How to water cucumbers in a greenhouse and open ground, timing and water consumption rates

It would seem that watering cucumbers is a simple matter. But it's not. Watering this vegetable crop must be carried out according to certain rules. Many gardeners and summer residents make numerous mistakes, watering with ice-cold tap water, at the roots or on top of the plants, frequently or infrequently. Today, cucumbers are grown in a variety of ways, and each requires specific moisture levels. It's worth learning how to water cucumbers correctly, how much water to apply, and what kind of water to use to ensure they bear delicious fruit before you begin growing them.

How to properly water cucumbers in open ground and in a greenhouse

A high-quality harvest directly depends on irrigation. It's important to choose the optimal cucumber watering method based on climate conditions. Moreover, the rules for cultivating cucumbers in greenhouses and open ground differ.

When can I start watering?

Cucumber roots are located in the upper layers of soil. They regularly suffer from moisture stress, as during watering, all the water seeps into the lower layers, leaving the upper layers constantly dry. On dry summer days, vegetable beds require regular watering. The same applies to greenhouse cultivation. The temperature in a greenhouse is higher than outside, so cucumbers are susceptible to heat burn.

To fully develop and bear fruit, cucumbers require frequent soil and air moisture, since with a large leaf area, the available moisture quickly evaporates.

The best time to water is early in the morning (before 7:00 a.m.), before the sun begins to shine mercilessly. It's important to allow enough time between watering and sunrise for the leaves to soak up moisture and dry. Otherwise, the leaves may burn and develop yellow spots.

Another important point is to avoid over-watering the soil around the roots. If the soil feels damp to the touch, it means there's still sufficient moisture deep down; in this case, you can just spray the cucumber greens. Water the cucumbers in the evening before the temperature drops (before 7:00 PM); otherwise, moisture will remain in the soil and the roots will rot.

If it is hot outside, then cucumber plantings are watered twice: in the morning and in the evening.

If the weather is rainy, watering is stopped, as this can lead to disease. Greenhouse cucumbers are watered more frequently as the soil dries out. Spraying is done several times a day, when the heat under cover subsides—in the evening and early morning.

Important! During flowering, do not spray vegetables to avoid washing away pollen; instead, water them at the roots.

Irrigation frequency

At different stages of plant growth, the frequency of irrigation will differ.

After sowing the seeds

Gardeners should ensure that the soil does not dry out and regularly replenish moisture. Avoid allowing water to become stagnant. Once the sprouted seeds are in the ground, they require constant moisture to ensure the young shoots can split their seed pods and break through the soil.

After germination and planting of cucumber seedlings in the ground

During this time, water moderately, as bud formation is underway. It's important to allow the green foliage to develop as slowly as possible to avoid depleting nutrients and water reserves. Water as the soil dries out.

We irrigate during flowering and ovary formation.

When the first flowers appear, watering is also reduced. This will prevent the formation of empty flower buds. Water splashing on the flower washes away beneficial pollen and repels insects (outdoors) that pollinate the plant. As a result, the empty flower will not produce a new bud. Once a day at the roots is sufficient for outdoor growing, and twice under cover.

During the period of fruit formation

Here, on the contrary, it's essential to ensure maximum humidity for the vegetable crop, especially under a polycarbonate cover. The ovaries become stronger and don't fall off. While cucumbers are growing, water them once in the morning outside and twice in the greenhouse, once in the morning and once in the evening. Once the harvest has been partially completed, water more frequently to encourage new fruit set and to allow the plant to store fresh moisture for further development.

What is the best time of day to water: morning or evening?

It's impossible to say definitively which time of day is optimal. Each growing season requires its own conditions:

1. When sowing seeds, it is better to water in the evening to soften the soil.
2. During flowering, it is preferable to water in the evening, since pollination occurs during the day.
3. During fruit formation, water both morning and evening.

Evenings help retain moisture longer than mornings. However, morning moisture provides the plant with additional strength in hot weather.

Water requirements

The irrigation liquid must meet certain requirements.

Temperature

The water must be settled. This means it must be at the right temperature. Avoid watering with water that is too cold (below 12 degrees Celsius), as this can lead to diseases and pests.

Important! The best water temperature for cucumbers is considered to be between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius..

If the weather is cloudy, some gardeners use aggressive watering with hot water (55 degrees Celsius). This watering is applied under the bush, avoiding contact with the foliage. For greenhouse cucumbers, the water is also allowed to settle. To do this, place a large container in a sunny spot and fill it with water. Let it sit in the sun for a while before using it.

