Chinese cucumber: description, types and cultivation

Today, the market presents a huge number of different fruit and vegetable crops for cultivation in the open field or in greenhouse conditions.Among this variety stands out Chinese cucumber. The culture is remarkable for its excellent characteristics and a large number of varieties.

For most gardeners, Chinese cucumber has become a real discovery. Despite the erroneous view that this crop is only a sort of vegetable familiar to all, this is not quite the case. Culture is a whole subspecies, and its fruits are distinguished by two unique features, one of which is considered to be the length of a cucumber, and the second is its rather unusual shape for the average man. Because of its external qualities, as well as due to the huge variety assortment, this plant has become very popular.

The ripe fruits of Chinese cucumber reach a length of 80 centimeters. Despite the rather exotic look, the flesh of the vegetable is moderately sweet, with a pleasant and unobtrusive aroma, which according to some descriptions of gourmets resembles the aroma of ripe melons. The latter feature directly depends on the vegetable variety selected for planting.

Small seeds ripen inside the vegetable, there are no voids in the pulp. Culture stands out for its excellent yield, competent agricultural technology allows to collect on average about 30 kilograms of vegetables from one bush.

Most of the inflorescences of Chinese cucumber are female. As a rule, the plant blooms with buds, forming bunches. As the practice of cultivating a culture in different conditions shows, the plant grows best and bears fruit in a greenhouse, however, it is possible to get high yields of vegetables under the open sky (both in southern latitudes and in northern regions).

Among the mass features of the plant, it is necessary to note the precocity of the vegetable culture. Therefore, from the moment of the formation of the first shoots to the collection of ripe cucumbers, it takes about one month. In order to enjoy the exotic variety of pumpkin and collect enough greens for the whole family, there is no need to plant several beds of Chinese cucumber. 3-5 plants on the plot or in the greenhouse. With one green rice, due to its length, you can cook a full-fledged vegetable salad for the whole family.

To make the most objective assessment of the culture, it is worthwhile to dwell on the positive and negative qualities of the plant.

Among the advantages of Chinese Zelentsov several points stand out:

• a significant advantage is a strong immunity to most diseases;
• the advantage is the ripening of the fruit;
• It is worth noting the impressive number of cucumbers that are formed on the plant, and their large size;
• culture is distinguished by the ability to actively bear fruit until frost occurs;
• cucumber is self-pollinating;
• vegetables stand out for their product appeal;
• The plant belongs to shade-tolerant vegetable crops.

However, like any other plant, Chinese cucumber has a number of disadvantages:

• the collected fruits quickly become useless, therefore, it is unlikely that it will be possible to preserve the harvest of fresh green leaves for a long time;
• not all available varieties of culture can be used for canning and other preparations;
• the culture needs binding; otherwise, the appearance of the fruit suffers significantly.

Most of the varieties of vegetables obtained in China, but domestic breeders today offer cucumbers, bred already in Russia. Among the most popular crops is the most productive, the description of which is presented below.

Culture owes its origin to the work of Russian breeders. Hybrid refers to self-pollinated plants with a long period of fruiting.The “Emerald Flow” bush is rather long, but has a low ability to weave, in the light of which it needs strengthening at the place of cultivation with the help of a support. Hybrid cucumbers have a somewhat elongated appearance.

The weight of one vegetable is about 200 grams. The peel has a rich green color with expressive tuberosity. Green flesh is distinguished by its high taste. As the practice of cultivating a hybrid variety shows, from one square meter of bed you can get a crop of about 6 kilograms.

Early culture. Works on breeding seedlings are carried out in the first spring months. Cucumbers are planted on the site as soon as the temperature normalizes, and the frosts recede. In a greenhouse, seedlings take root a little earlier. "Emerald stream" - a disease-resistant variety, has immunity to powdery mildew. Bushes grow beautifully on shaded areas, in addition, the plant shows viability even after sharp jumps in air temperature.

This species, according to reviews, stands out for its high yields. Among the remarkable characteristics of the variety is worth noting the bizarre form of green leaves. As a rule, cucumbers reach a mass of 400 grams. Fruits are hook-shaped, covered with expressive tubercles.

In May, seedlings can be sent to open ground, and at the end of the month you can already get a long-awaited harvest. Plants are very powerful and branched. The culture is self-pollinated, prone to long-term fruiting. The variety is resistant to fungal diseases and many viral ailments.

This culture belongs to the late varieties of Chinese cucumber. The plant is unpretentious in the care, gives a generous harvest of juicy Zelentsov until the end of autumn. However, for successful fruiting, it requires regular watering and access of sunlight. The fruits of this variety are painted in dark green color, their edges are wrapped during growth. The taste of Zelentsov is tender, the skin is loose and smooth. The bush is very powerful and climbing.

These varieties of cucumber are recommended to be grown by gardeners, who do not yet have much experience in cultivating vegetable crops. The main advantage of varieties is high resistance to low and high temperatures. Breeding rassadnogo material engaged since April. Due to the unique features of crops, seeds can be immediately planted on the site, but a month later.

The development of cultures is quite rapid, the central stem is very strong. Zelentsy long, have a cylindrical shape and bumps. Taste of the pulp is characterized by honey notes and a pleasant aroma. Plants have immunity to fusarium and fungal infections.

