cucumber is placed near the walls or in the corners. This is done in order to protect the plant from the wind. Growing cucumbers on the balcony and caring for them.

Caring for cucumbers on the balcony

Tying to a support

• About seven days after planting the cucumber seedlings, the plants are tied to a wire with twine. The wire should be stretched about 1.7 meters above the container. One end of the twine is neatly tied to the stem of the plant and wrapped around the twine.

Please note: From time to time, about once a week, it is advisable to remove the antennae from cucumbers. Growing vegetables on the balcony is an exciting experience. After all, there are many stages before full maturation, which are interesting to observe. Tip: When growing any cultivated plant, it is necessary to periodically loosen the soil around it.

Topping

After the plants reach the height of the wire (support), the top of the main stem is pinched, that is, the plant is formed into one stem. Lateral shoots are pinched to a length of 25-45 centimeters.

Watering

During development and growth, depending on the air temperature, cucumber plants are watered two to three times a week, and their aerial part is moistened by spraying. The water should be settled and warm. Please note: The soil must be constantly moist, so you need to monitor this and water more often if necessary. It is incredibly pleasant to understand that you can grow cucumbers yourself. From this they become doubly valuable and tastier.

Output

Growing a decent harvest of cucumbers in balcony conditions will not give you big worries. However, 50% of the result depends on the variety of cucumbers.

Therefore, in the choice of planting material, attention should be paid to the fact that the culture is self-pollinated. In all other respects, it is very desirable to adhere to the above recommendations. Having created all the necessary conditions, your cucumbers on the balcony will definitely feel great and give abundant, juicy and sweet fruits.

Gardeners-amateurs know how much they look forward to the first cucumber in their beds and what a pleasure it is to add it to a spring salad! It turns out that you can bring yourself such joy in a house or apartment in winter.

Growing cucumbers on a windowsill in a room or on a loggia is a very real task. By adhering to exactly simple rules, this activity is doomed to success.

Determine a suitable place

The most important conditions under which balcony cucumbers will develop well and bear fruit is a constant temperature: above eighteen degrees during the day and fifteen at night, and sufficient lighting. Therefore, it is correct to use the window sills and loggias located on south and southeast side... This will make the most of the natural heat and light of the sun. Tip: To equip a place for growing cucumbers at home is so as to completely eliminate the draft.

Choosing a variety

Breeders have bred balcony cucumbers, varieties of which are well suited for indoor use, are resistant and not capricious. For home landings it is reasonable to choose varieties that do not need pollination(parthenocarpic hybrids): Dragonfly, Dubrovsky, Barnaulets, Courage, Matrix, Parus, Balcony miracle F1.

Varieties of Aprelsky, Zozulya and Kukaracha bear fruit without the participation of insects, but they can also be pollinated by bees. artificial pollination. To get male flowers, pollinators are planted: Hercules, Ermine.

These varieties have mixed flowers, therefore they can be used both as pollinators and as independent hybrids. To fertilize, they pluck a male flower that has stamens, and apply it to a female flower, it is distinguished by the presence of a pistil. The purpose of pollination is to get pollen from the stamens onto the pistil, which is what bees do in nature. If this event is not held, then the flowers will simply fall off.

Growing seedlings

Success in growing cucumbers on the windowsill and on the balcony, loggia depends on the careful fulfillment of all the requirements of agricultural technology. There are no trifles here.

Seed preparation

Germinating seeds

The seeds are disinfected, treated for the prevention of diseases, they are allowed to lie in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for up to twenty minutes. After that, the seeds are germinated: they are wrapped in cloth and kept in light moisture.

Within two days, the seeds hatch. An experiment was carried out: a germinated cucumber seed was planted in a pot, and not germinated in another container. In the second pot, the sprout appeared a day later than in the first. Nevertheless, experts advise not to neglect the stage of germination in the preparation of seeds, because a seed that does not resemble one can get caught and then time will be wasted in vain.

Container and soil

It is convenient to plant seeds for seedlings in disposable cups. Potting mix is ​​sold in stores, you can prepare it yourself. Mixed in equal quantities: crushed sawdust, sod land, humus, peat.

A teaspoon of urea, a glass of ash, two teaspoons of nitrophoska are added to the bucket of the composition. Before planting, the cups are disinfected over steam or rinsed with a pink solution of potassium permanganate.

