Today, from the neighbors in the country it is increasingly possible to hear about new, previously unheard of crops and varieties of certain plants. In the magazine you can read about zemlniku. On TV - to hear about the galley. By mail - get broccolini seeds. And in this article - read about the cucumber.
- What does she like?
- Variety selection
- Choosing a place to land
- Lighting and location
- Preferred soil
- Landing
- Soil preparation
- Seed preparation
- Sowing rules
- Caring for the gourd
- Problems and difficulties in growing
- Harvest
What does she like?
Gardeners did not agree on what cucumber is: some say that this is a new breeding hybrid, obtained by crossing early varieties of melons with cucumbers; others - that the cultivated plant "ogdurina" as such cannot be, that it is a tropical vegetable, a fruit and no more; still others call this plant serpentine melon.
Anyway, the reviews about the taste of all the same: The green cucumber has the appearance, taste and smell of a young cucumber, and a ripe, yellowed one - exactly melon and in appearance, and in taste. Her earliness allows you to reap the fruits until the autumn frosts, which makes it even more attractive for breeding in their area.
Variety selection
Taste, color, appearance, size - all this can determine exactly what kind of hawk you want to see on your site. Of the 15 varieties available today, it is difficult to stop the choice on one, if you have already tasted all the delights of cultivation of cucumber. The most popular varieties of ogurdina are of impressive size: the fruits of Manduria, White, Orenburg, Candy, Special and Green can reach 2-3 kg. They are strongly scattered, with strong stems and large leaves of dark green color. But the "Tags Duck Green", "Tarot", "Melanflehuusus Sakhio" attract their serpentine shape and color. Alexandria, Banana, Caramel, Novinka, Orange Banana, Fizano and Pineapple have a flat, elongated shape, their fruits also differ in large sizes.
Choosing a place to land
Ogurdynia is a light and heat-loving plant.For its landing the most suitable is a warm and dry climate.
Lighting and location
When choosing a place for sowing, keep in mind that the cucumber, like any melon crop, is best grown near compost heaps. The place should be not shaded and be on a little blown area.
Preferred soil
For the cultivation of cucumber suitable the same soil as for cucumbers. An important condition for abundant fertility is loose soil that retains moisture well: the fruit, practically consisting of water, requires a lot of moisture in the initial stages of growth.
Landing
Depending on the temperature regime of your region, the cucumber can be planted with seedling and unpaved sowing. For planting seeds in open ground, it is better to choose the second half of May, when the ground is already warm enough. Seedlings can also be planted earlier, as the cold fiddle is less afraid than the same cucumber or melon.
Soil preparation
If you decide to start this transforming fruit on your plot, you should start preparing the soil for planting in the fall.Compost and humus are used as fertilizer for the soil, ammonium nitrate and potassium sulfate are introduced, and when the first seedlings appear, fertilizer from a mixture of mullein and chicken manure is applied.
Seed preparation
Before planting seeds in open ground, they are pre-soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 20-30 minutes. This will help determine the suitability of seeds, as well as push them to the emergency germination.
Sowing rules
During germination, the plant requires as much moisture as possible, therefore, the landing of seeds of ogurdina must be sufficiently superficial. Place the seeds at a depth of no more than 2 cm and with a distance of 50 cm to 1 m. After germination, 5-6 leaflets on the main stalk should be pinched so that the growth will go to the side shoots. It is also worth a little to sprinkle the stem with earth, after some distance: this will help to form additional roots, and thus you will be able to form the plantation you need.
Caring for the gourd
General guidelines for the care of cucumbers are the same as for growing cucumbers. The cucumber needs frequent, but not abundant watering during its germination, then it is worth reducing the watering to 1 time per week - this will preserve the sugar content of future fruits.Also, the cucumber does not need excessive fertilizer soil. Frequent feeding leads to the development of only the stem and leafy parts, while the fruits themselves are tied to the weak and devoid of taste. Weeding stands as needed, as well as dropping regrown shoots.
Problems and difficulties in growing
Despite the fact that the cucumber is a moisture-loving plant, you should avoid over-wetting the soil. This culture is prone to bacterial diseases that are manifested by rotting of the ovary. To avoid this disease, it is necessary to observe significant distances when planting the site and monitor the drying out of the soil under the leaves.
Harvest
The hail begins to bear fruit after 1.5-2 months after planting in open ground and continues to bear fruit until the first frost. Up to 20 fruits are formed on each bush, the weight of which is from 1 to 2 kg, and the sizes differ depending on the variety. In conclusion, it should be said that, despite the difficult name, ogdurina is a rather simple culture and breeding. Also, it has a completely clear and familiar taste to all, and prolonged fruiting will provide you with dessert in the form of fresh fruit, and will provide an opportunity to procure sturgeon for the future: the jam from it is excellent.