This cucumber is distinguished by a particularly high taste properties of the fruit. The plant survives well in any conditions, even in regions with adverse climatic features. Culture tolerates temperature fluctuations and high humidity. The name of the variety was given to him due to the unusual white color of the peel, which has only a light yellow-green shade. Fruits have the form of a cone, develop a maximum to 15 centimeters.

Culture has not yet gained due popularity, but shows good results when grown in greenhouse conditions.

Shrubs give good yields before the arrival of the cold. The plant continues to develop throughout the season, so it can greatly increase in size.Cucumbers are long, the weight of one vegetable is about 400 grams. The variety is resistant to Fusarium and Peronospora. The fruits of this variety are cultivated for fresh consumption.

In addition to the above varieties of Chinese cucumber, such species as “Alligator F1”, “Miracle”, “Imperator”, and “Farmersky” are also popular.

Since Chinese cucumber can be cultivated in several ways, the main task is to choose the best option for growing vegetables. Sowing seed immediately in the garden is much easier. It also helps to save the time it takes to grow cucumber seedlings. However, the maximum germination of the culture will be observed only under the condition of pre-soaking the seeds in water and placing them in the heat until the germination.

It is better to grow seedlings in small-sized containers. The best option would be rooting of planting material in disposable cups and location in the apartment or in the house on the window. The result of this hard work will be noticeable by the results of the harvest. In addition, gardeners note the difference in the fruits that appear after growing seedlings. As a rule, they have great advantages in taste and appearance.

The deepening of the seeds should be carried out no more than 4 centimeters. It is necessary to take into account the peculiarity of this variety of cucumber, related to the root system - it is much longer in length and development than the roots of ordinary vegetables. The optimum temperature for sprouting cucumber bushes should be + 30 ° C.

Like a normal cucumber, Chinese culture requires sunlight for productive growth and development., good moisture level, rich and nutritious soil. Such conditions are easier to achieve when breeding plants in greenhouse conditions, since the factors affecting the growth of cucumber can be controlled and adjusted without being tied to weather conditions.

Planting bushes is tighter than in the case of the usual cucumber, because Chinese culture is not prone to the formation of stepsons. Usually, 3-4 shrubs can be grown on one square meter. As the cucumber develops predominantly in height, it would be more appropriate to use trellis in the greenhouse or in the open ground.

Some growers cultivate the plant in the vineyards. As a result, the stalks of culture intertwine and protect each other from the scorching sun.

Soil preparation for planting greens is carried out in the fall. For greenhouse soil is carried out additional feeding. To this end, the following set of useful substances is introduced into a special container: manure, straw, tomato stems, and a mineral complex. All this is mixed with water and left under a closed lid until the arrival of spring.

At the site, the soil is prepared by digging it along with organic matter.

Seedlings method involves planting seeds in February-March. It is better to root the material in a special pochvosmes used for indoor plants. Additionally, in the container for cucumbers should make a drainage hole. After deepening the seed soil needs to be moistened. The container should be covered with foil. To improve the growth of the vegetable in a container with Chinese cucumber, you can plant low-growing beans, which will help to keep the nitrogen content in the ground at the proper level, which is important for the root system of green men.

Within a week and a half, the first shoots appear in the container. During this period, you can remove the covering material, but it is important to carefully monitor the temperature and humidity. In the phase of the formation of two leaves, young bushes can already be transplanted.

Before disembarking it is worth taking care of the support for the greens. A landing well is formed in the chosen place, the size of which should be similar to the container where cucumbers grew. After that, the culture is carefully taken out of a pot or cup, together with an earthy clod, and transplanted into the ground. Additionally, a little sawdust is introduced under the root, after which the bush is buried and moistened.

Agrotechnical measures concerning Chinese cucumbers, do not differ much from the work of caring for ordinary Zelenitsa.

• The introduction of fluid into the soil should be carried out in the morning or evening hours, since moisture in combination with the sun can provoke a burn of cucumber. For watering should be armed with a watering can. The introduction of fluid from a hose or irrigation container will cause the roots to be exposed. For Chinese cucumber will need about 5-10 liters per 1 m2 of beds. In the vegetable ripening phase, the amount of moisture introduced is doubled.
• Fertilization is an important point. For the season, the bushes need four times feeding. 14 days after rooting, the Zelentsi are fertilized with mineral complexes and organic matter. In the flowering phase, soil mineralization is carried out. The third feeding is performed during the period of formation and ripening of cucumbers, for this it is better to make foliar feeding. Last time fertilizers will be needed in a week.
• Loosening the soil is done weekly.
• The garter will be needed at the moment when the bushes reach thirty centimeters long.

• For the prevention and control of diseases, spraying of the culture with colloidal sulfur and a chlorine-based copper oxide composition is performed. With the defeat of cucumber mosaic bushes are removed from the garden, and the soil is disinfected. From the defeat of the angular spotting is carried out treatment Bordeaux liquid.
• The fight against insect pests (whitefly, spider mite) is carried out with the help of "Fitoferm". You can destroy aphids by spraying the culture with a solution of soap.

Harvesting Chinese greens must be done daily. To remove the fruit from the bush you need to cut it with a knife, bypassing the stem. Freshly harvested in food during the day after harvest. If you store cucumbers in the refrigerator, you can significantly extend their freshness. For canning fruits are pre-cut.

For more information, you can learn from the following video.