If you have ever dealt with cucumbers, namely, looking for suitable varieties for your plots, then you probably came across such a phrase as "Chinese cucumber".
This is not one specific variety, it is a whole subspecies, the fruits of which have two features, namely, a fancy shape and an impressive length of 50 - 80 cm.
This variety of cucumber is perfect for experimental gardeners, who have already become fed up with typical varieties of this pumpkin crop.
As soon as you see these bizarre fruits for the first time, you will certainly want to grow them on your own plot.
Well, consider the best varieties that make up this set of "Chinese cucumbers".
Sort "Chinese miracle"
Enough late variety, ready-made fruits can be removed from the bush only 60 - 70 days after the first shoots.
The bushes themselves are very long, with powerful roots. The fruits are cylindrical in shape, slightly curved, with a small number of tubercles, long (40-50 cm), sweet, and there is no bitterness in the flesh or to the thin peel.
These cucumbers perfectly tolerate transportation. Suitable for food not only fresh, but also canned. To roll up these vegetables in jars, simply cut into large pieces. Shrubs bear fruit very abundantly, they are not affected by diseases.
Despite the outward eccentricity, the bushes of this variety must begin to grow from seedlings. There is plenty of time for laying seeds, the right time comes from the beginning of March and ends in April. Caring for seedlings is normal, that is, regular watering, feeding of seedlings, picking in the phase of 1 - 2 leaves.
The depth of the seed should be about 3–4 cm. A suitable planting scheme would be 150–40 cm. The transplantation of seedlings is best done at the end of May - beginning of June so that the earth gets warm enough.
This variety is very unpretentious in the care, its bushes a lot of light and heat. Therefore, in areas with a warm climate, these plants can be planted in open ground. Where it is cold, we need greenhouses to grow this variety.
Bushes will be enough regular watering, loosening the soil around them, a small layer of mulch, as well as a few dressings. Since the shoots of the bushes are quite long, it is advisable to carry out the garter of the bushes, which will then facilitate the process of harvesting.
Variety "White delicacy"
The result of the work of Chinese breeders. The name of the variety comes from the atypical color of the fruit - they are almost white, there is a slight green tint. P
o ripening periods fall under the category of mid-season varieties.On average, 45-50 days pass from the moment of emergence of seedlings to technical maturity of fruits. Bushes take root both in hotbeds and under the open sky. The plants are strong enough
Cucumbers are not particularly long, only 12-15 cm, which is not enough for this variety. Fruits are elongated, conical, with a typical surface for this culture, that is, a lumpy, with great taste.
The peel is very delicate, and the pulp does not taste bitter. The fruits are very tasty not only fresh, but also canned. Productivity makes about 4 kg from one bush. The variety is fairly resistant to diseases.
Shrubs need to start with seedlings, the sowing of seeds to be produced in March. When the seedlings sprout, then the plastic film, which should cover the containers with seeds, must be removed. When 1 - 2 leaves appear on the shoots, the plants should be dived into more spacious containers. Before picking and after the seedlings should be watered and fertilized so that they are sufficiently strengthened before transplanting into the ground.
When the plants reach the age of 30 days, it will be time for transplanting. On the unit area you can land on 3 bushes.
This variety perfectly withstands the deterioration of weather conditions, temperature fluctuations, changes in air humidity. That is why the bushes are not particularly capricious in the care.In order for the plants to give a decent harvest, it is necessary to water the bushes regularly, feed them, and also try in every possible way to prevent the formation of a crust on the ground.
It is desirable to tie up vigorous bushes to a support, then the plants will look much more aesthetically pleasing.
Grade "Chinese Snake"
Medium early cucumber, which was selected for growing in greenhouses. The bushes of this variety are very powerful, branchy, they develop quickly and also bear fruit for a long time. The fruits are very long (up to 50 cm), in the shape of an arc, dark green in color, with large but rare tubercles and a small seed chamber.
Tastes are simply gorgeous, the fruits are sweet and absolutely not bitter. The density of the fruit is average, the seeds in the flesh are almost invisible, and the bushes are not affected by most of the known cucumber diseases.
Planting of seedlings should be carried out presumably 25 - 30 days before planting in the ground. Seedlings can be transplanted to heated greenhouses already at the beginning of May, and to an unheated greenhouse or to open ground only from the end of the specified month.
Seedlings need be sure to diveso that the seedlings have enough strength. You need to sow the seeds in the grooves to a depth of 1.5 - 2 cm. On 1 square. Meter can prikopat no more than 3 seedlings. The soil for these cucumbers should be fertile, well breathable. In order to increase the access of air to the ground, you can add sawdust or leaves to the ground.
It is necessary to look after bushes of this sort of cucumbers regularly and well. Therefore, in the mode of irrigation should not be any failures, to compensate for the lack of moisture should be regularly as needed, and the water should be warm.
Feed the bushes should also be several times, and it is desirable to combine watering and fertilization, as nutrients in this way quickly fall into the ground. Attaching shoots to the support or not - is your personal decision. Bushes will live quietly in both cases.
Grade "Emerald Stream"
Hybrid, the fruit of the work of Russian breeders. Mid-season, fruits ripen in 44 - 48 days after sprouting of seedlings. Hybrid is parthenocarpic. Bushes vigorous, but weave poorly. Fruits are long (up to 50 cm), cylindrical in shape, dark green in color, with excellent taste, thin skin, which is covered with large tubercles.
