Favorable days for planting cucumbers in a greenhouse in 2020 according to the moon

To obtain a bountiful harvest earlier, cucumbers are often grown using seedlings. They thrive in warm conditions, so they are often planted indoors. It's advisable to plant cucumbers as seedlings in 2020 for greenhouses, taking into account favorable and unfavorable days for this process.

Advantages of greenhouse cultivation

The positive side growing cucumbers in a greenhouse is related to the quality of the vegetables grown. In such conditions, it is possible grow cucumber varieties, which have a thin rind. They are distinguished by a delicate flavor. These varieties require greenhouse conditions, where the plants are protected from diseases and microbial penetration. In greenhouse conditions, the harvest can be obtained earlier than usual. Another advantage of greenhouse cultivation is that in the temperate zone, the vegetable can grow until October. Cucumber varieties originally intended for southern regions can also be used.

The grown fruits are characterized by a uniform shape and color because they are not exposed to any external factors. Cucumbers do not come into contact with the soil, and yellow spots are rarely seen on their surface.

Varieties for greenhouses

The main requirement is that the varieties don't require pollination, as attracting insects indoors is difficult. For greenhouses, you can plant completely self-pollinating and parthenocapic cucumber varieties. These hybrids are the most successful. Parthenocapic varieties are almost completely seedless, and those that do produce are tiny. Hybrids with predominantly female flowers grow well in semi-open greenhouses and produce excellent yields. In this case, experienced gardeners recommend planting several bushes with male flowers for better pollination. Chinese varieties and hybrids, intended for salads, are considered good varieties. They are resistant to temperature fluctuations. In a greenhouse, it is advisable to plant several varieties from different companies.

Landing timing based on the moon and regional influences

It's important to adhere to precise planting timing because seeds germinate only at temperatures above 20°C, and the soil must warm to above 15°C. The soil warms up to this temperature in greenhouses at different times across Russia. In the Urals and Siberia, spring weather is very variable, with the possibility of recurrent frosts, so you should expect the soil to warm up by the end of May. Seeds should be sown in April, and the finished seedlings can be planted in an unheated greenhouse a month later.

In central Russia, the sowing period is approximately April 20th. In the Moscow region, vegetable seeds are planted in mid-May, and seedlings in early June. With supplemental lighting, cucumber seeds can be sown for seedlings at any time of year.

The sowing calendar indicates favorable days for planting cucumbers for greenhouses.

Experienced gardeners advise taking the phases of the moon into account. According to the lunar calendar, seeds should not be sown during a full moon.

When you can't plant

If you sow ahead of schedule, the seedlings are unlikely to grow well and be healthy. They won't get enough light, and they'll stretch and become spindly. Reduced photosynthesis will also slow the growth of young seedlings. They'll be weak and fragile, and as a result, you shouldn't expect a good harvest. Weakened plants are often attacked by insect pests and diseases. Delaying planting results in overgrown plants, increasing the risk of their death during transplantation. You can get an excellent harvest year-round by growing cucumbers in a heated greenhouse. You can expect the first fruits to appear 33-38 days after germination.

Seed preparation

Cucumber seeds remain viable for 7-8 years. Gardeners note that fresh seeds have significantly more barren flowers. Two- to four-year-old seeds are considered the best. First, they are calibrated, discarding any that feel too thin. There's a quicker method: pour the seeds into a saline solution, shake, and let sit for 5 minutes. To prepare the solution, dissolve 0.5 tablespoons of salt in 200 ml of water. Any seeds that float to the surface should not be sown.

Fresh seeds or those of unknown origin are recommended to be warmed before sowing. Place them near a heating device for two days. This procedure helps reduce the number of male flowers. Now it's time to disinfect. Seeds from trusted companies don't require this, while others soak them in a concentrated solution of potassium permanganate for 15-20 minutes. Then rinse them in clean water. Soaking in growth stimulating products or fertilizers is also possible, although this is not necessary. If you do so, it's better to use an ash infusion or aloe juice, diluting the latter in 5 parts water.

Many gardeners soak seeds in warm water for 24 hours to swell before sowing them for seedlings. They then dry them slightly, which will make them fall apart more easily. After this procedure, seedlings will emerge slightly earlier than those not soaked, so there's no real need for soaking. Hardening off is considered a useful procedure for open ground, but it's not essential for greenhouses. Another procedure for preparing seeds is germination. To do this, they are immersed in damp sawdust. They remain there until the first root appears, about half the length of the seed. Keep in mind that sowing sprouted seeds is more difficult, but seedlings can be obtained a few days earlier.