Seedling

Seedlings of cucumbers ready for transplanting

A hole is provided at the bottom of the cups to avoid stagnant water. Then they are filled with potting soil. A seed is planted in each glass to a depth of about two centimeters. Before February, sowing seeds is not worth it. The best time is from February to April.

Desirable temperature for seed germination is about 230. Once the sprouts appear in the cups, they are provided with good lighting. It will take about a month before transplanting seedlings to a permanent place. During this time, in order for it to be healthy and strong, competent care is needed.

Top dressing

Should feed the sprouts twice... The first feeding should be carried out in two weeks as the seedlings emerged, and the second - after another week. One seedling receives a glass of top dressing.

A nutrient solution is prepared by placing a tablespoon of urea in six liters of water.

Watering

Cucumbers are very moisture-loving. The soil is kept moist. Watering is carried out daily. A prerequisite: water at room temperature, previously settled.

If the seedlings have additional lighting, then they are watered twice a day. And what else can be grown with cucumbers? For example, greens.

How to grow dill on the windowsill, read our separate article. If you decide to start planting vegetables on your balcony, and it is still not glazed, then we advise you to read our article on sliding windows. Due to its design, the opening of these windows will not interfere with the pots and containers standing on the windowsill. A small cellar can be useful for storing vegetables on the balcony. http://balkonsami.ru/interer/blagoustroystvo/pogrebok-na-balkone-svoimi-rukami.html - read how to do it yourself in our article.

Transfer to a permanent place

The presence of two true leaves in the seedlings gives a signal that the seedlings can be transplanted. Containers for growing cucumbers on a balcony or windowsill should have a volume of five to eight liters.

You can take large plastic water bottles and cut the top off, use ceramic pots, flower boxes, or plastic bags. The container must have holes for water drainage.

Growing cucumbers on the balcony in plastic flower boxes

Drainage from expanded clay, small crushed stone or broken brick is laid at the bottom. The containers are filled with a nutritious soil mixture of the same composition that was used for growing the seedlings. Before planting seedlings of cucumbers on the windowsill, the soil is spilled with a solution of potassium permanganate.

The sprouts are removed from the cups with a lump of earth and transplanted into prepared pots. Tip: The containers should not be filled with earth to the top, but leave a few centimeters of the height of the pot free. This is necessary then that if the roots of the plants become bare over time, it will be possible to add an earthy mixture.

Care

Taking care of your cucumber beds will be a pleasure. The freshness of foliage, yellow flowers, not to mention the first emerald fruits, will delight you with contact with wildlife, when everything is still dull outside. In addition, observation and discipline will come in handy.

Garter

Cucumbers are a liana, so they need a mandatory garter. A wire is pulled over the plant at a height of one hundred and seventy centimeters from the soil surface.

The twine is tied to the wire, lowered down to the seedling, walked around it and lifted the twine back onto the wire. This garter will not damage the plant and will give it support.

Tying balcony cucumbers

Pinching

The cucumber vine is formed into one stem. To do this, the mustache is regularly removed on the plant. The main stem is pinched when it reaches full growth, allowing conditions to reach the wire.

Lateral shoots are removed so that the green mass does not take away strength from the plant, they will be needed for the formation of fruits. The rest of the shoots are pinched over the ovary, while leaving one leaf.

Top dressing

Cucumbers need feeding, especially when they begin to bear fruit. Among the basic rules on how to grow cucumbers on a windowsill is that once every ten days it is necessary to feed the plants with mineral fertilizers. They love cucumbers and natural dressing, for example, wood ash, eggshell infusion or tea.

Watering

An important aspect of plant care is regular watering. It is done twice a week. Holes in the container and drainage at the bottom will prevent unwanted stagnation from occurring.

Water, as well as for seedlings, must be kept at room temperature. Note: If you have not yet had to grow cucumbers at home, then it is good to keep a diary, writing down all your actions. It will be easy to analyze errors and create a unique experience.

Destruction of pests

We must be prepared that pests will attack the beds when growing balcony cucumbers. The problem should be identified and the problem can be dealt with. In the fight against pests, it is desirable to do without chemicals.

Spider mite

The plant is sprayed with garlic tincture. The crushed head is infused in a liter of water for about an hour and a half. Strain the solution.

For better adhesion to the surface of the seedling, fifteen grams of soap are dissolved in the tincture.

Aphid

At home, you can prepare a remedy for aphids - a decoction of tobacco. About a pack of cigarettes will provide the right amount of tobacco per liter of water. Knock cigarettes into water and boil for up to ten minutes. After that, another liter of water is added to the broth.

