Growing cucumber seedlings at home for a greenhouse: what to do if the leaves turn yellow?

Cucumbers are a beloved vegetable from the Cucurbitaceae family, which people happily grow in their gardens and greenhouses. Crisp and juicy, cucumbers have become a staple in the daily diet, becoming an integral part of many dishes.

Weather conditions don't always allow for a good harvest, so gardeners prefer to start seedlings early and plant them in a greenhouse to maximize the time it takes to harvest cucumbers.

Growing vegetables in a greenhouse is quite simple; even a novice vegetable grower can handle this task. Properly planted At home, greenhouse-grade cucumber seedlings will help you grow strong, healthy plants with juicy fruit without much effort. The key is to choose high-quality seeds and learn the planting times for your specific region.

The purpose and necessity of planting cucumber seeds for seedlings

Vegetable seeds have a high germination rate and germinate fairly quickly, even when sown directly into the soil. Therefore, many vegetable growers don't want to waste time and effort germinating cucumber seedlings indoors. However, it's important to note that this growing method has a number of drawbacks, which can be avoided by germinating the vegetable seeds at home.

Thus, while the plant whose seeds were sown in the ground is just beginning to set fruit, cucumbers grown from seedlings are already ready to harvest. The ability to harvest as early as possible is the primary goal of vegetable growers who prefer to grow cucumbers from seedlings. Furthermore, early fruit set helps protect them from the damaging effects of excessively hot and dry periods, which typically occur in mid-summer.

By transplanting seedlings into the ground, you can properly distribute the greenhouse space and avoid planting bushes too densely or too sparsely, which often happens when sowing seeds in a garden bed.

Methods for growing cucumber seedlings at home for a greenhouse

There are several methods for growing cucumber seedlings, so every gardener can choose the most convenient and easiest option. The main thing is to avoid sowing seeds in a common container, as this will require transplanting the seedlings, and tender young cucumber stems rarely survive this process.

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In peat tablets and pots

Peat tablets or pots are ideal for sowing seeds. Inexperienced vegetable growers should prefer this method of germinating seeds, as the seedlings can be transplanted into the ground in these containers. This will preserve the young plant's root system and significantly shorten the period of adaptation to its new location.

Before sowing seeds in pellets, place them in a shared container with high sides and fill with water to allow them to swell. Place one cucumber seed in each swollen pellet. The same rule applies to peat pots. After placing the seeds in the containers, cover them with a plastic bottle or plastic wrap. However, keep in mind that peat pots dry out fairly quickly, which is important to remember when caring for the seedlings.

In plastic cups

You can also sow the seeds in plastic cups or cut-off plastic bottles with a diameter of at least 10 cm. The bottom of the container should be equipped with drainage holes to prevent moisture from stagnating in the soil.

After the container has been treated and equipped with drainage, it should be filled with a soil mixture consisting of peat, humus, turf, and sand, mixed in a ratio of 2:2:1:0.5. The seeds are planted 1.5-2 cm deep and lightly covered with soil. To create greenhouse conditions, the container with the seeds should be covered with plastic wrap.

In an eggshell

Well-dried eggshells can be used as containers for sprouting cucumber seeds. Before sowing, pierce the bottom of the shell several times.

Place the shells in containers and fill them halfway with nutrient-rich soil. Place one seed in each container and sprinkle soil over them. After sowing, cover the shells with plastic wrap or plastic sheeting to reduce moisture evaporation from the soil surface.

In sawdust

Growing seeds in sawdust is a relatively new but foolproof method for growing healthy plants. Sawdust can be purchased at pet stores, usually under the name "Universal bedding for small pets."

Fill the cells ¼ full with sawdust, which should be soaked in hot water to swell. Immediately after adding water, crush the sawdust with your hands until it becomes crumbly. Crush the sawdust as quickly as possible, as it cools fairly quickly. Place the seeds in a hole 1-1.5 cm deep and cover with sawdust. Cover the container with plastic wrap or a lid.

Algorithm for growing seedlings

Compliance with all agricultural practices during sowing and seed germination will allow you to grow a healthy cucumber bush in the future.

Preparing seeds and soil

The planting material and soil require additional preparation. If using regular seeds, they must be sorted by immersing them in salted water. The salt water will cause unsuitable seeds to float, while the good ones will sink to the bottom. Once all the healthy seeds have been selected, they must be washed, dried, and further processed.

Stages of processing ordinary seeds:

1. Immerse in a concentrated solution of potassium permanganate for 30 minutes.
2. Dry them and place them in an ash solution for 10-12 hours. The solution is prepared at a ratio of 2 tablespoons of wood ash to 1 liter of water.

