Cucumbers grow bitter and not juicy when they lack moisture. So that they do not get bitter, you should make water under the crop on time, especially on dry days, otherwise, in addition to bitterness, you will see dried fruits and leaves.
Watering Rules
Proper watering of culture is based on 4 basic rules:
- Regularity. This applies not only to the time frame, but also to the dosage of the liquid. Plants are watered regularly; the amount depends on the age of the crop. Seedlings also need regular water. It is allowed to change the dosage of water only if the plant grows too fast, but it is not profitable for you. This refers to a huge amount of foliage, but the lack of ovaries. In this case, you can skip several waterings, this will not particularly affect the development of the culture, but the extra leaves will not develop.
- Watering place. Directly direct water under the root of the cucumbers is not necessary. This method leads to exposure of the root system of the plant. This rule applies only to adult seedlings, seedlings are an exception. Explicit exposure of the root system leads to a risk of root rot infection. If the roots are exposed by an absurd accident, then sprinkle the soil with soil and spud the culture. Furrows should be used for this, which are pretty close to the bed. This method prevents rot and saturates the culture with water.
- Temperature indicator. Cold water injures the plant, especially in cloudy and rainy weather. Such moisture contributes to the occurrence of excess moisture, diseases of the cucumber. Use only standing warm water.
- Plant observation. In order for a culture to develop correctly, it is necessary to constantly look after it. Even if you water regularly and correctly, the leaves can still fade. If this happens, don't be afraid and water the crop again.
When and how often to water cucumbers?
The best time for watering cucumbers is morning or evening. If you choose morning, then make sure that before the period when the sun begins to bake, there is no water on the leaves, otherwise you can not do without burns on the culture. If you water in the evening, then count so that the water has time to soak in the greens before the cold night. Too late to apply moisture should not be - the roots may begin to rot.
How often and in what quantities to water cucumbers, find out from the video:
Temperature mode
The water temperature should not be colder than the ambient temperature. The best indicator is + 24 ... + 26 degrees Celsius. Collect water in barrels and expose them to the sun, so that they warm up in a day, and water in them.
Culture loves rain, so you can try to collect rainwater and pour cucumbers on it. Use troughs or basins for this.
Moisture of a different temperature can be applied only if the weather is dry and hot. During this period, in hot soil, the root system slows down its growth and needs a cold “attack”. But they do not water the culture with warm water only under the root, without falling onto the leaves.
If the weather has sharply become colder, then the crop may experience a lack of water, even with regular watering. The reason is the introduction of not warm moisture. At a low water temperature (about +10 degrees Celsius), cucumbers do not absorb it.
Even with heavy watering, the crop may die due to dehydration. To save your plantings, water the beds with water (+ 40 ... + 50 degrees). Pour in water only under the root system, but not closer than 50 mm from the stem.
Quality
Culture is extremely sensitive to hard water. If it is such in the water supply or well, then acidify with citric acid or vinegar during watering.
Watering Methods
In addition to watering personally from bottles or buckets, there are various methods: drip, systems, sprinkling, stations, etc. Let's consider some of them.
Drop watering of cucumbers
This method is modern and convenient, but it needs small investments or great zeal to work independently. It is not difficult to build it. To do this, purchase a large barrel (bath or something like that), set it on a hill and fill it with water. Heated under the sun, it becomes ideal for watering.
Attach a hose with thick walls to the bathtub, make a series of holes in it. This is the easiest standard option, but in this case, fluid will flow out instantly. To prevent this, install a faucet near each hole, and open it as needed. This technique helps to improve and speed up watering the crop.
Bottle watering
The method involves the use of plastic bottles filled with water. There are many varieties of this method; consider 4 main ones:
- Option number 1. Designed for open and closed soil. Mark 30 mm from the bottom of the bottle; make holes with a hot needle. Place them in several rows. How exactly holes should be made is up to you. It all depends on the density of the soil, the heavier it is, the more holes to make. The exact number of punctures is determined with experience, if the earth is constantly wet, then change it to another with fewer holes. Bury the bottles between the plants with their bottoms down. You can not put on a cover. If you want to leave it, then make a hole in it, otherwise after the evaporation of water, it will completely shrink and lose its former appearance.
