Step-by-step cultivation of cucumbers in a barrel, photos and useful tips

Many gardeners want to show off the originality of their plot to their neighbors. How to do this when everyone grows the same thing? Change the appearance of the area by planting plants differently. The method of growing cucumbers in a barrel will definitely suit your taste, because it will help not only surprise guests, but also significantly save space. And this is only a small of the advantages; you will learn about the rest from our article.

Features of growing cucumbers in barrels

This method has long won the love of gardeners due to the unusual appearance of the usual vegetable, ease of care and harvesting. Having drawn conclusions about the merits of planting in a barrel, summer residents plant other crops in a similar way.

Advantages of the vertical growing method

This original planting method has many advantages:

• saving space in the garden;
• no need to bend down when harvesting;
• all fruits are visible and not contaminated by the earth;
• simplified root watering;
• plantings are illuminated evenly;
• cucumber lashes are not trampled underfoot;
• a small number of weeds, because the planting area is small;
• warming the root soil in a barrel with sunlight and humus, significantly increasing the yield;
• less susceptibility to disease due to elevation above the ground;
• spectacular appearance;
• a whole barrel of finished compost in the fall.

Disadvantages of barrel growing

There are small disadvantages that can be easily eliminated with the proper approach:

• the need to constantly water the seedlings, because cucumbers have no other way to obtain moisture, for example, by absorbing groundwater;
• adding soil at the stage of active growth;
• the need to purchase containers for planting;
• filling the container with the correct composition in large quantities before planting.

What is required for planting cucumbers in a barrel

To plant cucumbers in a barrel you will need:

• containers;
• composition for filling the barrel;
• heated water for irrigation and boiling water for soil disinfection;
• material for covering the seedlings - oilcloth with a diameter slightly larger than the size of the barrel or plastic jars without a bottom;
• material for the frame (prepare until the plants drop their vines).

Barrels

The best barrels for planting are made of wood, metal and plastic. Wooden ones are preferable. They breathe well and do not heat up in the sun as much as metal ones. But even plastic is quite suitable. Barrels with a volume of 150-200 liters are convenient.

Attention! Cucumbers love sunlight, but metal barrels overheat very quickly and cool just as quickly in the shade. Rapid temperature changes are harmful to delicate crops.

Varieties of cucumbers

Give preference to early ripening, high-yielding varieties and hybrids. Cucumbers are excellent for open garden beds, pollinated by bees or independently. Particularly productive:

• fontanel F1;
• Competitor;
• Pace F1;
• Swallow F1;
• Masha F1;
• Amur F1;
• Prestige F1.

Step-by-step instructions for growing cucumbers in a barrel

Most of the work falls on the pre-planting stage. The further process is not very different from other methods of growing cucumbers.

Preparatory stage

The barrel method requires responsible preparation after the snow melts in the spring:

1. Choose a shaded, draft-free place to install the barrel. Provide free access to plantings from all sides.
2. Remove the bottom from the planting container or make several large holes, which will help avoid stagnation of excess moisture.
3. Fill the barrel 1/3 with branches, pebbles, rags, tops and other plant debris, which will act as drainage.
4. Fill the next third with rotted manure. It will warm up the root system of plants from below. If there is no manure, cut grass, sawdust mixed with soil, tree bark, and small quantities of food waste will do.
5. The top layer is fertile light soil. Fill it up, leaving 10 cm to the edge of the barrel. This will make it possible to cover the seedlings for the first time from possible frosts and at night.
6. Until the sprouts reach the edge of the barrel, it is enough to simply cover them with film or acrylic.
7. For further growth, young lashes need a frame. It is made from narrow slats, plastic arcs for a greenhouse and other suitable material. If the barrels are placed along the wall, stretch a rope support from the surface of the ground into the container and secure it to the wall. As the leaf mass grows, you will get a cucumber wall (like hops or maiden grapes), which looks very original with juicy fruits.

