Growing cucumbers in bottles: 105 photos and videos of the correct maintenance of cucumbers in plastic containers

Advantages of unusual packaging

Why is it recommended to use these containers? It is believed that such a displacement will allow the vegetable crop to feel at ease and comfortable. You can use plastic containers not only at home, but also in your garden. If cucumbers are planted in 5 liter plastic bottles, you get a convenient and compact miniature greenhouse. It will ensure maximum growth of the vegetable crop. Even if the summer was not the warmest and longest, the container will allow the fruits to ripen quickly.

What are the other advantages of using such containers? Plastic bottles allow you to replace the soil without much difficulty, which is very useful for any vegetable crops. This ensures that there is no risk of developing pathogenic bacteria. Planted bottle cucumbers will be strong, healthy and robust.

The plastic contour of the containers also allows you to:

save water used for irrigation;
take up minimal space, which is especially valuable when growing vegetables at home and in small areas;
prevent the emergence of weeds that stop the optimal development of the root system of cucumbers;
create a full-fledged barrier from the mole cricket.

Preliminary preparation of the substrate

Proper planting of cucumbers in 5 liter bottles requires preliminary preparation of the substrate. The main requirements for the soil are: looseness, fluffiness and porosity. The soil must be perfectly permeable to air flow.

Beginner gardeners can use a ready-made soil mixture for this method, which is sold in specialized stores. Making it yourself is also easy. To do this, it is enough to mix peat, ordinary soil, a drainage mixture (sphagnum, eggshells or sunflower husks) and rotted tree leaves (with the exception of willow and oak) in identical proportions.

If you make the soil mixture yourself, you can add birch ash to it. This component will ensure a bountiful harvest if cucumbers are planted in 5-liter bottles. Thanks to a well-prepared substrate, the seedlings will be strong and healthy. Good soil also ensures a bountiful harvest within the prescribed period.

Preparing containers for vegetables

This method of growing vegetables involves not only proper soil preparation.
It’s worth taking care of the container itself. Successful cultivation of cucumbers in five-liter bottles begins with preparing the site for cultivating the plant. You will need to cut the containers crosswise or lengthwise. The second option is considered preferable. Thanks to it you can get an imitation of a boat. You will need to make several holes (drainage holes) in it with a heated knife or nail. They will help excess moisture drain. This procedure can also be performed with a soldering iron. If plastic containers are cut crosswise, you will first need to remove 1/3 of the container at the top. The result is a container with a lid that can always be removed, and drainage holes must be made in the bottom of the container. The prepared substrate is poured there.

Preparatory work

Before sowing the seeds, prepare the nutrient substrate and the container itself.

Preparing the substrate

To grow cucumbers in water bottles, both store-bought soil mixtures for vegetable seedlings and homemade substrates are used.

The simplest homemade substrate is prepared as follows:

well-rotted lowland peat and turf soil from the area where legumes (peas, beans, clover) grew last year are mixed in equal proportions;
a small amount of rotted leaves of fruit trees is added to the resulting mixture;
in order to make the soil mixture loose and permeable to air and moisture, drainage components are added to it - eggshells, dry sphagnum moss, onion or sunflower peels.

To disinfect the resulting soil mixture, it is watered with a low concentrated 1% solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate).

Preparing the container

To grow cucumbers, prepare the container as follows:

The paper label is carefully removed from the outer surface of the bottle.
Depending on the planting method, the top part with the neck and stopper is cut off or cut lengthwise.
Drainage holes are made in the bottom of the resulting container using a hot nail.
The inner surface of the container is treated with a low concentrated solution of potassium permanganate.

The prepared containers are filled with soil substrate and placed in a warm and dark place to warm up.

Landing rules

For planting cucumbers, five-liter and two-liter plastic bottles from water and other drinks are used. A liter container will be too small. In a vessel with a volume of 5 liters, which is cut across, you can plant 4-5 bushes of cucumber seedlings, but a two-liter bottle can only hold one or two. Planting cucumbers in plastic bottles is carried out in a greenhouse, on a balcony, or in the ground.

In the greenhouse

If the greenhouse is not heated , you can grow vegetables two to three weeks earlier than usual. The vessels act as a second covering material, so temperature and humidity are maintained, as well as a certain microclimate, even if there is a slight cold snap.

Seedlings are planted in a greenhouse in the standard way: to a depth of about 2 cm, at intervals of 30–40 cm. The bottom of the container is cut off, which covers the hole with the seed.

On the balcony

You can grow cucumbers in plastic bottles at home.

If you leave two or three plants on the balcony, they will begin to bear fruit sooner than cucumbers in natural conditions. Balcony cucumbers in a bottle require almost complete filling of the container, and for seedlings - 1/3. Self-pollinating cucumber hybrids are well suited for the balcony. They require timely watering and feeding. Only one stem is formed, the side shoots are tied up and removed. In a similar way, tomatoes are grown on the balcony.

Tomatoes are grown in plastic bottles such as hanging pots.

