How to plant overgrown cucumber seedlings: step-by-step instructions

Cucumbers

When shoots and leaves become thinner, the vegetable cannot grow and develop properly—this indicates that the seedlings are overgrown. This can lead to a variety of problems, from root rot to various viruses and even the complete death of the plant. Once the causes are identified, you can plant cucumber seedlings correctly without harming the future harvest. These seedlings can be transplanted into a greenhouse or into open ground. Overgrown cucumbers are caused by improper care.

Why did the cucumber seedlings outgrow?

Growing high-quality, healthy seedlings isn't easy. They often rot, dry out, spoil, or become overgrown. It's a shame when the hard-won sprouts can't be planted in the ground because they simply won't take root.

Please note!

Overgrown seedlings are usually long and thin, not as dense as usual.

When something goes wrong, it's easy to spot. In this case, a change in care is required. Why seedlings can overgrow:

Lack of space during cultivation. Cucumbers are sun-loving plants. For normal development, they require constant access to light. If the sprouts don't receive enough sun, they stretch toward the light, thinning out. This often happens when the distance between plantings isn't maintained. Planting requires concentration and attention. Maintain a minimum distance of 10 cm between plantings. This will allow each sprout enough space to emerge and bloom, and the leaves won't block each other's access to sun and light.
Growing containers are too spacious. Paradoxically, too much space and air leads to a lack of nutrients, which is why plants can't thrive.
Insufficient light. If the seedlings are simply sitting on a windowsill on a non-sunny side of the apartment, they're likely not getting enough light. This causes a situation similar to a lack of space: the petals stretch and thin out in search of sunlight, as seen in the video.
Incorrect nutrition. Cucumbers require additional feeding even when the bush is still developing. Insufficient nutrition leads to drying out, but too much fertilizer causes overgrowth and rot.
Excessively high air and soil temperatures. This is a common cause of overgrowth. Gardeners often assume that too many nutrients are beneficial for growth. However, logically, too much leads to the planted seedlings developing too quickly and eventually dying. Even at temperatures above 25°C ^OThe sprouts bend, become thinner, stretch out and die.
Early picking. The benefits of this procedure for growing cucumbers are still debated. However, picking stems that haven't yet matured is guaranteed to be detrimental. Consequently, cucumbers that have become overgrown due to this are dangerous to plant in the ground.

Once you've identified the causes, it's easier to address them. Then you'll be able to choose the right transplanting technique. Planting overgrown cucumber seedlings in open ground should be gentle, not traumatic.

How to plant overgrown cucumber seedlings

Planting overgrown cucumber seedlings in the ground is not only possible, but also necessary. Overgrown seedlings are characterized by the emergence of elongated shoots long before they need to be planted in open ground. These shoots sometimes reach 15-20 cm—a very long distance. Such seedlings are unlikely to grow into vigorous vegetables. They will likely fail to even be transplanted and will die at that point. Therefore, when planting overgrown cucumber seedlings in a greenhouse or open ground, extreme care must be taken.

Advice!

Before planting, wrap the thin sprouts tightly in a soft cloth. This will prevent them from breaking.

Carefully transfer the branch to a pre-prepared hole and cover with soil. If the seedlings were grown in individual cups, you can wrap a bandage around the container just before planting. This ensures that all the sprouts will survive.

There's no need to remove the vegetable from the cup before planting it in the ground—simply cut off the bottom and bury it in the soil. The roots will begin to grow through this hole. the cucumber seedlings have outgrown, necessary:

follow the planting pattern;
carry out preliminary soil preparation;
provide high-quality care for already planted seedlings.

Outgrown cucumber seedlings in open ground It's best to plant early in the morning or in the evening after sunset. These weather conditions reduce the risk of root damage.

Planting patterns

To prevent further plant death, it's important to choose the right planting pattern. This involves maintaining optimal spacing between plants. There are two basic patterns for planting cucumbers in soil:

70x30 cm. This standard layout isn't always suitable for planting overgrown cucumbers. It should only be used in areas with constant, daytime sun.
80x50 cm. This is the optimal layout for growing overgrown seedlings. In this case, you can plant the shoots in a prone position; there's plenty of space. Planted at this distance, the plants will receive sufficient sunlight, meaning they'll thrive.

