Growing cucumbers in greenhouses all year round as a business. Year-round cultivation of cucumbers as a highly profitable business

Greetings, dear readers of Startupoff!

Growing greenhouse cucumbers is not a new, but promising business idea. The volume of imported vegetables has decreased; large agro-industrial enterprises in the agricultural sector often offer products whose quality leaves much to be desired. This means that the time has come for budding small entrepreneurs.

Growing cucumbers in a greenhouse - a business idea that works

Growing cucumbers is a promising and profitable business.

Judge for yourself:

1. The demand for cucumbers is great all year round.
2. To open a business you do not need large plots of land. You can start your own business in your own garden or summer cottage.
3. Abundant harvest of vegetables in a short time throughout the year.
4. Greenhouse cultivation produces more products than soil cultivation.
5. High profitability with good sales organization and well-established production.
6. There are many distribution routes: markets, supermarkets, catering establishments, processing plants.
7. Sale of fresh and processed products.

To open a business, you will need a business plan, installation of one or more greenhouses (depending on the size of the start-up capital and the scale of production you are aiming for), equipment, seedlings, and feeding.

3 ways to grow cucumbers

Cucumbers are grown in different ways: by sowing seeds in open ground, planting seedlings. They are planted in barrels and sown along fences so that the climbing stems of the plants themselves are fixed to the mesh. We offer you three effective cultivation methods that guarantee a quick and abundant harvest.

Let's consider the advantages of each option.

Method 1. In a barrel

The main advantage of the method is space saving, as well as simple organization of watering and maintenance. This method is more suitable for a small garden plot. Vegetables need to be planted in a pre-prepared barrel.

Small twigs for drainage, a layer of soil from a compost pit, and a fertilized fertile layer are placed in it. Seeds are placed in the prepared soil. The barrel warms up quickly, so the fruits ripen in it faster than in open ground. You can grow early cucumbers in it without a greenhouse. Fruiting lasts from May to October.

Method 2. In bags

The advantages of planting in bags are loose, well-heated and ventilated soil, favorable for the growth of cucumbers, which is difficult to achieve in open planting. The yield with this method of planting is higher than in the ground.

Fertile soil is placed in plastic bags and seeds are sown. The bags are inserted into a shallow trench. A rope or metal “string” is stretched over it for a garter. Poles are stuffed along a row of bags. They will hold the bags and plants.

The method is used for growing on a personal plot and greenhouse production. How it is used in a greenhouse can be seen in the photo.

Method 3. On a trellis

This method prevents plants from contracting powdery mildew. With trellises, the space of the site is rationally used. The method is suitable for open ground and greenhouse production.

Advantages: easy harvesting, high yield, easy plant care, good lighting. The plants are planted in a row, a metal string is pulled (the second option is to install a strong plastic mesh along the row) and the vines are tied up.

Growing technology - where to start?

The key to a high yield: favorable conditions for growth, loose soil, good seeds, timely harvesting.

Now about each of them in order.

Step 1. Create favorable conditions in the greenhouse

Cucumber bushes love light, good ventilation and “privacy”. Densely sprouted seeds need to be thinned out so that both male and female inflorescences form. The optimal temperature for fruiting is 22-26 degrees Celsius.

The plant does not like sudden temperature fluctuations. Lowering the temperature to 14 degrees deprives it of its ability to take moisture from the soil. Cucumber beds do not like waterlogged soil. They grow best in sandy loam soils enriched with organic matter.

Step 2. Select suitable varieties of cucumbers

The optimal varieties for greenhouse sowing are parthenocarpic and self-pollinating. These are hybrid varieties that produce year-round harvest. Their fruits are juicy and dense. Used for fresh sale, as well as for pickling and salting. The fruits of these hybrids do not turn yellow from overripeness. They do not lose their freshness, taste and presentation for a long time.

The selected varieties must provide three harvest cycles: from May to September, from October to the end of January, from February to May.

Step 3. Prepare the soil

Optimal soil parameters for greenhouse cucumbers:

• mechanical properties: loose, breathable;
• humidity: constant, without drying out or waterlogging;
• temperature: above 13 degrees at a depth of up to 25 centimeters;
• soil acidity: up to 6 hydrogen units, neutral;
• high humus content;
• high microbiological activity.

Step 4. Grow cucumbers and harvest

Cucumbers love moisture. Make sure that the root zone is always moist, but that water does not stagnate at the roots. Loosen the soil near the rhizome, remove dry leaves and ripe fruits. Don't wait for the fruits to gain more mass. This slows down the fruiting of the bush. Timely removal of ripe fruits stimulates the growth of new ones. Don't forget to add fertilizer to the soil.

Monitor the condition of the plants. The appearance of yellowness, dry stems and leaves is a sign of improper care and disease.

What equipment might be needed?

To set up your own production, you will need a greenhouse, a lighting, heating, irrigation system, as well as gardening tools, soil fertilizer, and containers for harvesting.