In the ground

In this case, the cucumbers are planted in the ground along with a container , the neck of which is cut off in advance.
The bottle should be buried in such a way that the soil in it is level with the ground. In this case, there is no trauma to the root, and it develops normally. The upper cone remains on the plant until warm weather sets in. If there is a need for ventilation, remove the lid for a short time. This method also works for tomatoes.

Forming a cucumber lash

After 5 days, side shoots will begin to form from the axillary buds, which are located under the first and second leaves. Subsequently, the main cucumber lashes will form from them.

Once again, pinching is performed when two new leaves are formed. Thus, if you are going to grow cucumbers on the balcony, then you definitely need to do pinching, otherwise you can’t count on getting a good harvest indoors.

We should not forget that during the development process, the shoots of early varieties of cucumbers begin to curl, so at a certain point it is necessary to tie up the cucumber vines. To do this, mark a place at a level of 1.5 m from the surface of the earth where the wire will have to be pulled.

Thickened threads are drawn from it, which are fixed to the stem. Next, the stem is wrapped around the thread. Carrying out such a garter avoids damage to the stem and provides it with good support for further growth.

Expert advice

Growing cucumbers in a city apartment is a solvable task. Every owner can cope with it, the main thing is to first receive theoretical training about the characteristics of cucumbers on the balcony.

Growing early varieties of cucumbers requires creating favorable conditions for normal development. Therefore, you will have to spend some time and money on insulation, lighting and ventilation.

In addition, you need to correctly determine the time for sowing the seeds, since a certain time must pass before the first greenery appears.

Do not forget that during the growth process, cucumbers form long vines, so it is necessary to create supports for the plants. If you take these points into account, you will be well rewarded for your time and effort.

Planting cucumber seeds

So, how to plant cucumbers in 5 liter bottles, pre-cut in one of two ways? Everything is quite simple. The finished containers are filled with soil. The containers need to be shaken a little. The substrate should not reach a few centimeters to the top edge of the bottles. All that remains is to plant the prepared, germinated cucumber seeds. In order for plants to develop optimally, it is not recommended to use more than 5 seeds per 1 container of 5 liters.

Preparation of seed material

Proper planting of cucumbers in plastic bottles requires a competent approach to preparing the seed.

This will allow you to obtain healthy and strong seedlings, which will further ensure the formation of a large number of ovaries.
This is done according to the standard scheme:

immersing seeds in a container of water;
identification and selection of low-quality options;
germination of good specimens using a damp rag or gauze.

Stages of sowing cucumber seeds

To get ripe and tasty cucumbers under a plastic bottle, planting material is sown in early April. During this period, self-pollinating varieties should be used. It is enough to take about 10 seeds. If everything is done correctly, then in the future these fruits can be used to prepare okroshka, cold soup, salads, or eaten fresh.

The second approach is to plant seeds that are intended for cultivation in a greenhouse. This procedure is performed in mid-April.

At the end of this month or in the first days of May, you need to “plant” in the ground the seeds of those varieties whose fruits are supposed to be used for canning, pickling, pickling, and winter storage. In the second half of the last spring month, you can sow cucumbers under bottles, which are oriented towards pollination by bees or by hand. Such varieties are usually planted in open beds.

When planting cucumbers in a five-liter bottle, it is recommended to pay attention to the recommendations of the lunar calendar. Taking into account the phases of the night star and its position in certain signs of the Zodiac will allow you to achieve good results in gardening. Thus, it is recommended to plant cucumbers on the waxing moon. It is believed that this approach ensures active growth of the seed. Plants establish a better root system.

After sowing, all that remains is to properly care for the seedlings and wait for them to be ready for planting in a permanent place; as a rule, this takes from 15 to 20 days.

Four unusual ways to plant a cucumber

Among the most interesting and unexpected options for organizing a garden bed, the following stand out.

In bags

The method of growing greens in bags is very similar to the technology using a barrel. Packages with a capacity of 70-120 liters or ordinary sugar bags are used as containers . They are filled with a mixture of soil and manure. Peat and humus will also help.

If the container is large, then you can add dry grass and other small garden waste to the bottom. The thickness of the top soil layer should be at least 10-15 cm .

Bags for planting cucumbers are chosen with a volume of 70-120 liters

The place for the bags is chosen to be sunny and ventilated, but without drafts.

The installed bags are supported on 3-4 sides by metal rods . A wooden stick (about 2 m) is driven into the center of the improvised bed, and a nail is driven into the top of it. A fishing line or cord is stretched from the nail to the supported rods to create a trellis.

An important attribute is 3 plastic tubes 80-100 cm long, through which watering is carried out. They must have through holes from top to bottom to supply water to the soil.

10-15 seeds are planted in one bag . After the formation of 2-3 leaves, the shoots are thinned out, leaving the strongest 3 to 6 pieces (depending on the size of the bag used).

The growing technology using bags has the following advantages:

saves space on the site;
does not require digging and weeding;
provides easy care of the garden bed;
the fruits are clean, and in case of heavy rains they are protected from rotting and spoilage.

