Popular representatives and how to grow Chinese cucumbers

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Yakov Pavlovich

Professor, Head of the Department of Vegetable Growing

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Increasingly, farmers and gardeners prefer growing vegetables bred by Chinese breeders. Most often, Chinese long-fruited cucumber is cultivated on private plots and farm plots. The vegetable crop adapts perfectly to any climatic conditions, does not require lighting and is protected by natural immunity from most fungal and viral infections.

General description and characteristics

Chinese hybrids are distinguished by tall bushes in the form of vines. The plant does not have an end point of growth, therefore, without timely pruning and shaping, it grows to a height of 4 meters.

• The main stem is strong, powerful, with multiple shoots.
• The leaf cover is characteristic of a vegetable crop.
• During the flowering period, racemose inflorescences appear on the bushes, blooming with light yellow flowers.
• Most of the flowers are female, so the plant is capable of self-pollination.
• The ripening fruits are elongated, from 35 to 80 centimeters.
• Under the thin skin with numerous tubercles there is a sweetish pulp with small seeds.
• The color of the long fruits is a rich emerald hue.

Reference! Chinese varieties of cucumbers are not prone to bitterness and the formation of voids in the fruit pulp.

Comments (8)

• Igor

  08/02/2016 at 00:57 |
  This year I planted Chinese miracle cucumbers. Unfortunately, many seeds were not accepted. Caring for it is the same as for ordinary cucumbers. Watering, every other day, fertilization and protection from diseases.

  Answer

  Yulia Expert Plodogorod

  02/02/2019 at 17:30 |

  Hello, Igor! If there were some problems with seed germination, we recommend that you germinate them first. First of all, this will speed up the growth process, and secondly, it will immediately show whether there are any seeds that are useless to plant.

  Take a small piece of cloth slightly moistened with warm water and spread the seeds on it in one layer, sprinkle them with a spray bottle and cover the top with the same slightly damp cloth. Place in a dark, warm place. The next day, check how the seeds are doing. You need to check every 6 hours to see if the fabric is dry. But waterlogging should also not be allowed, otherwise the planting material may rot or become moldy.

  It is recommended to plant sprouted seeds as soon as white sprouts appear. If the tip of such a sprout has dried out or become dark, then it is better to throw it away immediately; it will no longer grow. Therefore, do not delay the time of planting seeds that are ready for this.

  Another common problem that leads to poor germination is too heavy soil. Even if everything is done according to the instructions, rub a few dry pieces between your fingers. They should not resemble plasticine to the touch. The soil should be moderately light, so do not overuse fertilizers. In addition, excess organic matter, and therefore nitrogen, sometimes leads to diseases.

  Don't deepen the seeds too much. Don't overwater them, but don't let the soil in the cups dry out either. It is best to use the same technique as when watering flowers: bury a wooden stick in the soil, and then feel if it is wet. So, it’s too early to water it.

  It’s rare, but sometimes it happens that some insect gets into the glass and simply eats the seeds. This usually happens if you germinate them in a greenhouse where these pests live.

  Answer

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Main advantages and disadvantages

To grow healthy and fruitful plants, you need to become familiar with all the varietal advantages and disadvantages of a vegetable crop.

Advantages:

1. Fast ripening of vegetables. The first fruits are harvested 35-40 days after the start of active growth and development of plants.
2. High yields. With proper and timely care, one bush produces up to 30 kilograms of ripe vegetables.
3. The crop easily tolerates drought and light frosts and is suitable for growing in open ground or greenhouses.
4. Ability to self-pollinate.
5. Plants are not demanding in care and lighting.
6. Increased natural immunity to most diseases and harmful insects.
7. Also, the advantages of Chinese hybrids include the excellent taste of vegetables.

Flaws:

1. Long fruits are consumed only fresh. Vegetables are not suitable for canning.
2. Chinese cucumbers are not suitable for long-term storage and long-distance transportation. It is recommended to use the harvested cucumbers immediately, otherwise the vegetables will become soft and tasteless.
3. Poor germination of planting material is also noted. When growing Chinese hybrids, it is necessary to take into account that no more than 75% of the seeds are viable.

Expert opinion

Stanislav Pavlovich

Gardener with 17 years of experience and our expert

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Important! Tall bushes require support. Plants grown horizontally produce bent and curled cucumbers.

Features of planting seeds

Chinese cucumbers can be grown in two ways: from seeds or from seedlings. This cucumber is a cold-resistant crop and is therefore characterized by simple agricultural practices. Initially, the gardener needs to purchase high-quality crop seeds.

They are soaked before planting. For this purpose, a strong solution of potassium permanganate is used. The seeds must be kept in it for at least half an hour. If there is no greenhouse and the temperature of the bed allows planting, then the seeds must be sown in the ground.

Photos of fruits

Cucumber loves fertilizer. That is why, before planting a crop in the ground, it is necessary to apply fertilizers such as:

• Wood ash;
• Compost;
• Humus.

If these fertilizers are not available on the site, then fresh manure can be used. To plant seeds, you need to make holes using a hoe. Warm water is poured into them and cucumbers are laid out. The distance between the holes should be at least half a meter. The seeds are sprinkled with soil on top.

For good cucumber germination, it is necessary to provide moisture in the hole. That is why it is mulched. Straw or mown grass can be used for this purpose. Mulch will not only eliminate the possibility of soil drying out, but will also act as feeding for cucumbers throughout the season.

