Planting cucumbers in open ground in the Urals is possible, but it is a very complex process that requires special preparation. After all, cucumber loves warm, humid climates, but in the Urals it is harsh. To plant cucumber seedlings, you need to wait for the ground to completely warm up and for the temperature to be favorable. Basically, all gardeners grow them in the Urals in a greenhouse. But it will be much more interesting to study how to do this for open ground, what rules for planting cucumbers in a greenhouse and open ground, as well as what seeds are good for this area, what to sow for seedlings in 2018.
How to grow cucumbers in open ground in the Urals
Growing cucumbers in the Urals must involve preliminary seed preparation. If you prepare the seeds in advance, carefully select cucumbers for seedlings, harden the plant, prepare them for harsh climate conditions, then there is a high probability that you will pamper your family with delicious, mouth-watering cucumbers in large quantities.
It is better to select three or four of the best varieties of cucumbers at once, which ripen early and are not afraid of changing weather. These may also be hybrids. The weather in the Urals is very changeable, it is impossible to guess whether the year will be fruitful; once every five years there is a completely lean year. Therefore, you should prepare for surprises in advance. Cucumber is a greenhouse plant, a southern vegetable; it prefers to grow in a greenhouse.
This culture comes from hot India. But still, you can plant them in the ground. Just remember to cover it with a special film, warm the soil, and place it in an open space.
Without proper care, you will not be able to achieve the desired harvest. It is also very important not to plant cucumbers with plants that will take all the nutrition from them. If the air temperature is above 16 degrees at night, then this will be a sign that it is already possible to plant seedlings. During the day, the weather should also be good and stable.
Choosing the right seeds
The most suitable cucumber seeds for the Urals in open ground are, first of all, those that are not afraid of the cold and ripen early. The choice of cucumber variety for the Urals also depends on what it is planted for. For pickling and for sale, mid-season varieties are taken, which give a bountiful harvest. The most common seeds for seedlings in 2018 are Izyazhny, Altai, Murom, April F1.Famous cucumbers for pickling seedlings are Vyaznikovsky 37, Nezhinsky, Sibirsky, Erofey, Masha, Muromsky.
Descriptions of these varieties can be studied on websites on the Internet, or on a packet of seeds. There are many types of them. There is a large selection of seeds that could be planted outdoors.
The April F1 variety is resistant to any weather conditions and various tomato diseases. Ideal for conservation, a well-chosen bush for planting in open ground. Erofey adapts very well to cold conditions, is unpretentious, and produces an excellent harvest in any weather. It is good to grow it for fresh eating, it is very tasty and crunchy. Quickly produces a harvest of small fruits.
Hybrid Masha F1 is also not afraid of the Ural cold. Sings quickly and is unpretentious. Resistant to many diseases. Excellent for preservation.
Muromsky 36 is a cucumber variety that produces a very large number of fruits even in prolonged cold conditions. Blooms quickly, early ripening. The fruits are small and crunchy. Ideal for sale.
If cucumbers are selected for seedlings, then it is worth understanding how to sow them and care for them.
How to sow seeds
Planting cucumber seedlings is done by planting seeds. It’s better to take a lot of them, because only the strongest will survive. And it is advisable to take 4 different varieties at once. It is better if the seeds are not very fresh. They are not stored in the refrigerator, but at room temperature.
Seed preparation is a very important link in the entire cucumber growing chain. They are heated in a place where it is warm, in the kitchen, for example. This procedure increases resistance to cold. You can test seeds for germination in salt water. After this, you need to perform a hardening operation. To do this, place them in the refrigerator and then near the battery for a month.
Before planting, you should soak them in warm water.This way they will swell and hatch faster. Before planting, you can treat them in a solution of potassium permanganate. Then rinse a little in clean water. Dry again before planting.
Then you can plant immediately. Those who are used to sprouting can do this. Just plant carefully so as not to damage the roots. Sow as usual: pour soil into containers, mark holes, not too deep, and plant, keeping a distance. It doesn’t take long to wait for properly prepared seeds to hatch.
How to properly care for seedlings
Cucumbers for seedlings should be planted in store-bought soil. Don't forget to feed and water it.