Compound

There's no need to boil the water. This will strip it of the minerals needed for cucumber growth. Regular tap water is used. According to gardeners, a small amount of potassium permanganate and boric acid can be added to the water. Cucumbers require manganese for normal growth and fruit development. Watering with the pink solution is done in the spring, after planting the cucumber seedlings outdoors or in a greenhouse.

Irrigation technology

How to water cucumbers is a question often asked by vegetable growers.

Sprinkler irrigation method

Sprinkler irrigation involves watering with a watering can or hose fitted with a special spray nozzle. This method distributes water evenly across the soil surface without disturbing the root system. Sprinkler irrigation allows you to spray the tops of cucumbers if they're being grown in a tied-up manner. While it's difficult to reach the tops with a watering can, it's very effective at moistening the greens when grown in a bed. The downside of sprinkling with a hose is the cold water.

Grooved method

A fairly simple method for watering cucumbers. It's used outdoors. Create a small groove along the edge of the bed, but continue throughout the entire strip. When you pour water at the beginning of the bed, it will spread evenly along the groove, providing the roots with the necessary amount of water.

Drip irrigation

Drip irrigation helps maintain soil moisture balance. It's simple and doesn't require excessive human intervention. Furthermore, with this type of irrigation, cucumbers are less susceptible to diseases affecting both the root system and the foliage.

The device has holes at a certain distance (20 cm), which allows you to direct water specifically to each bush.

The drip hose should be positioned 3 cm from the plant. Water is introduced into the system using a large container filled with water and a pump. If a container is not available, well water can be used, but this water is very cold and needs time to warm up.

This method has only advantages:

• uses water resources economically;
• does not require time investment;
• used for applying liquid fertilizers;
• the water in the system gradually heats up;
• cucumbers get sick less often.

The only drawback is the high price of the automated device.

Jet irrigation method

The easiest way to water cucumbers is to use warm water. Remove the nozzle from the watering can and water the soil around each plant, avoiding the leaves and roots. The same can be done with a hose, but use a container of settled water rather than the mains supply.

When is it recommended to water at the roots?

Cucumber beds are watered both at the root and from above. Overhead irrigation is suitable for greenhouse cultivation, as well as for growing in hotbeds. Outdoor plants are sprayed in the early morning hours. The rest of the time, root watering is used, using any of the methods described above. Root watering is most recommended during flowering and fruit set.

When is foliar watering preferable?

If the vines are grown without a trellis, simply in the ground, then watering the roots while the small cucumbers are ripening is very dangerous. The foliage tightly covers the soil, preventing air from passing through, and moisture evaporates poorly, which can cause the fruit to rot. Drip or sprinkler irrigation is preferred.

Main limitations

Watering must be correct.

Cold water

Many gardeners believe that watering with cold water is a bad idea. But cold and icy water are two different things. If the plants are healthy, cold water won't harm them, but sick ones will die on their own.

Cucumbers are usually planted in rows, with just a few seeds. But where can you get water at 25 degrees Celsius, and in such quantity, especially for every day? So, you have to irrigate with cool water, at 12 degrees Celsius.

Watering in the middle of the day is prohibited.

It is recommended to water the plant 6-7 times a week. The recommended watering rate is 1 m3.² The recommended amount is 5-6 liters. This is usually done in the morning, before sunrise, or in the evening, before sunset, as noted above. Cucumber tops love light, but in strong sunlight they begin to turn yellow, so spraying them at this time is not recommended.

However, you can water the beds at the roots in the middle of the day if the soil is very dry and the sky is cloudy. This won't cause any problems. It's important to note that if the soil hasn't dried out by evening, you should avoid evening watering. When cucumbers are kept in dry conditions for a long time, the fruit begins to taste bitter, so if the plants require it, watering in the middle of the day is not prohibited.

Irrigate once a day

Again, soil conditions should be taken into account. If a single irrigation is sufficient, then a second watering, for example, in the evening, is not necessary. This depends on the weather and the gardener's resources.

Watering from above

It's most often used for greenhouse cultivation, as the soil dries out slowly, while the foliage requires daily moisture. It can be misted throughout the day with a watering can or a hose. Some gardeners use overhead bottle spray.

Excess moisture

This is detrimental to cucumbers both outdoors and in greenhouses. The root system begins to rot first, eventually dying completely. The fruits, which are 90% water, will also rot if there's too much water. Various diseases will appear, and ultimately, the crop will be lost.

When growing cucumbers, no matter how you choose to do it, irrigation is the most important agricultural practice. It's even more important than fertilizing, weeding, and pinching. If you don't irrigate too much or at the right time, you could lose your cucumbers, and you'll have to buy them at the market. To avoid this, carefully read the cucumber watering instructions.