Planting and caring for seedlings

Cucumber seeds should be sown a month before planting in the greenhouse. They should be planted at a 45° angle, with the tip pointing upward. To ensure the seedlings acclimate more quickly to the new conditions, the soil should be the same as that in the greenhouse. This soil should generally consist of equal parts humus and turf, and to ensure looseness, 10-15% of the total soil mass should be supplemented with fine steamed sawdust.

Sow the seeds for seedlings in cups, making sure to poke holes in them for drainage. Add prepared soil, leaving a 2 cm margin to allow for additional soil if needed. Place the cucumber seeds among the peas, sprinkle with soil, water with warm water, and cover the cups with plastic wrap. For easier care, place them on a tray and place them in a warm location where the temperature remains around 22°C. Sprouts should appear within 3 days. Dry, unsprouted seeds will germinate within a week. Besides warmth, soil moisture is crucial.

As soon as the seedlings emerge, remove the plastic film and place the cups on west- or south-facing windowsills. Shade is essential, otherwise the delicate leaves will become sunburned. Proper planting and subsequent care are crucial, and they are easy to care for. Water promptly, as soon as the soil dries out, and fertilize with a nutrient solution. Fertilize the seedlings twice, two weeks after emergence. This will help the plants better withstand adverse external influences. Fertilize with specialized organic and mineral fertilizers designed for pumpkins. There is no need to transplant cucumber seedlings.

Drip irrigation is excellent for cucumbers.

Preparing the greenhouse

Before planting in the greenhouse, it's important to properly prepare the site. As soon as autumn arrives, the soil should be tilled to form large clumps. This will allow the soil to freeze thoroughly during the winter. In the spring, the greenhouse should be treated with a sulfur candle, and special protective compounds should be used for the soil. Wooden shelves and supports inside the greenhouse should be painted with oil-based paint. This will kill pests and bacteria that overwinter in the wood.

For cucumber seedlings to grow properly, bloom, and eventually produce abundant fruit, they require warmth. The optimal temperature for cucumbers indoors is considered to be between 22°C and 28°C during the day and between 17°C and 19°C at night. The acceptable temperature range is no more than 5°C to 7°C. If the temperature is higher than this, the seedlings will grow too quickly, the stems will stretch and become weak. If the temperature is too low, growth will slow. Soil temperature must be carefully monitored. Even if cucumber seedlings are planted in a greenhouse in a timely manner, fertilized, and the air is warmed, plants growing in cool soil will not produce a good cucumber harvest.

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Transplanting seedlings into a greenhouse

Seedlings are transplanted into the greenhouse when the temperature reaches at least 18°C. They are placed vertically in the holes. For tall plants, prepare a mixture of equal parts peat and sawdust, which is then covered up to the cotyledon leaves. Carefully dig the stems; this process encourages better root branching and the development of lateral shoots. However, in northern regions, digging is not necessary. In these areas, the most important thing is for the bushes to devote all their energy to fruit formation and ripening. For southern regions, where the growing season is quite long, having many lateral branches is beneficial, as the harvest will be more abundant.

• Transplanting seedlings growing in plastic cups is easy:
• You need to turn the glass over, remembering to hold the sprout.
• Gently tap the bottom and press down on the sides. If the soil ball doesn't come away from the sides, cut them and, grasping the base of the plant with your hand, pull it out along with the soil. To prevent the soil ball from falling apart, hold it firmly in place.
• Carefully place the seedling in the hole, add soil, and compact it. Experienced gardeners advise against bending or pushing the stem too deep, otherwise it will rot and die.
• After planting, the plant needs to be watered.

The following pattern is recommended for planting cucumbers: the bed width should be 90 to 120 cm, the distance between rows should be 0.5 m, and the distance between seedlings, which are arranged in a single line, varies for different varieties. For varieties that produce long vines, the distance should be 20 cm, while for short-vine varieties, it should be 10 cm. Many gardeners prefer to create a circular bed. A pole is placed in the center with a guide rope attached to it. Seedlings are planted around the pole in a circle, spaced 15-20 cm apart.

Cucumber bushes planted this way are easier to tie up, water, and harvest. Accurately determining the right planting dates for cucumbers in the temperate zone is difficult because the weather is not known for its erratic nature. Spring doesn't always bring early warmth. Therefore, experts advise against sowing seeds before April.