To grow cucumbers and get an early harvest, it's practically impossible to do without building a special greenhouse. This simple process will ensure the right balance of humidity, temperature, and lighting depending on the plants' growth stages. You can build a cucumber greenhouse yourself using readily available materials; the steps are shown below in the photos.
What types of arched greenhouses are there?
Arched greenhouses can be permanent or portable, depending on the gardener's preference. Collapsible greenhouses are installed for planting cucumbers in the ground in early spring, with the cover then removed. After removal, the plants remain in the open ground throughout the season. Non-collapsible greenhouses are designed to last for several seasons and require the plants to remain under cover until autumn.
Gable or single-pitched greenhouses are made from metal profiles and pipes covered with film or polycarbonate. How to do it right DIY greenhouse for cucumbers from materials available at home, see photo.
Sunken greenhouses are ideal for areas with late, frosty springs. They are typically covered with glass, and the edges of the pit are lined with straw to retain heat.
You may be interested in:Determination of sizes
Before you begin building a greenhouse, you should decide on its dimensions, taking into account the fact that no more than three cucumber bushes can grow in one square meter.
Otherwise, plants will interfere with each other as they grow, creating unnecessary shading.
Once you've decided on the number of holes, don't forget about the covering material. Using film will not present any additional difficulties, as you can create a sheet of the required area.
If the aspect is made on polycarbonate, it is worth remembering that the width of one sheet does not exceed 2.1 meters.
The height of the greenhouse should not be higher than 1.3 meters to ensure heating and good penetration of light not only to the tops of the plants, but also to the root system.
Choosing a location
When planning the location of your future greenhouse, it's important to remember that cucumbers don't like direct sunlight, so light shading can extend the life of the plants.
Before installing the structure, the soil for a homemade greenhouse, made using available materials, should be prepared by digging and adding organic fertilizer, as shown in the photo. It should be level and completely ready for sowing seeds.
Greenhouse made of polyethylene covering
The simplest and most common design is one made of arcs covered with film.
It is assembled and installed in the spring and disassembled in the fall.
- First, a wooden box of the required size is created and treated with antiseptic agents to increase its service life.
- After this, pieces of rebar 40-60 cm in size are cut and hammered into the ground. These will serve as the base for attaching the plastic arches, which can be purchased or made from regular plastic pipes by bending them.
- After installing the arches, you need to make a tie by attaching a pipe to the top of the greenhouse and then securing it with wire.
- After the frame is constructed, the film is stretched over the top. This requires careful consideration of optimal mounting options, which will determine the size of the film.
Construction made of wood or polycarbonate
Such greenhouses require more time to manufacture and materials, but are more durable and dense.
You may be interested in:The lower frame is made from a wooden block to the desired dimensions and shape. The corner posts should be the same dimensions as the base. All posts are connected into a single structure using screws and corner brackets.
Since the prefabricated frame is heavy, it's best to install it on a pre-prepared brick or timber foundation. Once the structure is secure, the greenhouse walls are sheathed with polycarbonate.
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To greenhouse for cucumbers Made by hand from scrap materials, it lasted a long time. It is advisable to use reinforced film, see photo.
Recessed greenhouse
This unique design is ideal for small spaces and cold climates. After determining the dimensions, a trench 50-60 cm deep and up to 1 meter wide is dug. The trench walls are reinforced with boards and filled with biofuel (sawdust, humus).
The top is covered with straw, after which a shelter is installed using windows or polycarbonate. The soil must be thoroughly warmed before planting cucumbers in such a greenhouse; otherwise, there is a high risk of seed rot or weak seedlings.