Growing in bags helps save space

The disadvantages of this method are insignificant, because you only need to spend a little money and time on building vertical beds. And, of course, you need to monitor the level of soil moisture in order to get a high-quality harvest.

Technology of landing in a hut

The method involves driving a pipe (3 m) into the center so that 1 m goes underground. A circle with a diameter of approximately 1 m is marked relative to it. According to the diagram, 4 wooden sticks are installed with fastening to the pipe. The result is the frame of a hut or tent .

In between you need to plant seeds or seedlings at intervals of 30 cm . When the sprouts reach 15 cm, a cord is fixed on supports in a circle to the very top, forming a trellis. The lashes will crawl up along it. In this way, you can grow not a compact, but a tall bush, or you can shape it.

You can start planting the beds a couple of weeks earlier, because you can attach a film to the frame that will prevent the plants from freezing.

Advantages of the method:

economical distribution of free space for beds;
fruits are not contaminated by soil , rotting as a result of excess moisture is excluded;
Such beds decorate the garden and serve as shade for other plants that are afraid of the sun.

Planting on a frame in the form of a hut

There are practically no disadvantages to the hut landing organization; you just have to work hard with the construction of a supporting structure. The only significant drawback is the slow development of bushes planted on the north side; there is a slight lack of light.

How to plant in old car tires

This growing technology is distinguished by its compactness and unusual design of beds .

The process of creating a vertical structure involves stacking 3-5 tires on top of each other and filling the cavity first with large garden waste, then with a mixture of soil, rotted manure and peat.

A pipe with holes along its entire length is dug in the center, through which watering is carried out. If you install arcs on top of the structure, you can start planting earlier by stretching a film over the rods.

Growing cucumbers in wheels allows you to harvest 2 crops per season

Advantages of the method:

economical allocation of space for a vegetable garden;
bed mobility;
unusual design;
You can plant cucumbers twice per season .

Flaws:

you will have to work hard on installation and design;
need to find tires;
Only loose and light soil is suitable.

How to grow on willow twigs

This method was also used by our ancestors.

The idea is to build a fence from willow branches. This material is highly flexible . In addition, when it comes into contact with it, the plant feels comfortable .

Along the row with planted seeds or seedlings, supports made of thick branches or thin wooden sticks are driven into the ground. Willow branches are entwined between them. The knitting should not be tight; cucumbers need light and air. The developing vine spreads along the fence, forming a vertical bed.

Advantages of the method:

economical consumption of space for a vegetable garden;
willow branches create diffused light , which prevents burning of the plant in persistent hot weather;
neighboring crops receive light shading;
the risk of fungal infections is reduced.

Willow frame for growing cucumbers

The main disadvantage of the method is the procurement of the necessary material and the complexity of creating a bed.

Growing cucumbers in plastic bottles

Growing cucumbers in plastic bottles refers to a method that allows you to grow seedlings without transplanting cucumbers into greenhouses. This unusual method is economical and very convenient, especially in regions with cold climates. It should be borne in mind that you can plant seeds not only taking into account the phases of the moon, but also the month. Sowing can be done in several stages in mid-to-late spring and June to allow for a late harvest. In accordance with the seedling conditions, it is divided:

early (seedlings at the beginning of the month, when a bottle of seedlings is displayed on the window);

greenhouse (mid-April);

pollinated (from mid-May) and planted (June).

The cucumber variety Lyutoyar is a hybrid of a parthenocarpic species. In this article you can find out what the variety is and what its ripening period is.

Cucumbers in winter: is it real?

Yes, if you provide the “guys” with several vital conditions:

insulation and heating of the balcony;
high humidity in the room (humidifier or at least frequent spraying);
additional illumination of the bushes with a phytolamp at least during flowering (otherwise the bushes will not form ovaries).

Want more "cutting-edge technology"? Sowing in boiling water, germinating in coconut substrate, growing in a bag on the window... You can hear about all this from a skilled “indoor gardener” in this video:

And another useful experience: growing cucumbers in plastic bottles. Will they grow big? Look, in the video there is also the result of such “gardening”:

Organization of watering and other requirements

These are not all the requirements. Also, growing cucumbers in 5-liter bottles involves filling the bottom of the containers with water. The main thing is that the neck does not touch the liquid. This approach ensures a high-quality automatic watering system. Vegetable crops will be able to independently absorb water when there is a shortage of water in the soil.

Many gardeners are interested in how to grow cucumbers in five-liter plastic bottles on the balcony. Vegetable crops will need to be fed and watered in a timely manner. Equally important for gardeners on time:

tie up plants;
form only 1 stem;
periodically remove side shoots.

Successfully growing cucumbers in 5 liter bottles requires using the “right” soil. The substrate should be well lit and warm. But you should not allow it to be exposed to direct ultraviolet rays. Otherwise, the agricultural technology of balcony vegetable crops is no different from caring for cucumbers in open ground. Watering is done with settled liquid. The water should be warm enough to prevent the formation of blackleg and downy mildew.

