DIY cucumber greenhouses and hotbeds: types, tips, step-by-step photos

Growing cucumbers in garden plots is common in our country. The vegetable is consumed fresh or canned. When growing cucumbers, it's important to meet a number of conditions, including avoiding direct sunlight, adequate watering, and maintaining a consistent temperature. Special structures help meet the climatic requirements of all zones. Many gardeners decide to build their own cucumber greenhouses using photo instructions and blueprints.

Farming has led humans to develop a convenient way to grow vegetables (including cucumbers)—the greenhouse. However, on a plot of land less than five acres (500 square meters), installing such a structure is difficult. A simplified alternative is a hotbed. This structure easily creates the necessary conditions for growing vegetables. Building a cucumber greenhouse yourself, using photos and videos, is straightforward.

A number of design types have been developed for DIY construction. They differ in appearance, size, building materials, and shape.

About the greenhouse – materials, advantages and disadvantages

The cost of constructing a greenhouse is higher than that of building a greenhouse. The main reason is the material, which must be highly resistant to external factors.

DIY cucumber greenhouses are permanent structures suitable for use year-round. During construction, a number of rules must be followed to ensure the structure fulfills its intended purpose.

Distinctive features of the greenhouse:

• installation requires a stationary location, there is no element of mobility;
• large dimensions compared to a greenhouse;
• a solid frame that allows the structure to withstand the impact of external factors;
• High-strength material is used for the coating.

When building a cucumber greenhouse yourself, it's important to consider that people will be in the space quite frequently. Therefore, safety regulations, including fire safety, must be strictly observed.

Required elements of a greenhouse:

• concrete base;
• frame;
• covering cloth;
• irrigation mechanism (usually a hydraulic cylinder);
• opening elements (for ventilation of the room);
• heating and lighting systems;
• doorway.

For additional convenience and ventilation, two doorways are installed in large greenhouses.

Diversity of species

Homemade greenhouses and hothouses should protect the plants from adverse external factors. However, in hothouses, the covering material also serves another purpose: illuminating the interior and providing the plants with natural light.

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The second option for constructing a structure for growing cucumbers involves digging a pit (foundation pit). This pit is then covered with any material that allows daylight to pass through.

Important: Due to its design, this greenhouse is only suitable for growing seedlings. It is impossible to ensure the full growth of seedlings.

Constructive diversity

Today, there are a number of structures that are used for cultivating vegetable crops, including cucumbers.

The arch-like structure is divided into two subtypes:

• capital structures - installed on a frame assembled from wood, slate, made of polycarbonate, as well as profile pipes, and are used for three years;
• Collapsible structures - film or covering material is fixed on arches and serves to protect seedlings from frosts, which are typical at the beginning of spring.

Common types of construction include single- and double-pitched structures. These cucumber greenhouses are made of wood, and glass, polycarbonate, or film are suitable as covering materials.

In particularly cold climates, greenhouses called sunken greenhouses due to their location are common. Wooden beams and frames, always double-glazed, are recommended materials. Seedlings are planted in these structures even if the snow hasn't completely melted. Straw placed along the edges provides additional thermal insulation.

Today, the industry offers options for prefabricated structures. However, with the help of numerous photos and videos, it's easy to learn how to build a cucumber greenhouse yourself. You can build one yourself. greenhouse made of polypropylene pipes.

Materials used

Various materials are used to construct structures for growing cucumbers. The frame is made from:

Boards and wooden blocks

The material's natural strength is an undeniable advantage. Furthermore, its low thermal conductivity allows the structure to retain heat even in critically low temperatures. However, wood is susceptible to rot, requiring treatment with special compounds.

Pipes made of plastic and related materials

They are easy to install and maintain, and are resistant to rot. However, their lack of durability is cited as a drawback. Furthermore, cucumber greenhouses made from plastic pipes cannot be combined with glass.

A profile used in construction for fixing plasterboardsArtona

Metal profiles are resistant to rot and heavy loads. They are easy to disinfect. However, cold spots may develop in greenhouses made of this material.