Landing

You can grow seedlings or sow seeds directly into the ground. If you plan to plant seeds in a barrel, proceed according to the following scheme:

1. 1-2 days before planting, thoroughly water the soil in the barrel. Some shrinkage should occur, so add topsoil to the original level.
2. Make small holes in the prepared loosened soil - 2-3 cm deep.Calculate their quantity by the number of seeds (no more than 6 per 1 barrel) plus 2-3 seeds in case of poor germination and weak seedlings.
3. Then cover the seeds with rotted humus.
4. In the first days and until strong seedlings appear, carefully water the cucumbers with warm water from a watering can with a fine sprinkler.
5. Then cover the seedlings with film and tie them with twine along the outside of the barrel, thus obtaining a greenhouse.

Care

To get a large number of crispy fruits in a relatively short period of time, properly care for the crop.

Important! Remember that cucumbers cannot be planted in their old place for 4 years. Change the soil in the barrel completely for each next generation.

Watering

Watering produce as the top layer of soil dries. Usually 2 times a week under the root. In very hot weather, check often to see if the plants need life-giving moisture.

With watering, the soil gradually settles. Don't forget to add soil as the seedlings grow. This will have to be done several times during the season.

Garter

If you plan to send the lashes up, already with small sprouts, install a frame, guiding the branches along it. If the vines hang down, be sure to soften the edge of the barrel so that in the future the branches, heavy from the fruit, do not break. Smooth the edge of the barrel with a bicycle tire, rolled cloth, etc. If you grow cucumbers in an iron container, it is better to immediately wrap it in film to avoid overheating of the earth.

Staking plants will help avoid breaking fragile stems. This will make it easier to direct the growth of cucumbers in the desired direction along the frame, and when they reach the top, they will fall down without being injured by the edges of the barrel.

Topping

Pinching increases yield. The first option is for self-pollinating varieties (formation into 1 stem):

1. Remove flowers and stepsons from the first five sheets.
2. On the next five sheets, remove only the side shoots.
3. When the length of the shoot reaches 1 m, save several stepsons, which you pinch after 3-4 leaves. Thanks to these actions, shoots of the third order are formed.

For bee-pollinated varieties, the method of forming a bush is used by pinching the main stem above the fifth leaf. Later, stepchildren will appear, which also pinch over the fifth leaf. Such actions stimulate the formation mainly of the maternal ovary. This contributes to the formation of about 10 additional lashes.

Top dressing

Fertilizer application is an important component of care.. First feeding carried out 1-2 weeks after removing the film. The simplest composition is manure with water in a ratio of 1:10.

Before flowering, cucumbers are fed with mineral fertilizers (superphosphate, potassium sulfate). Mulching the top layer with humus will help achieve earlier ripening of the fruits.

Diseases and pests

To prevent pests:

• before planting, pour boiling water over the barrel with a solution of potassium permanganate or “Fitosporin”;
• Inspect plants promptly for the presence of larvae and damage to the leaf mass;
• Weed the plantings thoroughly at all stages of growth.

Among the most common pests:

1. Melon aphid. Its colonies are located on the lower part of the leaf. They multiply very quickly, eventually covering the entire plant with a sticky compound. Prevention includes thorough disinfection of the soil before planting and timely weeding. If you find aphids at the initial stage of taking over the plant, dust them with sifted ash.Spray the plant itself with a mixture of 200 g of ash and a soap solution (50 g of soap per 10 liters of water). Irrigate the undersides of leaves from bottom to top.
2. Spider mite. Identified by the web that weaves around the lower part of the leaves and stems. Initially, mites appear as small black dots on the underside of the leaf. They suck nutrients from the leaves, causing them to curl and dry out. The mite starts from a lack of moisture or is carried in with the remains of infected plants. The fight against it is carried out with infusions of onion and garlic peels.
3. Whitefly, like the mite, it feeds on juices from the bottom of the leaf. Frequently spraying the underside of the leaves with water and treating the cucumber crop with Inta-Vir helps to cope with it.
4. Slugs. They are identified by the shiny mucus streaks they leave on plants and the ground. The pest is very gluttonous. Pollination with ash and scattering of metaldehyde granules helps to get rid of it.