Brief conclusions

Every summer resident can grow cucumbers in a bottle. Strict adherence to recommendations and knowledge of the basics of biology guarantee the presence of fresh cucumbers on the table throughout the season.

The grown products taste no different from cucumbers from the garden. The gardener remembers: what fertilizing he did, what he treated the plantings with. Environmental cleanliness is under control.

You can be proud of the plants planted in plastic bottles. The bushes are healthy, the root system is well developed. The applied fertilizers do not spread over the surface, but are digested. Cucumbers delight with an abundance of ovaries and fruits.

Making cups

A convenient and practical option for growing cucumbers using plastic bottles, or rather, cups made from them.

First you need to prepare the ground - you will need a deep trench up to a meter, which is filled with herbal compost, watered with boiling water and filled back up. Next, after preparing the holes, add a little ash and manure to them.

Make “holey” cups from bottles so that the cucumbers can consume enough water. We send several sprouts into them and place them all together in the hole. Cover the finished bed by arranging several arcs with film.

Towards the end of June, the film is removed and it is necessary to organize a so-called staircase along which the plant will twine and receive the required amount of sunlight. Harvesting with this approach will be noticeably easier.

Which soil is better?

High-quality soil is the key to an excellent harvest. If you are not sure that the soil you make yourself will be suitable, then it is better to purchase it at a gardening store. It is enriched with balanced vitamin and mineral elements. However, homemade soil can be much cheaper than store-bought soil, and for some it is very important to prepare the soil yourself in order to be sure of the usefulness of all the components.

Components of cucumber soil:

turf soil, mature humus or peat - one part each;
some wood ash and sand;
some rotted sawdust or crushed eggshells.

High-quality soil should be loose, “fluffy” and light for good ventilation of plant roots.

Preparing seeds for planting

Quality seeds purchased from the store are already pre-processed. Some producers use the technique of enveloping seeds with a protective nutrient coating from a mixture of mineral fertilizers (pellet coating). Upon contact with water, the coating dissolves and the sprout receives nutrition.

If you grow seeds for planting with your own hands, for their further use you will have to carry out a number of preparatory procedures:

selection of low-quality seeds;
testing for germination (they are placed in a container with water, after a while the unsuitable ones float up);
disinfection with a weak solution of potassium permanganate;
pickling;
germination in damp cotton fabric.

Such careful preparation ensures that the seeds will sprout well.

Timing of sowing seeds

High-quality seedlings are obtained from seeds collected two or three years ago and undergoing special disinfection.

To do this, they need to be kept for 15 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate or a product prepared from a teaspoon of salt (copper sulfate) and a glass of water.

The treated seed should be washed and then placed on a damp cloth for germination.

A bottle without a neck and a lattice bottom can be compared to a miniature greenhouse that protects plants from garden pests and unstable weather.

But in order for seedlings to appear without problems, it is important to choose the right sowing time:

in early April, seeds of self-pollinating varieties are sown on the windowsill in order to harvest the first harvest of cucumbers;
for greenhouses, the first ten days or the middle of the same month are ideal;
at the end of April or early May is the time for sowing in open ground. It is important that the soil has time to warm up to at least 13 degrees;

If the bottle will be used not only as a shelter, but also as a nursery, then it is better to sow in the second ten days of April.

seed should be planted on the balcony only after the night temperature outside does not fall below 15 degrees Celsius, and the night temperature is set at + 18;
If desired, you can also grow a late harvest. In such cases, sowing is carried out in early June.

How to plant cucumbers in plastic bottles

Plastic bottles are used in various ways, sometimes even one and a half liter bottles are used, but for growing cucumbers, bottles with a capacity of five liters are usually used.

Bottle preparation

Not all plastic containers are suitable for use in gardening. Before giving it a second life, the bottle should be washed thoroughly with warm water, possibly with soap, and even better, after that it should be disinfected with a pink solution of potassium permanganate .

The use of five-liter plastic bottles is convenient: they can be easily placed on the balcony, you can observe the state of the root system, the roots themselves warm up well, which allows you to speed up the harvest. In a greenhouse, the use of bottles makes it possible to facilitate the labor-intensive process of replacing soil; in open beds, they can be used to initially protect plantings from the cold.

You must understand that one bottle is designed for only one plant.

Bottles are used either cut into equal pieces or as a whole, with the top cut off. The halves are used mainly for growing seedlings, where they act as a small box. When growing cucumbers, the top part of the bottle (the one that tapers) is cut off, and holes are made in the bottom. A few holes in the bottom for drainage will be enough when growing cucumbers on the balcony. The cut top should not be thrown away just yet.

The cut off top is an ideal cap that protects plants from the cold

To use the bottle in the garden, it is better to do it differently. Using a heated soldering iron (or at least a nail), make many closely spaced holes (perforations) in the side walls around the perimeter, approximately 1 cm from the bottom. Subsequently, perforation will make it easy to get rid of the bottom.

