The structure of cucumbers. The root system of cucumber (photo)

Why is it necessary to pay attention to this issue: to consider what the root system of a cucumber is? Because it is the healthy roots that allow the plant to form a lush bush, provide it with the necessary elements, and therefore create the prerequisites for good fruiting. Cucumbers are extremely capricious plants, they tolerate any damage to the roots very hard, which is why they are not recommended to be transplanted, but seedlings are grown in individual cups. Do not forget that this is a subtropical plant, so the root system of the cucumber does not tolerate cold soil and prolonged drought, and therefore, before planting in the open ground, you need to make sure that the temperature conditions are suitable.

Features of the root system

You, probably, will be surprised, but this habitual garden inhabitant concerns to melons. Like all members of this family, the root system of the cucumber is core, with a very long main root, which can reach one and a half meters, leaving deep into the earth. But that is not all. Primary roots lie very close to the surface, forming a whole network. This allows the plant to hold firmly and collect more nutrients and moisture. In comparison with other garden crops, the root system of the cucumber is rather weak. Roots are easily torn and damaged, and lowering the temperature to 13 degrees leads to the inhibition of the plant.

Sowing

The length of the roots of cucumbers, of course, is impressive, but for growing seedlings you will have even the smallest peat cups. Why is it not recommended to produce individual sowing using a common box? Because in this case, when planting in the ground, it is the root that is affected. This is due to damage to the lateral processes, as well as a change in the temperature regime. To avoid this, peat pots are used, and also hardening measures are carried out. The length of the roots of cucumbers when planted in the ground (about 2-3 weeks after emergence) can be already about 10 cm.

Area of cucumber nutrition

You can already imagine the roots of cucumbers. They are weak enough, but they absorb a huge amount of nutrients from the soil. Therefore, one should not plant a few plants in one well, as they will oppress one another. Each of them will get significantly fewer important elements, so the stems will diligently try to stretch out so as to weaken the opponent with his shadow. As a result of the forces, there will be less fructification.

The area of food will depend on whether the plant "lives" in the open ground or in the greenhouse. In the first variant, two rows of cucumbers can be planted on a bed with a width of one meter. The distance between them, as well as between the plants in each of them, is about 30 cm. For the greenhouse, the rules vary slightly. Here between the rows should be about 60 cm, and the plants in each ridge are removed from each other by 40 cm.

Hilling and loosening

These two procedures are extremely important for all fruit plants. But you need to consider what kind of roots the cucumber has. Its root system is very demanding on oxygen. If the surface of the soil is covered with a crust and the air does not go well to the roots, then the plants immediately linger in growth, the ovary falls off. Therefore, loosen the ground regularly, after every rain or watering. Depending on the variety, cucumbers can be more or less capricious and demanding in care, but the condition mentioned above is valid for all species. Loosening begins as soon as the soil slightly dries. Be sure to observe the main rule: you can not loosen the soil too deeply, because the roots of cucumbers are located close to the surface, and they can easily be damaged.

Hilling is a useful procedure that promotes the development of additional roots. It is good for root crops, but cucumbers usually do not congeal. However, if the lower part of the stem has been damaged by disease or by mechanical means, and there is a risk that the plant will die, it is worth trying to save it. To do this, fold the stem with a ring and lay it on the ground. Top with a bucket of good, fertile land. Carry out the necessary manipulations. If the procedure is successful, new roots are formed, and quickly enough.

Watering

This is a very important event, on which the root system of the cucumber strongly depends. Photos show us a strong plant with a huge powerful root, but in fact it is fragile and vulnerable. In particular, watering with cold water can cause irreparable damage to the cucumber. In a strong heat, the plant stops growing, the stem thickens, the leaves submerge, the ovaries fall off, and the lower part of the stem becomes overheated. The ingress of cold water leads to the appearance of microcracks. By themselves, they do not do much harm, but this opens the way for pathogenic bacteria. As a result, the vessels are damaged and clogged, along which water and salts move from the roots to the leaves. To prevent this, cucumbers poured warm water. To do this in the garden you need to put a barrel and fill it. This method works particularly well in a greenhouse. During the day, the water slowly heats up, in the evening it provides a soft watering, and at night keeps the heat in the greenhouse.

