Cucumber "Graceful": features of the variety and agricultural technology

Cucumbers are one of the most common vegetable crops in Russia. It is also an important part of the blanks for the winter period.Modern vegetable growers have the opportunity to choose among the many different varieties of this plant. Each species has individual characteristics. Regardless of the characteristics of the variety, any gardener wants to get a stable crop with minimum care requirements. These are the characteristics of the “Graceful” cucumber variety, which will be discussed in the article.

This type of vegetable has been grown in the country for a long time. From season to season, the popularity of the variety remains high, despite the huge selection of vegetable crops. Every year new varieties and hybrids appear on the market, and therefore it is not easy to withstand competition. This is only possible for special species.

Brought a variety in the 60s of the last century. Merit belongs to the breeder O. V. Yurina. The variety was introduced into the Russian state register in 1971. The document stated that the species is suitable for cultivation in various parts of the country.

Cucumbers of this sort are not new in the gardens for a long time. Consider the main features and qualities of the variety.

• "Graceful" - early ripe grade. The first fruits are harvested about forty days after the seedlings have formed.
• Vegetable culture is universal for cultivation. The plant will feel great in greenhouses and greenhouses, as well as in the open field.
• Cucumbers have a high resistance to cold. This is one of the most important features of the species, due to which early sowing is possible. You can also plant seedlings in open ground on the borders of the northern regions, where summer is short.
• The variety is pollinated using bees, and many male flowers are produced. This variety is well established as a pollinator for other types of vegetables, especially with the female type of flowering.
• About 6 lateral shoots are formed on the plant. These are medium-length shrubs.

Fruit.

• The length of the fruit - from 8 to 14 centimeters.
• The average weight is about 130 grams.
• The fruits have a predominantly even texture with small tubercles.
• Form - elongated, ellipsoid.
• Color - saturated green with light stripes and apex.
• Fruits are protected by a thin peel.
• High taste, without bitterness, with juicy pulp.
• Universal use. Cucumbers are suitable for the preparation of appetizers, salads, as well as conservation.
• Average commodity yield. Up to 7 kilograms of vegetables are harvested from one square of plantations.

Professional vegetable growers and ordinary gardeners emit many advantages of the variety.

• Excellent gastronomic quality.
• Early fruit ripening.
• Fruits are stored for a long time.
• Attractive presentation.
• The plant shows resistance to low temperatures.
• Immunity to olive spot and powdery mildew. With proper care, the variety is not terrible bacteriosis.
• Favorable cost of seed.
• Fruits do not deteriorate during transportation.
• Vegetable does not turn yellow when overripe, while the seeds retain softness.

As minuses distinguish the following:

• the plant produces many white-sided cucumbers, and such fruits do not look good when harvesting for the winter;
• also, if you pickle vegetables, voids may form inside;
• Canned cucumbers "Graceful" sometimes sour.

Denoting the above characteristics, it can be concluded that it is better to use other varieties of cucumber for harvesting for the winter, however, some housewives successfully close the party and this variety.

The process of growing this type does not differ from other early ripe cucumbers. For starters, you need to choose the right site for planting. The plant loves carefully lit places. It is advisable to choose a location that will be darkened no more than 4 hours a day.Regarding the composition, cucumbers feel great on loamy, sandy and light fertile soils.

The site is ideal if earlier on it grew the following types:

• tomatoes;
• cabbage;
• peas;
• early potato varieties;
• corn.

Seed material retains its germination for a long time, for 6-8 years. Before germination and transplanting material is being prepared.

• Seeds are placed in a solution of sodium chloride (3%) or plain water. Empty surfaced seed is thrown away, it is useless.
• Experienced gardeners use seeds that are from 2 to 3 years old. The material collected last year, gives a minimum of female color.
• Seeds are heated for 2-3 hours at a temperature of about 55 degrees Celsius.
• To seedlings appear as quickly as possible, the seed is placed in a warm and humid environment for 24 hours. This will help to achieve the maximum rate of germination.
• As soon as the seeds have germinated, of them begin to grow seedlings or immediately transferred to the open ground.

The cultivation of the seed material is carried out taking into account that about 30 days have passed before landing in open ground. In order to move the peak of the fruiting species during the first half of summer, they begin to sow seedlings at the end of the second spring month.

The soil for planting can be prepared independently, having prepared a special composition. Proportions: 1 part of sand, 6 parts of rotted manure and 3 parts of soil.

Also use the following recipe. The following components are added to 10 kilograms of the earth mixture:

• 2 grams of magnesium sulfate;
• 10 grams of superphosphate;
• 6 grams of urea and potassium sulfate.

