Cucumbers: cultural features and review of the best varieties

To date, no feast is complete without dishes from pickled or fresh cucumbers, since this vegetable has not only excellent taste, but also contains many trace elements that are beneficial to the human body. Therefore, many gardeners make every effort to get a generous harvest on their beds, planting crops both on open soil and in greenhouses. Thanks to a huge assortment of varieties, you can easily choose the most suitable type of cucumber, which would correspond to the climatic conditions of the region and be easy to maintain.

Cucumber is considered an annual cultivated plant, which belongs to the pumpkin family. Its exquisite taste, pleasant aroma and crispy flesh make the vegetable popular and loved by all. The fruits of this culture contain many alkaline elements that favorably affect the work of the stomach, normalizing its acidity. Recommended vegetable for frequent consumption and people who have problems with the heart, kidneys and liver. Arranging periodically unloading cucumber days, you can become slimmer, as easily assimilated iodine, which is part of the plant, helps reduce body fat and carbohydrates.

Cucumber is characterized not only by an excellent biological characteristic, but also by simple growing conditions. It is enough to observe the basic conditions. The homeland of this tasty vegetable is India. Therefore, it is a moisture and heat-loving plant. Also for its growth requires fertile land without acidity and salinity. The roots of a culture are distinguished by a core system that is located shallowly in the soil and has many branches.

As for the stems, in cucumbers of various varieties they can reach from 30 to 500 cm. As a rule, a strongly growing whip is characteristic of greenhouse hybrids. There are types of vegetables in which branching can begin only after pinching the upper buds. Non-hybrid varieties are usually weaved after harvesting from the main stem. To reduce the time for the formation of side shoots and nip, it is recommended to choose varieties with self-regulating branching.

It should be noted that the activity of weaving depends not only on the biological characteristics of the cucumber, but also on the climatic conditions. For example, lack of water, lighting and low temperature conditions slow down the branching.

Flowers in a vegetable, as a rule, dioecious and solitary. On the same bush can simultaneously be located both female and male inflorescences. The first appear much less frequently (2-3 each in the lower sinus of the leaf). The second are placed on 5-7 pieces in the nodes of the whip. The heterogeneity is manifested depending on the varietal characteristic, and the external environment can also affect this. Carbon monoxide, low air temperature and a decrease in longitude of the day up to 12 hours contribute to the formation of female flowers.

To get a smart harvest from the land, cucumbers must be provided with all the conditions important for their growth and formation. A huge role is played by the lighting of the plant, since it is light-requiring. When growing in a greenhouse, it is important to control the level of thickening of the bushes. If there is strong shading, then the formation of shoots with male flowers will begin to predominate in the plants, which, in turn, will reduce the development of the ovaries, as female inflorescences on the main stem will crumble. In addition, due to the lack of light, plants become weak and unstable to diseases.

A large role in the cultivation of cucumbers and temperature plays, which should be from + 22 ° C to + 26 ° C. At low temperatures, the root system of the vegetable stops taking moisture from the ground, growth stops.

Cucumbers are also demanding to the soil, since over a short period of growth they form a powerful root system that needs to be nourished with organic and mineral substances. At the same time, the concentration of earth solutions should be moderate. For this culture, sandy soils rich in mineral elements are well suited. Additionally, under each bush must be made in the form of fertilizing mineral solutions and manure, it is desirable to do this once a week. If the vegetable is planted in a greenhouse, it is recommended to alternate its plots with planting beans, peppers and tomatoes.

To activate the earlier crop crop planted seedlings. If you comply with all the conditions of care, then with the seedlings planted on May 10-15, you can collect the first fruits in the last days of June. At the same time on open soil, it is important to provide for the possibility of sheltering plants in case of frost. Cucumbers, obtained by sowing seeds, are characterized by stronger roots; therefore, on land plots it is better to sow one part of the plants, and to plant the other part of the seedlings. As for the area of ​​plantings, in the greenhouses between the rows 40 cm long leave a distance of 60 cm, in the open area form beds 1 m wide and place the plants in two rows, observing the step between the bushes 25-30 cm.

The roots of cucumbers are also demanding to provide them with oxygen, therefore, when the soil hardens and a dry crust appears on its surface, the vegetable begins to linger in growth, and its ovaries fall off. To avoid this, the ground after each rain and watering should be well loosened to a depth of 3-4 cm. Loosening should be neat. It is important not to damage the root system located near the soil surface. When compacted, peat land is not loosened when it is compacted, and oxygen is supplied to the bushes in another way — the beds are pierced with forks.

In hot weather, the cucumber stalks can thicken considerably, and the leaves - become stiff and wilt. Due to severe overheating in the lower part of the bush also falls ovary. Therefore, carrying out watering, it is strictly forbidden to use cold water. In case of contact with the stem, it can lead to the formation of microcracks. As a result, the vegetable will lose resistance to pathogens, and fungi and microorganisms easily penetrate into the cracks and damage the stem, disrupting the flow of salt and moisture from the roots.

According to the biological properties, male inflorescences first appear on the main stalk of the cucumber. Women are formed much later, on the branching of the second and third order. To control these processes, you should periodically pinch. It is carried out early in the morning with a sharp knife. It is worth noting that only old varieties of culture need pinching. Modern hybrids lay the fruit on the main stem, nipping in this case does not apply.

In addition, if the plant is not yet formed and has many inflorescences, they should be removed. Thanks to this young bush will be able to give all the nutrients for the development of fruits.