Soil composition

Since for a long time (and on the balcony - until the very end of development) cucumbers will have to eat only what fits in a volume of less than five liters, the soil placed in the bottle must be very fertile. For 1-2 bottles you can buy it in the store; for large quantities you can make your own soil. It is better if it is a mixture of equal volumes of turf soil, sand and humus, and a handful of ash is added to the bucket of the mixture . To disinfect the mixture, it is spilled with a pink solution of potassium permanganate.

Seed preparation

As for seed preparation, in most cases it is not required: now gardeners try not to skimp on seed material and buy hybrid seeds that are usually ready for sowing. If doubt remains, you can carry out the usual operations:

calibrate (manually or by density, that is, by lowering it into salted water and discarding what floats);
disinfect by holding for 20–25 minutes in a pink solution of potassium permanganate;
keep in growth stimulants according to the instructions;
germinate on a damp cloth until pricking.

It’s better to just let the seeds sprout: with such large tails it will be difficult to plant them

It is better not to do anything with seeds purchased from a safe place: the maximum is to soak them for a day, although this will not give a significant gain in time. Planting should be done at the usual time, depending on where the cucumbers are supposed to be grown until harvest.

Sowing seeds in bottles

If the seeds are expensive, plant one seed in each bottle. It is safer, of course, to plant 2-3 pieces, and then remove the extra weak shoots. Whatever happens to the cucumbers next (transfer to the balcony, greenhouse or open ground), sowing the seeds is done the same way.

A drainage material (egg shells, small pebbles, coarse river sand, etc.) is placed at the bottom of the bottle with a layer of 3–4 cm, then soil is poured, not reaching the top edge of 2–3 cm.
The soil is poured into the bottle not to the very top
Moisten the soil well and mark holes about 3 cm deep. Having placed 1 seed per hole, cover them with soil and spray the crops with water from a spray bottle.
The sowing process is no different from that in the case of any other container.
Cover the bottle with the cut off top and send it to a bright, warm place (temperature 24...28 °C).

It is important immediately after the emergence of seedlings (this can be after 4 days or a week) to immediately provide them with coolness (not higher than 18 ° C) and bright light for 4–5 days. In the future, everything depends on where the cucumbers are going to be grown: they can be taken out to a permanent place when real heat sets in there.

If it's warm, you can plant cucumbers with only one true leaf in the garden.

How to prepare seeds

Bottled cucumbers are easy to grow. It is important to properly prepare the material for sowing.

Seeds from a reputable manufacturer have undergone preliminary preparation. Some companies treat planting material with a mixture of mineral fertilizers. When water gets in, the glaze dissolves and the seedling receives nutrition.

Own seeds are planted 2-3 years after harvesting. Cucumbers in five-liter bottles will be healthy if the rules for preparing the material are followed. The gardener should:

check germination (place dry seeds in a saturated solution of table salt (2 teaspoons per glass of water): empty ones will float);
disinfect suitable ones with a light pink solution of potassium permanganate;
accelerate germination by pickling in aloe juice, potassium humate (hold for 2 hours);
germinate in damp cloth.

Three seeds are placed in a plastic bottle cut across. After one true leaf appears, weak plants are removed.

With a plastic bottle divided along the length, proceed as follows. Holes are made at a distance of 15 cm. Two seeds are placed in them. After germination, leave one. The plant to be removed is not pulled out, but pinched. Growth stops.

Growing in a greenhouse

The seedlings grow strong and healthy

Growing cucumbers will also be acceptable in a greenhouse. A greenhouse without heating will help you get a harvest 2-3 weeks earlier than usual. With the help of such bottles, a mini-greenhouse is created in a small area, which to some extent can even replace a heated greenhouse.

This effect is achieved due to the fact that the container acts as an additional shelter, maintaining an acceptable microclimate even when it gets cold.

Landing technology

The place for planting cucumbers is pre-prepared. The top layer of soil is removed to the level of the spade bayonet. A layer of humus is placed on top (horse manure and straw 1:1). Then half of the removed soil is returned. The resulting substrate must be poured with hot water and covered with plastic oilcloth.

After 3 days, you can dig in a bottle with seeds or seedlings cut off at the bottom. Often the beds are additionally covered with non-woven synthetic fabric.

The method of sowing cucumbers does not differ from the traditional one: the seeds are placed in a hole about 2 cm deep. It is important not to overdo it with the number of seeds - you need to put no more than 3 pieces. in one bottle.

How to grow stronger cucumber seedlings in the future: in open ground or in a greenhouse - everyone decides individually. The seedlings of the crop are fragile, try not to damage them. The lid can be removed from the container, but the lashes must be tied up.

Care methods

All types of vegetables require care, and cucumbers are no exception. After planting them in a bottle, do not forget to moisten the soil using settled water. It is better to water the plant with warm liquid to prevent the appearance of fungal diseases.

2 weeks after planting the cucumbers, you need to fertilize the bottle for the first time. A mixture that contains three components is considered successful:

magnesium sulfate;
ammonium or potassium nitrate;
superphosphate.

