Why is it necessary to pay attention to this issue: to consider what is the root system of a cucumber? Because it is he althy roots that allow the plant to form a lush bush, provide it with the necessary elements, and therefore create the prerequisites for good fruiting. Cucumbers are extremely capricious plants, they endure any damage to the roots very hard, which is why they are not recommended to be transplanted, and seedlings are grown in individual cups. Do not forget that this is a subtropical plant, so the cucumber root system does not tolerate cold soil and prolonged drought, which means that you need to make sure that the temperature conditions are suitable before planting in open ground.
Features of the root system
You will probably be surprised, but this habitual garden dweller belongs to melons. Like all representatives of this family, the root system of the cucumber is taproot, with a very long main root, which can reach one and a half meters, going deep into the ground. But that is not all. Primary roots lie very close to the surface, forming a whole network. This isallows the plant to hold firmly and collect more nutrients and moisture. Compared to other garden crops, the cucumber root system is rather weak. The roots are easily torn and damaged, and lowering the temperature to 13 degrees leads to the oppression of the plant.
Sowing
The length of the roots of cucumbers, of course, is impressive, but even the smallest peat cups are enough for growing seedlings. Why is it not recommended to sow individually using a common box? Because in this case, when planting in the ground, it is the root that gets sick. This is due to damage to the lateral processes, as well as a change in temperature. To avoid this, peat pots are used, and hardening measures are also carried out. The length of the roots of cucumbers when planting in the ground (about 2-3 weeks after germination) can already be about 10 cm.
Cucumber food area
You already know what roots cucumbers have. They are quite weak, but at the same time they absorb a huge amount of nutrients from the soil. Therefore, you should not plant several plants in one hole, as they will oppress each other. Each of them will get significantly less important elements, so the stems will diligently try to stretch out so as to weaken the opponent with their shadow. As a result, there will be less strength for fruiting.
The feeding area will depend on whether the plant "lives" in the open field or in the greenhouse. In the first option, two rows of cucumbers can be planted on a bed one meter wide. The distance between them, as well as between the plants in each of them, is about 30 cm. For a greenhouse, the rules change somewhat. Here, between the rows should be about 60 cm, and the plants in each ridge are removed from each other by 40 cm.
Hilling and loosening
These two procedures are extremely important for all fruit plants. But you need to consider what roots the cucumber has. Its root system is very demanding on oxygen. If the surface of the soil is covered with a crust, and the air is poorly supplied to the roots, then the plants are immediately stunted in growth, their ovaries crumble. Therefore, you need to loosen the earth regularly, after each rain or watering. Depending on the variety, cucumbers can be more or less capricious and demanding in care, but the condition mentioned above is true for all types. Loosening begins as soon as the soil dries slightly. Be sure to follow the main rule: do not loosen the soil too deep, because the roots of cucumbers are located close to the surface and can be easily damaged.
Hilling is a useful procedure that promotes the development of additional roots. It is good for root crops, but cucumbers usually do not spud. However, if the lower part of the stem has been damaged by disease or mechanical damage, and there is a risk that the plant will die, then it is worth trying to save it. To do this, roll the stem into a ring and lay it on the ground. Pour a bucket of good, fertile soil on top. Perform the necessary manipulations. If the procedure is successful, then new roots will form, and quickly enough.
Irrigation
This is a very important event on which the cucumber root system is highly dependent. The photos show us a strong plant with a huge powerful root, but in fact it is fragile and vulnerable. In particular, watering with cold water can cause irreparable damage to the cucumber. In extreme heat, the plant stops growing, the stem thickens, the leaves wither, the ovaries fall off, and the lower part of the stem overheats. The ingress of cold water leads to the appearance of microcracks. By themselves, they will not cause much harm, but this opens the way for pathogenic bacteria. As a result, the vessels through which water and s alts move from the roots to the leaves are damaged and clogged. To prevent this, cucumbers are poured with warm water. To do this, you need to put a barrel in the garden and fill it. This method works especially well in a greenhouse. During the day, the water heats up slowly, provides gentle watering in the evening, and keeps the greenhouse warm at night.
