Features of covering materials for cucumbers

Cucumbers

Climate conditions in many regions prevent the cultivation of heat-loving crops in open ground, so greenhouses or coverings are used. Grow cucumbers on plastic without frequent watering., Weeding and hilling can be done not only in unstable weather, but also when you want to get the harvest 3-4 weeks earlier. To use covering material correctly, you need to know its properties and areas of application.

Spunbond and agrofibre – properties and differences

At the end of the 20th century, a material named spunbond, based on its specific production technology, was invented for industrial purposes. It is produced by melting a polymer and forcing thin threads through a stream of air. These threads are then laid into a fabric of varying widths (up to 4 m) and densities ranging from 17 to 600 g/m². Its applications range from medicine to construction.

Read alsoCovering material for plant care: features of use Spring is a busy time for all summer residents and gardeners. During this period, unexpected frosts often occur, requiring protection from young shoots. In addition to the usual…

Main characteristics:

lightweight, soft – easy to transport, cut, roll, secure, and stretch onto any structure;
It allows air to pass through and does not create a “greenhouse effect” underneath it;
excellent thermal insulator;
non-toxic – no adhesives are used in production;
has increased wear resistance and strength;
long service life;
does not rot, corrode, mold, or accumulate static electricity;
does not lose its properties at low (up to -55 °C) and high (up to +130 °C) temperatures;
resistant to acids, alkalis, and chemicals.

https://youtu.be/EZyZTirY8HY

With additional processing, we obtained a material with new properties required in various sectors of agriculture and light industry:

agrofibre (agrospan, spunbond SUF) – contains stabilizers that neutralise the effects of sunlight and increase the service life of the material;
colored spunbond – obtained using dyes;
laminated – air- and moisture-proof.

Note!

The term "spunbond" is used as a general term for polypropylene nonwoven materials. In agriculture, a material with a density of 17 to 80 g/m²—called agrofibre—is used. Most often, when used as a covering material, it is called spunbond or agrospan.

Agrofibre and spunbond have a significant difference: the former is weather-resistant, while spunbond, intended for industrial purposes, is not. When purchasing a material, pay attention to its density and intended use.

Types of spunbond - characteristics, applications

Agrofibre is made from environmentally friendly polypropylene. The material has a fibrous structure, so it is available in different densities depending on its intended use.

Types and purposes:

use in open areas – white, density 17-30 g/m²;
greenhouse or hotbed cover – white, density 30-60 g/m²;
as a mulching covering – black, density 50-60 g/m²;
for mulching beds with vegetable and berry crops - black and white, density 50 g/m² (the black layer is mulch, the white one is protection from ultraviolet radiation and overheating of the root system);
protection of bushes, trees, flowers, and vegetable crops from adverse weather conditions – red-white, red-yellow material.

Application of white spunbond

Agrospan is a successful replacement for polyethylene film—it can be used to cover plantings in garden beds and greenhouses, and it's also used to construct hotbeds and small greenhouses. It's used as a covering material year-round—in winter, it provides protection from frost, and in the warmer months, it protects against bright sun, wind, and hail. The non-woven fabric is easy to remove and re-stretch, depending on the weather.

For plants that require a lot of light, a thin white cloth with a low density (17, 19, 23 g/m²) is suitable – it is used to cover areas with seedlings and crops. The material is very lightweight, so it will not harm young, tender seedlings. Its drawback is its weak frost protection. At a density of 17 g/m², it protects from frost down to -3°C, at 19 g/m² – down to -4°C, and at 23 g/m² – down to -5°C.

Information!

Agrofibre with a density of 17 g/m² transmits 80% of light, while with a density of 60 g/m² it transmits only 65%.

A thicker white fabric (30 and 42 g/m²) is used for constructing greenhouses. A thinner fabric is stretched over arches 30-35 cm high, while a thicker material is used for higher arches. It provides good protection from light frosts (down to -6°C), cold drafts, hail, and snow, but transmits less light than thinner fabric. It is recommended for covering crops that do not require much light.

Black spunbond - how to use

Black agrofibre has a density of 50 and 60 g/m² and does not allow sunlight to pass through, so it is not suitable for growing plants; it is used as a mulch cover. It retains heat well, creating a microclimate in the bed, inhibits weed growth, and the fruit does not come into contact with the soil and remains clean.

The fabric is laid out, and holes are cut for seedlings or sowing seeds. Weeds that interfere with the growth of cultivated plants are prevented from growing underneath it, and there is no room for rot or mold to develop, while moisture and light flow through the slits in the right quantities.

