Growing cucumbers under film: advantages of spunbond, rules of application

What is better to cover cucumbers: with film or material?

Many new gardeners ask: what is better to cover cucumbers: with film or not with cloth?
If you sow seeds in open ground, it is best to cover the cucumbers with a white non-woven cloth. The fabric will prevent weeds from growing because it is dense. It is wise to cover the seedlings with your hands from the sun's rays and the onslaught of pests with a black non-woven product. Film is a less effective material and problematic to use, because When watering, it is necessary to remove it, and when ventilating the plants, open it slightly and control it so that the root system does not overheat.

If you don’t know how to protect cucumbers from frost in early spring when planting in a greenhouse, experts recommend covering them with white spunbond, stretching them on arcs.

Note! Light non-woven fabric is light, weightless and durable. It is recommended to use to protect cucumbers and tomatoes from ultraviolet radiation and frost. When choosing the optimal shelter option for seedlings, the thickness of the material plays a significant role.

A thin covering can be used to cover cucumbers after germination, a thick covering can be used when arranging greenhouses in early spring.

When choosing the optimal shelter option for seedlings, the thickness of the material plays a significant role. A thin covering can be used to cover cucumbers after germination, a thick covering can be used when arranging greenhouses in early spring.

If you need to provide cover for cucumbers from weeds, then it is reasonable to lay black film next to the cucumber beds, and to directly cover the seedlings, select material taking into account climatic conditions.

The purpose of the covering cloth is to simplify the care of seedlings and increase productivity. When choosing, you need to compare the pros and cons of both options in order to know what is better to cover cucumbers at low temperatures or, conversely, in the heat.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=KpFGHOIKh7o

Currently, there are many covering materials. Growing cucumbers under covering material protects plants from harmful factors, such as:

frost;
strong wind;
hail;
scorching sun;
illness;
pests

Covering material makes it possible to plant seedlings in the early spring correctly and not be afraid that the seedlings will freeze and die.

The covering material can be very different. Now the market is overflowing with numerous plant protection materials:

Reinforced polyethylene film.
Air bubble film.
PVC film.
Spunbond, non-woven material.
Ordinary polyethylene film.

The most common materials for covering seedlings:

Agricultural canvas. Opaque and non-woven.
Polyethylene film.

First you need to cover the seedlings with a cloth. It will protect plants from the sun, frost and strong winds. In severe frosts, the seedlings are covered with film on top.

In May there is a period of budding and flowering, so such an early type of berry as strawberry should be protected from freezing at night.

To protect cucumbers, covering materials are also used, from the same frosts and winds. After all, seedlings are so fragile, especially in the first days of planting, when they have not yet taken root to the ground.

Scheme of covering plants with film.

Covering technology for strawberries, wild strawberries, cucumbers.

First, a support is placed in the form of an arc over the seedlings. There are several such arcs needed throughout the entire area, which needs to be saved from the harmful factors of nature.
At night, a cloth is placed over the arcs, and a plastic film is placed on top so that the edges hang down to the ground, and they can be pressed with something heavy so that air does not penetrate inside the shelter. If the canvas lies directly on the bushes, it will not damage them. The height of the arches usually reaches 1 meter.

Polyethylene film provides additional protection. The strawberries will be safe under the film. If the frosts are mild, there is no wind, and the sun is not too hot, then one non-woven fabric will be enough.

After the frosts have subsided and summer has arrived, the plastic film can be hidden until the next season; it will no longer be needed, but the canvas will still be useful for growing strawberries, strawberries and cucumbers when the sun begins to harm the seedlings in the July heat. Then you need to install risers over the shelter area, and a canvas on them so that it serves as a canopy for the plants. During the flowering period of cucumbers, they need to be covered with a cloth only if the temperature rises above 30. At such a high temperature, the pollen will deteriorate and there will be no fruit.

In rare cases, shelters will be needed in the fall if early frosts set in and late varieties of cucumbers have not yet been harvested. In any case, growing under the protection of the material is much more reliable than without it.

Do I need to cover cucumbers in open ground?

Each vegetable crop is demanding in terms of growing conditions. First of all, the main one is the growing temperature. Cucumber is a very capricious vegetable. At low ambient temperatures, it slows down in growth, and it is simply impossible to achieve high yields.

What are the temperature thresholds for cucumbers:

At daytime temperatures below +15 C, the crop is affected by powdery mildew and the yield decreases.
If at night the thermometer drops below +8 C, then young bushes may die.
When the soil temperature is below +12 C, then most likely the gardener will not wait for the seeds to sprout. If cucumbers are planted by seedlings, the seedlings turn yellow and stop growing.
Daytime temperatures are above +23 C, and night temperatures are above +15 C - cucumbers feel great, actively grow and form an ovary.

Covering with film will provide optimal conditions for cucumber plantings. This is especially true for those regions where the weather is constantly cloudy, there is little sun, strong winds constantly blow, night frosts, and cold snaps occur.

Features of planting cucumbers under covering material

You can plant seeds and seedlings in open ground only towards the end of spring, when the soil has warmed up well and there is no threat of frost. The method of planting under cover makes it possible to plant seeds or seedlings at the very beginning of spring.

Planting cucumbers under cover has several significant advantages:

Makes it possible to get a cucumber harvest 2-3 months earlier.
The use of covering material provides reliable protection of seedlings from exposure to sunlight, the required level of soil moisture, and protects plants from pests and various diseases.
Provides increased productivity.

Important! You can get a positive result only if you choose the right type of covering material and crop variety. This planting scheme can be implemented in three ways:

This planting scheme can be implemented in three ways:

The covering material is stretched over metal arches.
The material is stretched onto a mobile rectangular frame.
Fixing the material directly to the ground. This option is the simplest, but is considered the least effective.

Polyethylene film for greenhouses

Before sowing, the land should be prepared. To do this, they dig it up to the depth of a spade bayonet. It is necessary to break up large clods of soil on the site and apply fertilizer. Now is the time to start arranging the longitudinal beds; the distance between them should be approximately 50 cm.

When the site is ready, the arches or frame are installed on it. The height of the finished structure should not be less than 1 m. This will make it possible to provide supports for grown cucumbers.

Under cover, you can plant both cucumber seedlings and sow their seeds. When using the seedling method, it will be possible to get the harvest several months earlier.

