DIY Drip Irrigation System for Cucumbers: Step-by-Step Instructions

Cucumbers

Modern gardeners looking to make their work easier can use drip irrigation in their gardens. This requires setting up a simple system, attaching a water tank, and hoses running to each bed. Moisture will be supplied by gravity or with the help of a pump. This method has both advantages and disadvantages, depending on the type of structure chosen.

Benefits of drip irrigation for cucumbers in a greenhouse

Using the drip approach, you can irrigate all your plants using drippers. This method will reduce water consumption.

Please note!

In this way, fertilizers and disease control preparations can be applied to the roots.

Advantages:

moisture is supplied to each bush in measured doses;
the soil is always loose;
no crust forms on the soil;
there is no liquid left on the leaves, so rot will not occur;
no weeds;
less water is needed;
the amount of harvest increases.

Disadvantages of the irrigation system:

the dropper often gets clogged;
the system may be damaged by animals or rodents;
financial investments.

Bitterness in cucumbers is caused by a lack of water. Plenty of water is essential. In hot weather, watering can be done several times a day. It's best to apply the water through a watering can, which will increase the surface area. Proper drip irrigation can help avoid many problems.

Basic rules for watering cucumbers

When watering cucumbers, it's important to proceed carefully and consider the plant's specific needs. The roots are located in the top layer of soil. Moisture doesn't stay there for long, and the surface quickly dries out, causing a water shortage at the roots. The leaves are quite large and evaporate a large amount of water. Fruit formation requires a large amount of water.

Attention!

The basic rule of irrigation is abundant and fairly frequent irrigation of the soil.

Basic requirements:

watering should be near the root;
watering should be done with warm rainwater;
compliance with the watering rate - 1 liter per 1 m²;
when the leaves dry out, the amount of moisture should be increased;
In cool weather, reduce the water supply.

If not watered enough, cucumbers will start to taste bitter. If watered too much, the soil will rot and the plant may become infected. Experienced gardeners recommend watering the plants in the evening. At night, the moisture won't have time to evaporate, and the soil will be able to fully absorb it. If you water in the morning, the soil will dry out quickly, and the cucumbers will suffer from drought.

Maintaining the correct temperature is essential for a good harvest. The optimal temperature for growth is 15-17°C at night and 20-25°C during the day. Sudden temperature changes can cause plant death. Special devices can be used to control the temperature.

Water temperature and growth phases

The water should be well warmed and around 20-25°C. The liquid can be prepared in the evening. During the day, it will warm up to ambient temperature. It shouldn't be hard. To soften the water, you can add citric acid or vinegar. In hot weather, you can water with cool water. This is necessary to revive the plant. However, remember not to let the leaves get wet. In cold weather, the roots stop absorbing liquid. Don't pour boiling water into the soil, as this will kill the plant.

Irrigation techniques and water consumption depend on the weather and plant age. There are two main stages of crop development:

growth period;
fruiting period.

Each stage has its own characteristics. The following are used to supply moisture:

watering can, moistens the soil and air;
hose, use carefully so as not to damage the bush;
bucket, reduces time, you can water under each bush.

Watering should be done immediately after planting. A generous watering anchors the seedling in the soil. Then, reduce the amount of water. Water regularly until flowering begins. Apply approximately 4 liters of water per square meter. This amount of moisture will allow the plant to develop and produce a sufficient number of ovaries. As the foliage begins to grow, reduce the watering.

When small cucumbers emerge, they require more water, applying it every other day. Use about 10 liters per square meter.

Advice!

If the leaves are drying out, you can increase watering. In cool and rainy weather, reduce the water supply.

Humidification in a greenhouse

In a polycarbonate greenhouse, moisture doesn't evaporate much. In cool weather, it's warmer inside the greenhouse than outside. But in hot weather, the temperature increases and drip irrigation in a greenhouse necessary. During hot weather, it is recommended to treat the windows of the structure with:

lime solution;
orthophosphoric acid.

This will slightly lower the temperature and reduce the consumption of drip irrigation. When the first leaves appear, cucumbers are irrigated at a rate of 2 liters per square meter. As fruit sets, the rate is doubled. Adherence to the water consumption guidelines for drip irrigation is essential.

Place the barrel inside the greenhouse. Add only as much liquid as needed. In hot weather, water once every two days, and in cool weather, water once every four days. Drip irrigation for cucumbers in open ground is used at a rate of 5 liters per square meter.

During fruiting, double the rate. During hot weather, water the cucumber daily. During rainy weather, irrigation is not necessary. Stop watering once fruiting has ceased.

How to make a cucumber planter yourself

https://youtu.be/96Ivpedq5ts

Drip irrigation It's not difficult to organize irrigation in a greenhouse or open ground. You need to decide on the planting pattern in advance, assess your ability to monitor the process, and factor in the time it takes to fill the containers. With drip irrigation, water is supplied to each plant through a hose. The distance between the plants and the dripper should be approximately 5 cm. Water is supplied from a barrel using a pump or gravity. The hoses can be clamped with special clamps to ensure a gradual release of moisture.

Materials required for the system:

large capacity;
container stand;
tap;
timer for counting the amount of liters;
connectors;
hoses, tubes.

If watering is to be done using a pump:

capacity;
pump;
hoses and droppers;
pressure regulator;
filter.

The drip irrigation system is installed after planting. Hoses leading from the container to the plants are laid on the ground. The tubes are placed 5 cm from the plants. Holes are made in the hoses, which can be clamped shut.

Reviews

Many gardeners use these systems regularly and are very satisfied with them. They say cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse require more frequent watering, making the installation of a system a viable option.

Ekaterina Nikolaevna, 65 years old

I've been growing cucumbers for a long time. Daily watering had become too much of a hassle. My husband installed a drip system with pipes at our garden. There's a barrel on a raised bed, and water flows into it. It warms up during the day. In the evening, I turn on the faucet, and the water flows through the pipes to the plants. Now I don't have to carry heavy watering cans between the beds. The harvest is bountiful, and the cucumbers are delicious, without any bitterness. I save a lot of time and effort. I recommend it to everyone.

Nikolai Ivanovich, 41 years old

Last year I bought a garden plot. But I can only visit it on weekends. I decided to try growing cucumbers, but I had issues with moisture. A friend recommended using drip irrigation. I bought a barrel and ran hoses to the plants. The soil around it is moist, and the cucumbers don't need water. Now I always have cucumbers. Try it and you'll like it.

To ensure a bountiful harvest, it's essential to follow irrigation recommendations. Proper care, fertilizing, and irrigation are the key to a good harvest. Drip irrigation will also help ensure consistent moisture.