Fertilizer and top dressing
Usually gardeners make a high warm bed, which contains humus in excess. But just in the open field you can grow beautiful cucumbers. Stronger roots - more harvest, this rule must not be forgotten. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce into the soil all the necessary trace elements that will contribute to the development and strengthening of the roots. So, for one square meter of soil, you need to add 10-15 kg of humus and dig up the soil by 2/3 of the bayonet so that the fertilizer is in the area where the main part of the root system is located. The depth of the roots of cucumbers is about 30 cm from the surface, and only the central rod goes deep into a meter or more. In addition, they add a special vegetable fertilizer like "Kemira" (it will take 70-80 g per m2).
The frequency of additions depends on the conditions of maintenance and growth of plants. The better the conditions, the more intense the growth, which means that more top dressing is required so that the roots can provide the plant with everything it needs. Top dressing with nitrogen fertilizers should not be done in cloudy weather, as this will lead to the accumulation of nitrates in the fruit. Before the procedure, watering is done, then the dry mixture is scattered or a solution is applied and again watered over the leaves. Foliar feeding is also justified, and should be done at least once a month. This procedure facilitates the task of the root system.
Features of growing cucumbers on the balcony
Before you start home gardening, you need to ask what the root system of cucumbers is. It is already clear from the materials of the article that each bush will require a deep and fairly wide capacity, high-quality soil and a sufficient amount of fertilizer. The container volume per plant is at least 5 liters, otherwise the roots will suffer from drying out. In addition, the presence of a double bottom and abundant watering is mandatory. Excess moisture will drain into the pan, and the roots, penetrating through the drainage holes, will be able to actively absorb it. At the same time, the earth will not be waterlogged, which negatively affects the roots of the cucumber.
Agrotechnicalinnovation
Not in all regions the climatic conditions and soil composition are suitable for this capricious crop, and first of all, the problem is that the root system of the cucumber begins to ache and wither. The plant, accordingly, dies. Therefore, summer residents have invented a new way of growing vegetables. To do this, pots of a suitable volume are hung on a stand, their bottom is covered with 2-centimeter foam rubber. An incision is made in them from below, and a plant is inserted upside down into it, while the stem hangs freely down. The earth is poured into the pot from above. It turns out that cucumbers grow upside down. Gardeners note that this method is quite effective, especially for indoor gardening.
Vaccination
If you do not want to use the upside down method, but you need to solve the problem with poor growth and development of the bush, and grafting can help with this. This is an unconventional way of growing cucumbers, but in some regions it is the only one. The fact is that the cucumber root (the photo is presented in the article) is very sensitive to temperature fluctuations, as well as to damage by various pests. Therefore, it was proposed to graft a cucumber stem onto the root of a completely unpretentious pumpkin. To do this, you just need to grow cucumber seedlings, and when the first leaves appear, sow a large-fruited pumpkin.
As soon as the pumpkin leaves reach 3 cm, you can proceed to the "operation". To do this, make an incision on the stem obliquely from top to bottom, then remove the cucumber seedling from the ground. With himyou will need to perform the same manipulations, only you need to cut obliquely from the bottom up. Quickly join both cuts and wrap with foil. Plant the cucumber roots next to the pumpkin in the same pot. You will get two seedlings sitting side by side and closing in sections on the trunks. After two weeks, the seedlings will grow together, now you need to cut off the top of the pumpkin above the graft and the root of the cucumber below the graft. There remains one plant - "pumpkin-cucumber". Its roots, powerful and strong, are not afraid of any frosts and pests, and the green cucumber part, receiving good nutrition, will delight you until autumn. What are the roots of cucumbers, such is the harvest, so this method is more than justified.