Spunbond for growing cucumbers: pros and cons

Until recently, beds were covered with plastic film, which quickly lost its ability to transmit light. If not ventilated, plants would rot and rot under it, mold would appear, and the film would become rough and unsuitable for covering. Now, growing cucumbers under spunbond has become a common agricultural practice—convenient and cost-effective. Compared to plastic film, it has many more advantages:

lightweight, easy to use, can be sewn, cut, glued, and given the desired shape;
Depending on the purpose of use, there is a choice of options: a thin white cloth for covering directly on the ridge, a thicker one for a greenhouse or hotbed, or a black one for mulching;
There is no greenhouse effect underneath it – the material is breathable and there is no need for ventilation;
provides good illumination while protecting against ultraviolet rays;
no need to remove when watering – the non-woven base is permeable to water;
provides reliable protection against insect pests and weeds;
protects from frost (up to – 10 °C at a density of 60 g/m²);
the film gradually becomes cloudy and transmits little light, while non-woven material does not lose this ability;
can be used for several seasons.

How to use spunbond for cucumbers – recommendations

There are many ways to use nonwoven fabric: in a greenhouse with a multi-layer cover, planting seedlings on film and covering with agrospan, sun protection in a greenhouse, covering seedbeds when sowing seeds, etc. When choosing any option, it's important to consider the properties of the material to create optimal conditions for cucumbers.

Planting seedlings in a greenhouse on spunbond

On black spunbond Cucumber seedlings can be planted in a greenhouse or in open ground—it all depends on the climate. The double-cover planting option (greenhouse + hotbed) allows for an early harvest, while the hotbed option is suitable for areas with unstable spring weather and temperature fluctuations.

How to plant:

build a bed measuring 1.2 x 6 m, level the surface with a rake, cover with black agrofibre (1.5 x 6.2 m);
step back 40 cm from each edge of the film, draw lines with chalk (the distance between them will be 70 cm), make cross-shaped cuts 10 x 10 cm at intervals of 30 cm;
After marking the edges of the film, sprinkle it with soil to secure it (you can dig shallow grooves and seal the edges of the film in them);
Use a spatula to select a section of soil, add humus, ash (a handful), and complex fertilizer (1 teaspoon) to the hole, mix, and water;
plant the seedlings, cover them with the removed soil, water them;
place the arches at the same distance from each other, stretch a white fabric with a density of 30-60 g/m²;
After the vines have grown and the film is no longer needed, you can stretch a wire between the arches and tie the cucumbers to it;
Moderate watering should be carried out in the evening with water that has warmed up during the day, based on the soil moisture, and feeding at the roots with an infusion of greens every 10 days.

Note!

Recipe for green infusion: 12 liters of water + chopped nettle, celandine + horse manure or bird droppings (0.5 l) + superphosphate (2 tbsp) + growth regulator Rostmoment (1 tbsp), leave to infuse until the fermentation process is complete, strain, use in a solution (1 liter of infusion + 10 liters of water).

Advantages of this method:

the material is used repeatedly - it is removed in the fall and put back into use in the spring;
no weeding is required – the grass rots under the cover;
moisture evaporation is very slow, watering is infrequent;
there is no contact between the plant and the soil, which prevents infection;
economical use of fertilizers – applied only to the hole, and not to the entire bed;
fruiting is long-lasting, cucumbers are always clean;
there are no sudden temperature changes, which affects the taste of the fruit - they are not bitter;
When the nights are cold and dew falls, it is convenient to close (open) the greenhouse.

Sowing under spunbond

When you want an early harvest but don't want to bother with seedlings, you can sow cucumbers under agrofibre in a greenhouse or in a bed, building a hotbed over it. Soil the seeds in advance, about a month in advance., The soil is dug over, freed from roots and plant debris, and fertilized with humus (4 kg/m²). It is recommended to make the bed with a slight slope to avoid water stagnation.

Then, to warm and disinfect, water the soil with water heated to 60°C (50-60 l/m²) and immediately cover it with a black sheet. After 2-3 days, the soil is ready and you can begin planting the sprouted cucumber seeds by making small holes. The distance between the holes is determined by the variety and the planting pattern. Place two seeds in each hole, deepening them 1.5-2 cm. Once the seedlings emerge, leave a strong sprout and bring it to the surface. If necessary, you can build a greenhouse over the bed.

Caring for such plantings consists of moderate watering, application of fertilizers, pinching the stem, removing yellowing leaves.

Agrospan is a convenient and multifunctional covering material, so everyone can choose the right option for its use when growing cucumbers.