When applied to the leaves, the aphid dies.

Whitefly

To combat it, you can use a decoction of tobacco, but it is prepared stronger. A vacuum cleaner will help to overcome the whitefly. They can collect the pest from the leaves, turning on the lowest power.

Features of growing in winter

Lighting

At home, plants will not have enough natural light, especially during the winter months. Therefore, in order to grow cucumbers on a windowsill in winter, you should provide auxiliary lighting lamps.

As soon as the seedlings sprout, in order for it to be strong, it is necessary to ensure that the backlight lamps work from eight in the morning until the evening (twelve hours). The best option would be to use phytolamps, but conventional fluorescent lamps will do the same.

When growing cucumbers in winter, additional lighting is required.

A lamp is suspended above the plant at a distance of about fifteen centimeters from it. When the seedlings grow in a permanent location, the lamp must be lifted higher as the seedling grows. In March, four hours of additional light will be sufficient.

Warming

Growing cucumbers on a windowsill in winter needs to ensure a constant temperature of about 200. Therefore, the window is insulated for the winter, the window is covered with polyethylene. It's good if the room has plastic windows.

On a balcony or loggia, the cultivation of cucumbers is possible only if they are well insulated and heated. In our article "We insulate the balcony with our own hands" you will find various ways and methods of how you can make your balcony warmer on your own. In order to create additional lighting on the balcony for growing cucumbers, you need to hold an outlet there. Instructions for this work are described here.

Air humidity

Steam heating dries the air, which is not good for cucumbers. Therefore, measures are needed to humidify the air. Pallets with pebbles are placed under the plants, which are regularly moistened. Humidifiers are used.

A wet cloth is placed on the battery. These actions will help not only cucumbers, but also improve the overall microclimate of the room. It is fascinating and quite simple to do the beds on the windowsill. Providing proper care for "green pets" you can collect up to thirty mouth-watering cucumbers from one plant!

Cucumbers on the windowsill growing video

Here we invite you to watch a video on the topic of our article on how to grow cucumbers on a balcony or windowsill. The video shows the chronology, from seed germination to the first harvest.

Cucumbers on the windowsill photo

Below is a small photo collection. All photos are clickable.

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Sowing seeds

Any process of obtaining any vegetables and fruits consists in sowing seeds. In our case, the first sowing can be started at the end of December or mid-winter, but only under such circumstances when you can guarantee to control the required temperature parameters.

In this case, you can get the first cucumbers already in the first half of April. If you cannot guarantee this, then you need to postpone the sowing. But at the same time, it should be remembered that it is necessary to sow seedlings in one month because it is after this time interval that the seedlings should be planted in a permanent place of growth. Planting seeds is considered the most crucial stage. In order for them to germinate, the following manipulations should be carried out:

• the seeds must be treated with a solution of potassium permanganate and kept in this solution for about 20 minutes; after processing with potassium permanganate, they are laid out on damp gauze; the seeds should begin to germinate. At the moment when their noses are cracked, the seeds are ready for sowing in cups or pots.

Soil preparation

The second, but not unimportant stage of this process is soil preparation. It must be cooked before the seeds crack. The soil is placed in previously prepared containers.

The ideal composition of the soil for the normal growth of cucumbers should include humus, sod land, peat, as well as wood sawdust crushed to a state of dust. All components should be taken in equal proportions. You can improve the potting mix by adding one glass of wood ash, half a tablespoon of urea and a tablespoon of nitrophoska.

After the above ingredients have been added to the prepared soil mixture, they should be mixed well.Before placing the balcony cucumber soil mixture in the container, it must be well washed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Also, to disinfect the container, you can hold it for about half a minute over the steam. Instead of the potting mix, you can use the soil itself.

This is considered a more affordable and economical way. Its preparation must be carried out before winter. In the fall, humus and sod land should be prepared (either in equal proportions, or three parts to one).

You also need to know that for one bucket of the prepared mixture, you need to add two glasses of wood ash, as well as 5-6 grams of phosphorus, potash and nitrogen fertilizers. Don't forget to add 20-60 grams of lime as well.

Then the resulting mixture must be mixed well, and then placed in plastic bags. Remember that the soil for the balcony cucumbers must be loose.

Proper potting will greatly increase your chances of getting a great harvest from your balcony. 123

Balcony cucumbers grown in early spring will be a worthy addition to your dining table.