- Option number 2. This method is almost the same as the first, but in this case the bottom is cut. Make holes close to the neck, you can do without them, but then insert foam rubber into the throat of the bottle. The option is suitable for heavy soils, in the gerbils the water evaporates in a matter of minutes. Screw on the cover, place it in the ground with the throat down. To avoid too rapid evaporation of water, do not throw away the cut bottom, but cover it with a bottle. Experienced summer residents recommend not cutting it at all, but simply cutting it a little to make it convenient to add water.
- Option number 3. If you don’t have the opportunity to visit the country often, then use 5 liter plastic bottles. Make holes on one side. Make one large hole on the other side to make it convenient for you to pour water. Bury the bottles in a prone position, with small holes down. This method of capacity will ensure the flow of water for a couple of days.
- Option number 4. In this case, the containers are not buried in the soil, but suspended over cucumbers. The option is great for greenhouses. Make holes in or near the cover. If there is no desire to make holes, then you can just open the lid. Fill containers with water and hang over beds. This method is not particularly convenient, because water can get on the leaves. To avoid this, bring the bottles as close to the soil surface as possible.
Sprinkling
Using the sprinkling method, it is better to use special sprayers made of plastic or other material that does not form corrosion. For good watering, the water pressure should be 4 atm. However, watering in hotbeds is often carried out from an ordinary water supply, at a pressure of twice less, and, accordingly, this method will not be particularly effective.
Pumping stations
In the industrial cultivation of cucumbers, gardeners use stations with pumps. Their selection is based on the method of extracting water (from a water supply system, a well or a barrel). Thanks to the pumping stations, water quickly gets out of the tank and remains to transfer it to the plants.
Other methods
The main and most common method is manual. It is carried out using a watering can and a special nozzle. The method has its specific advantages: water can be heated at home or in the greenhouse, the gardener himself watches and regulates the amount of water for each plant.
Another way is to water the furrows. Next to the cucumbers, they dig ditches, into which water is then poured, it flows throughout the garden, at the same time irrigating the cucumbers. You can water with sewage, they contain a large number of nutrients necessary for the culture.
Features of watering
The amount of moisture required for the normal development of the plant depends directly on the stage of its growth.
It would be nice in the spring after planting in a permanent soil to mulch the soil so that the earth remains wet for a long time.
After landing
After transplanting seedlings and before flowering, water 4-5 liters per 1 sq. m. With such a moderate application of water, cucumbers will not build up green mass, they will quickly form ovaries. If the plant began to become active and let the foliage, then you can deprive it of watering by 1-2 times.
During flowering and fruiting
During the formation of ovaries, cucumbers are very demanding on water. The same applies to the other two stages: fruiting and harvesting. During these periods, watering is carried out every three days - per 1 sq. Km. approximately 10 liters of water. Pay attention to precipitation, a lot of things depend on them.
As soon as the plant ceased to bloom, watering is increased to 1 time in 2 days. If the cucumbers fade - immediately water.
In hot and rainy weather
On a too dry and hot day, pour cucumbers according to the method of sprinkling in the morning and evening every day. When cooling or during a cloudy day, reduce the application of water. This is due to the fact that the culture is tropical, and its roots are located close to the soil surface, respectively, excessive waterlogging of the earth and roots to plants is contraindicated.
When and how to water in a greenhouse?
Watering in a greenhouse is not necessary to reduce, it is carried out similarly to the introduction of water in open land. At all stages of plant development, cucumbers need a large, but normalized amount of moisture. However, do not forget that the covered ground is slightly different from the open and the situations in it are different. Monitor the condition of the culture and add or reduce the amount of water as needed.
From the video you can learn how to water cucumbers in a greenhouse, how to facilitate watering and what are the requirements for water temperature:
Important Tips
Tips of experienced summer residents:
- Water cucumbers often, but do not go over the permissible dosage.
- Do not bring water under the root, then it is very difficult to cover it, although it is possible.
- The water temperature should be close in value to the temperature of the earth.
- Pay attention to the foliage of plants, do not miss the initial stage of "wilting" of greenery.
- During the growing season, the soil at the base of the plant should be dry.
- To prevent plants from overheating in the greenhouse, spray the windows with a solution of water and chalk from the outside of the greenhouse.
Watering cucumbers is the most important point in caring for the crop. Without the proper amount of water, vegetables grow tasteless and too bitter.