The approximate amount of equipment and its cost for the installation of one greenhouse complex is given in the table:

Equipment	Amount	Cost, rub.)
Polycarbonate greenhouse 200 square meters	1	90 000
Soil heating system in the cold season	5	4 500
Heating boiler	1	30 000
Lighting lamps	14	5 000
Drip irrigation kit	2	4 500
Water tank 500 liters	1	10 000
Hose for supplying water to the container	1	2 000
Twine for tying tops	25	100
Harvest containers (boxes, buckets)	10	150
Fuel for the boiler (wood)	1 cu. meter	6 000
Total:		152 250

Ready-made business plan for growing cucumbers

A detailed business plan is needed to assess the profitability of an enterprise, take into account all expenses and income, develop a strategy for finding clients, and analyze competition. This document will insure you against mistakes and unplanned expenses.

Stage 1. Study of technology

To choose a technology, you need good theoretical and practical preparation. Gain knowledge from agricultural forums and exhibitions, on specialized online forums where agronomists and amateur gardeners communicate. There you will find information about varieties, growing methods, and plant diseases.

Visit agricultural complexes and greenhouses. Here you will see the principles of greenhouse arrangement, plant growth, and imagine the scale of production.

Stage 2. Site selection and greenhouse placement

It is best to master the agricultural industry in the suburbs of a small town. There, renting a plot is cheaper and it is easier to enter the local market than in a metropolis.

To open your own greenhouse complex, a plot of 6 acres is enough. Do you have a dacha? Use your own hundred dollars to reduce the start-up costs of starting a business.

If you rent a plot, choose land close to communications: centralized water supply, highway lines, electricity, internet. This way you don't have to install them at your own expense.

Stage 3. Equipping the greenhouse with equipment

Installation of greenhouse equipment begins immediately after completion of the greenhouse. For a stable harvest in winter and summer, you need heating and lighting, soil heating, and installation of a ventilation system.

In industrial vegetable farms that grow cucumbers, tomatoes and other vegetables year-round, a lot of money and effort are spent on creating optimal growth conditions. If you are focused on year-round work, do not skimp on purchasing equipment. Purchasing equipment is the lion's share of expenses when starting a greenhouse business.

Stage 4. Purchase of seedlings

For year-round cultivation, you need not only early ripening varieties, but also late or winter varieties. The most popular varieties are parthenocarpic hybrids that produce a stable, rich harvest: good salad and pickling cucumbers.

They are planted in the ground as seedlings and seeds. Seeds give the plant a stable root system, and planting seedlings gives an early harvest.

After the first harvest, you will be able to breed your own seeds. Remove the seeds from overripe fruits and dry them at room conditions.

Buy seed material from trusted sellers: in specialized stores or agricultural complexes.

Stage 5. Registration of an enterprise

You don’t need documents to grow cucumbers at home and sell your crops to neighbors and friends.

If you are focused on selling on the market and finding regular customers, open a peasant farm (peasant farm). To do this, you need your passport, a decision to create a farm, a certificate from the settlement administration about the start of your work, and ownership of the land. OKVED code 01.13 - cultivation of melons, root crops and other crops.

Stage 6.

Market your grown produce in a variety of ways:

1. Sales to private entrepreneurs straight from the greenhouse.
2. Retail sales at the vegetable market.
3. Wholesale sales at vegetable warehouses.
4. Transfer for sale to grocery stores and supermarkets.
5. Sales to catering establishments.
6. Sale of products in pickled or salted form.

Don't forget about advertising! Look for buyers directly by visiting stores, supermarkets, and using the Internet. Thousands of entrepreneurs advertise their services on Avito and other trading platforms, and on social networks. Focus on taste, affordable cost per kilogram of products, and their naturalness.

How to calculate business profitability

The basis for calculating profitability is the annual yield of the greenhouse and turnover. Under the right conditions, in a 200 square meter greenhouse you can harvest 14,000 kg.

From selling 14 tons of cucumbers you will receive a profit of about 1 million rubles. From this profit you need to isolate net income, subtracting start-up investments, utility costs, purchase of fertilizers and other costs.

The calculation of the cost part is presented in the table:

№	Cost type	Amount (rub.)
1	Purchase of seeds and seedlings	35 000
2	Purchase of fertilizers, feed	40 000
3	Payment for heating, lighting, water	100 000
4	Fare	30 000
5	Gardening tools	50 000
6	Unified agricultural tax 6%	40 000
7	Miscellaneous expenses (packaging, garter twine, incidentals)	50 000
Total:		345 000

By subtracting the amount of costs from 1,000,000 rubles, you will see how much the net profit will be. For the example given in the article (1 greenhouse of 200 sq m), its size will be 655,000 rubles, provided there is an established sales system and stable yields throughout the year.

Guarantees and risks

Factors that could jeopardize your earnings:

• breakdown of greenhouse equipment;
• low yield due to erroneous choice of varieties, poor quality of seedlings, non-compliance with growing conditions;
• high competition in the industry;
• poorly organized sales of products.