The first month after planting cucumbers, it is not recommended to water the plants frequently; 2-3 waterings per week are sufficient.

Polycarbonate for greenhouses

You need to lift the covering material at least once a week. In this way, it will be possible to avoid the development of pathogenic fungi on the soil surface, as well as provide additional lighting to the plants.

In the second month after planting, the plants can already be fed.

Important! Fertilizers can be applied only when the air temperature does not drop below 18 degrees. It is recommended to use sodium humate as a top dressing, which dissolves in water in a ratio of 1:10

For 1 m2 of area you need to use 8 liters of ready-made solution. At least once every 30 days, cucumbers should be fertilized with chicken droppings dissolved in water

It is recommended to use sodium humate as a top dressing, which dissolves in water in a ratio of 1:10. For 1 m2 of area you need to use 8 liters of ready-made solution. At least once every 30 days, cucumbers should be fertilized with chicken droppings dissolved in water.

You can begin to build supports after the formation of 2-4 leaves on the plant. Different materials are used to make the support: strong rope, wooden slats or metal rods.

After the flowers appear, the shelter must be raised as often as possible. This will allow insects to pollinate the flowers. If the air temperature reaches 28 degrees and above, plantings should be opened only early in the morning or in the evening. This way the plants can be protected from direct sunlight.

How to cover cucumbers in open ground: choosing the best option

Using film or agrofibre will allow you to plant cucumbers earlier than usual. And the summer resident will start picking cucumbers faster than his neighbors, for example, who planted cucumbers on the street.

Today the market offers a large selection of products for these purposes.

Film

Most often in vegetable gardens you can see ordinary plastic film. This material is elastic, made of polyethylene alone. In the first year of use, the film can withstand low temperatures down to -60 degrees. With subsequent use, this feature decreases.

Under direct sunlight, the film is destroyed, which is why it will have to be replaced on the structure next year. The duration of its use depends on the quality and thickness of the material itself. The thicker the film, the stronger and easier it is to withstand the negative effects of the environment.

Covering material

Non-woven spunbond is used as a covering material. It is light, allows air masses and moisture to pass both in and out. In addition, it does not injure cucumbers. Protects plants from the negative effects of ultraviolet radiation. You can water directly on it, which cannot be done with film.

Such material can be sewn together when it is torn and washed if necessary. For all that, it is cheap. The structure can be built on plastic arches, which are very easy to remove and move even without outside help.

As an alternative, agrotextile fabric is used to cover cucumbers outdoors. It is also easy to use. It is used to cover agricultural crops, as well as fruit bushes and ornamental perennials for the winter. Excellent moisture permeability and air ventilation. In addition, it prevents disease damage to cucumbers.

Types of black covering material

According to its origin, it can be divided into two groups - organic and inorganic.

As a rule, inorganic materials not only cover plants, but also perform decorative functions. These include:

slate;
gravel;
crumbs of stone, granite, marble;
crushed stone;
multi-colored synthetic materials.

Synthetic decorative chips You can make holes in the film and lay it directly on the ground.
Black polyethylene should be highlighted in a separate line. Holes are made in it to add water and fertilizer compounds to the soil. The film retains heat perfectly, warming up the beds.

Agrotextile fabric is another interesting option. A special type of material is often used in agriculture. It is used in greenhouses and open beds. With its help, moisture in the soil is perfectly retained and protection against pests is created.

A distinctive feature of organic materials is the ability to nourish the earth, slightly changing its acidic environment.

Organic species include the following:

compost from garden waste;
rotted leaves;
rotted manure mixed with straw;
shavings, tree bark, sawdust;
pine needles, peat chips;
mown grass.

Mown grass as a shelter for cucumbers

Using black material

The black material is very dense, so it is best used for mulching the soil. Plants, including weeds, do not grow under such material. This allows you to create a climate in the substrate that is optimally suited specifically for cultivated plants.

How to protect cucumbers from cold weather

Unpredictability of weather often destroys young vegetable plants, which we grow with such care through seedlings or direct sowing in the spring. Cucumber is a heat-loving crop, the death of which occurs even at low positive temperatures. When planting cucumbers early, the likelihood of cold damage to the plants increases. Don't rush into cucumber season. Cold snaps in mid-May (when bird cherry blossoms and oak leaves bloom) and the last spring frosts at the end of May determine the timing of sowing/planting. But how can you protect plants from low temperatures?

There are agrotechnical ways to increase the cold resistance of cucumbers. Here are some of them.

Pre-sowing hardening of seeds. Seeds (ungerminated) in a damp cloth are placed in the refrigerator for 2 days and kept at a temperature of 0. +2ºС, after which they are immediately sown. The material must be moistened all the time.
Growing cucumber on steam beds allows planting in unheated greenhouses from the first ten days of May. 2 weeks before planting seedlings, dig a deep trench along the ridge, place biofuel there in a layer of at least 30 cm (fresh, unfrozen manure, sawdust, household waste), spill it with hot water with the addition of mineral fertilizers and cover the top and sides with fertile soil with a layer of 15 cm Cucumbers are planted when the soil temperature, after self-heating, drops to 25ºC. Cucumber roots are more sensitive to cold than above-ground organs. Plants whose root system is in normal temperature conditions thanks to the heated biofuel can tolerate air temperatures down to +3. +5ºС during
Covering young plants with two layers of plastic film, between which there is an air gap. The air gap works on the principle of a thermos. In high greenhouses, film frames are installed during the cold period. With the onset of warm weather, one layer of film is removed. Instead of inner polyethylene film, you can use lutrasil.
Before a strong drop in temperature around the plants, birch branches with leaves are densely stuck into the ground to create shading. After a few days, the branches are removed. Also, just before frost, you can make a frame of slats over the plants and put spruce branches, dry grass or any other heat-retaining material on top of it. You can keep cucumbers under such a “blanket”
Grafting a cucumber onto a cold-resistant rootstock - figleaf pumpkin. In the same seedling pot, a cucumber is first sown, and a day later - a pumpkin (at a distance from each other). At the stage of 2-4 true leaves, grafting begins. Using a razor, cuts are made on the subcotyledon or the first internode of the cucumber and pumpkin. The length of the cuts and depth is up to half the diameter of the stems. The skins of the tongues are removed using a sharp razor. The tongues are inserted into the cuts of the stems; The grafting site is wrapped with soft aluminum foil. Plants are placed in conditions of high air humidity for 10 days. Fusion occurs after this. After this, remove the foil, remove the upper part of the rootstock (pumpkin) and the root system of the scion (cucumber). If the soil is not infected with root rot pathogens, both root systems can be left on the graft. To get high-quality vaccinations, you should first practice.
Growing cucumber in open ground among tall crops: dill for seeds, beans, corn, which optimize temperature and humidity conditions and are used by cucumber plants as support.
Cold resistance is enhanced by soaking seeds and spraying plants with epin, zircon and microelements, hardening off seedlings, and finely dispersed sprinkling (watering) of cucumber beds immediately before frost.

