Can you plant peppers and cucumbers in the same greenhouse? Planting tips.

Cucumbers and peppers are two different crops. The former belongs to the gourd family, while the latter belongs to the nightshade genus. To grow cucumbers and peppers together in a greenhouse, you need to arrange them correctly during planting, provide each crop with the necessary care, and provide optimal conditions for their development. Various arrangements are used, such as creating partitions between the plants or planting seedlings in different corners of the structure.

Is it possible to plant cucumbers and peppers in the same greenhouse?

To understand whether it's possible to plant cucumbers and peppers in the same greenhouse and whether this combination is beneficial, it's important to understand the characteristics of both crops. Cucumbers thrive in moisture and warmth, and they grow vigorously, requiring more space in the greenhouse. Peppers prefer a temperate climate, while cucumber seedlings thrive in milder climates. Peppers prefer a well-ventilated area, while cucumbers don't require frequent ventilation and prefer partial shade. However, both crops thrive in high humidity (70%).

If the pepper is hot, it shouldn't be planted close to any vegetables. Otherwise, cross-pollination will result in bitter cucumbers and bitter bell peppers. In this case, a polyethylene divider between the crops in the greenhouse will be necessary.

Features of cultivation

If space is limited in the greenhouse, peppers are planted closer to the sun, as tall cucumbers can more easily reach the light. Cucumber seedlings grow rapidly and are given a larger section of the greenhouse. The plants have similar soil, moisture, and fertilizing requirements.

The soil for the plants can be prepared in the same way: add peat, humus, and sawdust to the garden soil. In a greenhouse, the plants require artificial fertilization. You can set up beehives in the garden and open the greenhouse all day to allow the insects to pollinate the flowers.

Cucumbers and peppers respond well to organic and mineral supplements. Watering cucumbers More often than peppers. Capsicums don't require much moisture; if fungus appears, the roots will quickly rot.

Rules for planting peppers and cucumbers in the same greenhouse:

1. Peppers are planted at the entrance to the greenhouse, covered with film, making holes for air exchange.
2. Cucumbers are placed along the wall; the bushes will climb along the supports, and they will have enough light and warmth.
3. You can plant peppers along the right wall of the greenhouse and cucumbers along the left wall of the structure, with a gap of at least 60 cm between them. This will make it easier to care for the plants and will prevent cross-pollination.
4. If crops are planted close together, it is advisable to hang a curtain between them.
5. Dividing the greenhouse with partitions will solve the problem of maintenance; suitable materials include polyethylene, plywood, slate, and boards.

Secrets of Compatibility

When planting peppers and cucumbers, it's important to consider the plants' different growth habits. While cucumbers grow tall and have long vines up to 2 meters tall, nightshades grow as small bushes 40-70 cm tall. Radishes, eggplants, legumes, cabbage, greens, onions, and garlic can be grown alongside cucumbers. Peppers thrive in the same polycarbonate greenhouse alongside onions, carrots, eggplants, zucchini, spinach, cilantro, dill, and basil. However, the two crops also have common care and growing environment preferences.

Compatibility of cucumbers and peppers in a greenhouse:

• plants grow at a temperature of 20-25 degrees;
• the bushes die at temperatures below +3*C;
• do not tolerate heat above 30*C;
• do not tolerate sudden temperature changes well;
• prefer nutritious soil enriched with minerals;
• love illuminated areas.

How to Grow Cucumbers and Peppers Together

Greenhouses have limited planting space, so it's important to arrange all the vegetables correctly so they don't crowd each other or block the light. A simple way to plant vegetables is to separate them with paths.

Landing

Plant cucumbers 20 cm apart, with 20-25 cm between rows. It's best to leave a 1-meter gap between two crops, if space allows. Peppers are best planted on the south side of the greenhouse; they prefer warmth. Cucumbers are planted in the north side of the greenhouse. This will slow down evaporation, and the foliage will stay green.

Peppers don't like to grow alone. Row spacing should be 30 cm, or 60 cm for tall plants. Plant peppers 15-20 cm apart. Three to four plants are planted per square meter.

