Every recreational gardener is eagerly waiting for the first ripe cucumbers in the greenhouse, garden or on the balcony. If you want to prefer cucumbers, you should sow cucumber seeds early. Prefer cucumbers - this way they develop better, bloom earlier and can be harvested longer.
How do you successfully grow cucumber plants?
Growing cucumber plants is possible with cultivation pots, substrate, germinable seeds and a warm, humid environment. Sow the seeds around mid-March (greenhouse) or mid-April (outdoors), provide the seedlings with enough air and light and keep them regularly moist but without waterlogging.
You can sow cucumbers for the heated greenhouse in mid-March. The best time to grow outdoor cucumbers in the greenhouse, on the windowsill or in the cold frame is mid-April. This way they don't get too big until they are transplanted outdoors. Ventilate cucumber seedlings briefly every day to avoid mold formation. And then? Wait and drink tea;-).
What do you need to advance?
- Sowing trays or growing pots (€6.00 on Amazon)
- Growing soil or substrate
- germinable cucumber seeds
- Mini watering can or spray bottle
- Mini greenhouse or foil
How to prevent cucumber seedlings from dying: Half fill compostable cultivation pots with substrate. Place 1 to 2 seeds in each pot and cover them thinly with substrate. As soon as the cucumber seedlings tip over the edge of the pot, carefully fill with substrate so that they root better. A warm, humid climate of at least 20° is required for germination.
Premature cucumber seedlings often rot. They also form roots on the stem and should therefore be planted deeper when pricking out. But please handle with caution! The sensitive cucumber plants break off easily.
What to do when the first seedlings sprout?
The germination time depends on the quality of the cucumber seeds and external conditions such as light, temperature and humidity. 1 to 2 weeks later, when the first pair of cotyledons appear, remove the cover. Now it is important to keep the substrate moist without causing waterlogging. Because both waterlogging and drought are fatal for the tender seedlings. After the last night frosts you can plant the cucumbers in the garden. To do this, select the optimal location with sufficient planting distance in good time.
Tips & Tricks
Until cucumbers spread over the entire bed area, lettuce, radishes or cress ripen at the same time.