Seed care

In any literature on how to grow cucumbers on the balcony, much attention is paid to the care of the seeds. For the normal growth of balcony cucumbers, you should, first of all, create the necessary conditions for seed germination. As mentioned above, cucumbers on the balcony are grown in pots or similar containers.

One seed is sown in a separate container. For better plant growth, the seeds need to be deepened by a maximum of 2 cm. . After you have finished planting the seeds, the container with them is placed in a warm place (insulated balcony or loggia).

The temperature regime for balcony cucumbers should be 23-26 ° С. In such conditions, balcony seedlings should be kept for 26-28 days. During this period, several dressings are carried out.

The first subcortex of balcony cucumbers at this stage is carried out two weeks after the first shoots have appeared. The second time it is carried out as an additional feeding.

Any garden mixture or mineral fertilizer of a complex composition is suitable for this. The care of cucumber seeds on the balcony does not end there. When the first sprouts of germinated seeds appear on the surface, the container with them must be moved to a well-lit place.

That is why a balcony is perfect for these purposes. But if it is not insulated, then the window sill can also be used.

In the presence of plastic windows, drafts will not be an obstacle. For the normal growth of cucumbers on the balcony, germinated seeds should grow at an air temperature in the room of 18-20 ° C throughout the day, at night this indicator is allowed to decrease to 15 ° C. If these rules are not followed, the balcony seedlings will develop correctly.

Planting seedlings

When the seedlings reach their optimal age, they are planted on a balcony or loggia. For these purposes, small boxes are used, it is best that they are narrow and long: no more than 20 cm in height, 30 cm in width, and 60 cm in length.

The previously prepared potting mix is ​​placed in the boxes. You can take a mixture from cups with sprouted seeds. On a closed balcony or loggia, boxes with seedlings are placed in absolutely any place. The only condition is sufficient lighting.

But on an open balcony, they need to be placed only in the corners. This will save them from possible sudden gusts of wind.Before planting seedlings in the soil mixture, it must be watered with a warm solution of potassium permanganate .

Before direct planting (approximately 15-20 minutes), watered with water at room temperature. This will sufficiently moisturize the substrate. Small holes are made in the soil mixture and seedlings are planted in them.

It is best to plant it with a clod of earth, so you will definitely prevent damage to the delicate roots. Then the seedlings are grown on average for 30-45 days. At the moment when the third true leaf appears, pinching is carried out in insect pollinated varieties.

For hybrid species, this procedure is not carried out. When full leaves appear, the seedlings can be transplanted into larger boxes.

Care

For further normal growth, the plant needs to be provided with constant care in the future. Caring for cucumbers grown on the balcony includes the following procedures:

• periodic removal of the whiskers - to form one stem; the top of the main shoot must be pinched, but only after the entire shoot grows to the wire; removal of all lateral processes, since they do not participate in the formation of fruits; pinching of the remaining shoots; protection of cucumbers on the balcony from gusts of wind; periodic watering of the plant; preventive spraying with chemicals to provide protection against pests and diseases.

If you are a real gardener, love farming and there is no opportunity to purchase a vegetable garden or garden plot, do not be upset. There is a great opportunity to make your desires a reality - to equip a full-fledged vegetable garden on your balcony. To do this, you need to make an effort and have a little patience, stock up on useful information, and grow on the balcony not only flowers or ornamental plants, but also delicious vegetables - cucumbers

Varieties of cucumbers
Before you start growing cucumbers at home on the balcony, you need to take your time and carefully figure out which varieties are suitable for planting in an enclosed space. Since there are no bees and wind on the balcony, you need to know which variety is suitable, and select those species that do not need to be pollinated and are distinguished by high yields - these are Masha, Bianca, Stella, Cucaracha, Aprelsky, Gribovchanka, Debut or Zozulya. This is not the whole list of varieties intended for growing on the balcony. Which of them is best to buy, how to cultivate cucumbers on the balcony in summer, the size of the pot - which one to choose and is there a difference in the selection of containers, what kind of soil is needed, top dressing, all this should be consulted with experienced farmers or read the information in this article.

Some experienced gardeners are trying to plant varieties of cucumbers that require pollination - these are Marathon, Frigate, Pallas' cat, Northern Lights, etc. But so that your work is not in vain, and the plants bear fruit, it is necessary to plant hybrid varieties near the aforementioned varieties - self-pollinating cucumbers in the proportion: 5 plants requiring pollination and one hybrid species. Such a planting guarantees favorable plant growth, the appearance of flowering and then cucumbers.

