How to grow cucumbers in barrels: planting, care, harvesting

For growing vegetables gardeners use a variety of agrotechnical techniques. Owners of household plots and small-sized cottages began to grow vegetables and herbs in various containers.

The cultivation of cucumbers in a barrel has become a promising and popular method.

Benefits

Growing cucumbers in a barrel has several advantages over conventional planting on the beds:

• space saving;
• the barrel can be placed in any convenient place, even on an asphalt or well-trodden area;
• obtaining an earlier harvest;
• easier to organize watering and care;
• less fertilizer consumption;
• cucumbers remain clean and easier to collect;
• no need for weeding;
• planting less affected by pests and soil frosts;
• This barrel is a great garden decor, if it is good to paint and paint.

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Choosing a place

The place to install the barrel is best to choose sunny and not blown by the winds. In areas with hot sunny summer, it is recommended to put it near the trees, so that during the heat there would be partial shade that protects the vegetables from the scorching sun; still in such a place you can tie the lash to the branches.

You can put near the gazebo or fence, then the stalks will be able to let the gazebo (fence), which will look quite decorative.

Tare selection

As a container for this method of cultivation will be useful metal, wooden or plastic barrels with a capacity of 100-200 liters. It would be preferable to have a metal or wooden barrel of 200 liters without a bottom or with holes and slots.

Old barrels usually perfectly meet these conditions. In the plastic container should make holes for the release of excess water.

Learn how to carry out pre-seed treatment, when to plant cucumbers on seedlings, how to plant cucumber seedlings.

Soil preparation

Prepare a barrel begin at least a couple of weeks before planting seeds. To do this, lay out the following layers in it:

1. At the bottom of the drainage put branches and pebbles. This layer can be from 1/3 to 1/2 of the capacity of the barrel.
2. Hay, last year’s fallen leaves, tops, sawdust and other plant debris that you have in stock are piled on top of them. Layers of plant waste should be poured with soil and humus (or rotted manure), watered with EM preparations for better overheating. This layer should not reach the edge of the barrel by 40 cm.
3. We cover the fertile soil with a layer of 20 cm, mixing garden and leaf soil with humus in equal parts. You can also make this layer out of a 1: 1 mixture of peat with humus.

Then it is necessary to cover the barrel with film on top and leave for a couple of weeks to heat up in the sun. After removing the film may have to fill up a layer of fertile land, as the mixture is likely to settle. From the top of the soil to the sides of the barrel should be left 15-20 cm.

Such a procedure for preparing the soil can be done ahead of time, even in the fall. Then you can use and fresh manure.

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What are the seeds

Since an earlier crop can be grown in a barrel, it is best to pick varieties of early cucumbers with a predominance of female-type flowers. Late ripening varieties that produce fruits before frosts will be appropriate, since the period of their fruiting in the barrel will be longer - the first freezing of the soil in the barrel will not be scary. Self-pollinated or parthenocarpic hybrids will also work well, then obtaining ovaries will not be affected by the vagaries of the weather. It is advisable to buy several zoned similar varieties or hybrids.

You can opt for the following varieties of cucumbers:

1. "Murom 36" - a long-proven and well-proven variety that can grow in partial shade. It is suitable for salting, the fruits ripen on the 35-45 day, resistant to frost. Light green fruits are oval in shape and no longer than 10 cm in length. It should be borne in mind that they quickly turn yellow and must be collected frequently.
2. "Temp F1" - high-yielding parthenocarpic hybrid with a female type of flowering, with small cylindrical (8-10 cm) fruits of universal purpose. Zelentsy middle tuberosity have a dark green color with lighter longitudinal stripes, a small edge, without bitterness and do not outgrow. The variety tolerates cold and rainy weather as well as heat (up to 50 ° C) and is resistant to many diseases. The first harvest can be harvested as early as 43 days from the emergence of shoots.
3. "Connie F1" - a productive parthenocarpic hybrid of female flowering with a rather long fruiting period. Fruits of excellent taste, bitterness is completely absent, do not outgrow, ripen at 47-50 day. Small in size (7–9 cm) they have frequent white tubercles and a fine margin.
4. "Othello F1" - an early high-yielding variety with the predominant female type of flowering pollinated by bees. Zelentsy saturated green with light longitudinal stripes that reach the middle of the cucumber, reach 12 cm. They have small bumps on the skin with a white edge. Suitable for conservation. The flesh is sweetish, with no empty seats and crunches. Matured at 41-45 days from germination.
5. "Phoenix" - Late-ripening universal variety with a predominance of female flowers, vigorous, pollinated by bees and can bear fruit until frost. Fruits of green color have light longitudinal stripes and large tubercles with white thorns, crisp dense flesh, not bitter. The first greenhouses ripen on 55-65 days after germination.