The following materials are used to cover the frame:

Ppolyethylene tape, covering material

It boasts a low market price and is easy to install. It's a versatile material that complements any structure. It does have a number of drawbacks, including instability in the face of external factors and poor thermal insulation.

WITHpolycarbonate

A lightweight material, it boasts high thermal insulation and light transmittance. However, polycarbonate is fragile and expensive, making it susceptible to mechanical impact.

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A simple but effective greenhouse

Many gardeners strive to harvest cucumbers as early as possible. The best solution for this is a sunken greenhouse. The secret to its effectiveness lies in its insulated walls and natural heating.

As shown in the photo, a recessed greenhouse for cucumbers is easy to make yourself using window frames. Its undeniable advantages include:

• structural strength;
• high thermal insulation;
• the opportunity to plant seedlings and harvest before the thaw sets in.

Among the disadvantages, greenhouse users cite inconvenient access and poor ventilation.

In addition to window frames, you will need timber (the foundation is made from it), peat (can be replaced with straw), and organic matter.

Construction of a cucumber greenhouse begins as soon as the snow melts and the topsoil thaws. A trench is dug, 50 to 60 cm deep and no more than 100 cm wide. The length is determined by the number of cucumbers to be planted. If the soil is loose, the walls should be reinforced with boards.

The bottom of the dug trench is covered with a layer of manure mixed with sawdust or straw. This layer must be compacted. Next, add 20 cm of soil. Straw is placed on top. This material acts as a thermal insulator and also prevents weed growth.

The next step in building a cucumber greenhouse yourself, as the photo shows, is constructing the frame. Brick, slate, or boards are all suitable. The outer walls are lined with peat for thermal insulation. Some gardeners use compressed straw bales, which not only support the weight of the frames but also retain heat within the greenhouse.

The window frames are placed on the prepared frame. The advantage of using boards as the frame material is that hinges can be easily attached to them. This ensures ease of use of the structure.

Fourteen to 21 days before planting the seedlings, water the soil with boiling water, cover with a layer of plastic film, and place it on top of the frame. These conditions will promote warming of the organic matter and the soil itself, as well as the greenhouse.

Planting seeds or seedlings in a deep greenhouse occurs in late March or early April (depending on the region's climate). Constant humidity and temperature are maintained in the structure, even if the ambient temperature drops below freezing. Additional thermal insulation is provided by covering the greenhouse with straw at night. Alternatively, you can build a polycarbonate greenhouse on a frame.

Selecting a location

Cucumbers are known to be intolerant of excessive heat and direct sunlight on their foliage. Experienced gardeners recommend positioning the greenhouse so that the sides are illuminated from east to west—this ensures maximum illumination of the interior.

If the structure is installed in an open area, it's best to orient the greenhouse north to south. This orientation will ensure the plants receive full morning and evening sunlight without scorching their foliage.

The end wall is additionally shaded with polycarbonate to protect the plants from midday sun. The video provides a detailed explanation of the correct orientation of the greenhouse.

For installing a greenhouse, it's best to choose a flat area of ​​the site. Elevation differences are avoided, as this will ensure even distribution of moisture in the soil. Avoiding steep inclines and declines will ensure easy access for materials, maintenance, and watering.

It is recommended to create a clear space around the structure. This will allow for necessary repairs, installation, or, conversely, removal of additional insulation.

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Dimensions of the structure

When building a greenhouse for cucumbers yourself, a number of factors come into play. Calculating the dimensions is no small factor. In gardening, the following rule applies:

It is better to plant no more than three bushes per square meter of soil to ensure sufficient lighting and even distribution of nutrients.

The dimensions of the structure are also affected by the factory dimensions of the materials used. For example, polycarbonate sheets are 2.1 meters wide, so the greenhouse dimensions must be a multiple of two.

Regarding height, the optimal figure is 130 cm. This size will allow the plants to grow freely. At the same time, a homemade cucumber greenhouse will warm up thoroughly, minimizing heat loss.

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