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Landing in the ground

When the seedlings have 3-4 leaves, cucumbers can be planted under film. Approximately 2 hours before planting, water the seedlings. It is better to plant in the evening or on a cloudy day, otherwise the seedlings may burn or wither.

The optimal distance between plants is 40 cm, between rows 0.5 - 0.6 m. This is necessary so that the plants do not darken each other. We plant seedlings no lower than the cotyledon leaves. When planting, you need to be very careful not to damage the root system.

Planting cucumbers under film with seeds

The procedure for planting cucumbers under film takes place in several stages. First you need to prepare a bed, then make structures for shelter, and then start planting. But to some extent it differs from planting in the usual way, since the sowing dates are shifted, which means that all agrotechnical activities are carried out differently.

When to plant?

Planting seeds in the soil under film or spunbond is carried out a couple of weeks earlier than if planted without shelter. If the planting of cucumbers occurs in the first ten days of June, then they can be sown under the film in mid-May, provided that the soil has warmed up to +15 degrees at night and to +23 degrees during the day.

When the risk of night frosts remains, the spunbond or film can be folded in half. If bad weather persists for some time, then the film or spunbond is not removed until optimal climatic conditions are established.

Preparation of planting material

Seed preparation begins a few days before the specified planting date. The preparatory stages include hardening and heating. These seeds can withstand light frosts:

Select high-quality seeds by placing them in a saline solution. Empty ones will float up, they should be discarded.
To harden, place the package with dry seeds in the refrigerator for a day.
Keep it near the heating device for a month.
Soak for 24 hours in warm water. You can add a little potassium permanganate to the water so that they are not damaged in the future by putrefactive viruses.

Such a shake for the seeds will allow you to endure all the bad weather without damaging the soil. Here you can wait for the seeds to germinate, and then plant them in holes or bury them in the soil while they are swollen.

Bed on film

In this case, the film acts as mulch. In this case, the cucumber vines do not come into contact with the soil, which means they are less damaged by diseases and do not die from the cold:

The soil under the bed on the film is dug up about a month before planting. Humus is added.
Then they remove weeds and level with a rake, while making a slight slope to one side to drain water.
Small trenches are made along the edges of the bed to bury the edges of the film in them.
The soil is watered abundantly with very hot water (+60 degrees) so that it warms up faster.
Immediately cover with a film slightly larger than the bed itself. The edges are buried in trenches and compacted.
A layer of grass can be placed under the film to prevent weed growth.
After 2 days you can start planting.

The location of future sprouts is determined on the film and holes are made with a stick. A pair of achenes are placed in these holes to a depth of 2 cm. After germination, the weak sprout is removed, and the remaining one is brought out.

Conditions for planting cucumbers under film cover

Cucumbers for seedlings: when to plant in the Urals

In most regions, air temperatures stabilize by mid-summer. And cucumbers react quite sharply to its changes, so an alternative to cultivating cucumbers in open ground can be growing them under a film cover.

Appearance cultivation

To plant cucumbers under film, beds are made that are slightly higher in height than usual. The beds must be well fertilized, this is necessary for the rapid growth of the crop. Up to 6 plants are planted per square meter.

White polypropylene

White spunbond allows more light to pass through

White spunbond is most often used by gardeners instead of the usual polyethylene film cover. They can be used to cover cucumber bushes planted with seeds or seedlings in a greenhouse or on open ground. Some people use white spunbond to build fabric greenhouses.

To create a structure in the form of a greenhouse, you need high-density white spunbond that will withstand the wind.

White spunbond with a low density of 17g transmits 80% of light. A white covering material with a maximum density of 60g is capable of transmitting 65% of light.

For light-loving varieties

Plants with seeds of light-loving varieties of cucumbers are covered with white fabric material. In this case, material with a density of 17,19,23 g per 1 sq.m. is used. It can be used both for sowing and for already grown seedlings.

When using such thin white material, we must not forget that it has low frost protection:

fabric density of 17g can protect plants down to -3°C,
19g spunbond protects plants from frost not lower than -4°C,
material with a density of 23g can withstand temperatures down to -5°C.

For shade-tolerant varieties

For the purpose of laying on the bed and to create a greenhouse effect, white spunbond is used, the density of which starts from 30 g and reaches 42 g per 1 sq.m. In this case, the first density is applicable for covering arcs up to 30-35 cm high, and the latter is used for greenhouse tunnels of greater height.

Agrofibre with increased density can create protection for plants when temperatures drop to -6°C, maintaining integrity during wind and precipitation in the form of snow and hail. However, they transmit less light, therefore they are suitable for those varieties of cucumbers that are shade-tolerant.

For heat-loving varieties

In unfavorable climate regions, summer residents use white spunbond with a maximum density reaching 50-60g per 1 sq.m. This agrofibre can protect plantings from strong winds and frosts down to -10°C. It is intended for heat-loving cucumber varieties.

Description of the method

Agrofibre, or spunbond, is an alternative to the well-known polyethylene, which gardeners have been using to cultivate vegetables for many years. This material is made from an environmentally friendly polypropylene component that has a fine fibrous structure.

The essence of the method of growing cucumbers on spunbond is to create a favorable climate for plants at cold air temperatures and insufficient sunlight in northern regions with short summers and at the same time at elevated temperatures in areas with soaring sun.