Cucumbers on the balcony - harvest

Selecting varieties of hybrids, one can attribute preference to varieties of later ripening - these are Claudia F1, Marinda F1, Gladiator, Hercules.

How to grow cucumbers on the balcony correctly with your own hands is described in great detail in this article below.

Growing process
If you felt like a real farmer and nevertheless decided to start growing cucumbers on a loggia or balcony, one desire is not enough.

First, you need to know that cucumbers are a delicate crop, they need to be protected from drafts and create comfortable conditions for favorable cultivation.

It is necessary to re-equip the room, namely: install additional lighting, ventilation and heating. This will increase daylight hours, which has a beneficial effect on the growth of seedlings. Qualitative performance of work on the installation of ventilation and heating is the key to maintaining proper climate control.

Important! If your balcony is not insulated, but located on the east or southeast side, such a room is not suitable for growing cucumbers, since at night, especially in winter or early autumn, temperature drops will negatively affect the growing process, up to the death of plants ... Therefore, it is important here to know in detail how to care for cucumbers on the balcony.

growing cucumbers on the balcony

Secondly, it is necessary to carefully study the process of growing vegetables indoors and adhere to a step-by-step technology:

Sow seeds;
prepare the soil;
observe seed care;
plant seedlings;
plant feeding;
the formation of a cucumber whip;
plant care.
Below is the cultivation step by step, thanks to which the cucumbers will delight you with their color, and even more so with the harvest.

Seed planting stages
Sowing seeds is the most crucial stage and is carried out in several stages. Before planting plants, you need to prepare the seeds, decide on the time of planting and harvesting. If you plan to get a decent harvest of cucumbers in early spring, planting seeds should be done in winter.

Therefore, if you are engaged in the cultivation of cucumbers, do not stop this process and follow the advice of experienced gardeners.

Necessary:

Prepare a weak solution of potassium permanganate and soak the seeds in it for up to 20 minutes;
strain and put the seeds on a well-moistened gauze cloth folded in several layers;
When the seeds crack and begin to sprout, they must be sown in small flower pots or dark plastic cups.
It is important to pay attention to the container for growing seedlings, it should not be transparent, since the sun's heat has a beneficial effect on the development of various diseases in the root system.


assada of cucumbers

Drop capacity
It is necessary to take into account that in order to protect the root system from unwanted rotting, pots or a container for planting plants should be with a double bottom. Since cucumbers are a moisture-loving culture, it must be provided with abundant watering, therefore the upper bottom must have drainage holes through which excess moisture and water penetrates into the lower pan.

If you don't have special pots, use a darkened plastic container and make a double bottom container. For this design, plastic bottles are quite suitable. The pot's capacity for one plant should be 2.5 liters.

Important! Do not use a metal container for seedlings, as it corrodes and can kill the plants.
Soil preparation process
Before planting cucumber seeds, land alone is not enough. It is necessary to prepare in advance the soil composition, which will ensure good growth of the seedling and protect the soil from drying out.

By the way, there is no one ideal composition, you can choose it yourself.

1st composition. The mixture is selected in equal parts and mixed well:

Compost;
sod land;
peat;
sawdust of wood;
wood ash.
Such a composition can be purchased at a gardening store.

2nd composition. For one bucket above the proposed composition, add 10 grams of urea and 15 grams of nitrophoska. Mix everything thoroughly and plant the seeds.

3rd composition. A more profitable and economical option for preparing the soil is to prepare the mixture with your own hands in the garden. Take half a bucket of sod land and compost, then two glasses of wood ash, 50 grams of lime, 5 grams of fertilizers: potash, nitrogen, phosphorus. Mix everything thoroughly and tamp in a plastic bag. Then dig a deep hole, place a bag of potting soil and cover with earth. After a while, the mixture will rot and become loose.

Before planting seeds, the soil must be treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate - this will protect the plants from various diseases.

If you follow the advice of gardeners and prepare high-quality soil, this will significantly increase the chance to grow cucumbers and harvest a decent harvest without leaving your home.

Seed growing conditions
If you decide to start growing cucumbers on a loggia or balcony, you must adhere to some rules and tips. Caring for plants is not difficult, but most importantly, you need to create all the appropriate conditions for their favorable growth.

First, in the room, create and maintain the optimum required temperature, which should be between 22-25 degrees. If the air temperature is less than the prescribed value, the seeds and future seedlings will slow down in development. Before planting seeds in the soil, the container must be well washed and rinsed with a solution of potassium permanganate. This will protect the seedlings from unwanted diseases.

