How to water cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse: instructions and basic rules
The quality of cucumber fruits largely depends on proper irrigation - if there is not enough moisture, the vegetables begin to taste bitter. As a rule, in temperate climates, cucumbers are grown in greenhouses, which allows them to maintain temperature conditions and get a harvest much earlier than in open ground.
In the article we will consider the questions of how to water cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse and what are the requirements for the frequency and abundance of moisture.
What are the features of irrigating cucumbers in a greenhouse?
Cucumbers are a moisture-loving vegetable crop, so you need to water the bushes regularly. In hot weather, it’s not just the soil that needs moisture. Fruits and leaves of plants also require watering.
Important! When irrigating, pour water strictly between the rows so as not to wash away the soil at the roots.
A polycarbonate greenhouse is ideal for growing cucumbers. It has light transmission, retains heat, and protects fruits from wind and rain. The crop ripens faster than in open ground.
So that plants grow well, the temperature in the greenhouse should be +20…+26°C. Only in this case the plant will not stop in its development.
Water in a polycarbonate greenhouse It is recommended to pour in small portions, avoid stagnation of liquid at the roots. The soil should be loose.
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How to water cucumbers in a greenhouse manually
Manual method of irrigation of vegetables used in a small garden bed. When watering plants by hand, gardeners use a watering can and hose.
This method is simple and does not require serious financial investments, since every gardener has a watering can and hose. But the manual irrigation method is time consuming.
Important! If you water the cucumbers with a hose, make sure that the water pressure is low, otherwise there is a high risk of washing out the soil at the roots.
Water requirements
Water for watering cucumbers should be warm. Optimal temperature: 20-24°C. This temperature will provide the fruits with comfortable conditions for growth.
Important! Do not use boiled water; it does not contain the minerals plants need. It is better to use settled liquid for watering vegetables.
For convenience, water can be stored in special containers (barrels). During the day it will heat up in the sun, and in the evening you can water vegetables with it.
Make sure there is no excess salt and fluoride in the liquid. Water should always be clean and not hard. Do not use dirty water for irrigation.
Reference. If the water is hard, it needs to be softened. Add 5 teaspoons of wood ash to 10 liters of water.
Frequency, timing and volume of irrigation
Morning and evening are the optimal times for watering cucumbers. During the daytime, the drops remaining on the leaves become a kind of magnifying glass. The sun's rays penetrate through them and burn the leaves and roots of plants.
Closer to night it is also not recommended to irrigate cucumbers, as the temperature drops. Due to waterlogging in cold weather, the roots will begin to rot.
The frequency and volume of watering depend on the growth phase of the plant and climatic conditions. The older the vegetable crop, the more water it requires. Adult plants need watering every other day. Approximately 10 liters of liquid are added to each bush.
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The nuances of watering at different times
The irrigation regime depends on weather conditions, plant development phase and soil conditions.
Plant development phases:
- landing;
- bloom;
- fruiting.
After planting cucumbers
Most often, plants are planted as seedlings in greenhouses. After being transferred to the soil, plants need abundant watering.. The seedlings should take root well in the soil.
After this, young cucumbers are watered regularly. Watering in a polycarbonate greenhouse is carried out once every five days. 3-5 liters of water are used per 1 m². Thanks to this watering, cucumbers will form ovaries faster.
During flowering
During flowering The plant is watered more often - every 3-4 days. During this period they form ovaries. About 10 liters of water are consumed per 1 m².
During fruiting
During fruiting in the summer months Cucumbers are watered every other day or every day. The hotter it is outside, the more often the soil is moistened. For one bush use 7-10 liters of liquid.
During the heat
In hot weather, cucumbers especially need watering.. In this regard, the frequency of irrigation is increased. During flowering and fruiting, if it is hot, cucumbers are watered every day.
At temperatures above 26°C, it is recommended to additionally moisturize the cucumbers by sprinkling. (spraying water with special mechanisms). This prevents the ovaries from wilting. 1-1.5 liters of water are used per 1 m². The procedure is carried out in the morning and evening.
In rainy weather
In rainy weather, the frequency of watering decreases, at this time the soil and air in the greenhouse have increased humidity. Gardeners need to monitor these indicators.When temperatures drop, the soil becomes waterlogged, which contributes to root rot and plant death.
In rainy weather cucumbers are watered in the morning. Make sure the soil does not dry out.
How to make a drip irrigation system
The drip method is a good way to irrigate vegetables. It does not require large investments.
Special pipes with holes are installed on the site. Through them, the liquid flows directly to the plant. This method not only saves water and time, but also allows you to control the volume of incoming liquid.
A barrel of water, where the liquid for irrigation is heated in the sun during the day, is placed on an elevated place. A special hose is attached to the barrel.
Using a tap, you regulate the volume of incoming water. After the tap opens, the liquid flows through the pipes directly to the plant. This method does not allow the soil to erode around the roots.
Advice from experienced summer residents
To get a good harvest and avoid common mistakes, you should follow the rules for watering cucumbers. Experienced summer residents can tell you how best to irrigate vegetables:
- To prevent cucumbers from becoming bitter, water them regularly. Do not allow the soil to dry out. The water should be warm. Combine with fertilizing watering.
- A white coating on the surface of the soil indicates that the frequency of watering and the volume of water should be reduced.
- In hot weather, you can cool the greenhouse structure using a regular chalk solution. They irrigate the walls of the greenhouse with it.
Do not water plants directly at the root. This way the soil is eroded. Moisture stagnates at the roots and mold appears. Water the vegetables in the grooves near the plant, which are dug at each bush.- For drip irrigation, a regular bottle is suitable.Several holes are made in the lid, the bottom of the container is cut off, and the neck is placed in the ground next to the plant. Each bush should have its own container. After this, the bottle is filled with water. Through the holes, the liquid reaches the roots of the vegetable crop.
- If the plant suffers from a fungal infection, the sprinkling method is excluded. Water with a watering can or by drip.
- Iodine and urea will protect plants from infections. Add them to the liquid when irrigating vegetables.
Conclusion
In order for cucumbers to produce a high-quality and good harvest, they need high-quality and regular watering. Irrigation is carried out exclusively with warm and settled water in the morning or evening hours. Depending on the growth period of the plant and climatic conditions, the frequency and volume of watering vary. An adult plant is watered every other day. Water volume – 10 liters per 1 m². In hot weather, plants need daily watering; in cold weather, the frequency is reduced.
The optimal method of moisturizing is the drip method. With its help, it is easy to control the volume of liquid, while the soil is not washed away - the water goes directly to the roots of the vegetable crop.