Guarantees - high customer demand. If you do not sell all your products fresh, they will readily buy them salted or pickled as preserves. Delicious chemical-free cucumbers are readily sold out in the greenhouse complex itself.

Your task is to develop the technology, establish sales, and make a name for yourself. Once you have recouped your initial investment, look to expand your production.

Inspiring video about a millionaire farmer who chose the cucumber business:

Cucumber is a tasty and healthy vegetable that is easy to cultivate in open ground or in a greenhouse. Growing cucumbers as a business: profitable or not, reviews and advice from farmers on doing business.

Outdoor beds are cheap, but have one big drawback - the period of operation is limited by the warm season. Therefore, the greenhouse method is used to grow vegetables year-round.

Features of the greenhouse method

Compared to the traditional method, growing cucumbers in a greenhouse as a business has a number of features:

Large-scale agricultural production should be planned near a big city, since small settlements provide summer cottages with fresh vegetables.

Business plan

To organize your own farming business, you need to draw up a business plan for growing cucumbers:

1. Studying technology.
2. Site selection and greenhouse placement.
3. Equipment supply.
4. Purchase of seedlings.
5. Registration of an enterprise.
6. Sales organization.
7. Financial calculations.

Step-by-step planning allows you to avoid mistakes and unnecessary costs. You can download a ready-made business plan with calculations at.

Cucumber growing technology

Successful cultivation of cucumbers is based on 3 basic principles:

• Selecting suitable varieties. For closed ground conditions, hybrid varieties that do not require pollination are best suited. To increase productivity, you need to choose vegetables with a short ripening period, a large amount of ovary, and high resistance to diseases and pests. In large areas it is convenient to plant cucumbers of different types - salad, pickles, for canning. Seeds for planting are purchased from seed farms, where they guarantee high-quality material and provide advice on growing vegetables. The most popular varieties are Nezhinsky, Emelya, Hercules, Dynamite, Santana, Kapelka. Experienced vegetable growers advise giving preference to domestic varieties.
• Delivery of quality soil. Cucumbers produce a rich harvest in fertile black soil, which needs to be fertilized. If the land on the site is not very good, you will have to purchase it. There are alternative options: lumpy turf, which is prepared in advance for sowing; hydroponics - more often used by large farms; a mixture of turf and peat, into which fertilizers, sawdust, husks, and straw are added.
• Care and creation of a microclimate in a greenhouse. The optimal temperature for ripening vegetables is 20-25°C with a humidity of 80%, since cucumber is a very moisture-loving plant. Watering is carried out with warm water through a drip system. Every week the soil is loosened and fertilized with superphosphate, potassium chloride, and ammonium nitrate. In summer, it is necessary to protect seedlings from the scorching sun, and in winter, heat the premises. Cucumbers are grown on vertical vines, which are shaped in such a way as not to block the light and produce maximum yield. Some varieties need to be pinched and pinched, some not. To prevent the death of plants from diseases and pests, it is necessary to carry out regular inspections and treatment with special means.
• Typically, a three-rotation method is used to grow cucumbers all year round - the cycle begins in early spring, one crop is harvested in the summer and two in the rest of the year. In the warm months, a “financial cushion” is created to pay for electricity during the cold season.

Construction of a greenhouse

A cucumber growing business can be organized on your own personal plot or you can rent land for these purposes. The location for agriculture is chosen as far as possible from the industrial zone. Although this will increase transportation costs, the vegetables will grow in clean air and will not cause illness to consumers.

It is advisable that the greenhouse be installed on a flat area, without slopes or uneven areas. You can start with one greenhouse, and then add more structures. On an area of ​​35 sq. m., equipped with modern equipment, harvest up to 100 tons per year.

You can build a greenhouse yourself or purchase a ready-made structure made of light metal and polycarbonate. For regions with different weather and climatic conditions, various types of greenhouses are produced:

1. In the south, it is convenient to use a structure with a gable roof and a large number of opening windows to ventilate the room on warm winter days.
2. In areas with a more severe climate, greenhouses are built with a domed roof and a vestibule that serves as an air partition and a warehouse for equipment.

Large greenhouses are the most economical to use, although they are more expensive to build. When working in several greenhouses, it is necessary to purchase a separate set of equipment for heating, lighting and watering. And for one large area, one boiler and humidification system are enough. In addition, the large surface area allows a lot of light to pass through, which saves energy costs.

Equipment

For year-round cultivation of cucumbers, the greenhouse is equipped with heating, watering and additional lighting systems. Moreover, it is necessary to heat not only the air, but also the soil.

Heating is mainly installed from a boiler and water pipes connected to it, located throughout the entire area of ​​the greenhouse. The boiler runs on solid, liquid or gas fuel, and can be universal. Heating of the soil is provided by the “warm floor” technological method, which is safe and reliable for plant growth.

Plants need additional lighting in winter. For these purposes, phytolamps and LED lamps are used, which sufficiently replace sunlight, are durable, and do not consume a lot of electricity.