   

3. Wrap the planting material in damp gauze and place the seeds in a warm place for several days.
4. If necessary, moisten the gauze until they sprout.

As soon as the seeds sprout, you can start sowing them; they do not require any additional preparation.

For sowing, you can use either store-bought cucumber soil or a homemade mixture of equal parts turf, humus, and peat, along with 1 cup of wood ash. The soil mixture should also be supplemented with a complex mineral fertilizer for vegetables, at a rate of 1 tablespoon of fertilizer per 10-liter bucket of water. It is recommended to disinfect homemade soil by scalding it with hot water before use.

Rules for caring for young plants

Young plants should be kept in a warm, well-lit area. Containers with ungerminated seeds should be kept under plastic wrap at a temperature of 25-27°C. Once the first shoots emerge, the "covering" is removed, and the containers with young plants are moved to a cool, but well-lit area for several days.

The room temperature should be between 15-20°C. To provide the seedlings with sufficient light, special phytolamps can be used. The plants are then kept at room temperature until they are planted in the ground.

A few days before planting in the ground, the plant must be fed with complex mineral fertilizers for vegetable crops, using approximately half a glass of liquid fertilizer for each bush.

Peculiarities of growing seedlings in different regions

Before you begin growing cucumbersIt is recommended to determine as accurately as possible the optimal timing for sowing seedlings and transplanting seedlings into the greenhouse. When determining the appropriate sowing time, it is necessary to consider the climatic conditions of the region where the plant will be grown.

Seedlings can be planted in the beds only after the air in the greenhouse has warmed to 18°C ​​and the soil to 10-12°C. Since seedlings are only ready for transplanting into the ground 3-4 weeks after sowing, this period should be counted from the expected date of planting the bush in its permanent location.

In the central zone and in the Moscow region

The Moscow region's climate is ideal for growing cucumbers both outdoors and in greenhouses. Suitable weather for planting seedlings in greenhouses typically arrives in mid- to late May, depending on the severity of the winter. Therefore, it's recommended to begin sowing cucumber seeds after April 15th.

In the Urals and northern regions

When growing cucumbers in the Urals and other northern regions, it's best to choose frost-resistant varieties. The northern regions of the country experience particularly cold nights, so it's best to water cucumber beds at midday, avoiding evening watering altogether. It's best to start sowing seeds in late April or early May so that by early June (when the soil has warmed up sufficiently), the plants will be ready for transplanting.

South of Russia

In the southern regions, sowing cucumber seedlings can begin as early as the second half of March. This will allow the plants to be planted in greenhouse soil as early as mid-April, as the soil in these regions typically warms up sufficiently by this time.

What to do if the leaves on cucumber seedlings are wilting and turning yellow

Improper seed preparation or poor seedling care can cause cucumber plants to become unhealthy. Quite often, leaves turn yellow as a result of poor care, and many gardeners are at a loss as to how to resolve this problem.

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Care errors and how to fix them

Cucumbers can be quite a finicky crop, with leaves turning yellow and wilting due to any violation of agricultural practices. Even too close proximity to other plants can cause cucumber bushes to appear unhealthy.

The main reasons for yellowing of seedling leaves:

1. Using hard and cold water for watering. Seedlings should be watered exclusively with warm, soft water that has been left to stand for at least 24 hours.
2. Lack of moisture. Regular watering and ventilation of the greenhouse will help solve the problem of yellowing leaves.
3. Planting seedlings in infertile or depleted soil. Avoid planting cucumbers in the same spot every year. Regular fertilization can improve soil fertility.
4. Constant exposure to drafts and sudden temperature changes. Protect the plant from uncontrollable gusts of wind by ventilating the greenhouse to prevent drafts.

Pests and diseases

Often, yellowing of leaves is caused by various diseases and pests:

1. The most common fungal disease affecting seedlings is powdery mildew. Powdery mildew is caused by overwatering. Treatment with systemic fungicides can help control the disease.
2. Overwatering and watering with cold water can trigger root rot. This is a fairly serious disease that isn't always treatable. If the disease is detected early, fungicides can be used.

   

3. Of all the pests, cucumbers are most often attacked by spider mites and melon aphids. These harmful insects can be controlled by treating the plant with a soap solution or insecticides.

Frequently asked questions about growing

Following all basic agricultural practices when sowing seeds and preparing them properly will help you grow strong seedlings that will easily take root in a greenhouse.