Types of spunbond

Spunbond for agricultural needs can be used in several types:

white material, which is used in open soil conditions, its density is 17-30g per 1 sq.m,
white polypropylene with a density of 30 to 60 g per 1 sq.m, used for greenhouses and greenhouse structures,
black, the density of which is from 50 to 60g per 1 sq.m, used for mulching soil,
black and white spunbond with a density of 50g per 1 sq.m, intended for mulching directly vegetable crops and for the purpose of growing berry bushes in beds; its black layer has a protective property against weeds, and the white one serves as a reflector of sunlight and preserves the root system of plants from overheating,
white-red, yellow-red materials that protect vegetable crops from bad weather.

Features of care

In the spring, the material will reliably protect from frost, and in the summer it will save you from the heat. But the conditions necessary for the normal development of cucumber plants should be maintained.

Watering cucumbers under film is carried out 2 times a week

Having planted a crop in early April, you should not water frequently. This procedure twice a week using warm water is sufficient. The film should be lifted once every seven days in sunny weather to give the seedlings additional light.

In May it is allowed to start feeding, but during the day the temperature should be about twenty degrees Celsius, not lower.

It is best to use sodium humate for this, which is dissolved in water at the rate of one spoon per bucket of water. The solution is consumed in the amount of eight liters per planting square. Bird droppings are used as fertilizer once a month.

Protection can significantly increase the possibilities of growing cucumbers in different climatic conditions. A properly selected covering product will make it possible to increase productivity and reduce labor costs for caring for beds.

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Treatment against pests and diseases

When using covering material for growing cucumbers, fruiting begins much earlier than when grown in open ground without film. The number of maintenance activities required is also reduced. Weeding is done less frequently as fewer weeds spread. It is important to monitor the condition of the soil substrate. In conditions of high humidity, as well as when plant debris begins to rapidly decompose, there is a high probability of the development of fungal diseases.

To protect yourself from this trouble, at the beginning of March it is recommended to treat the film cover with this solution - pour 1 tbsp onto a bucket of water. l. "Formalin" and "Karbofos". Also preventative is treatment with a solution of wood ash. If there are diseases, you should immediately remove the bush and dispose of it.

Diseases

Feeding cucumbers with boric acid and iodine is a reliable protection against the development of diseases such as powdery mildew and root rot. Mix 35 drops of iodine with 2 g of potassium permanganate and boric acid. Pour the solution into a bucket of warm water. Instead of iodine, you can take brilliant green.

With improper care or in the absence of the necessary growing conditions, you may encounter the development of the following diseases:

Fusarium. The scourges begin to wither and die. Most often, the development of fusarium occurs with the beginning of the flowering period, during prolonged cold spells. To get rid of the disease, you need to treat it with the drugs “Fundazol” or “Fitosporin”.
Anthracnose. It appears as brownish spots on the surface of leaf blades. The reason is high air humidity. Treatment is carried out using Bordeaux mixture, Burgundy liquid or any other fungicidal preparations.
Powdery mildew. You can get rid of it with the help of antifungal agents.
Downy mildew. To get rid of it, fungicidal drugs are used.
Bacteriosis. “Bordeaux mixture” or “Fitosporin” is effective against it.
Root or gray rot. You can get rid of it with the help of “Previcur” or “Trichodermin”.

Pests

Most often, vegetable growers encounter the following pests:

Slugs. They are collected by hand. You can set traps.
Aphid. Treatment is carried out with a concentrated solution of laundry soap or Fitoverm.
Whitefly. They use glue traps and spray them with “Bud” or “Karbofos”.
Spider mite. The bushes are treated with Fitoverm.

To reap a plentiful and high-quality harvest of cucumbers, it is recommended to plant them correctly and follow all recommendations for caring for the vegetable crop.

How to grow cucumbers under film

Planting under film is carried out after real and well-developed leaves appear on the plant. Most often, seedlings are transplanted under film cover a month after the first shoots appear in pots.

Choosing a place to hide

Growing cucumbers on film should only be done in an area that is ideal for this. Cucumbers under film should grow in a place with sufficient sunlight, since this vegetable needs good lighting. Therefore, you should make sure that the plant is not shaded by anything throughout the day.

It is also recommended to plant seedlings in an area with the most suitable soil. You should avoid placing covering material for cucumbers in areas with heavy soil. Such soil often has high acidity, which significantly reduces the yield of cucumbers. It is necessary to grow cucumbers under film in sandy and loamy loose soils. In such areas you can get the highest quality harvest.

Installation of film cover

To grow cucumbers without a greenhouse or a greenhouse under a film, you need to install a shelter on the site in advance. For this you will need the following materials:

leg-split;
stakes;
wire with rods;
film;
sackcloth.

Having prepared all the materials, you should start creating beds for growing cucumbers. First you need to decide on the size of the beds for cucumbers. It is recommended to make them not too large. It is enough to make 2-3 beds with a length of about three meters and a width of one meter.

After creating the beds, planting cucumber seedlings in the ground begins

Cucumbers in open ground are planted very carefully so as not to accidentally damage the seedlings. Seedlings should be planted at a distance of 70-80 cm from each other so that the leaves of the plants are not shaded by neighboring bushes

When the cucumbers are planted, you should start making arches and covering the plants with film. Arcs are made of durable wire or rods. The distance between them can be made equal to 60-70 cm. After installing the arcs on the beds, they can be covered with film material. In this case, first cover only part of the structure. This greatly simplifies the installation process of covering material. Then cover the rest of the structure.

To make the structure with film and covered arcs more reliable, it is recommended to drive special pegs along the edges and tighten the cover with twine. If you plant cucumbers under such shelter and grow them in it, then you don’t have to worry about low temperatures on the streets and heavy rainfall, which can damage the leaves.

Rules of care

Some vegetable growers do not know what to do to get a good harvest of cucumbers in film. The productivity of this vegetable can be improved by properly caring for the planted seedlings.

Watering

Even when growing cucumbers under a film in the sun, the soil will still dry out quickly. To prevent the soil from becoming too dry, it must be watered periodically. During watering, you can open the film cover to make it easier to get to the bushes.

It is recommended to water cucumbers at the root so that the liquid does not fall on the leaves. It is especially dangerous to get moisture on the leaves on hot summer days, as this can lead to burns. Burnt leaves cannot be restored and therefore can be immediately removed from the bushes. If you notice that all the bushes are burning or one of the leaves is burning after watering, then immediately protect it from the sun and quickly cover the cucumbers with film before other plants burn.

