Cucumbers in Winter: How to Create a Mini-Greenhouse on the Windowsill

Growing cucumbers indoors during winter can be a delightful and productive activity, providing you with a continuous supply of vitamins and adding a touch of greenery to your living space. To ensure successful indoor cucumber cultivation, follow these expert tips:

• Cultivation Site:
  • Sunlight: Position your cucumber container on the sunniest windowsill in your home. Cucumbers thrive in abundant light.
  • Supplement Light: Consider using phytolamps or extended regular lighting for up to 16 hours daily to promote optimal growth and a bountiful harvest.
• Soil Selection:
  • Choose well-draining and nutrient-rich soil with a pH of approximately 6.6-6.8.
  • Pre-made substrates from garden centers work well, or create your own blend by combining equal parts humus, peat, and soil, with the addition of coarse sand.
  • Ensure substrate disinfection by treating with potassium permanganate or heating to 100°C a few weeks before sowing.
• Temperature Considerations:
  • Maintain a warm environment for cucumber plants.
  • Seedlings require around +25°C, while mature vines can thrive at +22-24°C during the day and +18-20°C at night.
  • Avoid prolonged exposure to temperatures below +15°C, as it hinders development.
• Seed Preparation and Sowing:
  • Soak seeds in a potassium permanganate solution (1 g: 100 ml) for 30 minutes if they haven’t been pre-treated.
  • Discard damaged seeds and place the rest on damp gauze for 48 hours to stimulate germination.
  • Growth stimulants can expedite this process.
  • Choose between germinating in peat tablets, small cups, or directly in a permanent container like a pot covered with glass or film.
  • Transplant seedlings when they have at least 5 leaves.

• Temperature Maintenance:
  • Keep a stable warm temperature.
  • Development ceases below +15°C, and the plant deteriorates at +8°C.
• Consistent Watering:
  • Provide regular and consistent watering.
  • Proper moisture levels prevent moisture-related diseases.
• Fertilization:
  • Fertilize twice during the cucumber’s growth:
    • After the emergence of the first true leaves.
    • Again when the number of leaves reaches three.

By following these guidelines, you can cultivate a thriving mini-greenhouse of indoor cucumbers throughout the winter