It is convenient to combine fertilizer with watering, gradually enriching the soil with the resulting mixture, avoiding contact with the leaves. They can be sprayed with nitrogen fertilizers. The second feeding using a manure solution is carried out after 10 days.

Watering and fertilizing are the main components of care, but it is equally important to tie up the plants in time, remove the lateral shoots, thereby forming 1 stem.

Spider mites may appear on cucumber bushes. Garlic tincture helps to cope with it. Place 5 cloves of garlic in boiling water and after 6 hours of infusion, irrigate the leaves with this product. A tincture of onion peels (hot water and peels 1:2) is also effective.

Necessary care for cucumbers in five-liter jars

Cucumbers grown in bottles are easy to care for. But to get a harvest after 35-40 days, it is necessary to provide the plant with sufficient watering, lighting, fresh air and fertilizing.

Lighting

Cucumbers love warmth and sunlight. Therefore, it is recommended to place bottles with the plant in a place with good lighting (window sill, balcony, terrace, attic). At the same time, you should not leave the container in the scorching sun, which can burn the foliage and cause the crop to wither.

Fertilizing and watering

To enrich the soil with nutrients, root fertilizer is applied. The first procedure is carried out two weeks after planting the seeds. The fertilizer contains equal amounts of magnesium sulfate, saltpeter, and superphosphate. Then, every 10 days, the soil is treated with a solution of manure or a mixture of potassium sulfate, sodium humate, water. Spraying of bushes is carried out with nitrogen fertilizers.

Watering the seedlings must be done every 2 days; when 4-5 full leaves appear, the procedure is carried out once a week. After flowering begins, the soil is moistened every 3-4 days. The water used is settled and heated during the day in the sun.

Formation of seedlings

To prevent cucumbers from wasting energy on growth, you will need to carry out pinching and pinching in a timely manner. All shoots that form in the axils of 5-6 leaves are removed. One central stem is formed, which is pinched at a height of 1.5 m. To tie up the bushes, use a mesh or trellis made of ropes. Support will be needed for a plant that has already reached 25 cm and has grown its first tendrils.

Pollinating bushes

If non-self-pollinating cucumbers were initially planted, you will need to carry out the procedure yourself. To do this, male and female flowers are found on the plant. The latter are carefully cut off and the stamen is passed along the pistil. You can also use a cotton swab and collect pollen without cutting off the flower.

Harvesting Rules

It is recommended to collect cucumbers depending on the desired result. Greens 10-12 cm long are suitable for fresh salads, but for preservation it is better to use gherkins. The fruits must be carefully cut so as not to damage the bush attached to the support.

Important! If the harvest is untimely, the fertility of the bush decreases, the skin of the fruit becomes coarser, the seeds enlarge, and voids appear.

How to grow cucumbers for a summer resident without a dacha

Gardeners without a summer cottage can plant cucumbers using the “bottle” method. To do this, it is enough to have a glazed loggia or an insulated balcony. Parthenocarpic (self-pollinating) varieties and hybrids should be selected.

5 liter bottles need to be divided crosswise. Cut off (not all the way) the top third. Make drainage holes in the bottom. Fill with nutrient soil. Plant prepared seeds (3 pieces per five liters). Deepen by 1.5-2 cm.

When the true leaf appears, leave one plant. Carefully remove the rest. The success of growing cucumbers under plastic bottles depends on proper feeding with organic matter and mineral mixtures. On the balcony, a tropical vegetable grows at low air humidity. The plant needs to be sprayed.

Spider mites love dry air and high temperatures. The leaves should be inspected. If white spots appear on the back side, spray with insecticide. Increase air humidity.

Cucumbers should be shaded from the bright sun. Form according to the instructions of seed producers. You can use 1.5-2 liter containers. In this case, you should sow one seed at a time.

Growing cucumbers in bottles is convenient and profitable. A gardener without a dacha receives early vegetable production. The balcony is surrounded by tropical vines. A person improves his skills.

How to make a mini-greenhouse correctly

It is better to make a so-called mini-greenhouse from a five-liter bottle, since several cucumber seeds can be sown in it, unlike a smaller bottle, in which it is possible to grow only one plant.

Advice
You should not plant more than 4 seeds in one bottle. It is better to leave only the two strongest sprouts that have sprouted to prevent thickening.

Landing is usually carried out according to the following algorithm.

First, you need to thoroughly wash the bottle so as not to contaminate the cucumbers with anything.
Cut it almost in half lengthwise, leaving the bottom part slightly larger than the top. Do not throw away the upper part (the so-called greenhouse lid), it will be useful in the future. If you cut it lengthwise, then this peculiar boat is suitable for growing seedlings, and not only cucumber ones.
Heat a soldering iron or nail, pierce several holes in the bottom to drain excess moisture when watering.
Fill the bottle with moistened soil, leaving 2-3 cm to the edge.