You should not water too often to prevent the roots from starting to rot. It is enough to water the cucumbers under the film twice a week.

Top dressing

It is necessary to feed cucumbers in order to achieve a good yield. Before applying fertilizers, you need to find out which fertilizer is best to use. To improve the yield of grown seedlings, it is recommended to add 20 grams of potassium sulfate, 100 grams of superphosphate and 50 grams of urea to the soil. At the same time, remove the film from the structure to make it easier to apply fertilizer.

How to use spunbond for cucumbers - recommendations

There are many options for using non-woven fabric: a greenhouse with a cover of several layers, planting seedlings on film and covering with agrospan, protection from the sun in a greenhouse, covering a ridge when sowing seeds, etc. When choosing any option, you need to focus on the properties of the material, to create optimal conditions for cucumbers.

Planting seedlings in a greenhouse on spunbond

On black spunbond you can plant cucumber seedlings in a greenhouse or in open ground - it all depends on the climate. The planting option with double shelter (greenhouse + greenhouse) allows you to get an early harvest, and the option with a greenhouse is convenient for areas with unstable spring weather and temperature fluctuations.

How to plant:

build a ridge measuring 1.2 x 6 m, level the surface with a rake, cover with black agrofibre (1.5 x 6.2 m);
step back 40 cm from each edge of the film, draw lines with chalk (the distance between them will be 70 cm), make cuts with a cross of 10 x 10 cm at intervals of 30 cm;
after marking, sprinkle the edges of the film with earth to secure it (you can dig shallow grooves and seal the edges of the film in them);
Use a spatula to select soil in a cut, pour humus, ash (a handful), complex fertilizer (1 tsp) into the hole, mix and water;
plant seedlings, cover with excavated soil, water;
place arcs at equal distances from each other, stretch white fabric with a density of 30-60 g/m²;
after the lashes grow and the film is no longer needed, you can stretch a wire between the arcs and tie cucumbers to it;
Moderate watering should be carried out in the evening with water that has warmed up during the day, based on soil moisture, and feed at the root with an infusion of greens every 10 days.

On a note!

Recipe for green infusion: 12 liters of water + crushed nettle herb, celandine + horse manure or bird droppings (0.5 liters) + superphosphate (2 tbsp.) + growth regulator Rostmoment (1 tbsp.), infuse until the end of the process fermentation, strain, use in solution (1 liter of infusion + 10 liters of water).

Advantages of the method:

the material is used repeatedly - removed in the fall, put back into use in the spring;
no weeding is required - the grass rots under cover;
moisture evaporation is very slow, watering is infrequent;
there is no contact between the plant and the soil, which prevents infection;
economical consumption of fertilizers - they are applied only to the hole, and not to the entire ridge;
fruiting is long, cucumbers are always clean;
there are no sudden temperature changes, which affects the taste of the fruit - they do not taste bitter;
When the nights are cold and dew falls, it is convenient to close (open) the greenhouse.

Sowing under spunbond

When you want an early harvest, but don’t want to bother with seedlings, you can sow cucumbers under agrofibre in a greenhouse or on a ridge, building a greenhouse over it. The soil is dug up in advance, about a month in advance , freed from roots and plant debris, and fertilized with humus (4 kg/m²). It is recommended to make the bed with a slight slope to avoid moisture stagnation.

Then, for warming and disinfection, it is spilled with water heated to 60 ° C (50-60 l/m²) and immediately covered with a black cloth. After 2-3 days, the soil is ready and you can start planting the sprouted cucumber seeds by making small holes. The distance between them is determined by the variety and planting pattern. Place two seeds in each hole, deepening them 1.5-2 cm. After sprouting, leave a strong sprout and bring it to the surface. If necessary, a greenhouse can be built above the ridge.

Caring for such plantings involves moderate watering, fertilizing, pinching stems, and removing yellowing leaves.

Agrospan is a convenient and multifunctional covering material, so everyone can choose the appropriate option for using it when growing cucumbers.

Planting and growing cucumbers under spunbond: how to plant?

Greenhouse for cucumbers

Today, covering spunbond is an excellent alternative to polyethylene, since it is made from environmentally friendly polypropylene and has a fairly fine fibrous structure. The effectiveness and features of using spunbond are that the fabric:

allows moisture and air to pass through well, providing ventilation to the soil;
retains heat;
wear resistant;
has excellent light transmittance;
will not lead to cultural injury;
will provide the soil with air flows;
will protect plants from harmful radiation and accumulate heat;
does not require the use of a plastic frame to cover the vegetable or urgent removal for watering, since it is equipped with small holes through which you can water with warm water from a bottle.

By variety, manufacturers offer light and dark spunbond. But you should understand when and with what spunbond it is better to cover cucumbers:

white with the possibility of use in open areas with a soil density of up to 30 g per 1 m², capable of accelerating the formation and preventing overheating of the root system of cucumbers;
black with an earth density of 50-60 g per 1 m² using soil mulching during the period;
black and white with a soil density of 50 g per 1 m², as quite resistant to weeds;
white and red with good protection of the vegetable from adverse weather conditions.

Important! The only downside to spunbond is that you have to remove it during the formation of the ovaries in the morning and cover it again in the late afternoon. Spunbond

Spunbond

How to plant cucumbers in a spunbond greenhouse? Planting into greenhouse soil is done directly through cut holes on the surface of the covering sheet, which is used to cover vertical trellises when arranging the greenhouse. This will prevent subsequent rotting of the root system, and fragile sprouts will not burn or turn yellow from the scorching rays of the sun.

Note! The covering cloth is good protection for the vegetable after ripening. After all, cucumbers under spunbond do not come into contact with the ground when growing, which means they will remain in their pure form at the time of harvest.

Spunbond is a dense fabric that does not transmit light. It is known that weeds will not be able to grow in the shade and will quickly begin to rot. For cucumbers, this is a benefit, a natural fertilizer.

Of course, spunbond will not be able to protect plants from all negative natural phenomena.

