ISHS Acta Horticulturae 156: XII Working Party on Greenhouse Cucumbers
HYDRO-PEAT METHOD FOR GREENHOUSE CUCUMBER PRODUCTION |
| Authors: | G. Janowski, H. Skapski |
| Abstract:
Greenhouse cucumbers are produced in Poland mainly on soilmanure beds or on straw balls. These organic substrates are expensive and not easily available for growers. Therefore "Hydro-peat" method originally elaborated by W. Gosiewski and H. Skapski /1976/ for tomatoes has been adapted for cucumber production. This method is based on growing plants in high cylinders or containers filled with peat or peat-bark mixture placed in a shallow layer of stagnant nutrient solution. Experimental results proved that proper height of container to provide optimum oxygen-water relationship equals to 25–35 cm. Concentration of the nutrient solution should not exceed equivalent of 1 to 1.5 g KCl/l for cucumbers and 2 to 2.5 g KCl/l for cucumbers grafted on Cucurbita ficifolia. Grafting cucumbers on C. f. greatly increased the tolerance of plants to higher osmotic concentration of nutrient solution. Best yields in hydro-peat method of production gave Wilanowski, Minisol and Sandra varieties, while on straw ball the best yields have been given by Minisol, Sandra and Farbio. It means that some varieties are more suitable for the hydro-peat and some for straw balls method of production. It can be concluded that hydro-peat method can be used for cucumber production, although this method creates more problems for cucumbers in comparison with tomato production. | |
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