Care

Caring for growing vegetables coincides with greenhouse and garden work. First, the plants are watered with warm water, and after 2 weeks they switch to fertilizing. Cucumbers feed on the composition:

magnesium sulfate, potassium nitrate;

superphosphate;

ammonium nitrate.

Ammonium nitrate
Pour the liquid carefully, without getting on the leaves. After 10 days, the vegetables are fertilized with manure. For weekly watering, prepare grain fertilizer:

To do this, a large bucket is filled 2/3 with bread crusts, the rest is added with water and the mixture is infused in a warm place.
Water is then added again and used for irrigation.
Add 500 ml of nutrient to each bottle of cucumbers weekly.

When yellowness appears on the leaves (a sign of damage by spider mites), the cucumbers are sprayed with garlic tincture (5 cloves of garlic are left in boiling water for 6 hours). Also tincture of onion peel. The films are collected in a liter jar until half full, filled with hot water and left to infuse. The resulting product is diluted with clean water 1:2.

Applying timely fertilizers

A couple of weeks after the cucumbers have been planted under the bottle, it is recommended to add fertilizer to the soil for the first time. To do this, it is optimal to use a combination of magnesium sulfate, ammonium and potassium nitrate, and superphosphate. The resulting nutrient “cocktail” must be poured into the soil very carefully. The main thing is not to get it on the leaves of plants. After 10 days, fertilizing is done using a manure solution.

It is important not only to consider how to plant cucumbers in plastic bottles correctly, but also to properly care for the vegetable crop. If the leaves of the plant begin to turn yellow, or there are signs of spider mites, the bushes should be treated with garlic tincture. Infuse 5 cloves of this aromatic vegetable in boiling water for 6 hours. You can also use a tincture based on onion peels. To prepare it, you will need to add hot water to the dry product. The ratio is 1:2.

Many gardeners find fertilizer made from bread useful. You need to take a bucket and fill it 2/3 with baking crusts. Then the container is topped up with regular water. This mixture should stand for 7-10 days in a warm place. The part that has evaporated during this time is topped up with water. It is recommended to fertilize balcony cucumbers grown in bottles with the resulting product. For 1 container, 500 ml of bread infusion is used.

So, how to plant cucumbers in 5 liter bottles is not the most difficult question. It is many times more important to properly prepare the soil, containers and provide competent care for vegetable crops. But such a process does not involve anything particularly complicated. If desired, any gardener can cope with growing balcony cucumbers in such containers. We recommend looking at the article: Preparing seeds and planting cucumber seedlings.

Growing cucumber seedlings on the balcony

To plant seedlings, you will need small plastic cups or special cups purchased at a gardening store (which can be planted in the ground along with the sprouts). To drain excess water, holes must be made in the bottom of the containers.

For speedy cultivation, cucumber seeds are treated with a strong solution of potassium permanganate. They need to be placed in a gauze or fabric bag and dipped in a dark solution of potassium permanganate for about 10-15 minutes. Then the seeds need to be washed with water. They should end up brown.

Another way to speed up the process of growing seeds and increase their germination is to place them between layers of damp gauze for a couple of days until they hatch. In this case, you need to ensure that the gauze does not dry out and periodically moisten it with warm water.

A fluorescent lamp or a special greenhouse lamp for plants will also help improve the quality of seedlings.

You can sow one or two seeds in each cup to the depth of the first phalanx of your finger. Seedlings should be stored in a warm room with a temperature of at least 23-25 degrees Celsius.

After emergence, the seedlings can be transferred to the balcony, but at the same time, it is important to monitor the temperature (20-23 degrees during the day and not lower than 15 degrees at night is enough) and the absence of drafts. Cucumbers should be watered moderately, no more than once a day in good light with warm water (23-25 degrees Celsius).

Sprouts suitable for planting will appear in about a month. During this time, the seedlings will need to be fed twice, either with special store-bought fertilizers, or with the same mixture that was added to the soil.

Bottled cucumbers: growing

Cucumbers in tires: growing

Many people grow cucumbers under bottles. They do this for the following purposes:

A greenhouse within a greenhouse. We are talking about growing in greenhouse conditions. First, prepare the bottle (cut out the bottom, upper third), and then place it in the hole (seeds there too).
A greenhouse within a greenhouse.
To preserve moisture. This method is suitable for those people who rarely come to their dacha. A sprout grown in open ground is covered with a five-liter bottle (7-15 cm deep). There is no need to screw the plug. If it is cold outside, then use lutrasil (synthetic fabric).

Pros: protection in cold weather, saving water.

Cons: Insufficient nutrition. To grow a large harvest, you need to use additional means (mineral and nitrogen fertilizers).

Secrets of the success of “bottle” technology in open ground

Cucumbers are planted in open ground in two ways:

Temporarily. Cover the sprout with a bottle with the bottom cut out. It is buried 10 cm into the ground. The plug is not screwed in. Cover with lutrasil (in cold weather). When warm weather sets in, the shelter is removed. A convenient method for summer residents who rarely come.
Seedlings are grown in a greenhouse or at home. Before planting, the bottom of the bottle is cut off along the perforation. The jar, together with a lump of earth, is placed in a dug hole (the soil level must coincide with the internal one). The top third is removed.