Cucumbers are composed mainly of water and desperately need plenty of watering. High humidity is qualitatively maintained by automated drip irrigation systems, consisting of a water tank, hoses and a liquid supply control device. Fertilizers and minerals are added to the irrigation system to increase productivity.

Growing cucumbers requires equipment and other materials for forming vines, caring for plants, and harvesting.

Seedling

Seedlings for growing cucumbers can be purchased or grown on your own farm. Self-cultivation occurs as follows:

• Seeds are sown in containers with a diameter of about 8 cm.
• For two to three days, the room with future seedlings is maintained at a temperature of 25-30°C and a humidity of 75%.
• Watering is carried out daily with warm water.
• For the first two weeks, fertilizing and fertilizers are applied to the soil in accordance with the sown variety.
• When the seedlings have 4-6 leaves (usually this takes a month), they are planted in the beds.

High-quality seedlings are sold to other farms, which provides additional income to the cucumber farm.

Business registration

A cucumber business can be registered in several ways:

1. Personal subsidiary farming, which, according to the law, is not an enterprise and is not subject to taxes. This option is suitable for owners or tenants of agricultural land with an area of ​​up to 2.5 hectares. The registration of private household plots is carried out by local government bodies, for which a certificate is issued indicating the type of products produced. In this case, the sale of vegetables is possible only to end consumers in markets or small retail outlets.
2. It makes sense for the owner of a large farm to register an individual entrepreneurship in order to sell a large harvest through a retail chain. Individual entrepreneurs have the right to hire workers, have no restrictions on land area and can pay a single agricultural tax at a rate of 6%.
3. A peasant farm is a legal entity and is registered if a family or several partners participate in the activity. The state provides peasant farms with benefits for renting land and the opportunity to pay the Unified Agricultural Tax.

Growing cucumbers is not a licensed activity; when exporting products outside the region, it is necessary to undergo certification and issue a declaration of conformity.

Sales organization

As greenhouse products mature, they are collected and placed in wooden, plastic or cardboard boxes. Cucumbers have a dense structure, are stored for a long time and tolerate transportation well.

Harvest sales depend on volumes:

• in markets;
• through the retail network;
• through the wholesale network;
• to catering establishments, hospitals, schools.

Individual entrepreneurs and peasant farms enter into agreements with legal entities, private farmers sell cucumbers to end consumers.

An established and well-organized sales network guarantees the sale of the entire harvest. To do this, you need to study the level of prices, demand, delivery conditions and trading fees in advance.

Economic calculations

How beneficial and profitable the business idea of ​​growing cucumbers in a greenhouse is can be assessed by calculating the starting investments, expenses and planned income.

The farm has an area of ​​400 sq. m. on your own site you need to invest:

Operating expenses for the year are:

Market prices for cucumbers vary depending on the season: in summer there is mass trade and the price is low, in winter and spring fresh vegetables become 3-4 times more expensive. On average, a kilogram of cucumbers costs 80 rubles. An annual harvest of 37 tons brings the farmer:

№	Name	price, rub.		Income, rub.
1	Sales of cucumbers	80	37	2 960 000

Profit will be: RUB 2,960,000. – 906,000 rub. = 2,054,000 rub. This amount covers the initial investment in the business, and the entrepreneur’s net income in the first year of operation is 404,000 rubles.

Video: rural business - cucumber millionaire from Arsky district.

Your own business can be based not only on renting premises, buying and selling goods, but also on your own production. In this regard, the cucumber business is the most attractive, since food products always find a buyer. To understand all the nuances, you should get acquainted with the agricultural technology of growing vegetables, the conditions necessary for them and calculate the return on production. It is also very important to study the market and demand for the products you are going to produce.

Financial expenses

Undoubtedly, any business begins with consideration of the costs that its implementation will require. In the case of business activities related to growing vegetables, there may be different options.

For example, if this is a single greenhouse on a personal garden plot, and you are operating without forming a legal entity, this is one option. Another, if you are planning a large and profitable production, in which additional personnel will be involved, several capital greenhouses have been built and land has been rented. The second option, of course, will require more expenses, but the result will be more noticeable.

When drawing up a business plan for growing cucumbers, you need to take into account tax deductions and payment of bank loans. In order to organize just one greenhouse with an area of ​​three hundred and fifty square meters, approximately nine hundred thousand rubles will be required.

When drawing up a plan for your own business, you need to include minimum costs and take into account income so that it covers all expenses and brings profit. But it should always be borne in mind that overproduction of goods should not be allowed. In this case, you will not be able to implement it successfully and will incur losses. Since vegetables quickly lose their presentation and spoil.

Land and conditions for growing vegetables

First of all, you should take care of the land. It can be rented or purchased as personal property. The second option is preferable. Before purchasing, you need to take into account the availability of communications (water, electricity, gas) and access roads. Only after this can you think about ways to grow vegetables indoors.

Cucumbers are considered unpretentious plants. But in reality this is not entirely true. Yes, they will bear fruit beautifully and abundantly if all the necessary conditions are created for them. And this means well-fertilized soil, acceptable humidity levels, and temperature.

