The Hard Work of Greenhouse Growers: 1.5 Tons of Cucumbers a Week and Daily Plant Care

zilmogilev.by

September 3, 2026 10:31

Republican holiday XXXIII Day of Belarusian WritingAt the greenhouse complex of OJSC "Firma "Kadino" in the Mogilev District, cucumbers are grown on three hectares of indoor greenhouses, with output that meets the needs of the city's residents and the region. Thirty vegetable growers currently work here. In everyday use, this profession is affectionately called "teplichnitsa" (greenhouse grower). Understandably, the workforce here is overwhelmingly female. But no matter how tenderly the name of the profession sounds, the work is considered hard, and only strong people with character, persistence, diligence, and a sense of responsibility stay in it. In terms of professional requirements, people who enter this profession must possess high physical endurance and accuracy; readiness to work in conditions of high humidity and temperature; good hand dexterity to avoid damaging fragile shoots and fruits; and basic knowledge of botany in order to understand which phase of growth the plant is in and to recognize signs of disease.

For example, at the greenhouse complex of OJSC "Firma "Kadino," each greenhouse grower makes three crop selections in a week and harvests more than 1.5 tons of cucumbers. Besides harvesting, they also nurture and tend to the plants daily. And the final result depends on how well they do it.

In the first rotation from the beginning of the year, Kadino's greenhouses grew a medium-fruited cucumber of the Yani variety. They harvested 30.9 kg per square meter. On July 3, the second rotation began — the short-fruited cucumber SV 40-97 was sown. In a single selection of cucumbers from three hectares, they harvest 18-22 tons at a time, with each greenhouse grower contributing 700-800 kg. Harvesting began on August 10; to date, 100 tons have already been gathered — 3.3 kg per square meter. In total, they plan to harvest 450 tons during the second rotation. These plantings will bear fruit until November 7, and the very next day preparations for the new season will begin — cucumbers are usually sown in the first days of January.

— We are currently growing a short-fruited cucumber variety, which is used for salting, pickling, and canning, — says Natalya Sherstneva, the chief technologist of the greenhouse complex. — The cucumbers are of good quality, the plants look great. You can't grow something like this at home: somewhere the water isn't right, somewhere it's too cold or too hot. Here the plants are comfortable; we try to maintain the optimal regime for cucumber growth and development — both temperature and humidity. Although in summer it's very difficult to maintain the humidity — in the heat, behind the glass here, the temperature is even higher.

Larisa Krupenina has been working as a vegetable grower in greenhouses for more than 20 years, since 2007 — at OJSC "Firma "Kadino". Over the past two years, her production indicators have been recognized as the best among her colleagues — last year she harvested 53.23 kilograms of cucumbers per square meter. We met with her on a day when another selection was underway, after she had picked about 760 kilograms of cucumbers.

— Of course, I'm tired, — Larisa Ivanovna admits with a smile, — but we're used to it. This is our second rotation, our cucumbers are just beginning to gain strength — the first selection started recently. They were planted not long ago. At the peak of yield, we collect up to a tonne per day. Each greenhouse worker's zone is two sections of 800 square meters. About 2,500 cucumbers grow on this territory.

It's surprising that Larisa herself is a native of Mogilev, unfamiliar with rural life, yet she chose an agricultural profession. And she doesn't give up her own dacha either, reinforcing her vegetable-growing experience on her own plots every weekend. Her hands are used to labor and she isn't afraid of work.

— In the past, we didn't look at the prestige of a profession; it was important to earn money for the family. At first I worked at a ventilation products plant as a storekeeper. And at the factory there were two greenhouses, so to speak a subsidiary farm, where I got my first experience. I liked it. Then I moved to the greenhouse complex in Veyno, and from there — to Kadino. I've now been retired for a year, but I continue to work. Last year, four young women came to the greenhouse complex to work as vegetable growers after graduating from the Economics, Industry and Technology College.

— In college we got two professions — seamstress and vegetable grower, — one of them, Rita Aniskova, told us. — But working as a seamstress seemed boring to us. And the salary at the greenhouse complex is much higher. There's always something going on here, and we have a great team. We really like working here! If needed, we help each other out. But for the most part, each of us already handles our own responsibilities. At first, though, we even cried, it was so hard and unclear what to do with these cucumbers. Now we love these plants, we know how to handle them. Although for me the most difficult operation is still twisting the plant around the trellis in a figure eight, while trying not to break its "head."

— We are pleased with the younger generation, — confirms Natalia Sherstneva. — And we will be glad if they stay working with us for a long time. The girls came in August, when the plants are growing fast in the second rotation, they couldn't keep up with everything, they were a bit scared themselves. But no one abandoned them to fend for themselves. Brigade leader Elena Danchenko, you could say, led each one by the hand, demonstrated every operation — she taught them well. You'd come by, talk, show, give advice, and by the end of the day the girl would be smiling. And now the girls know their job and even take on extra shifts when a replacement is needed. We always ask how things are in the dormitory, whether anyone is mistreating them. You talk to them so they don't withdraw into themselves and feel the team has their back.

Diana GARANINOVA PHOTO by the author

Tags: Garden and Vegetable Garden