Advantages of the method: saving space, water. In case of cold weather, the bed can be easily covered with film or non-woven material.

The disadvantage of growing cucumbers under five-liter bottles in open ground in the second case is limited nutrition. The gardener should constantly fertilize with nitrogen and mineral complexes.

Twine should be placed in the bottles to twist the plant during the growth period. Then you need to remove the top third of the eggplant: it has completed its task.

What pests can threaten cucumbers on the balcony?

Often, gardeners even on balconies are faced with problems such as pests. Usually on cucumbers you can find:

Spider mite

You can recognize it by the silvery coating on the side of the leaves that faces down. If the mite has been living on the plant for a long time or there are many of them, then you will immediately see a dense, small cobweb on all the leaves and, possibly, shoots. In this case, an infusion of garlic mixed with laundry soap will help you. You need to steep one head of garlic for about an hour or two in a liter of water, then strain the liquid, add a small piece of soap to it and stir well. With this mixture you need to wash the entire plant, each of its leaves, carefully removing plaque and cobwebs.

aphids

Landing

Planting cucumbers under a bottle requires the same competent approach as with standard cultivation. Necessary:

presence of plastic containers;
place 3-5 seeds in each container;
choose the strongest one from the sprouts that appear;
cutting off the top of the bottle to the level of the hangers;
formation of a drainage hole;
adding drainage material;
filling the bottle with soil, for which gardeners prefer to use vegetable soil mixture;
adding ash;
regular moisturizing.

Bottle preparation

Plastic containers do not require special preparation. You need to rinse it thoroughly, but not with too hot water. Hot liquids, when interacting with PET, cause destruction of the polymer, as well as the active release of toxic substances, which can then end up in your pickles.

In addition, such substances penetrate into the air and then into the lungs, so it is best to rinse the container with cool water using a dishwashing brush.

Recipe No. 1

easily

What is it for

In greenhouses, completely or partially replacing the soil is hard work. Autumn greening of the soil partially eliminates the negative. But when replanting cucumbers for autumn consumption, it is not possible to improve the soil. Simple technology solves the problems of gardeners.

Planting cucumbers in 5 liter bottles is used:

in unheated greenhouses;
in open ground;
on a glazed balcony or loggia.

The results are impressive: the plants are strong and the yield is high. The roots of the bushes are not gnawed by the mole cricket. At an early stage of development, seedlings do not suffer from mosaic disease. Water consumption is reduced.

Usually, after the first wave of fruiting, the bushes rest. Summer residents renew the vines and apply fertilizers. Plants require care, take up space, and do not produce fruit. Then the second harvest ripens. It's not that plentiful.

Growing cucumbers in 5 liter bottles allows gardeners to renew fruit-bearing bushes. The first batch is prepared in March, then in April and June. Old plants are composted. Plastic containers are washed and disinfected. The soil is replaced. Labor costs are minimal. Young bushes always delight with an abundance of fruits.

How to plant seedlings in peat tablets

The technology is used for growing seedlings.

The main advantage is the complete preservation of the root system during transplantation . Young shoots of cucumbers have underdeveloped roots, so when transferring a seedling to a garden bed, there is a high probability of plant death. In the case of a peat tablet, this is excluded, since the shoot is placed in the hole along with it.

The principle of growing seedlings is as follows:

Peat cups are placed in a container with low sides and filled with water;
after the workpiece swells, the grain descends into the recess;
the container is covered with film;
The container is placed in a warm place;
As the peat dries, moisture is produced;
After the seedlings have germinated, the box is installed in a well-lit place.

After laying out the seeds in the holes, some gardeners advise sprinkling them with peat to a depth of 1-2 mm.

The use of this technology eliminates additional costs for consumables and reduces disembarkation time. In addition, growing seedlings in peat pots does not require much space; the container is mobile and easy to maintain . When transplanting, the plant is not injured and takes root in the garden faster.

Using several methods of growing cucumbers at the same time, you can be guaranteed to get a harvest regardless of the vagaries of the weather and the climatic characteristics of the region. And with the right approach, pampering your loved ones and friends with fresh herbs can be done all year round.

Russian gardeners are experienced people. They can grow a huge harvest of various vegetables in a plot the size of a patch. How do they do it? It's simple - ingenuity helps! Here's to planting cucumbers in 5 liter bottles from this category!

Many people think that growing cucumbers is very simple - you put a seed in the ground, water it, feed it once - and that’s it, it will grow on its own. In principle, this is true if the seed is stuck into a fertilized bed in a greenhouse. What should those who don’t have a greenhouse do? It happens that you don’t even have a vegetable garden, but you still want your own cucumbers. Growing cucumbers in plastic bottles is just for such a case, because such containers can well become a replacement for a greenhouse, and you don’t need much space for growing.