Growing cucumbers at home on a windowsill in winter

Growing cucumbers indoors during the winter is a fairly common practice. However, it requires a certain amount of effort. These plants thrive on light and warmth, necessitating placing pots and indoor garden beds on a sunny side of the apartment. The average indoor temperature should not fall below 20 degrees Celsius. In winter, supplemental lighting will be necessary, as natural light will be insufficient.

Choosing a cucumber variety

Although growing garden plants in an apartment is a common occurrence, it is still difficult to grow cucumbers windowsill in winter It's quite complicated. There are certain special varieties for home growing that are self-pollinating. They also produce a fairly high yield and ripen very quickly. These are often hybrid varieties. Such species are designated with the symbol F1, which means they are heterotic. The seedlings usually look very different from the standard plant.

This parthenocarpic hybrid is ideal for growing cucumbers indoors during the winter. It's a gherkin with female flowers. This variety doesn't require pollination.

You can grow cucumbers and other varieties in your apartment during the winter. For this purpose they are the most suitable:

1. A small farmstead.
2. Claudia.
3. Rytov's room.
4. Masha.
5. Bianca.
6. Shchedryk.
7. Marinda.
8. Prestige.

All of these varieties are designated F1. Mash'a F1 takes between one month and 40 days to ripen. It has a high yield (up to 20 fruits per branch). Shchedrik F1 takes longer to ripen—40 to 45 days. The average fruit size ranges from 12 to 14 centimeters. The yield is the same as the previous variety. Marinda F1 differs from the others in that all the fruits ripen at the same time.

Khutorok F1 ripens relatively quickly (approximately 30 days). Each fruit averages 10 cm in size. The cucumbers are a distinct green color and feature black spines.

Khrustik F1 matures in approximately 50 days. The yield reaches up to 7 cucumbers per branch. It stands out from other varieties due to its tall growth, making it a popular choice for balcony decoration. If the plant is given the right conditions, a single bush can typically yield up to 40 cucumbers.

Dishes and soil

To grow seedlings from seeds, the best options are small plastic cups (such as sour cream or yogurt jars), pots filled with special soil, or peat containers. They should have several small holes in the bottom.

When it's time to grow full-grown plants from seedlings, you'll need to use containers with a capacity of about 5 liters. Plastic pots, deep boxes, and small buckets are commonly used for this purpose. Holes should also be made at the bottom to ensure adequate ventilation and drainage. A drainage layer should be placed on the bottom. Fine gravel or regular sand are suitable for this purpose. This layer should be approximately 5 cm thick. Then add soil.

Choosing the right soil is crucial. Specialty stores offer easy access to the right soil, enriched with all the minerals and other nutrients needed by plants. You can also consult with specialists there. Experts often prepare the soil themselves.

For example, the recipe could be like this:

1. You need to fill the container with 2/3 of ordinary garden soil, but before that, you must disinfect it with a manganese solution.
2. Fertilizer occupies 1/3 of the container. Add 5 grams of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus each. Approximately 40-50 grams of lime should also be added, and the rest of the container should be filled with compost.
3. Add 1 cup of chalk, 4 cups of rotten leaves or sawdust and 2 cups of ash.

It's best to prepare this soil in advance. It should be thoroughly heated in the oven to kill all parasite eggs. The mixture is then watered.

Preparing seedlings

The seeds should be soaked in a very weak solution of potassium permanganate beforehand. Planting dried seeds or as-is is also common. Germinate the seeds in a small dish, keeping it in a dark place where the temperature does not drop below 25 degrees Celsius. When small sprouts, up to 1 cm in size, appear, they should be planted in small cups or pots filled with soil. Then, move them to a bright location and cover them tightly with plastic wrap. The room temperature should not drop below 20 degrees Celsius. Water and feed the seedlings periodically.

Once normal leaves emerge, the seedlings will need to be transplanted into larger containers. This should be done very carefully to avoid damaging the roots of the future plants. If the seedlings are in peat cups, they can be transferred directly to larger containers.

During this time, cucumbers require special care. When 4-5 leaves appear, the first pinching should be done, followed by the second pinching after 6. Next, pinch the main stem above the 11th leaf. Lateral shoots should be removed as they grow, as they drain the entire plant, resulting in a reduced yield.

It's important to remember that cucumbers are very moisture-loving vegetables, so they need to be misted with water from a spray bottle at least once a week. Use only warm, settled water. Water whenever the top layer of soil dries out. Excess moisture can actually harm the cucumbers. If the plant is located on a balcony, there's a risk of dehydration, as the air there is often quite dry. To prevent this, it's best to place a container of water nearby.

