Growing cucumbers in plastic bottles: features of the method

Advantages of the method

People have long since adapted to using plastic bottles for a variety of purposes, including growing seedlings or home-grown vegetables on city balconies or even on their own windowsills. Plants planted in plastic containers thrive, as sunlight penetrates well through the walls. Furthermore, cucumber seedlings grown indoors in such bottles can be transplanted directly into the containers for outdoor gardening. Why, you ask? In open ground conditions, plastic walls will create a mini-greenhouse, which will help the plant grow faster and produce a harvest even in the vast northern regions where summers are very short. And by planting early-ripening varieties this way, you can enjoy fresh cucumbers as early as June.

The advantages of the method are undeniable:

• plastic walls effectively protect the plant from attacks by the mole cricket;
• This method of planting achieves maximum watering efficiency – moisture goes directly to the roots without spreading over a large area;
• Weed protection – weeds will not be able to settle inside the plastic rim, therefore, they will not take away nutrients from the cucumber;
• If the crop is planted in a greenhouse, you will have the opportunity to replace the soil annually, which will reduce the likelihood of infection.

Video "Growing"

This video will show you how to grow cucumbers using plastic bottles.

Method options

Two- or five-liter bottles are suitable for growing cucumbers (of course, the larger the container, the more comfortable the plants will be). Preparing the bottles for planting is easy: simply cut off about a third of the top. You'll now have a makeshift plastic pot and a lid. Drainage holes need to be made in the bottom of the container. Fill the prepared pots with soil, shaking them occasionally. Don't fill the bottles to the brim with soil—try to leave a few centimeters of space. That's it, you're ready to plant the sprouted seeds. If you're using two-liter bottles, place no more than one seed in each container; if you're using five-liter bottles, plant no more than three.

Pots with planted cucumbers can be placed on the balcony or taken directly to the dacha and buried in the soil. The containers should be submerged to two-thirds of their height and covered with the "lids" left over from pruning. This will create a greenhouse effect, which is essential for accelerating seedling growth and will also protect the young plant from the nighttime chill. Once the seedlings are sufficiently established, the covering can be removed. If you plan to transplant the plants to an open garden bed, you should make more drainage holes or remove the bottom completely, leaving only the sides of the bottle.

Plastic containers are also convenient for seedlings: try cutting a bottle lengthwise and filling it with soil – a mini-plantation is ready! Or you can create a complete self-watering system for growing herbs on a windowsill: cut the bottle in half, fill the neck with soil, and fill the bottom with water.

After removing the lid from the neck, place the top half inside the bottom half, upside down, so that the water reaches the neck. That's it – just sow your favorite herb and don't worry about regular watering; just top up the bottom reservoir occasionally.

Preparing the site

The soil for planting should be loose, well-drained, and aerated. If you're unsure of your ability to prepare a suitable potting mix, you can use a ready-made one, available at specialty stores. When mixing your own, be sure to use regular garden soil, rotted leaves, and peat. Don't forget drainage material, too. If possible, you can add birch ash.

Care Features

Planting cucumbers in 5-liter bottles doesn't require any special care that differs significantly from standard gardening practices. Cucumbers are heat-loving plants and don't thrive in direct sunlight. Water the plants with water warmed to room temperature. After 14 days of germination, you can begin carefully feeding the seedlings with a weak solution of mineral fertilizer. After another 10 days, you can water the seedlings with a weak solution of manure (diluted with water at a ratio of 1:20). It is also important to remember that cucumbers are a climbing plant, so make sure to provide them with suitable support.

Monitor the condition of your plants closely. For example, if yellow spots begin to appear on the leaves, this is a sure sign that spider mites are infesting your cucumbers. Treat the plants immediately, otherwise they will begin to shed their leaves.

Careful and timely care will certainly ensure you a bountiful harvest. Treat your garden beds with love, and they will reciprocate.

Video: How to Make Mini Greenhouses

This video will show you how to make mini greenhouses using ordinary bottles.