It is still important to comply with agrotechnical requirements: plant seedlings in sufficiently warm soil, select the optimal variety, taking into account the weather and climatic characteristics of the region

When to remove covering material from cucumbers

A film structure or greenhouse is used to protect cucumber bushes from wind, cold, dew, and scorching sun. The film is stretched so that there is not a single gap. This must be ensured during the period of growth of leaves, shoots, and formation of the ovary. Then, as the fruits ripen, the film can be removed so as not to expose the vegetables to diseases.

Cucumbers are 90% water, and if condensation collects under the greenhouse, that is, excess moisture, the fruits may suffer. The so-called ventilation is carried out in the morning, before full sunrise. Another time, the film is removed when the lashes are formed, the tendrils and leaves are torn off. In this case, the plants are also saturated with oxygen and receive additional lighting.

Planting cucumbers under film

It is worth taking care of preparing beds for planting on spunbond in advance. The selected sowing location must be warm and always well lit. The optimal width of the bed is 0.7 meters. The digging depth is equal to the length of the shovel bayonet.

After digging the soil, it is necessary to scatter organic fertilizer, compost or humus over the surface. The top layer of soil should be leveled using a rake, after which you can lay down the film and proceed to organizing the furrows.

Planting cucumbers is a simple matter. You should first heat the water to approximately 50 °C. There you should dilute two ampoules of a growth stimulator that has a gelatinous consistency. The resulting solution should end up in the furrows. At intervals of 0.5 meters, cucumber seeds are planted under a black film, after which it is necessary to lightly sprinkle them with soil and press them with your hand.

For safety reasons, the beds are dusted with ground pepper powder (black). This is necessary to protect against ants, mice and slugs. After dusting, the bed is covered with material folded in half. This way you can grow a wonderful harvest.

Spunbond

It has long been a popular material for the needs of gardeners. I propose to consider various options for polyethylene film.

Polyethylene film is a well-known material for the gardener's needs.
A UV light stabilizer has been added to the composition of this film; it helps protect the polymer coating from the sun's rays that degrade it. The stability of the film is determined by the amount of stabilizer added. A dye can also be added to the film, which changes the spectrum of sunlight. The film retains heat well and retains moisture without disturbing the structure and density of the soil. The use of film helps to preserve fertilizers from leaching, which makes it possible to obtain earlier flowering and ripening of the crop.

Light stabilized film

Black and white film is interesting - one side of such a film is black and the other is white. It can be used in greenhouses, where the ground is covered with the white side facing up to reflect excess sunlight, while the black side prevents weeds from breaking through.

Light stabilized film

Reinforced film

Reinforced film for greenhouses. Photo from the website teplica-exp.ru

I myself also dealt with such material in everyday life. It served for almost 3 years, but then the coating had to be changed. I can’t say due to what factors the film failed so quickly. Maybe the quality let us down, maybe the human factor. I will say one thing, after the film there was glass, now we are preparing to cover the greenhouse with polycarbonate, the only question is the price.

For clarity, I have compiled a table with film indicators to better imagine what and where it can be used.

Comparison table of films

Polyethylene film, as is known, does not allow moisture to pass through, allows light to pass through freely (in the case of a transparent film) and retains heat much better than spunbond. These are its advantages, thanks to which the film is excellent for creating mini-greenhouses. This also leads to its disadvantages - possible overheating of the plant, the need to remove the film for watering and ventilation.

Polyethylene film does not allow moisture to pass through, allows light to pass through (if transparent) and retains heat better than spunbond

So, the film is good at the beginning of the season, so that the soil warms up faster; it helps if you need to protect plants from excessive rainfall or, conversely, retain moisture underneath. If it gets warmer and the climate is fine, then we can safely replace the film with spunbond and its analogues.

Advantages of growing on spunbond

Growing cucumbers on this type of agrofibre has undeniable advantages:

Saving time spent preparing beds for cucumbers.
Efficiency of the financial investment: the material can be removed in the fall and reused in the spring.
No need for weeding. All the grass begins to rot, rot and fertilize the soil. We only weed the area that is not covered with black material.
Maintaining soil moisture levels within the desired range. In rainy weather, the material absorbs moisture well, and the plants above it do not come into contact with water. Cucumbers can be grown without watering or weeding.

It is worth noting that covering the beds with agrofibre means saving money on the purchase of plastic film almost every year, on the purchase of fertilizer, because there is no longer a need to scatter vitamin complexes over the entire bed. When using spunbond, the fruiting period is extended, and the fruits are always clean and neat.

How to cover cucumbers at low temperatures

Forecasters cannot predict whether there will be a sharp cold snap at the end of May or the beginning of June; they give a more or less accurate forecast for 4 or 5 days. And if a significant drop in temperature is expected, cucumbers need to be insulated.

In the open ground

By installing arches in advance near the bed, it is possible to save the plant’s vines by stretching burlap and placing straw, sawdust or pine needles on top.

Using black material

Transparent polyethylene protects cucumbers from wind, rain, and cold temperatures. But during frosts, this method is not always effective. The black film attracts the sun's rays, retains heat and transfers it to the soil. It is also used when growing cucumbers in high beds with sides.

Spunbond

In recent years, instead of polyethylene, many gardeners have begun to use a special non-woven material, which is sold in rolls and differs in density and color. Spunbond is made from polymer fibers that are passed through air and melted. White canvas is used to cover shoots and vines of plants from spring frosts. The spunbond density must be at least 23 g per 1 sq. m.

In greenhouses

If weather forecasters predict a temperature drop in the city of up to 3–5 °C, you should expect at the dachas located in the surrounding area that the temperature will drop to 0 and a slight minus. A polycarbonate greenhouse does not protect cucumbers even from short-term frosts. Simple techniques can save plants from death.

Plastic bottles easily turn into heating pads when filled with hot water, which will have to be changed when they cool down. The containers are buried in the ground. Lighted candles maintain the temperature, but you need at least a dozen of them.

If frosts are expected within a few days, it is worth stretching plastic film inside the greenhouse and securing it to the frame with clamps, but not tightly. The air cushion that will appear between the materials will prevent the cucumbers from freezing.

Some summer residents place a metal barrel near the greenhouse, put a brick in it and soak it in gasoline. The pipe from the container is led to the upper part of the greenhouse, the resulting cloud protects the plants from the cold.

