What to Avoid and What to Do in Commercial Farming from Cucumber Seedlings
Cucumber crop farming can be extremely profitable, provided the farmer starts with good plant stock. In most instances, farmers buy cucumber seedlings from commercial bulk-supply nurseries.
The plugs are grown in greenhouse facilities, and thus in protected growth environments. This enables the nurseries to deliver quality, disease- and pest-free seedlings to the farmers. Some nurseries also chemically treat the plants before delivery, helping farmers to save on the initial chemical treatment costs, and giving farmers enough time to prepare their treatment protocols.
But even with
premium-quality cucumber seedlings to start the crop, it is possible to fail at crop farming when making the mistakes discussed below.
- Too Much Water is Not a Good Thing
Newcomers to crop farming can easily fall into the trap of over-irrigating their crops in their efforts to ensure optimal yield. However, this practice can lead to large-scale plant losses. Over watering can severely affect the crop yield. If the growth medium never gets a chance to dry a bit, then the plants suffer from too little air. It may sound strange, but the roots of the cucumber seedlings will not be able to take up enough oxygen, leading to wilting while the foliage can also turn yellow, and eventually, the plants will lose their leaves.
- Not Managing Pests, Weeds, and Diseases
Every crop farmer knows their vegetables are constantly under attack. Proper pest-control starts with weed management.
Another step to take includes planting
grafted cucumber seedlings, which ensures the plants have desired characteristics, such as better tolerance to frost, improved stand, better quality, higher yield potential, etc. View more information about grafted vegetable seedlings
here.
- Not Applying the Correct Nutrients
Plants cannot be expected to deliver superior quality fruits if the soil in which grown is nutrient deficient. It is best to consult with agronomists regarding appropriate ratios of fertiliser and when to apply. In addition, having a higher level of organic matter in the soil provides for a nutrient-rich growth environment.
Tips for Best Performance
Apart from avoiding the mentioned mistakes, farmers interested in propagating cucumbers from seedlings can benefit from following the tips given below.
- Irrigation for Results
Drip irrigation is recommended to avoid damage to the leaves and to gain more control over the amount of water that each plant receives. This method allows for slow watering directly around the stems and their roots instead of watering a wide area around the plants. It also allows for water saving and subsequently lowers the cost of irrigation. With this method, watering can be done more frequently to create the perfect moisture conditions for optimal growth performance.
- Harvest When Ready
If the fruits are left on the plants too long, the farmer can expect to get a lower yield per plant. Regular harvesting gives the plants the chance to put their energy into the creation of new blooms instead of growing the already existing fruit.
- Follow Spacing Guidelines
Enough space should be left between the rows and between plants in the rows to facilitate easier harvesting and pest control. This is also important for allowing enough airflow around the foliage and light penetration. If the plants are too close to each other, it can create an environment that makes it easier for disease to spread from one plant to another.
The plugs from bulk-supply nurseries are strong and disease-free. This provides the farmer strong stock with a lot of vigour. Uniform stand, a pest-free start, and strong roots are among the many reasons to buy grafted cucumber seedlings from Hishtil SA. View the product range
here.
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