After the substrate is ready, the disinfection process is carried out. It is calcined in the oven and moistened with a solution of manganese (1%). The plant fully develops and bears fruit on loose soil. This land easily absorbs moisture and passes oxygen.

It is necessary to elaborate on the step-by-step process of growing seedlings.

• Each germinated seed is planted in a separate container. This is done to ensure that the plant grows comfortably, and the roots are not damaged during transplantation. The seed imposes into the soil at a depth of 1.5-2 centimeters.
• Tanks are stored in a warm room, previously covered with a film. Ideal temperature conditions - from 23 to 28 degrees Celsius with a plus sign.
• As soon as you notice the shoots, the film must be removed.
• Ensure that the earth does not dry out.
• Moisten the soil with a sprayer.
• As soon as the seeds come up, you should slightly lower the temperature in the room. Up to the mark of 20-22 degrees of heat.
• For irrigation, use only warm water, otherwise the plant may die.
• Seedlings should grow at a 12-hour day. With a lack of natural lighting, it is necessary to install additional light sources.
• When the first true leaf appears, the plant is fertilized. The following composition will do: 7 grams of ammonium nitrate, 15 grams of superphosphate, and also 8 grams of potassium sulfate per 10 liters of water. Also diluted mullein in a ratio of 1:10 is mixed into the solution.
• The second feeding is carried out in 7 days.

As soon as the seedlings reached one month, it was time to transplant it to the land plot. By this period, the plant already has 4 true leaves. Planted in open ground plants begin in early summer, and if you plan to plant seedlings under the shelter, the work can be carried out in the second half of April. To harden the plant, before transplanting it is left outside, hiding from direct sunlight.

In this case, it is recommended to follow a certain sequence of actions.

• When making holes, take into account that there are no more than 4 plants per square ground.
• Fresh water is poured over with warm water.
• Seedlings are placed in the ground to the level of cotyledon leaves. The work is carried out carefully, without destroying the earthy coma.
• Upon completion, the site is mulched. You can use straw.
• The plant needs several days to acclimatize. After that, the active growth phase will begin.

The technology is as follows.

• The soil is fertilized. For one square meter of land use a pound of wood ash, as well as one bucket of rotted manure or humus.
• Other types of feeding are also used. 15 grams of ammonium nitrate, 30 grams of granulated superphosphate and 25 grams of potassium nitrate are introduced into one square of soil.
• Ground carefully digged.
• The optimum height of the beds above the ground is from 20 to 30 centimeters.
• Before you start sowing, moisten the soil with warm water. You can not do this after planting, otherwise the seed will go deep.
• The minimum gap between the bushes is 30 centimeters, between the rows - 70 centimeters (3 meters for a row of plants).
• Seeds lightly sprinkled with earth.

To care for the grade "Elegant" is easy. The main thing is to periodically water the plant, fertilize it and inspect it for the presence of symptoms of diseases and attacks from pests.

• If the vegetable is grown in the middle zone, it is strongly recommended to use insulated steam beds, as well as film tunnels. This will help create the best growing conditions for the plant.
• The formation of the bush is carried out by pinching the stem over the third leaf. If done correctly, about 5-6 lateral whips remain on the plant.
• Loosening the top layer of earth around the shrub is a mandatory procedure. The access of oxygen is important for the development of the root system.
• Crop harvested in the process of ripening.
• To increase the resistance of plants to various diseases and insect attacks, shrubs are treated with special chemical compounds.

For irrigation use only warm water. Frequency - a maximum of two times a week. When the plant begins to bloom and bear fruit, watering should be carried out more often, depending on climatic conditions.

If you use cold water, the roots can be seriously affected. This can provoke the development of the disease, and as a result - the complete dying off of the ovary.

Experts recommend using organic compounds as a fertilizer. They are better absorbed by plants and give excellent results. However, if for some reason they cannot be obtained, mineral supplements can be used. Fertilizers are introduced into the ground under the shrub. Liquid formulations make a sheet.

The first time the organic mixture is added 7 days after the landing. Then fertilized every 10 days during the summer. Use infusions from the fresh organic completely refuse.

Among the mineral preparations, the following products are used: “Bio-Master”, “Ceovit Cucumbers” and “Agricola”. In their composition contains trace elements and substances for the proper development of culture and fruiting.

Opinions of gardeners regarding this variety are divided, however, most of them responded positively to the “Elegant”. About 80% noted the excellent taste of the plant with unpretentious care. It was also said that cucumbers perfectly resist pests and diseases, and to grow them simply and not burdensome.

In the negative responses, gardeners indicated low yields compared to other varieties used for growing for sale. In addition, sometimes the process of canning a similar sort can cause difficulties, especially for inexperienced housewives.

On how to grow cucumbers in the open field, see below.