Forming peppers and cucumbers in a greenhouse

Forming bushes allows for more light exposure. The bushes are better ventilated and are less susceptible to diseases. Pruning increases yields and prolongs fruiting, resulting in larger, earlier-bearing fruits. Cucumbers should be planted at a density of 2-3 plants per square meter, while peppers should be planted at a density of 3-4 plants per square meter.

As cucumbers grow, trim shoots, foliage, and pinch them back. Cucumber plants are trained to have 1-2 stems, with excess side shoots trimmed to ensure nutrients are directed toward fruit development. Side shoots are removed when they reach 3-4 cm in height. Pruning is only done if there are a large number of shoots.

Taller varieties require supports and tying their stems to them. Tie them loosely with natural fabric to avoid damaging the vine. The top of the shoot is very fragile, so avoid touching it. Gently wrap the stem clockwise around the twine every week.

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Nightshades are grown in three stems, the first strong shoots. The first bud, or initial branching, is removed from peppers. This will allow the upper ovaries to form more quickly. Excess leaves and empty flowers are removed. For tall varieties, a ladder-like or mesh-like trellis is used. The tops of side shoots are pinched. Weak shoots are removed to ensure their energy is focused on fruit formation. When removing side shoots, leave one leaf; the ovary will form underneath it. 15-20 female flowers are left on a single bush.

Care

Peppers prefer sandy and loamy soils rich in humus and a pH of 6-6.5. High acidity reduces yield. Water the plants 1-2 times a week, depending on the weather. For nightshades, apply nitrogen and potassium fertilizers at half the concentration used for cucumbers. Fertilize 3-4 times per season. Lighting is essential for both crops; without sun, seedlings will stretch. Humidity for peppers should be 60-70%. They require a well-ventilated area. Also, loosen the soil and remove weeds.

Cucumber seedlings prefer fertile soil with a pH of 6.5-7. Fertilize seedlings with superphosphate, urea, and potassium sulfate. Add peat and humus to the soil. Cucumber seedlings require daily watering in hot weather, and water every other day in cloudy weather. Humidity for pumpkin seedlings should be 70-80%. Water the seedlings 2-3 times a week. Cucumber seedlings tolerate the microclimate of a non-ventilated greenhouse very well.

When humidity is high, two types of vegetables have common diseases:

1. Fusarium – roots and stems rot, plants wither.
2. Cladosporiosis - gray spots on the leaves that turn brown over time, they appear on the inner side of the leaf blade.
3. Gray mold - wet brown spots appear at the base of the stem, then a gray coating forms on them.

Practical advice

It's best to orient the greenhouse from north to south. This makes it easier to arrange the beds. Three narrow beds are created, with a small passage between them for maintenance and watering. Raised beds, 15 cm high, are used. They consist of garden waste, a layer of soil, then manure, and then soil again. These mounds are warm, so the vegetables will ripen faster and won't freeze at night.

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Adviсe:

1. It's essential to maintain a constant humidity level of 60-70% in the structure. Without moisture, plants will dry out, and fruit and leaves will fall off.
2. If nights are cold, install heating units in the greenhouse. In this case, place containers of water along the entire length of the beds to prevent the radiators from drying out the air.
3. Before planting vegetables, the entire structure is disinfected, and the soil is watered with a solution of copper sulfate or potassium permanganate 2 weeks before.
4. Whenever possible, practice crop rotation in the greenhouse. Soil from the cucumber bed is moved to the pepper beds, and vice versa, remembering to fertilize the soil with manure in the fall to prepare the soil for spring.
5. After harvesting and cleaning, green manure is sown. It improves the soil composition and, when dug, provides nutrition for the following year's crops.
6. If you stretch a film between the peppers and cucumbers, the nightshades can be aired more often, while the cucumbers will remain in their own microclimate.
7. Hydrogel helps regulate soil moisture by absorbing excess liquid. Hydrogel granules are sprinkled into the hole before planting.
8. If cucumbers provide a lot of shade and shade the peppers, the growth of nightshades will be stunted.
9. The soil is mulched with straw, peat, and sawdust.

Before planting different crops in a small greenhouse, carefully plan their locations. If you don't consider all the growing nuances, you might not get fruit from one plant species. Peppers and cucumbers require different care, so create comfortable conditions and give them maximum attention and care to ensure successful growth of greenhouse vegetables.