The last date for planting cucumbers in open ground: basic conditions

Growing conditions

Seedlings are a crucial component for growing a bountiful cucumber harvest. Direct sowing of cucumbers into open ground should be avoided. Therefore, special attention should be paid to seedling care.

When to sow cucumbers? This procedure is usually carried out a few weeks before transplanting the young plants to their permanent location. The best time to sow cucumbers is mid- to late March.

After sowing, the soil must be kept constantly moist. This can be achieved by misting the soil mixture with a spray bottle. Under these conditions, young plants will emerge significantly faster. As soon as the first shoots appear, the container should be moved to a sunny spot. However, you will likely need to provide additional lighting for the plants. If you don't have special daylight lamps, you can install mirrors on the sides and above the containers to reflect the sun's rays and direct the light directly onto the plants.

Growing seedlings requires maintaining a certain temperature. Until the first shoots emerge, maintain a temperature of 23°–28°C. Once the seedlings emerge, lower the temperature to 20°–22°C. Once the seedlings have sprouted, they will require even less heat. At night, the temperature will be between 18°–20°C. If controlling the temperature is not feasible, it should at least be optimized. Cucumber seedlings also require constant ventilation (exchange between outside and indoor air). However, drafts can completely destroy young plants.

During the germination period, the soil should be watered frequently, but not excessively. The main indicator of the need for water is the drying of the top layer. This will help develop a strong root system. Watering should be done a couple of times a week with warm, settled water. Otherwise, the plants may die. Boiling the water during this period is avoided, as this will deplete the oxygen in the liquid, which will not have a beneficial effect on the young cucumbers. Watering should be done so that no water drips onto the leaves.

Growing seedlings requires proper care. During winter and early spring, the apartment is still heated, which reduces humidity. Therefore, it's worth periodically misting the young plants to increase the humidity.

If a container was sown with two seeds and both sprouted, only the strongest and most vigorous one should be left. The weaker seedling should be trimmed with scissors rather than pulled out. Otherwise, you could accidentally damage the root system of even the stronger seedling.

Seedlings need fertilizing before planting. Growing them typically requires three applications. The first application is after leaf formation. This fertilizer consists of ammonium nitrate, potassium sulfate, and superphosphate. The mixture is diluted in a bucket of water. The solution can be diluted with organic matter, such as bird droppings or mullein.

The next feeding can be avoided, as it is not mandatory. It is applied during the formation of the second leaf. The third application is done two weeks after the first feeding. The composition is the same as the first, but twice as many nutrients are needed. In addition to watering fertilizers, foliar feeding is often used. This type of feeding stimulates the development of young plants and builds their immunity.

Before replanting young plants, it's important to choose the right growing location. The area should be well protected from northern winds. Furthermore, the southern slopes of the plot should receive ample sunlight.

A south-facing slope in the area where cucumbers are planned can be manually created. This will raise the temperature of the area by a couple of degrees. In the fall, the soil should be dug to a depth of 0.3 meters. If the soil is clayey or heavy, it should be amended with compost, peat, sawdust, or straw.

The soil should be loosened enough to allow easy hand penetration. However, water shouldn't stagnate on the surface or form a puddle. Instead, the liquid should flow freely into the soil.

Cucumbers should be grown in a dedicated bed. To do this, the seedlings are transplanted to a bed located across the slope. The sun's rays should reach the bed, so the southern slope should be gentle.

Video: Planting Cucumbers in Open Ground

This video will show you how to plant cucumbers correctly.

Landing

The last time to plant your cucumbers in open ground is approximately one month after the first sprouts appear. Seedlings are planted in protected soil made of polycarbonate, film, or glass around April 20th. Transplanting into open ground under film occurs around May 10th, and young plants are moved to unprotected soil in early summer. It's impossible to say exactly when to sow seeds or plant seedlings. These time periods depend on the regional climate. The key to transplanting young plants is warm soil, which should be at least 15°C. Before transplanting, the young plants are "exposed" to the outdoors: 10 days before, they are placed in the sun, gradually increasing the duration of their exposure. Once the seedlings can withstand a full day of fresh air, they can be transplanted to their permanent location.

When should I plant cucumbers outdoors in 2025? There's no definitive answer to this question. Much depends, as mentioned earlier, on the local weather and climate conditions.

The procedure should be carried out on a cloudy day in the afternoon. The holes should be arranged in a checkerboard pattern, with at least four individuals per unit area. The furrows should be watered generously, filled with manure, covered with soil, and the young individual should be carefully placed in the hole.

Care should be taken not to damage the root system. Next, the plant should be moistened, and after the moisture has been absorbed, the area should be mulched.

Cucumbers will not be able to grow in areas where beets, pumpkins, squash, or pattypan squash were previously grown.

Growing

Caring for planted cucumbers involves thinning the plantings, actively removing weeds, regularly fertilizing, loosening the soil, and mulching. Furthermore, the crop needs to be protected from pests.

After the formation of the third true leaf, the crop should be fertilized with organic matter or minerals.

So, the final date for sowing cucumbers is relative and depends on the region's climate and geographic conditions. However, it's not recommended to sow the crops directly into open soil.

Video: "Cucumber Care"

From the video you will learn how to properly care for cucumbers.