- The right temperature is important to her. Approximately 20 degrees during the day, at night – from 16;
- Good lighting for growth. Just make sure that direct sunlight falls on the foliage. You can make it artificially, or hang it in foil.
- Maintain the distance between the bushes, since the plant really does not like bunching, so less nutrients are supplied;
- Feeding. The first fertilizer is applied after planting two weeks later, the second - when young leaves appear;
- Picking. It is necessary to plant in separate containers if the plants are cramped;
- Hardening. Sometimes it is necessary to ventilate, open windows, and take seedlings outside.
- Good watering. As soon as the soil becomes dry, it is necessary to water. It is important not to overdo it, otherwise mold and mildew may grow. Water under the root with warm water. The foliage is sprayed.
Experienced gardeners know when to plant cucumber seedlings, when they are ready. Before these days, you need to stop watering, turning the soil, and generally touching the seedlings in any way. For them, transplantation is very stressful.
How to plant in open ground
Planting in open ground is a much more complicated process than, when to plant cucumbers in a greenhouse. Before planting cucumbers in the ground, you must first prepare the ground. A cucumber planted in insulated beds has every chance to withstand cold, weather disasters, and produce a lot of tasty fruits. The planted seedlings must certainly be hardened and strong.
You can achieve the greenhouse effect using covering material. There is another interesting way - preparing a warm bed of manure. Two weeks before planting in May, manure is placed on the ground. With the first sun it will heat up and release carbon dioxide. Hay, grass, and branches are placed in each hole. They are covered with the soil that was originally taken from this bed.
Then pour hot water with potassium permanganate - this will give heat. Sprinkle fertile soil on top. You can also add humus, peat, and sand to the soil. Adding lime will help regulate acidity levels. Then you can plant the seedlings, keeping a distance of 30-40 centimeters between the bushes. Then water and cover with protective film.
Review from a gardener: I planted cucumbers in the Urals under double film. They didn’t freeze at all, the harvest was excellent. The hybrid Arina and Voyage were planted for testing. I liked the taste, there was no bitterness, no pain.
The place where to plant the seedlings must be chosen sunny, warm, where there is no wind or drafts. It is also important after which plants the cucumbers will be planted. They should not be planted after the pumpkin and squash family. The best predecessors are beets, onions, greens, carrots, and legumes. They also grow well after potatoes and tomatoes. The soil should be fertile, soft, with normal acidity. It must be carefully loosened constantly.Cover the soil with film for three days to warm it up.
As soon as the earth warms up, you will need to make the planned furrows and water them with warm water. Then you can plant the seedlings that have waited their time. Strengthen the roots with soil. If you need a garter, then you need to tie up the bushes. Then cover with film and do not touch the seedlings for about ten days while they adapt.
Caring for cucumbers in open ground in the Urals
Grown cucumbers need proper care. Since we grow them in conditions of prolonged cold and in open ground, then, therefore, we will have to take care of them carefully. If the seedlings are planted correctly, then the harvest will be healthy and the nutrition will be better supplied to the vegetables. It is necessary to leave a distance between them, and also not to plant them next to similar crops, for example, tomatoes.
Watering once a week is sufficient. It is important not to overdry the soil, otherwise the cucumbers may be bitter. Water with warm water from a watering can. Mulching the soil retains moisture very well. Various fertilizers are used to speed up fruit set, for flowering, and for rapid fruiting. Without fertilizers, you will not get the desired harvest. Cucumber loves ammonium nitrate, potassium, magnesium, ash, and manure.
In good weather, the film can be removed. Ventilating the bushes is very beneficial for cucumbers. It is important to spray plants against insect pests; in open ground they are most susceptible to this scourge. Flies, slugs, and mole crickets constantly plague them. It is also important to spray the foliage against diseases, or dilute special solutions that enrich the roots.
If this is required, then carry out pinching periodically, and also tie it up when planting if the bush is tall. Monitor the level of soil acidity and moisture.
Growing cucumbers in open ground in the Ural region has recently become widespread. Considering natural factors, this is extremely difficult to do, but summer residents have invented many methods and are actively breeding cucumbers this way. By choosing the best varieties, you can implement all planned plantings. The taste of actually grown cucumbers is simply incomparable. Happy harvest!
