Many gardeners believe that after July you can already forget about fresh cucumbers. In reality this is not so. If you choose the right variety and create good conditions for the plants, in autumn you will still collect young, crunchy cucumbers straight from the bed more than once.
Why is July planting often even better?
In the middle of summer the soil is well warmed, seeds germinate quickly, and young plants less often suffer from spring cold snaps. In addition, during this period some fungal diseases that often bother early plantings develop less actively.
Which varieties to choose?
For repeated sowing the best suited are early-ripening or ultra-early varieties and hybrids that form a harvest in 35–45 days. Exactly these manage to give most of the fruits before the first cold nights.
How to prepare the bed correctly
Do not sow cucumbers where they already grew this year. It is better to use the place after garlic, onion, early potatoes or peas.
Before sowing:
- thoroughly loosen the soil;
- add humus or compost;
- add a little wood ash;
- water the bed abundantly.
If there is strong heat, it is desirable to moisten the soil a day before sowing.
Sowing has its own peculiarities
Seeds are sown to a depth of approximately 2–3 cm, leaving 30–40 cm between plants. If daytime temperature exceeds +30 °C, for the first few days the bed should be slightly shaded with light agrotextile or netting. This way the seedlings will appear more evenly.
The main nuance of July planting
In the second half of summer the soil dries out much faster. Exactly the lack of moisture most often becomes the reason for weak plant development. Water regularly with warm water, especially during ovary formation. After watering it is desirable to mulch the bed with mown grass or straw — this will help keep moisture longer.
What to feed with
10–14 days after the appearance of seedlings the plants can be supported with nettle infusion, vermicompost or complex fertilizer with a predominance of potassium and phosphorus. Excess nitrogen at the end of summer is undesirable — it stimulates leaves, not fruiting.
What else is worth remembering
At the end of August nights become cooler. If a sharp cold snap is forecast, cover the plantings with agrotextile at night. This will allow you to prolong fruiting for a few more weeks.
July sowing is a wonderful opportunity to get another wave of homemade cucumbers. A little attention to watering, the correct choice of variety and protection from night coolness — and fresh cucumbers will delight you even when most summer beds have already finished their season.