Minimum work, maximum crops

From the section: "Cucumbers," pp.137-140

In conclusion I want to tell you about one experiment that I did this year. I usually sow cucumber seeds in the first decade of June. I do not soak the seeds because I have a low site, and in cold weather, they may not come up (rot). This time I decided to take a risk - to rely on the film, which I bought at the exhibition "Spring Flora". The film is called "Svetlitsa". Having put the arcs of the height of 1-1,2 m, I sowed the seeds of cucumbers variety Severyanin-Extra. I did not insulate the bed (there was no fresh manure, and there was no time to lay grass). Then I threw the film "Svetlitsa" on the arcs. I want to note that both in appearance and quality, the film is very different from all the previous ones. It is elastic, does not sag on the arcs, and even if it rains, the water does not accumulate but drains away. Experienced gardeners will probably think that I connected the arcs with a rope, which later serves as a trellis, holds the film, and helps the water roll down. But it doesn't. For some reason, this time, seeing that the film is well lying on the arcs, I did not pull the rope. I decided that I would tie the cucumbers another way. I pressed the film to the ground with stones, as usual. I went to town. A week later, when I came to the site, I saw the stones dislodged (it turns out that there was a powerful wind). The film that I used before would have just come off the arcs, but this time, because it was elastic and did not crumple, the wind could not throw it off. As for the cucumber seeds I sowed - they all sprouted smoothly and looked fine. It should be noted that the weather on those days was very warm. I was pleased that the film did not blow away, as it happened at neighbors' arched greenhouses. This means that I can safely go to the city and not be afraid that at one point, my plants will be uncovered. I went to town again. Suddenly frosts came, which I did not expect (I did not even cover the flowering tomato sprouts with lutrasil). All week, being in the city, I thought about my plants. I even bought cucumber seeds for new planting. Neighbors who went to their plots in the middle of the week told me that everything that was not covered was frozen. I was looking forward to the weekend to see for myself. When I arrived at the site, the picture was impressive. Potato blossoms are frozen to the root, tomatoes in the greenhouse under the film – too, cucumber seedlings in another stationary greenhouse died all ... I was afraid to approach the greenhouse on the arcs, where cucumbers were growing under the film "Svetlitsa" (while still in town, I regretted the fact that I went for this experiment a hundred times). I was surprised when, having opened the arches, I saw beautiful, healthy sprouts, which showed the 3rd real leaf. 

When I told my neighbors about it, no one believed me. Everyone came to watch because their seedlings had died.

I am delighted that I believed the advertisement and bought this beautiful film. Besides the fact that it helps the plants overcome lower temperatures (about 2-4ºC), it is also very durable. It is almost impossible to pierce it with a sharp object, which often happens when pulling the film and weeding. I think it will also last much longer than all other types of films.

And I got a beautiful harvest - and not only of cucumbers but also of lettuce because it grew along with the cucumbers on the perimeter of the bed. The lettuce was simply delicious and surprised even the neighbors, who treated themselves to large and juicy sprouts with great pleasure. 

From now I will use only lutrasil and film "Svetlitsa". I want to draw your attention to the fact that I used the film "Svetlitsa greenhouse" light yellow, designed for greenhouses and greenhouses; there is also Svetlitsa mulching, called "Chernomor", black color, and "Vodyanoy", blue color, for the arrangement of ponds. I don't need a pond yet: there is a river and a lake nearby, but I would like to try the film "Chernomor", but this is in the future.