The fruits are quite weighty, gaining up to 200 g of weight. Hence, a lot of harvest - 15 - 18 kg per 1 square. meter Bushes bear fruit very longSometimes they even need to be covered, as the weather is already deteriorating by that moment. Shrubs of this variety are not subject to powdery mildew, ways to calmly survive the lack of sunlight, as well as lower temperatures.
Sowing seeds for seedlings should be made in mid-April. Capacity for seedlings should be very spacious so that the roots are comfortable and have enough space. Soil is better to take the purchase, as it is enriched with useful trace elements.
To seedlings were strong enough, you need to regularly feed the seedlings. Transplantation into the soil is tedious to do after the frosts have passed, but seedlings can be moved to the heated greenhouse even earlier. normal landing pattern - 70x30 cm
Immediately after planting, the ground under the bushes should be watered and covered with black polyethylene so that the water lingers longer in the soil. But sometimes such coverage needs to be removed, that the greenhouse effect did not harm the root system of the bushes.
It is advisable to use an additional support in the form of a trellis or wire stretched between pegs consistently driven into the ground. It is necessary to water bushes of this grade 2 times a week. Sometimes plants can be fed with a solution of urea.
Grade "Chinese heat-resistant"
Hybrid pollinated by bees. Belongs to medium-sized cucumbers, ripens in 48-54 days. Bushes strong, powerful, very branched. Basically, one stem is formed in plants. The fruits are very beautiful, even, with the appropriate length for this variety of cucumbers (30-50 cm), dark green, with a wonderful sweet taste and aroma.
The shape of these cucumbers is cylindrical, the peel with tubercles. This variety is resistant not only to powdery mildew, downy mildew, and fusarium wilt, but also to high temperatures. Even if the temperature reaches 35 ̊C, these bushes will still grow and bear fruit safely.
The period for laying seeds is stretched from early April to early May. You can skip the cultivation of seedlings and sow seeds directly into the ground in the second half of May. But with this method of growing the future garden bed is better to hide, so that the entrances must be. It is necessary that the soil temperature reaches 20-25 ̊C, otherwise the seeds will not germinate.
This variety is suitable for both greenhouses and the usual soil. These plants will need a lot of light, but do not worry about a special blackout, because this kind of heat is not afraid.
It is necessary to drift seedlings or sow the seeds on a separate bed, separate from the other varieties of cucumber, otherwise there will be a mutation, and you will get a not very good harvest of the other cucumbers. Landing scheme - 50x70 cm.
In the care of these cucumbers are not particularly whimsical. This variety produces very few stepchildren, so you can skip the pinning process. It is desirable to fix the shoots of bushes on the trellis, and the support must be strong enough, otherwise it will simply break under the weight of the fruit.
Water these bushes often need, 2 - 3 times a week. But it all depends on the weather. If it rains, then you can restrict one irrigation or even not water at all. But if there is a drought on the street, and the earth began to crack, then it is necessary to water these bushes, and very abundantly.
In order to avoid the appearance of a heavy earthen crust, the soil should be well loosened, but this should be done very carefully so as not to hurt the root system of the bushes.
Sort "Alligator"
An early hybrid pollinated by bees. The fruits are ready to eat on the 46-48 day after the first shoots. Bushes are powerful, grow quickly, strong vegetative mass. Fruits are typical for this variety, that is, of a cylindrical shape, rather long (35-40 cm), saturated green, tuberculate.
The peel is very thin, shiny, not bitter.The pulp contains a large amount of juice, sweet, very aromatic. Productivity is very high, 16-18 kg per square meter of a bed.
The variety is not affected by footspine, powdery mildew and cucumber mosaic, but may suffer slightly from downy mildew. This variety is bearing fruit very long, right up to the middle of October. The fruits are good both fresh and canned.
Suitable for any soil. You need to start with seedlings, the bookmark of which is desirable to carry out no earlier than the first half of April. Stronger seedlings with 1 - 2 leaves should be dived into larger pots.
Caring for seedlings is standard, that is, regular watering, fertilizer application, and provision of seedlings with sufficient light and heat are necessary. When the seedlings reach the age of 30 - 35 days, it can be transplanted.
A transplant is best done in the second half of May., or even at the beginning of June, so that the earth can warm up well. If you want to get a harvest earlier, then 10 days before the planned planting, the ground should be covered with black polyethylene, which will accumulate heat. When seedlings are placed in the ground, it is also desirable to cover the ground around them with polyethylene.
Taking care of these bushes is quite ordinary. Regular watering with warm water, as well as spraying the bushes in cloudy weather are a key link in the bushes care chain.
Regular fertilizing with mineral fertilizers, as well as fungicide treatment, will also benefit plants. But the main - do not overdo it with chemicalsotherwise the fruits will become poisonous. Like any bush of this type of cucumber, it is advisable to fix the plants of the Alligator on a good trellis, it will be easier to care for them and later to harvest.
Chinese cucumbers will not disappoint you with their fruits, but will only please with their uniqueness. Your family is not only surprised by the wonderful taste of the fruit, but also by their appearance. Thus, you will certainly please both yourself and your loved ones. Good luck!