If any of these requirements are not met, you can lose a significant part of the harvest. Therefore, greenhouse vegetables are most suitable for organizing private farming. Construction of a greenhouse will require additional costs, but will provide optimal development conditions for plants. It can maintain a constant temperature. Cucumbers are very heat-loving. At the same time, the degree of illumination is not important for them. Therefore, specially built greenhouses are completely suitable for their breeding.

Plants are planted in pre-made holes or grooves. Plant the seeds three to four centimeters deep into the ground. The distance between plants should be from twelve to fifteen centimeters. Since this vegetable crop produces long vines, it is recommended to place them on wooden trellises with strings stretched over them. After the fourth leaf forms on the bushes, they need to be pinched. Then side shoots will begin to develop.

A well-thought-out business plan for growing cucumbers should take into account all the possible risks associated with growing vegetables. These include weather conditions. To protect plants from diseases and pests, the cost of preventive measures to prevent these phenomena should be included in the estimate. For example, apply herbicide and fungicide treatments.

The best option for growing cucumbers is to purchase coconut mats for greenhouses, which allow you to create the best conditions for growing vegetables. Flooring made from natural materials is laid on slabs made of polystyrene. Plant seeds are planted in the mats and a nutrient solution is supplied. Subsequently, the root system of cucumber bushes develops inside them.

Greenhouse construction

Experts and practicing farmers, those who have already succeeded in this very effective business, will tell you how to start a cucumber business. But in order to ensure its prosperity, it is necessary to attend to the construction of a greenhouse. The best option is to purchase ready-made designs.

In permanent greenhouses made of polycarbonate, everything is already taken into account: size, ease of installation, lighting. All engineering systems must be installed in them: watering, fertilizers. Install heating to maintain a constant temperature in the greenhouse and electric lighting. When erecting a structure, it is necessary to take into account all the most advanced ideas of plant growing. Apply energy-saving technologies.

Purchase of planting material

Vegetable seeds must be purchased from trusted suppliers and breeding companies. Don't get carried away with products from foreign manufacturers. Seeds bred in other climates may fail to germinate and your business will suffer as a result. Therefore, it is necessary to give preference to planting material that is developed and bred by local specialists.

Both pure cucumber varieties and F1 hybrids are suitable for cultivation in a greenhouse. The latest varieties have proven themselves very well. Farming will require the purchase of large quantities of seeds. For their purchase, you can pledge an amount of 1,600 rubles.

Fertilizers

Like all plants, cucumbers require feeding. This is especially important during planting. You will need compost and humus. Superphosphate and potassium sulfate are also used. When preparing a business plan for growing cucumbers, you need to take into account the cost of purchasing fertilizers. Their volume should be calculated depending on the cultivated planting area.

Fertilize the soil, cleared of weeds and well loosened. What’s good about cucumbers is that they give quick results (increase in growth, fruiting) after the garden bed is fertilized. Even chicken manure, previously diluted with water, will do. If the area where the plants are located is large enough, then automation will be required to process it. This also applies to the supply of fertilizers to each bush.

Watering

Plants are very demanding of moisture, so cucumbers must be watered regularly. However, don't be too zealous. Excess moisture is fraught with the occurrence of diseases. A sharp drop in temperature in a greenhouse can have the same detrimental effect. Lack of watering will affect the taste of cucumbers. They will develop bitterness.

In a permanently constructed greenhouse, you can equip a special automatic watering installation. It is controlled using a remote control. At the same time, a micro-dripper is connected to each plant so that the hydration is uniform. One hectare will require three hundred cubic liters of water. In addition, a fogging system will be required in the building where vegetables are grown. There should be water tanks in the greenhouse.

After reviewing the proposed plan, you can conclude that growing cucumbers as a business is quite suitable even for novice entrepreneurs.

Varieties of cucumbers

The variety of types of vegetable crops is amazing. For cultivation in open ground, it is better to choose self-pollinating varieties or place a hive with bees in a greenhouse. Since plants can have male and female flowers. Four to five bee colonies are enough for one hectare of planting.

The cultivation of Chinese cucumbers is suitable for cultivation on an industrial scale, since this variety has a number of undeniable advantages. First of all, the fruits grow very quickly and their size is impressive. One cucumber is enough to feed a whole family. The fruits of this variety are good for fresh consumption and canning. After harvesting, the number of fruits on the bushes increases, which also attracts farmers.

Features of caring for plants of this variety include feeding with fresh manure, watering with warm water, and removing yellowed leaves. It is recommended to grow Chinese cucumbers on a trellis. After harvesting, the products must be sold as soon as possible, since already on the second day the greens lose their presentation and their taste deteriorates.

Farming welcomes varieties of plants whose fruits are well stored and can withstand transportation. The Gunnar cucumber is one of these. The technology for growing it does not differ from the technique described above. It is suitable for early planting in greenhouses. Hybrid variety. The bush is open and compact. The fruits are cylindrical in shape and can reach from twelve to fourteen centimeters in length.