Fertilizer and fertilizing

Usually, gardeners make a high warm patch, in which excess is contained in humus. But it's also easy to grow beautiful cucumbers in the open ground. Stronger roots - more harvest, this rule can not be forgotten. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce into the soil all the necessary trace elements, which will contribute to the development and strengthening of rootlets. So, for one square meter of soil, it is necessary to add 10-15 kg of humus and dig into two-thirds of the bayonet so that the fertilizer is in the zone of the location of the main part of the root system. The depth of the roots of cucumbers is about 30 cm from the surface, and only the central rod goes deeper by a meter or more. In addition, add a special vegetable fertilizer like "Kemir" (it will require 70-80 g per m ² ).

The frequency of application of additives depends on the conditions of content and growth of plants. The better the conditions, the more intensive the growth, and therefore, it is required to make more fertilizing so that the roots can provide the plant with everything necessary. Top dressing with nitrogen fertilizers should not be carried out in cloudy weather, as this will result in the accumulation of nitrates in the fruit. Before the procedure, watering is done, then a dry mixture is scattered or a solution is introduced and again poured over the leaves. Non-root dressings are also justified, and should be made at least once a month. This procedure facilitates the task of the root system.

Features of growing cucumbers on the balcony

Before taking on home gardening, we must ask what root system of cucumbers. Already from the materials of the article it is clear that for each bush will require a deep and fairly wide capacity, quality soil and a sufficient number of fertilizers. The volume of containers per plant - at least 5 liters, otherwise the roots will suffer from drying out. In addition, it is necessary to have a double bottom and abundant watering. Excess moisture will drain into the drip tray, and the roots, penetrating through the drainage holes, will be able to absorb it actively. At the same time, the land will not be waterlogged, which adversely affects the roots of the cucumber.

Agrotechnical innovations

Not in all regions, climatic conditions and soil composition are suitable for this capricious culture, and first of all the problem is that the root system of the cucumber starts to ache and wilt. The plant, respectively, dies. Therefore, summer residents invented a new way of growing vegetables. For this, pots of suitable volume are hung on the stand, their bottom is covered with 2-centimeter foam. From below, a cut is made in them, and a plant is inserted upward into it, the stem freely hangs downwards. Top is poured into the pot. It turns out that cucumbers grow up roots. Gardeners note that this method is quite effective, especially with indoor gardening.

Graft

If there is no desire to use the method of growing plants "upside down," but you need to address the issue of poor growth and development of the bush, and this can help vaccinate. This is an unconventional way of growing cucumbers, but in some regions it is the only way. The fact is that the root of the cucumber (photo is presented in the article) is very sensitive to temperature fluctuations, as well as to damage by various pests. Therefore, it was suggested to plant a cucumber stalk on the root of an absolutely unpretentious pumpkin. To do this, you only need to grow cucumber seedlings, and when the first leaves appear, plant a large-squash pumpkin.

As soon as the leaves of the pumpkin reach 3 cm, you can proceed to "operation". To do this, make an incision on the stem obliquely from the top down, then take out the seedling of the cucumber from the ground. With it you will need to make the same manipulations, only cut it diagonally from bottom to top. Quickly dock both slices and tighten with foil. The roots of the cucumber plant next to the pumpkin in the same pot. You will have two seedlings sitting next to each other and closing on trunks. In two weeks the seedlings will grow together, now it is necessary to cut the top of the pumpkin above the inoculation and the root part of the cucumber below the inoculation. There remains one plant - "pumpkin-cucumber". Its roots, powerful and strong, are not afraid of any frost and pests, and the green cucumber part, getting good nutrition, will please you until the autumn. What are the roots of cucumbers, so is the harvest, so this method is more than justified.