How to make a warm bed for cucumbers in open ground? Stimulates crop growth, accelerates fruit ripening, protects the plant from cold, and provides the manure bed with the necessary organic substances. It needs to be built two weeks before sowing the cucumber seeds, but care must be taken to ensure that the young seedlings do not die.

Fertilizers are placed in a high bed, watered and covered with cellophane. When steam begins to be released from the manure, after two days, holes are dug and seeds are sown.

At low temperatures, the seedlings are covered with spunbond or polyethylene. Cucumbers grown in this way practically do not get sick.

To create a warm garden bed, fruit skins, potato peels and tops, leaves, and grass are also used:

A trench at least 1.5 m wide is dug to a depth of 60 cm.
Lay branches and sawdust in a layer of 10–20 centimeters at the bottom of the pit. Such materials perform drainage functions and prevent moisture stagnation.
Dispose of plant residues.
Compost and manure are placed on top.
Fertilizers are covered with soil.
The finished bed is watered with boiling water and insulated with black film.

Cucumbers are sown after a week. The created organic cushion does not allow frost to pass through and protects plants from excess moisture that occurs in rainy weather.

Warm beds make it easier to attach covering material to the arches. The earth warms up faster and fewer weeds grow.

If manure or compost is not available, fill the trench with food scraps, leaves and herbs. The layers are carefully compacted so that the roots of the cucumbers do not rise to the surface after watering. Then pour the soil, moisten it with hot water and cover it with film. The beds take a long time to warm up, but protect the plants from low temperatures.

Types of spunbond - characteristics, application

Agrofibre is made from environmentally friendly polypropylene.
The material has a fibrous structure, so, depending on its purpose, it is produced in different densities. Types and purpose:

use in open areas - white, density 17-30 g/m²;
greenhouse or greenhouse shelter - white, density 30-60 g/m²;
as a mulch covering – black, density 50-60 g/m²;
for mulching beds with planted vegetables and berry crops - black and white, density 50 g/m² (the black layer is mulch, the white layer is protection from ultraviolet radiation and overheating of the root system);
protection of bushes, trees, flowers, vegetables from adverse weather factors - red-white, red-yellow material.

Application of white spunbond

Polyethylene film is successfully replaced with agrospan - it can be used to cover plantings on a ridge, in a greenhouse, and greenhouses and small greenhouses are built from it.
It is used as a covering material all year round - in winter it serves as protection from frost, in the warm season it protects from bright sun, wind, and hail. The non-woven fabric is easy to remove and re-tension, depending on the weather conditions. For plants that need a lot of light, a thin white canvas with a low density (17, 19, 23 g/m²) is suitable - they cover an area with seedlings and crops. The material is very light, so it will not harm young tender seedlings. Its disadvantage is poor protection from frost. With a density of 17 g/m² it protects against frost down to -3 °C, at 19 g/m² - up to -4 °C, at 23 g/m² - up to -5 °C.

Information! Agrofibre, the density of which is 17 g/m², transmits 80% of light, while with a density of 60 g/m² – only 65%.

Denser white fabric (30 and 42 g/m²) is used in the construction of greenhouses. On arcs with a height of 30-35 cm, a fabric with a lower density is stretched, on arcs higher, the material is denser. It protects well from slight frosts (up to -6 ° C), from cold draft winds, hail, snow, but transmits less light than a thin canvas. They are recommended to cover crops that do not require lighting.

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The densest fabric (50 and 60 g/m²) serves as ideal protection in windy areas, withstanding frost down to -10 °C. Suitable for greenhouses, winter shelter for perennials, trees, shrubs.

Tip!Dense spunbond can be replaced with several layers of thin one.

Black spunbond - how to apply

Black agrofibre has a density of 50 and 60 g/m² and does not transmit sunlight, so it is not suitable for growing plants - it is used as a mulching cover. It retains heat well, creating its own microclimate on the ridge, prevents the growth of weeds, the fruits do not have contact with the soil and remain clean.

The canvas is spread out, holes are cut for seedlings or for sowing seeds. Weeds that interfere with the growth of cultivated plants do not grow under it, there are no conditions for the development of rot or mold, but moisture and light enter through the slots in the required quantities.

Materials and their properties

"Spunbond"

This is a brand, but among gardeners the name is already a household name. The material is named so because of the technology of the same name. This is a non-woven fabric that is durable and lightweight at the same time. It is environmentally acceptable and is not afraid of temperature changes or deformations. It can be either white or black, and in density - from 17 g/m² to 60 g/m².

White “spunbond” with a density of up to 30 g/m² protects plants from recurrent frosts in the spring and too much sun in the summer. They can cover not only seedlings, but also berry and ornamental shrubs, flowers, young trees, including to protect them from birds and insect pests.

White material of medium density - between 30 and 50 g/m² - is suitable for winter covering of absolutely all crops, both garden and ornamental. It can also be stretched onto a greenhouse or greenhouse frame with arcs.

Black “Spunbond” with a density of 50-60 g/m² is dark in color due to the presence of a UV stabilizer in its composition. It not only gives it a black color, but also greatly increases its service life and technical characteristics.

Not a single weed will survive under such cover, and garden plants will receive maximum heat and sun.

Agrofabrics

All “agrotex” and other names with “agro” belong to the category of agrofabrics, which are manufactured using technology that excludes the use of herbicides during their use. This results in environmentally friendly farming, which amateur gardeners and professional farmers are increasingly striving for today.

Agrofabrics can be used to limit the growth of weeds and to cover greenhouses. The density is approximately the same as that of Spunbond. The colors of the materials are white, grey, green and black.

Agrofabrics retain moisture evaporation from the soil, allow air to pass through and create a microclimate for the comfortable growth of vegetable and garden crops.

"Lutrasil"

Traditionally used for frost protection, but can also perform all other functions of covering materials. Among gardeners it is considered the best - a little more expensive than Spunbond, but cheaper than Agrotex. In terms of properties it practically duplicates the first one. Density is divided into three categories - from 18 g/m² to 60 g/m². Color options – black and white.

Exactly the same as “Spunbond” is used:

for spring shelter of seedlings and seedlings - in a light white version (withstands temperatures down to -3°C);
for the construction of greenhouses and winter protective shelter - white of medium and high density (protects from frost at 6-7°C);
for weed control and mulching – medium and dense black.