When planting seeds, they must be deepened into the ground up to 2-3 cm. Place the pots with seedlings on the balcony, which is prepared in advance for growing cucumbers, namely: it is sufficiently well insulated, equipped with additional light and ventilation.

We grow cucumbers on the balcony ourselves

After about 25-28 days, the first shoots will sprout. After the appearance of the first shoots, the soil is fertilized twice: the first - after 2 weeks and after 10 days - the second. The necessary fertilizers can be purchased at the Ogorodnik store.

Important! The direct rays of the sun should not hit the plants.
As for the answer to the question “how often to water the plants”, here it is necessary to adhere to a certain soil moisture, for this watering must be done daily and with settled water at room temperature.

Planting seedlings
The first stage of cultivation has been completed. The first shoots have appeared and now you can proceed to the second stage of growing cucumbers - transplanting seedlings.

To do this, you need to purchase boxes with a double bottom in the store or construct the necessary container from plastic bottles. And the cucumbers on the balcony - growing in plastic bottles - you can see in detail from the photo in the gallery of this article. So that the soil does not dry out, the container must correspond to the proper parameters: height - 20 cm, width - 30 cm, length - 60 cm.

When transplanting ready-made seedlings, you should fill the pots with the previously prepared soil mixture, about 1/3 and pour abundantly with a weak solution of potassium permanganate at room temperature. Then, after 20 minutes, a clod of earth from the cups together with the seedlings must be placed in a box and covered with a substrate. Such a transplant will protect the roots from unwanted damage. Watering the seedlings must be done once a day.

Note. If the windows on the loggia are open and the air temperature is comfortable enough for the plants, the pots should be placed in the place where the gusts of wind are least felt.

The seedlings are transplanted and the growing process takes place within 30-40 days.
Top dressing
If the ideal conditions for growing cucumbers are created on your balcony and the seedlings are developing well enough, watering with water alone is not enough. After two weeks, as the first shoots appeared, you should know how to feed and how to fertilize young plants.

The first feeding, based on 10 liters:

Ammonium nitrate - 5 g;
potassium nitrate - 15 g;
superphosphate - 30 g;
magnesium sulfate - 5 g.
After 10 days, prepare a second top dressing, at the rate of 10 liters:

Dissolve well-rotted bird droppings in water (1:20);
superphosphate -20 g;
potassium sulfate 15 g.
Formation of a cucumber lash
If you have planted varieties that require pollination, they need to be pinched. When and how to pinch plants? To do this, you need to trace when the third leaf appears and cut it off along with the growth point. Then, after 5 days, lateral shoots are formed from the axillary buds, below the first and below the second leaf, from which the main cucumber lashes are later formed. The next pinching must be done through two subsequent sheets. Therefore, planting cucumbers on the balcony, growing and pinching (the video at the end of this article will help you understand all the processes in more detail) are indispensable conditions for the successful further growth of this culture on the balcony.

Since cucumbers are a curly culture, the formed cucumber whip should be tied up. At approximately 1.5 m above the soil surface, the wire should be pulled. From the top of the wire, lower the thickened thread down, tying it to the stem. Then wrap the stem around the thread. If you tie up the plants in this way, it will not damage the growth and create a good support for the plant.

Crop care recommendations
In order for cucumbers to grow safely on a balcony, loggia or veranda, it is necessary to create proper conditions and care for the plants. Fulfilling all the recommendations and requirements of agricultural technology, you will get a fairly good harvest, please not only yourself and your loved ones, but also make stocks of pickled cucumbers for the winter.

Remove antennae about once a week;
periodically loosen the ground around the stem;
pinch;
produce a mandatory garter;
maintain soil moisture daily by spraying;
treat plants with chemicals to protect them from diseases and parasites;
maintain proper climate control;
monitor the duration of the additional lighting.

Evgeny Sedov

When hands grow from the right place, life is more fun :)

Content

This plant is unpretentious to care for and, with proper care, bears many fruits. Even in the absence of your own summer cottage, you can grow your favorite vegetables using a loggia or balcony. All that is needed for this is to properly prepare the room, soil, containers for planting, and choose the variety of cucumbers that is optimal for the home garden.