Good lighting is essential for normal seedling growth. In winter, supplemental artificial light is required. Infrared lamps are the most effective. They should be turned on for at least 12 hours each day and turned off at night.

There are some indoor varieties that require pollination. In these cases, you'll have to do this yourself. To do this, pick the male flowers and pollinate the female ones. You can also use a brush or a cotton swab to transfer the pollen.

Fertilizing seedlings

When growing cucumbers in winter, it's essential to regularly fertilize the plants. This should be done on average every 10 days. Any organic fertilizer will work well. Use an infusion made from banana peels at a ratio of 1:10. Once the plants begin to bud, use a wood ash solution. The ratio is the same. When the cucumbers begin to ripen, it's advisable to add mineral fertilizers. These should be periodically alternated with organic fertilizers.

If the plant suddenly becomes weak, you should use a special foliar supplement of beneficial minerals. To make the right solution, you need to prepare:

1. 10 liters of water.
2. 10 grams of urea.
3. About 15 grams of double superphosphate.
4. 3 grams of magnesium sulfate. The stock solution can also be used.

This mixture should be prepared 24 hours before use. Stir it constantly. Strain it through several layers of cheesecloth. Thoroughly spray the bushes with the prepared solution. After the treatment, salt residue will remain on the leaves. Remove it with clean water.

Diseases and pests

Ripe cucumbers should be harvested daily as they ripen. Leaving cucumbers on the plant is not recommended, as this will drain the plant's energy.

If you follow all the recommendations and conditions, growing cucumbers in an apartment during the winter is quite simple. You can provide your family with fresh vegetables all year round. And it will also provide you with a wealth of positive experiences directly from the growing process.

However, during this process, plants can become diseased and die. Growing cucumbers indoors doesn't guarantee they won't be damaged by various pests. Any improper growing practices can lead to various diseases. For example, constant waterlogging in the soil can lead to root rot, which will ultimately kill the cucumber.

Leaves may be damaged Due to attacks by aphids, spider mites, or common whiteflies. Home conditions do not allow the use of special insecticides, as they can harm the health of household members. Quite often, to protect the plant use folk remedies:

1. Aphids and whiteflies can be easily destroyed using tobacco infusion.
2. Spider mites can be killed by spraying plants with a garlic infusion to which antibacterial soap must be added.

Yellowing of foliage

A plant can often start to wilt indoors. The first sign is yellowing leaves. This problem is most often caused by disease or improper care. Main reasons:

1. Too much moisture. Don't overwater cucumbers. This should only be done during planting. After that, water about once a week. The water should be warm, at room temperature. It's a good idea to mist the leaves and stems every two days to maintain the proper moisture level. Some people stretch plastic over the window. This creates a greenhouse effect.
2. Quite often, yellowing and drying out are caused by a lack of moisture. In this case, the plant deliberately reduces the amount of water it delivers to the leaves to conserve and preserve itself. Humidity levels in the room should be adequate.
3. A lack of chlorophyll can also cause yellowing of the leaves. To remedy this, water the cucumbers with a solution containing complex fertilizer. This should contain nitrogen, magnesium, and iron.
4. The leaves of home-grown cucumbers can deteriorate due to pests and diseases. Insects can be seen by carefully inspecting the entire stem or foliage. Aphids are introduced along with the soil brought in. If your cucumbers are diseased, it's essential to determine the cause.
5. Cucumber sprout flies cause significant damage to cucumbers. To prevent their occurrence, disinfect the soil before planting. If larvae are found, the plant will need to be replanted in new soil.
6. Cucumbers can also die due to root rot. This is a fungal disease. The root system begins to rot, leading to drying out and eventually death. Preventative measures include maintaining adequate humidity. If the plant is already affected by this disease, add fresh soil to the pot. This will allow new roots to form.

Following rules and recommendations often prevents diseases and pests. However, even experienced gardeners sometimes lose their entire harvest. To prevent this, it's important to take timely action.

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Pros and cons

Cucumber is a world-famous vegetable. Almost every gardener grows it in their gardens. For women, it's not only a tasty vegetable but also a staple in skin rejuvenating masks.

It is important to remember that growing cucumbers at home entails certain inconveniences:

1. The humidity in the apartment will have to be increased.
2. A specific smell of soil will be felt.
3. Every day will be filled with chores. Plants will need to be watered and tied up on time.
4. Some people may experience allergic reactions.

Living space will have to be sacrificed for growing plants. They have rather large foliage that will block sunlight, which is already scarce during winter. Living in your home will be in constant semi-darkness and high humidity.