Did you know? The cultivation of cucumber for cultivation in food occurred about 6,000 years ago. These vegetables are mentioned in the Bible. Homeland of cucumbers is considered the foot of the Himalayan mountains. These vegetables still grow there in nature.

Of course, this is not a complete list of varieties that can be selected for cultivation in a barrel. If you already have a favorite proven early or late variety for soil, you can plant its seeds. To obtain a stable harvest from the barrel, you can plant both early and late varieties in it.

How are planted

Putting cucumber seeds in a barrel is easy - no need to bend over again. For proper planting of cucumbers, the following steps should be taken:

1. Planting seeds in a barrel is done a little earlier than in the ground, since the barrel can be covered with foil.
2. Before planting, the seeds are recommended to be placed in a solution of ordinary salt (50 g per 1 liter of water) in order to weed out the hollowed up seeds that are unsuitable for planting.
3. Hardening of cucumber seeds in the refrigerator increases their frost resistance. To do this, they are wrapped in a damp cloth, allowed to swell and kept at a temperature of -2-0 ° C for two days, and then immediately sown. Seeds at the same time should not be crooked.
4. The soil in the barrel before planting for disinfection watered with hot water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
5. Seeds are planted at a distance of 15 cm from each other, to a depth of about 2 cm. Usually, 6-8 seeds are buried - a little more than necessary, since the excess seedlings can then be removed. For a capacity of 200 liters, 4-5 plants are enough.
6. Barrel covered with foil. On warm sunny days, it must be opened.

Learn about scarification and stratification of seeds, how to disinfect the soil, how to choose a covering material.

Care

Cucumbers are in need of moisture. These vegetables, planted in a barrel, require more frequent watering, since in this case the soil dries out faster from the sun. Therefore, watering should be carried out at least three to four times in seven days.

Watering can be done manually with a watering can or with a hose, but it is better to do drip irrigation. For watering cucumbers should take warm, defended by the sun water.

So that the soil does not dry out and retain moisture longer, you can carry out its mulching. For this purpose, it can be covered with mowed grass.

Although a vegetable-friendly soil is used for planting in a barrel, in the process of caring for this crop, you need to make additional fertilizing. In the process of growth and fruiting, cucumbers are in great need of mineral substances and useful trace elements, otherwise their lack will lead to a decrease in yield and deformation of the shape of this vegetable.

Learn how to water cucumbers in greenhouses and open ground, how to mulch, how to feed cucumbers with iodine, yeast, peroxide, boric acid, nettle.

Video: care and feeding cucumbers in the barrel It is important to make dressing immediately before flowering, so that the plant is stronger and there is a more active growth of the leaves. For this, nitrogen fertilizer is applied to the soil.

For such top dressing, dilute one teaspoon of urea in a bucket of water and water it with this solution.

Important! If the cucumber stalk is thickened, it means that it does not have enough nitrogen. But the shape of a cucumber, resembling a pear, says about the lack of potassium.

During the period of fruit formation, it is important to conduct a comprehensive feeding for the root system. To do this, apply such groups of fertilizers as nitrogen, potash, phosphorus.

It is best to alternate between mineral and natural supplements from these components. For the first feeding, a solution is prepared from nitrophoska and watered as follows - 1 liter per bush. For the following feeding, a natural fertilizer is chosen - 0.5 kg of chicken or cow manure is put on a bucket of water, as well as one glass of ash from wood. When preparing the fertilizer from the grass, it must be periodically stirred. Organic green supplements are recommended as a fertilizer during the fruit formation period. For this purpose, the container is filled with weeds, mowed grass, add chicken droppings, and then filled with water and allowed to infuse for 12 days. As a result of the fermentation process, a mass is obtained, which in its beneficial properties is not worse than humus. In addition, it is completely environmentally friendly fertilizer, unlike chemical.

Cucumbers, including those grown in barrels, need a garter. This is done not only for ease of care, but also to protect against a number of diseases that can be transmitted through the soil.

A fairly easy garter method is made by installing wooden sticks or a metal pole about 2 m in height with a cross from above in the center of the barrel. Then they make 5-8 rays and fix ropes for the garter on them.