Harvesting

Greenhouse cultivation of vegetables allows you to harvest throughout the year, since the necessary microclimate is created for the plants and they do not suffer from external weather conditions. Therefore, it is quite possible for a farmer to harvest a large number of cucumbers. Moreover, harvesting vegetables in winter provides more profit than summer harvest.

They begin to collect fruits fifty days after the end of their flowering with an interval of two days. Harvesting can be done either manually or using special equipment. For example, platforms POU-2, PNSSH-12, UPNS-10, TNA-40 are used. Products must necessarily comply with GOST, depending on their purpose. Fruits intended for canning should be up to 11 cm long, and for direct fresh consumption - from 14 to 25 cm.

Recruitment

A novice entrepreneur, having built one greenhouse, can handle it independently or with one assistant. If you expect to expand your business, you will need from four to six people (depending on the area being cultivated with plantings).

So, for example, if the area of ​​the greenhouse is one hectare, then to work in it you will need a manager, one technologist and three to four workers.

The business plan for growing cucumbers must include such an item as the working hours of employees and the salary due to them. Of course, your workers must have an agricultural education and be well versed in vegetable farming techniques.

Sales of products

After harvesting, it is necessary to ensure the sale of vegetables. To do this, you need to conclude an agreement with retail outlets or food industry enterprises. You can also sell products in wholesale quantities on agricultural exchanges. Vegetable prices need to vary depending on the harvest and season.

Business profitability

Selecting products to grow is a major aspect of developing a business plan. Cucumbers are perfect. After all, this vegetable crop does not require large expenditures, develops very effectively in closed ground and allows you to obtain a bountiful harvest. Therefore, the profitability of growing cucumbers in a greenhouse is very high. Your vegetable production will begin to generate income very quickly.

This article will be useful to anyone who wants to build their own business growing cucumbers at home or on a rented plot. A description of all the important aspects of the future business, the selection of suitable varieties of cucumbers and advice on their proper cultivation in a greenhouse.

Growing cucumbers in a greenhouse or in open ground is an excellent option for a family business. It can be either an additional or a permanent source of income. it is possible both in season and all year round, on your own country plot (for example, in a country house) or on rented land.

The peculiarity of this agribusiness is its accessibility. Starting capital is minimal. The growing process is simple. There is demand for cucumbers all year round. With good yields, you can achieve a net annual profit of more than 2,000,000 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages of business

The cucumber growing business has a lot of advantages, but also some disadvantages. The first includes:

• Growing cucumbers in greenhouse structures allows you to harvest crops all year round. At the same time, there is always a choice of cucumber varieties. That is, you can grow universal, salad or canning varieties.
• The price for seedlings is minimal. You can grow it yourself, which can significantly reduce costs.
• Cucumbers are vegetables that store well and are not damaged during transportation.
• Growing cucumbers in open ground will cost less than using greenhouses.
• The market for vegetables is huge, and finding reliable buyers is not difficult.
• Grown cucumbers can be sold both through shops, bazaars and independently (by renting a trading place at a vegetable market).

Among the disadvantages it is worth noting the following:

• Growing cucumbers in a greenhouse requires a large initial investment. Maintaining greenhouses in winter is expensive (heating is too expensive).
• Cucumbers require regular watering. To do this, there must be running water on the site. The organization of irrigation systems may also require a large sum (it all depends on the area of ​​the plantation).
• In the summer, prices for cucumbers drop and competition increases. In winter the opposite happens.
• In order for the business to be successful and profitable, it is necessary to devote time to learning vegetable growing (for example, reading relevant literature).

From all of the above, you can draw the first conclusions for yourself - should you start a business growing cucumbers or better?

Main business risks

Any business has its pitfalls. And you need to know about them. Otherwise, you may end up with losses and debts.

So, the first thing you need to pay attention to is the locality where the grown vegetables will be sold. If it is a small town, then the competition will be very high. Indeed, in small towns, many grow cucumbers themselves on their plots. Therefore, for trade you will have to consider another region. And these are the costs of transport and transportation of vegetables.

It is also worth noting that in small towns prices for cucumbers are low. This is due, again, to high . It will be difficult to make a big profit.

In summer, prices for cucumbers drop significantly. This is due to seasonality. And you must be prepared to reduce the cost of vegetables, since your competitors will do this in any case.

Another risk for business is vegetable disease and crop loss. Such troubles appear when plants are not properly cared for. Therefore, you will still need to spend time learning vegetable growing.

Otherwise, there are no difficulties in growing cucumbers. If you run your business competently and properly care for the plants, the yield will be good, which will have a positive impact on profitability.

Briefly about business profitability

It is difficult to provide any specific figures to calculate the profitability of growing cucumbers. After all, everything here will depend on the area of ​​greenhouses and land, as well as on the varieties of vegetables themselves.

We can only say that the choice of variety is the main aspect when... After all, each type of cucumber has its own cost, which you set yourself.

The profitability of this business is high and can reach 91%. After all, the financial costs for starting are not so great. And the crop itself is well grown indoors. You can recoup the initial costs in the second harvest.