Shading nets

They also belong to the category of covering materials, although the range of their use is quite narrow. They save plants from the burning effect of direct sunlight, and they are used both inside greenhouses and outdoors.

Pros and cons of the method

Among the main advantages of using spunbond when cultivating cucumbers and other vegetable crops:

softness and lightness of the material, which when covering the bushes does not damage or injure them,
light transmittance of polypropylene, which makes it possible to provide plants with a sufficient amount of light, while preventing overheating,
air and moisture permeability, which provides ventilation under the covering material and allows water to enter the soil,
UV resistance,
ability to accumulate and retain heat,
ease of use, wear resistance and relatively cheap price.

During use, spunbond can be washed, glued and stitched, which gives additional advantages when using it on a personal plot. At the same time, it is possible to cover cucumber bushes with polypropylene material even without creating frame structures.

You can water the plants without removing the covering material, right on top of the spunbond. Under the fabric, all the weeds, without receiving sunlight, begin to rot and rot into a natural fertilizer useful for cucumbers. This eliminates the weeding process.

The only disadvantage when growing cucumber varieties without self-pollination is the need to remove material in the morning during the formation of ovaries and cover the cucumber bushes with it in the evenings.

Advantages and disadvantages of spunbond

The material has a lot of advantages in the eyes of summer residents:

spunbond perfectly allows air and water to pass through to the ground;
the material is soft, as a result of which it does not injure the plants at all;
the material is better able to retain heat and repel ultraviolet radiation;
low cost of fabric;
ease of use.

The material (agrofibre) should be watered from above, which is very convenient. The film's resistance to damage of various types allows the fabric to be used repeatedly over several seasons. If necessary, spunbond can be folded, shaken out and even washed. Such savings are appreciated by everyone who plants plants under film.

It is important that the use of this material is not a solution to absolutely all problems that arise when growing cucumbers. To obtain a good harvest, other factors must be taken into account: the correct selection of the variety, the degree of soil warming, and the level of humidity under the shelter. If I plant cucumbers, I pay attention to every detail.

Interestingly, even the slope of the beds can affect the yield. It should be remembered that cucumbers need pollination, so the covering material must be removed at night.

Soil fertilization

The soil is fertilized not only in autumn and spring, but also after planting cucumbers in the ground. For this purpose, mineral and organic fertilizers are used. 14 days after planting the seedlings in the beds, the cucumbers are fed with a solution of manure. With the seed planting method, this activity is carried out when the plant has two true leaves.

When fruits form on the plant, gardeners feed it with nitrogen, magnesium and potassium. Fertilize the vegetable crop with a solution of ammonium nitrate or potassium salt. During flowering, plants are fed with a solution of manure. It is diluted with water 1:5. They insist for 14 days. Dilute in water in a ratio of 1:2 and water the roots generously.

Care

Cucumber requires watering exclusively with warm water; Since the film minimizes its evaporation, it is necessary not to get carried away with humidification beyond measure. It is recommended to disinfect the space under the film. For this purpose, the bed is treated with karbofos (60 g) or formaldehyde (30 g), dissolved in 10 liters of water. The optimal time for disinfection is March.

The trunk is dug up and treated as if painted with this solution. But in a situation where rot has affected all the plants, or the foliage is already drooping, diseased cucumbers are uprooted and burned. The soil in the problem area is treated with the same solution. Only after this can you try to grow cucumbers under the film in the same place again. The recommended distance for arches is 1 m, unless otherwise specified in a particular case.

Opening the film to expose the plants to fresh air is very important in hot weather

But this can only be done for 2-5 hours and with caution. Violation of the thermal regime due to opening for too long can lead to a decrease in yield

You can do without weeding and hilling only if holes are pre-cut in the covering material at the required distances and measures are taken against weed infestation

Violation of the thermal regime by opening for too long can lead to a decrease in yield. You can do without weeding and hilling only if holes are pre-cut in the covering material at the required distances and measures are taken against weed infestation.

Knowing in general terms how to properly plant cucumbers under film, you also need to take into account that they will have to be pollinated artificially:

unopened buds are closed approximately 24 hours before the procedure;
when this time has passed, all barren flowers are removed;
You can also speed up the process with soft brushes.

Aftercare

Further cultivation of cucumbers also requires careful and careful care. In the first days after transplantation, or when the first leaves appear on the sprouts using the seed method, you need to monitor the soil moisture. If the leaves are limp, then in the evening you need to water the plant with settled water.

It is useful to thin out the beds by removing weak and diseased sprouts. The first thinning should be when two leaves develop (when the cucumbers were planted using the seed method), the second thinning should be carried out when 5 leaves appear on the plant. Excess sprouts are not pulled out by the roots, but only cut off. Thus, the space between plants will be large, and the root system will not be damaged.

Some cultivated varieties of cucumbers require pinching to branch out the side stems to increase harvest. Horizontal or vertical tying to the support can be applied.

If seedlings have been planted, the flowering period should begin after 25 days. If seeds were planted, then a week or two later. To attract insects that pollinate flowers, it is recommended to spray the plants with a sweet solution. Sugar and boric acid are dissolved in hot water.

During the fruiting period, cucumbers require daily watering, provided there is no rain.

Feeding is necessary if the summer is cool, pests have appeared, or the appearance of the cucumbers has changed for some reason. But you shouldn’t get too carried away with fertilizers, since not only a deficiency, but also an excess of some elements can affect the health of the plant.

What fertilizers are useful to add to the soil after transplanting to a permanent place? Most often, it is recommended to apply mineral fertilizers when planting cucumbers. They can be added independently or mixed with organic ingredients. To strengthen the root system, phosphorus is needed; during growth, the vegetable needs nitrogen; during flowering, the plant needs potassium.

How to feed cucumbers? The most popular organic fertilizers are manure and bird droppings. These best additives provide the plant with all the necessary elements, help strengthen the roots and stem, and also stimulate growth. Before use, it must be diluted with water. Wood ash can be added to increase efficiency. You can treat it with infusions of other components, such as nettle or potato tops.

Throughout the growing season, planted cucumbers can be treated with dry ash or an infusion based on it. Wood ash will not only enrich the soil with nutrients, but will also repel many pests.