Cultivation of cucumbers in house conditions becomes more popular. Using for this purpose balcony space, it is already possible to receive by the end of spring to table fresh crispy cucumbers.
Preparation of the place
The balconies and loggias oriented to the southeast or the East most of all are suitable for cultivation of cucumbers. Balconies from North side are worse heated-up and badly lit. It is possible to use for landing the pots, boxes, flowerpots which are cut off on neck plastic cylinders from under water. In the lower part of capacity it is necessary to make 4-5 openings for removal of excess liquid.
The volume of container in which you are going to raise balcony cucumbers has to be about 5 liters. It is recommended to allocate from 5 to 10 liters of volume for one plant. It is the best of all to land at first on one seed in plastic cups, and then when they sprout, to replace in big pots (in one pot on one plant). It is important to remember that cucumbers need large amount of water therefore watering has to be carried out regularly and to be abundant. It is necessary to fill tanks with soil mix so that to the upper edge there were 5-6 cm. In process of shrinkage of its soil it will be necessary to fill up to the previous level again.
Any friable soil will be suitable for cucumbers, however it should not be the loamy or cespitose and podsolic soil, riding or low-lying peat. The acidity of soil has to fluctuate within 6.6-6.8. For its definition it is necessary to use the pH meter. The sour soil is limed, adding dolomite powder, lime or melkorazmoloty chalk. At pH 6.2-6.5 it is necessary to bring 5-10 g of dolomite powder on 10 l of soil.
Most convenient for landing of cucumbers to use the ready soil mix limed and filled with fertilizers.
Crops and cultivation
That in house conditions to grow up worthy harvest of tasty cucumbers, choose the partenokarpichesky or self-pollinated seeds which for pollination do not need the help of bees for crops. Cucumbers of these types belong to the class of early. For germination of seeds of cucumber temperature of 24-26 degrees above zero is considered optimum. At such weather the dry or germinated seeds can be sowed in pots at once. If weather cool and unstable, is better to plant ready seedling on the balcony.
For "balcony" cucumbers it is possible to bring the additives holding moisture (agrogel) in soil.
It is necessary to sow seeds in well moistened soil on depth about 2 cm. From above they should be covered sifted through sieve damp with earth or peat. After emergence of shoots it is necessary to maintain air temperature at the level of 20-24 degrees. More high temperature can lead to pulling of plants. Feed up seedling 1-2 times, in phase of the second and third present sheet. For this purpose water-soluble complex mineral fertilizers will approach (2 g on 1 l of water).