Common diseases include:

1. Powdery mildew. A white powdery coating appears on the leaves, then the bush stops bearing fruit. The cause of powdery mildew is excess nitrogen fertilizers, lack of watering, low temperatures and poor crop rotation. The plant is saved with a solution of copper oxychloride, colloidal sulfur or a mixture of sour milk and warm water in equal proportions.
2. Downy mildew - yellowish spots, increasing in size, affect the leaves. The disease occurs from excess moisture and watering with cold water. If detected, stop feeding and watering and immediately treat the plant with a solution of polycarbocin or copper oxychloride.
3. Cladosporiosis - brown-green cankers on stems, leaves and fruits.A fungal disease that occurs in cool, damp weather and during sudden temperature changes, appears more often in the autumn. To protect your plantings next year, carefully remove the remains of infected plants and fruits from the site. Create greenhouse conditions for the cucumber with temperatures up to +20°C and stop watering for 5 days. Treat it with a solution of Bordeaux mixture, copper oxychloride, etc.
4. Various types of rot (gray, white, root). For prevention, observe crop rotation and do not allow the remains of infected plants to get into the fresh soil.

Possible problems during the growing process

Inexperienced gardeners often encounter the following difficulties:

• drying out of the soil due to neglect;
• overheating of the roots due to improper installation of the barrel (in the scorching sun), excess humus or organic waste in the lower layers of the barrel;
• poor fruiting, deformity of fruits due to lack of fertilizing and rare soil moisture;
• pest attacks.

Yellowing of leaves can be caused by:

1. Temperature changes. Wrap the plantings in film at night and leave it on if the weather is cool.
2. Potassium deficiency. An infusion of onion peels (50 g of dry raw materials per 10 liters of boiling water) will help here.

Harvesting

You will get your first harvest soon thanks to good heating of the soil from the inside. The fruits will be clean, and you won’t even have to bend over to get them.

Pick cucumbers daily in the morning or evening - this will help new fruits form faster. Carefully cut them with scissors so as not to damage the lashes. Remove deformed fruits.

Useful tips for growing cucumbers in a barrel

Growing cucumbers in a barrel is an easy and interesting activity. But care will be even easier if you follow these recommendations:

1. Implement a simple drip irrigation system. A plastic bottle of 5 liters or slightly smaller is suitable for this. Make multiple holes in the walls of such watering cans with a hot knitting needle or a thick needle.
2. Bury the prepared bottle in the ground so that only the neck remains on the surface. Then pour water into it, which will gradually moisten the soil around it, which will reduce the number of approaches for surface watering.
3. Do not rush to quickly abandon film. Sudden frosts and cold nights will ruin all your efforts.
4. Don't neglect feeding. So fruiting will begin earlier and will be more abundant.
5. Don't forget to do periodic weeding. Weeds take away nutrients and encourage the spread of pests.

Reviews from summer residents

Many gardeners see the advantages of barrel planting and are willing to share their experience.

Irina, Vologda: «The plot is small, but you always want to grow a lot of things on it, and even make room for flowers. Therefore, when I found this method, I decided that I would definitely implement it, and I did not regret it! I put unnecessary plant debris and old tops directly into barrels. There are three of them in operation, and all are filled during the planting season. The grass around the site, broken dry raspberries, leaf litter - everything goes into use. I water the prepared soil generously with hot water, disinfect it, and the cucumbers hatch the next day. For the frame, they used a metal stick in the center of the barrel with a bicycle wheel on top. I pull the ropes towards it, and the lashes then stretch upward. It turns out to be an interesting cylindrical cucumber bush. The harvest is always greater than that of the neighbors in the greenhouse. There are almost no pains.After all, my high bed is ventilated from all sides, and it’s easier to see the pest at such a height. It’s convenient to harvest because the fruits hang from the barrel.”

Olga, Syktyvkar: “I place the barrels near the entrance to the house, along the veranda. I have been planting cucumbers this way for the last 5 years. I use 150 liter wooden barrels. They fit perfectly into our rustic style. Scourges cover the unremarkable wall of the house. I water the cucumbers along with the flowers near the facade as needed. Either I or my husband and children constantly go to the house; The leaves have slightly withered - right behind the watering can. There is no need to run to the garden. It is very comfortable. Guests always pay attention to such an original planting even more than to the alpine slides on the site and other interesting ideas.”

Conclusion

The method of growing cucumbers in a barrel is becoming increasingly popular among gardeners. The method is good due to its low labor intensity, interesting appearance and huge space savings. Do you like something original? Cucumbers in a barrel - your choice!