Business expenses

The amounts listed below are approximate to clearly demonstrate what you will have to pay for. The final costs will directly depend on the scale of the plantation and yield. That is, each case is individual.

So, it will take approximately $50 to purchase seeds. In the future, they will cost about $500 per year. It is better to choose hybrid varieties of cucumbers, as they are very fertile and resistant to diseases.

Fertilizers will cost about $100. A greenhouse complex is the most expensive “pleasure” from $3,000 to $10,000. You will have to spend up to $3,000 on equipment for heating a greenhouse. Fuel for a heating system – from $300.

A prerequisite for growing cucumbers is the presence of high-quality lighting, the organization of which will cost approximately $500-$1,000.

Other incidentals may range up to an additional $1,000.

Let us repeat that the amount of investment at the start will directly depend on the size of the plot and the volume of the harvest. Therefore, you can start a business with $5,000. Moreover, if there is already a ready-made plot of land, which only needs to be equipped with greenhouses and the necessary communications.

The optimal amount to start would be $20,000 or more. Such investments will pay off after just a few harvests. The business will pay off in 6-12 months.

Future costs will depend directly on a number of factors. For example, do you rent a plot of land or is it your property. Will you hire staff who need to be paid or not? Seedlings will be purchased or grown independently. Will other vegetables or herbs be grown?

Business registration: paperwork

Registration of an agribusiness is a fairly simple procedure. Time and money expenses are minimal here.

To grow cucumbers or other vegetables, you need to choose one of the forms of activity.

Individual entrepreneur

This form is convenient because you will not have restrictions on the area of ​​land (farm) and you will be able to hire additional workers. You must understand that hiring people is only advisable on large plantations. On a modest estate, you can handle all the work yourself and save a lot - you don’t have to pay wages.

Personal subsidiary plot

In this case, you are exempt from a number of taxes. However, you will have to pay personal income tax on the sale of grown vegetables. There are also some restrictions on the area of ​​subsidiary farming - up to a maximum of 2.5 hectares. If you need to attract additional labor (hired workers), then this form will not suit you.

Peasant farming

There are some tax benefits here too. In this case, you will be a full-fledged legal entity and will be able to conduct business with the involvement of partners.

Taxation

Once the type of activity has been selected, it is necessary to decide on the taxation system. In this case, the ideal option is the Unified Agricultural Tax. You will only pay 6% of your net income. There is no need to pay property and profit taxes.

Do you need a license?

You do not need a license to grow and sell cucumbers. The only thing that may be required is to obtain some permits from the sanitary control. But this is only necessary if you plan to work with large wholesale buyers. In this case, you will need to send several product samples to the SES laboratory, where they will be tested for the presence of prohibited chemicals. The conditions for growing cucumbers are also subject to verification.

Since vegetables will be grown in heated greenhouses, it is necessary to obtain permission from the fire inspectorate. But this is only necessary if you have chosen the form of an individual entrepreneur or a peasant farm. When registering as a personal subsidiary plot, you do not need to contact the fire inspectorate for permission.

What variety of cucumbers should I grow?

Now the range of varieties and hybrids of cucumbers is huge. You can grow either a specific variety or several at once. Moreover, the last option allows you to get more profit.

The main task of a cucumber growing business is to obtain good yields. Hybrid varieties of vegetables will help you quickly complete this task. And that's why.

1. Cucumber bushes are dominated by “female” inflorescences.
2. The vast majority of hybrid vegetables do not require pollination.
3. Such varieties are very fertile. The average number of cucumbers per bunch reaches eight. Not bad, isn't it?

You must also understand that all varieties have different taste qualities. Therefore, you should not specialize in one variety. It is better to offer the market several varieties at once - classic, hybrid, salad, etc.

And remember that you can grow cucumbers in a greenhouse all year round. And it’s worth considering options for varieties that are intended exclusively for pickling. They are also in good demand among the end consumer.

A variety of vegetables such as pickles has become quite popular in recent years. In simple terms, pickles are small gherkins (miniature cucumbers). They are very tasty both fresh and pickled. At the same time, the pickles are very fertile.

Which place is suitable for growing cucumbers?

Having decided on the varieties of vegetables, you need to choose the ideal place to grow them.

You can grow cucumbers right on the plot of your country house or dacha. You can also rent a plot of land, but this is an extra financial cost. At the same time, there is no guarantee that at one point, at the very peak of the harvest, the owner of the plot will not demand the return of his rightful lands. The harvest will be lost and you will suffer losses. It is better, of course, to buy a plot outside the city and become its full owner. But this is only provided that there is such an opportunity. If not, then only rent.

There is an even more economical option - growing cucumbers at home. Not the best, but still has a right to exist. Yields will be small. But as they say, something is better than nothing at all. Not a bad way to earn extra money.

Soil and growing conditions

Cucumbers are very demanding vegetables. Firstly, they need fertilized and fertile soil. Sand and clay are not the best soil for growing. The ideal option is black soil. Moreover, the black soil must be very fertile, since we are considering the option of growing cucumbers in a greenhouse.