Most pollination varieties require the help of insects. Pollen is mainly carried by bees. To activate their "work", prepare a special sugar syrup from 10 parts of water and one part of sugar. Male inflorescences of vegetables are added to the warm mixture and infused for 24 hours, after which they are poured into saucers and placed in the area between the beds.

To get a high crop of cucumbers and protect them from all sorts of diseases, most gardeners inoculate the crop on a pumpkin. Vaccination scheme is as follows:

• seed of cucumber is placed in special containers with the ground;
• sprouted pumpkin seeds on the second day are sown one by one in cups;
• after the pumpkin leaves the first leaf, they begin to be vaccinated;
• a wedge-shaped cut is made on the bottom stalk of the cucumber, the pumpkin stalk is inserted into it at a depth of 2 cm;
• the edges of the sections are fixed and clamped.

To date, cucumber varieties are presented in a chic assortment. Each of them has its own description and GOST characteristics. According to the speed of seed ripening, early, middle and late varieties are distinguished. There are also intermediate varieties of culture - mid-late and mid-early. According to the place of disembarkation, cucumber can be used for greenhouse conditions and open ground. Some amateur gardeners manage to grow vegetables even on the windowsill or balcony.

Ordinary varieties are very popular with gardeners, as their fresh vegetables are better suited for making salads and pickles. But regardless of the variety of crops, it is important to observe certain conditions of sowing and cultivation, because the lack of top dressing and watering can adversely affect the yield and taste of any cucumber.

Many gardeners have small plots of land, so the choice of universal varieties intended for both greenhouses and open ground is considered the right option for them. Their fruits usually reach a length of 14 cm, so are ideal for canning and pickling. The cucumber relay race, Claudia F1 and the Director have proven themselves well. They are resistant to diseases and sudden changes in temperature.

As practice shows, cucumbers bear much better fruit in greenhouses, because they are protected from the adverse effects of climatic conditions. The only drawback of greenhouses is that they do not give insects access to pollination of plants. The way out of this situation is the planting of self-pollinating varieties.

The most common of them are "Matilda F1", "Zozulya" and "Alliance". Their fruits have a slightly rough skin with spikes and a cylindrical elongated shape. Plants form powerful bushes with ovaries, on each of which can grow up to 7 cucumbers. On average, with 1 m2 you can collect up to 10 kg of fruit.

To get a high-quality and early harvest, it is recommended to plant early ripening varieties of cucumbers. The period of their ripening from the moment of emergence of shoots to the formation of fruits is 45 days. The plant bears fruit within the specified period, provided that it is provided with all the necessary conditions for growth. With a sharp decrease in air temperature, the development of culture slows down, so you should not rush into sowing seeds of this variety.

Cucumbers "Adam", "Courage", "Paratunka", "April" preferably sown in greenhouses from 15 to 20 May, and "Marinda", "Amur" and "Murashka" should be planted in open soil from 1 June. There are no disadvantages in such varieties.

Despite the chic assortment of varieties with different characteristics, yield is considered an important selection criterion for each gardener. Such cucumbers as Spring, Gunnar, Ecole and Siberian Festoon received excellent reviews on fruiting.Their main stem reaches a length of 160 cm and is 2 cm thick. As a rule, up to 25 leaves form on bushes. The plants are resistant to powdery mildew, but they need to be pinched and watered in a timely manner.

Yield species are universal, they can be planted both in open beds and in greenhouses. If the culture is properly fed, then in a good season you can collect up to 25 kg from one square meter. Fruit ripening generally takes 50 days and lasts until the start of frost. For gardeners who do not have the opportunity to frequently visit the sites, the Liliput variety is recommended. It is planted on open ground, it can do without watering for a long time, without changing its taste.

Depending on the destination, cucumbers are divided into pickling, salad and canning. In this case, suitable for the preparation of the fruits, which contain the maximum amount of sugar and pectic substances. To pickling varieties include "Gunnar", "Baron", "Farmer", "Lord" and "Bouquet". Such cucumbers have a smooth or bumpy surface, their fruits do not exceed the average size. They are characterized by juicy crispy flesh and lack of bitterness. In addition to blanks, these varieties are suitable for fresh consumption.

The process of growing cucumbers may seem complicated, but if you follow certain rules for planting and caring for plants, each gardener can be rewarded with an excellent harvest. Before sowing the crop, it is necessary to select the appropriate variety, taking into account the purpose of the fruit, the timing of fruiting and the landing site. It is advisable to read reviews experienced gardeners. Simple gardeners will help beginner gardeners.

• It is possible to increase the yield of a vegetable by activating pollination. It usually occurs with the help of bees, but in some cases it is possible to carry out pollination on your own. To do this, 24 hours before pollination, female and male flowers are wrapped in cotton. Then from each male inflorescence they take several corollas and apply to the stigma.
• When powdery mildew appears on the leaves of a vegetable, it should be treated with a previously prepared mullein solution. It is best to remove the affected areas, and spray the ground with ground sulfur.
• Sowing material can be both independently collected at home and purchased in finished form. Moreover, “homemade” seeds are often characterized by barren flowers after planting. To avoid this, it is recommended to purchase varietal seeds. They undergo special screening and treatment for diseases.
• On open soil, it is desirable to plant a crop every year in different places. Well fit areas where previously grew tomatoes, peppers and beans.

To learn how to properly form cucumbers, see the following video.