Cucumbers are one of the most common vegetables. They were grown by our grandfathers and great-grandfathers. Over the years, considerable experience has been accumulated. In combination with modern technologies, old methods of planting give very good results. Cucumbers are quite heat-loving plants, but for a long time invented ways to grow them in cold regions. For this purpose, special beds for cucumbers are equipped. There are several types, each of which has its own peculiarities.
For regions with a cold climate, cultivation of cucumbers on a high manure bed is better than others. To do this, in the greenhouse, arrange a bed with a width of one meter, length - at your discretion. Fresh manure (preferably - cow, but you can add a little horse) are placed on the bottom of the beds, from above pour 25 centimeters (not less) of fertile loose soil. Abundantly watered. A bed for cucumbers is ready. You can plant seeds. Note that it is not always necessary to germinate them. If you doubt the germination - plant two in one hole. There must be four plants per square meter. If you have grown two, then the weaker will have to be cut. The bed is covered with a film or a cover material of light color. Inside the beds, due to decomposition of manure, the temperature rises considerably. In such conditions sprouts appear for 3-5 days. In order not to burn plants, the greenhouse needs to be opened in the daytime, but watch out for the temperature. Under the film, it should be within the range of 18-30 ° C. Heating lasts for a month, then the temperature begins to gradually decrease. While calculating the time of laying this bed, take this into consideration.
For slightly warmer regions, a cucumber bed on a compost is suitable. It can also be a good way out if you can not find fresh manure. In a high bed width of 1 meter, lay plant and food residues. Suitable foliage, last year's tops, vegetable or fruit cleaning, all that usually goes to the compost pit. On top it is desirable to lay out a little manure, but if it is not - not terrible, you can use special tools to accelerate the formation of compost (for example, "Baikal EM-1"). Now we need to fill 20 centimeters of fertile soil. In such beds for cucumbers it is recommended to plant already sprouted seeds or young plants directly in peat cups or on tablets. Further cucumber cultivation is no different from growing outdoors. Only need to monitor the temperature inside the hotbed, removing the covering material (if any) in the warm time of the day.
Another warm bed for cucumbers is thatch. But you need to prepare it from autumn. The width of the bed is standard - 1 meter, length - according to your desire. Dig a groove 80 cm wide, depth - 15-20 cm, put a straw next to the bed, cover the bed with a film. Leave until spring. When the snow comes down, a dense non-woven material is laid over the whole area of the groove . Lying next to the straw tied into bundles and stacked on the bottom so that it rises above the ground level of 40 cm. Everything! Thatch garden bed for cucumbers ready. It should be drenched with warm water and sealed. Now, to accelerate the decomposition of the masses, it must be watered with a solution of the mullein or one of the preparations for the accelerated compost formation. Then the bed should be covered with a film. After a week, the temperature should be 40-45 o C. If the heating is not enough, you need to remove the film and pierce the straw with a fork several times. A week after reaching the required temperature, the covering material is removed, thick grooves are made into which (according to the first real leaves) the cucumber seedlings are buried. Plants are sprinkled with humus or peat, abundantly watered. Over the beds set arcs, covered with a non-woven permeable cloth. Plants need to be watered and ventilated more often than usual, otherwise there is a threat to burn them. In other respects, agricultural technology is ordinary.