There is another interesting growing option. Instead of soil, turf in the form of cubes is used. They must be made a year before sowing. At the same time, you will not suffer from your infertile soil on the site.

Some people use ordinary barrels without a bottom to grow vegetables. This allows you to significantly save space in the greenhouse, but at the same time maintain good yield volumes.

How to grow seedlings?

There are two ways to grow cucumbers:

1. Buy seeds.
2. Buy seedlings.

However, there is another option - to grow seedlings yourself. Then you will not only be able to save a certain amount, but also sell additional seedlings, for example, to summer residents. That is, in the end you will remain in the black.

Seedlings are grown as follows:

• Seeds are planted in pots. You can use the “grandmother’s method” and use jars of sour cream, yogurt and other dairy products instead of pots. The jars should have a diameter of 8 cm (for ground varieties of cucumbers - 12 cm).
• The first days it is necessary to constantly monitor the temperature in the greenhouse - from 25 to 30 degrees. Humidity should be at 75%.
• The seedlings are watered daily with warm water (at least 25 degrees).
• For two weeks, the plants are fed with special additives and fertilizers. The compositions must be selected for specific varieties of cucumbers. This ensures that the seedlings do not die.
• After a month, the seedlings can be planted in open ground. You can tell that the seedlings are ready for planting by the presence of leaves (usually 4-6 pieces).

In this way, you can get high-quality seedlings, which will later be used for personal purposes or sold to gardeners.

Cucumber market

And the last point that needs to be considered is where to sell the crop and to whom to sell it.

At the initial stage, you can independently enter the vegetable market and offer customers your products at competitive prices. At the same time, you must try to adhere to the prices of competitors. It's better to make it a little lower. Dumping at the initial stage will not be superfluous. Moreover, in a month you can increase the price.

To make a good profit from selling cucumbers, go to the market before the start of the season and after it ends. During these periods, your competitors already or do not yet have fresh vegetables. Accordingly, the demand for them increases sharply.

Cucumbers can be sold to wholesalers. Then you won’t have to stand at the market yourself in the heat, in the cold, in the rain. Moreover, you will save money on transportation.

An excellent option would be to sell cucumbers to shops, catering establishments, educational institutions, restaurants, etc. In this case, you will always have the opportunity to conclude a long-term contract for the supply of vegetables.

This is approximately what a cucumber growing business looks like. There is nothing complicated or supernatural about it. It's quite simple. And if you are afraid that you do not have the proper experience in vegetable growing, then it will come with time. Fortunately, there is now plenty of literature on the subject.

No heating. To heat the beds, biofuel, roofing felt sheets and other tricks are used. A light greenhouse will protect plants from bad weather, frost and other adverse events. In closed ground without additional heating, cucumbers grow until the end of September.

Capital heated greenhouses make the process continuous. In regions with a temperate climate, greenhouses for cucumbers allow for excellent harvests in late autumn and winter. To ensure good fruiting, It is important to choose the right greenhouse size.

Beginning farmers should start with designs area from 100 sq. m. Such greenhouses can be heated with electric or water boilers, stoves, fires, and infrared cables. Smaller buildings are unprofitable; heating large greenhouses will require significant costs.

Industrial greenhouses for growing cucumbers are much larger in size and height. Along the perimeter of the greenhouses support columns are installed, the structure itself is made on a cinder block or metal frame and a solid foundation.

For, it is necessary in a certain way. Greenhouses are sheathed with a double layer of polycarbonate or glass. Industrial greenhouses for cucumbers are equipped with an automatic watering system, temperature control and air humidification. Automatic curtains required for shading in hot weather.

The best greenhouses for cucumbers are made with lean-to slopes. This roof shape does not allow snow to linger and guarantees good insolation. Ideal option for the farmer - durable frame made of galvanized metal, indoor .

Such a greenhouse is not cheap, but it is guaranteed to last for several years without restoration. For additional insulation, a glazed greenhouse can be duplicated with thick polyethylene film.

Advantages and disadvantages of business

Income greenhouse farming depend on yield, season, level of competition and the presence of developed sales channels. Business on cucumbers is most profitable in regions with a temperate climate and a small number of greenhouses. In winter time you can significantly increase your income, increasing the markup on products. The fewer competitors and the better quality the product, the more you can earn.

The profitability of a greenhouse for growing cucumbers for business is 50-70%. In a lean year it can exceed 100%. The greenhouse will pay for itself in 1-1.5 years, payback periods are reduced as the area of ​​the structure increases.

The following will help you increase your income:

• expansion of greenhouse farming;
• work with retail: large retail chains, restaurants and cafes;
• selection of the most productive varieties and hybrids;
• advertising promotion of products.

Having achieved success, you can take up expansion of cucumber business by building another greenhouse.

A farmer who has made a name for himself can count on high demand and good prices for his products. Cucumbers in a greenhouse can be combined with other popular crops: herbs, tomatoes, sweet peppers.

Universal vegetable farming guarantees big profits and protects against losses.