Demands for cucumber in both national and international markets remain consistent all through the year. Cucumis sativus or Cucumber has been considered one of the most profitable commercial hydroponic farming vegetables. In this article, you will gain the simple steps to grow cucumbers hydroponically at your premises.
You can choose to have a room in your apartment or can buy an acre of land for hydroponic cucumber farming. In either case, this article provides complete guidance.
For hydroponic farming ofthis vining crop- cucumber, it is important to have some space. A greenhouse-like arrangement is recommended for this purpose. Make sure that the necessary hydroponic set up is with fair arrangements of nutrients, temperature and water.
With proper care, your farm will yield a good amount of cucumbers every week.Being seedless and comparatively softer than their counterpart from the fields, the hydroponic cucumbers are highly preferred by the urban population.
Follow the steps noted below to have a profit margin for your hydroponic cucumbers.
Step 1 Collect good quality seeds
At the foremost step, decide whether you want to grow cucumber for salads or pickles. Your decisions should be supported by a small market evaluation.Among the great variety of cucumber seeds, always prefer to collect the hybrid seeds for your hydroponic farming.
Though the right size, shape and size determine the quality of seeds, detection of good quality of seeds is a challenge. However, this challenge can be well resolved by considering some professional assistance.
Step 2 Raise cucumber seedlings
Raise the hybrid seeds to seedlings by keeping them under the right water, moisture and temperature. You can choose to use a pasteurised medium like compost, to germinate the seeds.
The seedlings or cucumber are usually more fragile than other hydroponic vegetables as it belongs to the vine family. So, offer delicate care to the process of germination.
Step 3 Transplant healthy seedlings
Once you see the true leaves coming out of the seeds, you must understand that the seedlings are getting ready for transplantation. With 2 to 3 true leaves shift the seedlings to the grow-out positions of the hydroponic system.
Note that, unlike other hydroponic vegetables, cucumber can also be sown directly in the hydroponic system. You just need to sow the seeds in blocks of coconut coir, mineral wool.
Step 4 Prepare lid
Drilling holes with a measurement of 5cm in the lid is very important. Also, note that the distance between each hole should be 5 cm. This space will ensure equal distribution of temperature and moisture for the plants.
Consider the vertical arrangement of your hydroponic set up for cucumber. It will offer more space and convenient distribution of nutrients to every plant. By considering hydroponic collaboration, you can also get wider choices for setting up your hydroponic cucumber farming. Assistances are provided for using drip systems, flow systems, and even Dutch bucket systems.
Step 5 Maintain nutrients in the reservoir
It is always recommended to use a re-circulating reservoir for growing cucumber hydroponically. You should top off the set up of the reservoir with only water and without nutrients. You will notice that some water will evaporate and some water will be lessened by plant uptake, yet without dropping the solution level.
For more information on growing cucumber hydroponically, you can contact professionally recognised hydroponic collaboration near you.
Step 6 Regular monitoring of temperature
Cucumber needs enough light and adequately balanced temperature. The average maintenance of temperature for growing cucumber hydroponically should be 75- 85°F during the daytime. This should be 10° cooler at night, which should be 65- 70°F.
Do not let the temperature drop down much at night, as the same can destroy the plants and can restrict the growth of good cucumbers. Use IoT based instruments to check the temperature of your hydroponic farm.
Step 7 Regular monitoring moisture
It has been noticed that cucumber tends to lose more moisture as it comprises skin. It is therefore important that you maintain the right amount of moisture in the atmosphere in the farming room. A regular expert inspection of the plants, the hydroponic system, and atmosphere of the farming area, is recommended.
Growing cucumber in your hydroponics as a business, promises quick profit margins. However, expert guidance assures a better return on investment.
Step 8 Regular monitoring water content
Hydroponic cucumber needsa pH level of 5, conductivity factor of the water between 17 to 25 cF, and nutrients solution of 1190 to 1750 parts per million (PPM). By using the right instruments you need to monitor and maintain these statuses regularly.
Irregularity of any kind can lead to the attacks of whiteflies, aphids, or thrips on the plants. These
Step 9 Regular inspections for diseases
Though hydroponic cucumbers are free from most diseases, there is the possibility of water-borne diseases. The roots of the plants should be inspected regularly and prevention of Pythium or any kind of water mould is very important.
Cucumber vines in particular get threatened by ‘powdery mildew’. Make sure that your plants do not have any trace of it.
Step 10 Correct Harvesting
The first harvest of hydroponic cucumber happens when the cucumber grows between 4 to 8 inches, with 12 to 15 cucumbers per vine. This growth happens within the first 2 months. Once the cucumber starts growing, you need to harvest them weekly. Take good care while pruning and remove the tendrils regularly. Remember, small and tender cucumbers are preferred the most in the market.
With the beginning of fruiting, consider increasing the potassium concentrations in the entire process of fertilization of the hydroponic cucumber. This increase should be 50% more than the intake of planned nitrogen concentrations maintained from the plants.
The decision to start with commercial hydroponic farming is a very new trend of the urban culture. It is a way of having a supportive income along with your job. With adequate professional support and assistance or hydroponic collaboration, you can very easily utilise the spaces of your residence. You can earn a very decent income by planting cucumbers. Add a commercial edge to your hydroponic cucumber farming and you can join the hydroponic vegetable supply chain for the urban population.