Selection of cucumber seeds for growing on the balcony

To harvest a good crop grown on a windowsill, the choice of seeds should be approached with special responsibility. The best choice would be hybrid varieties of cucumbers for the balcony, resistant to strong and sudden changes in temperature, which are often observed in spring. The following characteristics of the vegetable should appear on the seed label:

• early maturity;
• developed root system;
• small size (7-8 cm);
• shade tolerance;
• drought resistance;
• short internodes, shoots with numerous ovaries;
• small or medium leaves;
• self-pollinating properties.

Based on the listed requirements, hybrid gherkins will be an ideal solution for growing cucumbers on the balcony. One of the advantages of these varieties is their fixed size (the fruits will not outgrow, even if you are late in picking them). Long-term ripening of such vegetables creates favorable conditions for growing cucumbers up to frost. Today there are more than half a dozen types of such cucumbers. Some of the best hybrid varieties for balcony cultivation include:

• Balcony miracle;
• Balagan;
• Claudia;
• Courage;
• City gherkin.

Conditions for growing cucumbers on the balcony

The vegetable is a heat-loving plant, therefore additional light is needed when growing it. Ideal conditions for harvesting crispy cucumbers can be created on the balconies located on the southeast, east and south sides. At the same time, the plantings will receive a sufficient amount of heat and light. To protect the plants from drafts and wind, the loggia must be insulated and glazed.

If there are sudden changes in temperature on the balcony, it is recommended to take care of additional heating, and in poor lighting conditions, an artificial light source that will extend daylight hours and stimulate the development of seedlings. In addition, regular watering and fertilization is important to obtain a good harvest. The cucumbers on the balcony are susceptible to some pests that are common in the city - thrips and spider mites. Both pests are almost invisible, but as their number increases, the consequences for plants will be devastating.

If you decide to grow cucumbers on the balcony, it is important to think over the climate control system, otherwise the seedlings will die with the first frost. For the convenience of location and saving space, ordinary containers for indoor flowers are suitable. Their indisputable advantage, besides compactness, is a wide range of sizes. The maximum length of such containers is 85 cm, the minimum width is 15 cm.

Stages of growing cucumbers on the balcony

To obtain a stable high-quality harvest on the balcony, the desire to grow cucumbers alone will not be enough. Planting care involves a set of measures and rules that cannot be neglected. Growing cucumbers on the balcony requires patience and requires optimal conditions. To ensure the latter, you will have to spend time on re-equipping the room - installing additional lighting, ventilation, and a heating element. This will help increase the length of daylight hours and positively affect the development of plants.

Soil preparation

Before planting seedlings in pots, you should prepare a special soil mixture - soil saturated with trace elements and other nutrients. This will ensure active growth and healthy development of crops. Several different compositions are suitable for cucumbers, the optimal recipe is selected empirically. Soil options for growing crops on the balcony:

1. Composition No. 1. All components are taken in the same amount - 5 liters. Mix turf, peat, compost, sawdust, ash. Pour the mixture into a large container or onto a film spread on the ground, mix and moisten with a solution of potassium permanganate in order to disinfect the soil.
2. Composition No. 2. The same components are used as in the first composition. 10 g of nitrophoska and 8 g of urea are added to 1 bucket of the mixture. The mass is thoroughly mixed in order to achieve an even distribution of substances.
3. Composition No. 3. Combine 5 liters of compost and sod, 0.4 kg of ash, 50 g of lime and 15 g of complex fertilizer. Stir the mixture until smooth, transfer to a bag and bury to a shallow depth. After 10 days, the decayed mass will acquire friability and become suitable for planting seeds. To prevent infections and viruses, the soil is treated with a solution of potassium permanganate (dilute it, following the instructions on the package).

Choosing a pot for planting

Growing cucumbers at home involves frequent watering. To prevent root decay, planting containers are chosen with a double bottom. This will allow excess liquid to drain into the sump. When choosing a container, it is important to remember that the optimal volume of containers for cucumbers is at least 4-5 liters (when planting 1 plant in a pot). If it is not possible to purchase special containers, you can use large-volume plastic bottles with darkened walls. In this case, holes are made at the bottom to drain excess water.

Since metal containers rust under the influence of water, they must not be used for seedlings. The best option is plastic containers. An important nuance in preparing pots for planting cucumbers on the balcony is to ensure drainage. As the latter, gardeners recommend using crushed stone, expanded clay or special mixtures from flower shops.