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The scourge of cucumber will curl over the stretched beam, and when they reach the top, they form an umbrella by interlacing. Installing a higher support is not worth it, because it will be difficult to get cucumbers at harvest. Garter is produced when 4-5 first leaves appear. It is very important when caring for cucumbers to properly form a bush. This can be done in the following ways:

1. In one stem. This method is desirable to apply to hybrids that do not require pollination by bees. In this case, up to the first five leaves produce the removal of flowers, as well as lateral shoots. In the next five leaves that appear, only the shoots are removed, and the ovaries do not touch. But at a height of about a meter you need to leave a few stepsons to form the side lashes. They produce pinching tops, leaving 3-4 leaves. Thus stimulate the growth of lashes of the third order.
2. Kustovoy. In this method, cut the tip on the main stem after 5-6 true leaves. This contributes to the appearance of lateral lashes. These shoots also do five-leaf pruning to form third-order lashes, which give a lot of ovary. As a result, a bush of 10-12 lashes of the third order is formed.

Important! If the cucumbers are pollinated (these are mainly varietal species), we do not form one of the five plants. It gives the right amount of barren flowers for pollination of the ovary.

Yellow leaves

When growing cucumbers can be faced with a problem: the leaves begin to turn yellow for unknown reasons. This may be due to the following factors:

Learn why leaves dry and turn yellow, ovaries, what to do with empty flowers, why cucumbers are bitter.

1. Lack of light. In this case, the barrel is moved to a more lighted place. If cucumbers have grown strongly and wide leaves shade each other, then the bed should be thinned out.
2. Lack of nutrients, especially nitrogen. If for planting the soil containing insufficient nutrients was chosen, it is advisable to conduct additional feeding.
3. Weak watering The lack of moisture contributes to the weakening of the plant and the appearance of yellowness. It is necessary to eliminate the drying of cucumbers. To do this, it is desirable to carry out watering at least 2-3 times a week, to loosen and mulch the soil. When watering you need to ensure that water does not fall on the leaves. Droplets of water in bright sunlight can work as a prism and cause burns on the leaves, which will also lead to their yellowing.
4. Temperature changes. Cucumbers do not tolerate cooling and a sharp decrease in temperature. These heat-loving plants due to this phenomenon may appear yellow on the leaves.
5. Diseases and pests. To get rid of this reason for the yellowing of foliage, it is necessary to use drugs and means to combat them in a timely manner.

Learn how to cure cucumbers from diseases, get rid of pests.

Little ovary

If there is little ovary and a lot of empty flowers on cucumbers, then the appearance of such a phenomenon has a number of the following reasons:

• varietal features. Many varieties of barren flowers - this is a male flower that appears earlier than female ones. Mother flowers will go on the side lashes of the second and third order. Therefore, varietal cucumbers should do pinching to accelerate the emergence of side shoots;
• excess nitrogen and phosphorus deficiency. To eliminate this cause, it is necessary to exclude this fertilizer from feeding. Do not forget about fertilizers with the presence of phosphorus and potassium;
• substandard seeds. Used seeds of the first year of storage, or not warmed them before sowing. It is better to sow seeds after the second year of storage. If you use the seeds of hybrids, then there will be no problems with the ovary;
• weather. Too hot or, conversely, cool and rainy weather is unfavorable for getting ovaries. In case of strong sun, a barrel with cucumbers is recommended to be placed in partial shade. Using self-pollinating or parthenocarpic hybrids will allow you to be independent of weather conditions and pollinating insects.

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How to collect

The most pleasant moment in the cultivation of cucumbers - is the harvest. When pickled cucumbers planted in barrels, no need to bend over. It is easy to approach the bush with these vegetables from any side, and the cucumbers are clearly visible.

Did you know? Cucumber is a low-calorie product that is included in many diets. 95% of it consists of water, so 1 kg contains only 150 kcal.

When collecting cucumbers, you should follow these tips from experienced gardeners:

• it is better to harvest these vegetables every day or every other day - this contributes to a more rapid formation of new fruits;
• the vegetable itself is recommended to be cut with scissors, in order not to damage the lash and ovary;
• cucumbers with signs of deformation or diseases should be removed without fail so as not to expose the neighboring fruits to the threat of the disease;
• For harvesting, it is better to use the morning or evening, when there is no strong heat.

Growing cucumbers in a barrel is not at all difficult, even simpler and less troublesome than in open ground. Such containers will help save space on the site and look quite interesting in decorative terms. This method of cultivation will be very acceptable for older people who are harmful to bend over. It is only necessary to choose the right barrel and place for its installation, make a soil mixture, plant cucumbers and properly care for them - and you will not be left without a crop.

How to grow cucumbers in the barrel: reviews

Watch the video: Growing cucumbers in barrels. Ep. 13 (April 2024).