Preparing for transplanting into soil

Before planting overgrown cucumber seedlings in the ground, they must be carefully prepared. First, they need to be hardened off. Begin hardening off with two hours a day in direct sunlight. Ideally, the weather at this time is damp and cloudy. Each day, the number of hours spent outdoors should increase until they reach a full day. On the final day of hardening off, the seedlings can even be left outside overnight, covered with plastic.

Next, be sure to trim the bottom two rows of leaves. You can create a sort of cardboard tube on the bottom of the stem.

will provide support for the cucumber;
will prevent further growth;
At the same time, additional strong young roots will begin to form.

There is no need to additionally fertilize the plantings before planting, this can only harm the plants.

Is it possible to plant seedlings deeper?

Overgrown cucumbers can be planted deeper. This method is more effective if the seedling is folded into a spiral across the entire width of the hole or planted at an angle, sideways. The maximum depth is 5-7 cm; planting the seedlings deeper is pointless, as it can only cause harm.

Please note!

In a few days, roots will begin to grow, and later, lush foliage will be restored.

Planting cucumbers in holes

The holes in the beds are prepared in advance. The soil is loosened and fertilized with beneficial microelements and minerals. Ash or insect repellent can be added to the bottom. Water is added to the hole, approximately halfway up. After planting the bush, cover it with soil, creating a depression. This prevents moisture from evaporating too quickly. To retain heat and maintain humidity, cover the top with:

grass;
hay.

Instead of grass, you can use a special, breathable covering fabric. If using a covering material, make holes in it beforehand, and then plant the young plants through these holes into the open ground.

How to plant cucumber seedlings in open ground

Procedure:

Dig a bed of a size suitable for a particular area.
Place the soil in a wheelbarrow or in a separate place.
Cut off three rows of lower leaves.
Place the shoots in the trenches almost completely horizontally. Place the roots close to them.
Insert supports near the tops.
Cover tightly with soil, leaving the tops with leaves exposed to the air.
Provide abundant watering of the place where the roots are placed.
After planting, water only after two weeks.

Don't worry if the overgrown plants are lying on the bare ground at first. They'll get up after they've adapted.

How to plant cucumber seedlings in a greenhouse

Overgrown cucumbers are planted in a greenhouse in early to mid-May. However, during this period, it's still important to keep in mind that if the greenhouse isn't heated, additional cover will be necessary. The optimal daytime temperature for cucumber seedlings to thrive is 22°C. ^OC, and at night – 16. In a greenhouse, the soil requires:

loosen;
treat with nutrients.

Applying humus, peat, and compost will also help. Choosing the right location is important. Overgrown plants should not be planted in soil where blight-infected vegetables have been grown for the past two or three seasons. Sand the soil well. Space plants at least 30 cm apart in the greenhouse to prevent them from interfering with each other's growth.

Please note!

In a greenhouse, it's important to water seedlings very carefully. Water drains more slowly, which can lead to rot and root damage.

Post-planting care for elongated seedlings

Recently transplanted overgrown cucumbers require more thorough care than standard plantings. Here are the basic guidelines:

The soil shouldn't dry out. Cucumbers love moisture; it helps them accumulate and restore their strength.
Timely staking. Thin and fragile stems are best carefully tied immediately after planting. This is best done from above, without tugging too tightly.
Loosening and fertilizing. Fertilizing, loosening the soil, and any other manipulations can only be done after a week. During this time, the plants will adapt to the new soil.
In case of sudden temperature changes and the threat of frost, even greenhouse cucumbers must be covered with perforated film.
It is better to use a fertilizer that stimulates the growth of roots, rather than the foliage of the plant.
It's best to prune the primrose. This will stimulate better root development.

To properly plant overgrown cucumber seedlings, you must follow all the rules. Otherwise, the entire crop may be lost.