Planting seeds

After the variety of cucumbers is selected and the seeds are purchased, it is important to study the rules and follow the process of growing the latter. Often the packaging with planting material contains detailed instructions for carrying out garden work. There, in addition, the time that passes from the moment the first shoots appear to fruiting is indicated. If your balcony is insulated and equipped with additional lamps, you can sow cucumbers even in winter in order to get the first harvest by spring. The plant is planted in two ways:

1. With the help of germination. A slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate is prepared in a small container and the seeds are placed there for 20 minutes. After the liquid is drained, the gauze is folded several times and soaked in water, planting material is placed on it. When the seeds burst and sprout (this happens after a couple of days), they need to be planted in the ground. For this purpose, the smallest flower pots or plastic cups with opaque walls are suitable to protect the roots from the adverse effects of UV radiation. If it is decided to use one common box for seeds, after the emergence of seedlings, they must be planted in separate containers. When the cucumbers are planted, the pots should be covered with plastic wrap until sprouting and placed in a warm place.
2. By planting dry seeds. Small depressions are made in pots with soil (holes are formed in long containers at a distance of 30–35 cm from each other). 2 seeds are placed in each groove to ensure that shoots are obtained. The seeds are deepened by 1.5 cm, sprinkled with earth. After it is necessary to moisten the soil and cover with foil until shoots appear. The recommended room temperature is 23-25 ​​degrees. If 2 sprouts appear in one hole at once, the weakest is cut off with a sharp knife.

Seed care

3-4 days after sowing the seeds, the cups are transferred to the windowsill, where it is warm and a lot of sunlight necessary for the normal growth and development of plants. Since the sprouts are afraid of low temperatures, you need to take them to another room during airing or cover them with a towel. If the room in which the seedlings are standing is not bright enough, artificial lighting lamps must be used. They need to be positioned so that green shoots are not in the immediate vicinity of the device.

It is important that direct sunlight does not fall on the plants. Growing cucumbers in an apartment involves the following activities:

1. Watering. The seedlings are moistened once daily using settled water at room temperature. If additional lighting devices are used, watering is carried out twice a day. When draining liquid through the drain hole of the container, you need to reduce the amount of water or water the plants less often.
2. Top dressing. In order for the shoots to get stronger and start well on the balcony, the seedlings are kept on the windowsill for at least a month. At this time, the sprouts are actively developing, so gardeners recommend 2-3 additional fertilizing at this stage. Urea will be the easiest and most effective fertilizer to prepare. It is used in the calculation of 1 tbsp. l. 3 liters of water, while half a glass of the finished solution is poured onto 1 shoot. An alternative option is a feeding mixture of 4 g of ammonium nitrate, 4 g of magnesium sulfate, 25 g of superphosphate and 12 g of potassium nitrate per 8 liters of water.

Transplanting seedlings

When 2-3 true leaves appear on the plants, they begin to transplant seedlings. By this time, it is necessary to prepare the double bottom boxes (they are sold in gardening stores). When choosing a container, it is important to pay attention to the size. A container 60 cm long, 30 cm wide and about 20 cm high will be optimal for growing cucumbers on the balcony. Such dimensions will allow plants to develop normally, while moisture will remain in the soil for a long time. To transplant seedlings, you must adhere to the following procedure:

• fill the containers with ½ earth, pour it well with a weak solution of potassium permanganate;
• after 20-30 minutes, carefully remove the sprout from the glass and place it together with a lump of earth into a prepared container;
• add enough soil to keep the plant firmly in place.

Watering the transplanted seedlings is necessary almost daily. To do this, use slightly warm, settled water. To make young cucumbers comfortable, they need to be protected from any drafts. If you want to open windows on the balcony, containers with plants should be temporarily moved to a place where gusts of wind will not be felt. After transplanting cucumbers, it should take about 40-50 days (depending on the variety) before the first harvest is obtained.

Top dressing

Fertilizing cucumbers is an important prerequisite for a rich harvest. It is not enough to simply water the plantings for the plant to develop correctly and grow actively. Experienced gardeners recommend feeding the cucumbers twice - 14 days after the leaves hatch and after another 10 days. The fertilizer compositions will be as follows:

1. For the first feeding. For 10 liters of water, take 5 g of ammonium nitrate, 15 g of potassium nitrate, 30 g of superphosphate, 5 g of magnesium sulfate.
2. For the second feeding. For the same amount of water, you need to take 20 g of superphosphate, 15 g of potassium sulfate and chicken manure diluted in water.

Cucumber care rules

The process of growing crops on the balcony requires increased attention and compliance with certain requirements. Only if all the recommendations are followed will it be possible to get a stable, rich harvest. Cucumber care implies.