Every hobby gardener eagerly awaits the first ripe cucumbers in the greenhouse, garden or on the balcony. If you want to prefer cucumbers, you should sow cucumber seeds early. Prefer cucumbers - this way they develop better, bloom earlier and can be harvested longer.
You can sow cucumbers for the heated greenhouse in mid-March. The best time to grow outdoor cucumbers in the greenhouse, on the windowsill or in the cold frame is mid-April. That way they won't get too big until transplanted outside. Air cucumber seedlings briefly every day to avoid mold growth. And then? Just wait and see ;-).
What do you need to advance?
- Sowing trays or growing pots (16.68€)
- Potting soil or substrate
- viable cucumber seeds
- Mini watering can or spray bottle
- Mini greenhouse or foil
How to prevent cucumber seedlings from dying: fill compostable seed pots halfway with substrate. Plant 1 to 2 seeds in each pot and cover them thinly with substrate. As soon as the cucumber seedlings reach over the edge of the pot, carefully fill them with substrate so that they root better. A warm, humid climate of at least 20° is required for germination.
Pre-grown cucumber seedlings often horny. They also form roots on the stem and should therefore be planted deeper when pricking out. But please handle with care! The sensitive cucumber plants break off easily.
What to do when the first seedlings sprout?
The germination time depends on the quality of the cucumber seeds and external conditions such as light, temperature and humidity. 1 to 2 weeks later, when the first pair of cotyledons appear, remove the cover. Now it is important to keep the substrate moist without waterlogging. Because both waterlogging and drought are deadly for the delicate seedlings. After the last night frosts you can plant the cucumbers in the garden. For this purpose, select the optimal location with sufficient planting distance in good time.
tips and tricks
Lettuce, radishes or cress are ripening at the same time as cucumbers have spread over the entire bed area.