Popular varieties and hybrids from the Chinese cucumber series

The following varieties are especially popular among vegetable growers:

• The Frost-resistant Chinese cucumber easily tolerates frost and temperature changes, so it is planted immediately in open ground.
• A heat-resistant variety of vegetables suitable for cultivation for industrial purposes. The first harvest is harvested 1.5 months after the sprouts appear. Fruiting is extended and ends after the first frost. One plant produces up to 25-30 kilograms of fresh vegetables.
• Shanghai well done is a relatively new hybrid of Chinese cucumber. Ripe fruits are medium in size, from 30 to 45 centimeters, with crispy, sweetish pulp. The variety is resistant to fungal and viral infections.
• A variety of Chinese cucumber called Chinese snake is recommended for greenhouse cultivation; it ripens 45-50 days after the start of active growth and development. Ripe fruits grow up to 50-55 centimeters, in the shape of a small arc with a pronounced melon or watermelon aroma. In open ground, this variety of Chinese vegetable is grown only in regions with a warm, southern climate.
• The varietal variety called Chinese miracle ripens 2-2.5 months after planting. The vegetables are elongated, up to 65 centimeters in size, with a pleasant taste and aroma. Ripe fruits have a unique feature. A long cucumber can be cut into pieces. After cutting, the fruit continues to grow and develop.

See also: The best varieties of cucumbers for open ground for 2021

Expert opinion

Stanislav Pavlovich

Gardener with 17 years of experience and our expert

Ask a Question

Important! Hybrid forms of vegetable crops marked F1 are not capable of imparting varietal properties and characteristics when propagated by seeds. Therefore, planting material for growing Chinese varieties of cucumbers is purchased annually.

White delicacy

Popular varieties of cucumbers for greenhouses for different regions

The color of this cucumber is atypical for the species. But sometimes a characteristic sign still appears. The color in this case is white-greenish. According to the ripening period, the White Delicacy cucumber can be classified as mid-season. It is 45-50 days from the moment of emergence. The size is uncharacteristic for the species, reaching up to 15 cm. It has a conical shape, with sparse pimples. Grows in greenhouses and garden beds.

Emerald Stream

The variety has medium ripeness and a long fruiting period. The skin color is dark green with large pimples. It has a length of up to 50 cm. A ripe Emerald Stream cucumber can reach a weight of 250 grams. Does not require bright sunlight; partial shade is suitable for it. 20-25 fruits ripen on the bush. Taste indicators correspond to ordinary representatives of the genus.

Chinese kite

Developed for greenhouses. When compared with other varieties of the species, it has an average ripening period of up to 45 days after planting. The fruits, up to 60 cm in size, have a sinuous shape, which is why it is called the Chinese snake. Cucumbers are bright green, with rare large pimples. Fruits with sweetish and dense pulp.

Chinese disease-resistant F1

The main properties of this variety are unpretentiousness, productivity, and resistance to all diseases of the species. Chinese disease-resistant cucumber F1 has an average ripeness period of up to 55 days. It is distinguished by a delicate and delicate taste without bitterness, an average length for this subspecies, up to 35 cm, and a dark green color.

Chinese heat resistant F1

Bred to produce fruits in hot climates, up to 35-40 degrees. Belongs to early ripening varieties, bears fruit for up to 3 months. Pollinated by insects. Has a standard cylindrical shape. The length of the Chinese heat-resistant cucumber F1 reaches 50 cm. The taste characteristics meet standard requirements, without bitterness.

Chinese climbing

The variety is late-ripening and high-yielding. The length reaches 12 cm, the skin is green with rare black spines. The Chinese climbing cucumber is not susceptible to disease. It has long lashes, which is why it got its name. It is pollinated by insects, so do not forget to plant flowering plants near it. Long fruiting from May to October. The taste is normal, without bitterness.

Chinese cold-resistant F1

The cucumber was bred specifically for use in Russian conditions. Ripening lasts up to 55 days. The fruits have a curved shape with a smaller diameter at the stem. The bright green skin is covered with large tubercles. Grows well in areas with cool and short summers.

Chinese farm

Medium ripeness variety up to 55 days. It has a dark green thin and smooth skin and a cylindrical configuration. Seed germination is low. The bush is powerful and very hardy. The length of the Chinese farm cucumber can reach 50 cm. It is resistant to unstable climatic conditions and is easy to care for. Self-pollinating species.

Chinese miracle

This variety tolerates heat well, is unpretentious to the soil and does not require special care. The seeds germinate quickly, sprouts appear on the 5th day. It has dark green thin skin. Minimal presence of seeds. The Chinese miracle cucumber has juicy and dense pulp

The fruits are well suited for harvesting, which is important for gardeners and, having excellent taste, are irreplaceable in salads

How to grow properly

Chinese hybrids are grown in open ground or greenhouse conditions. It is in greenhouses that it is easiest to create the right microclimate for the growth and fruiting of vegetable crops.

In the greenhouse

Growing cucumbers in a greenhouse does not depend on the weather and climatic characteristics of the region. Therefore, all varieties of Chinese hybrids are suitable for this method of cultivating vegetables.

The soil in the greenhouse is prepared in advance. In autumn, the beds are dug up, loosened, and the soil is mixed with humus, peat, sand, organic and mineral substances.

Sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out in the middle or end of March, so that at the age of 20-30 days the plants are transferred from the greenhouse.

During the growth of vegetables, the room is ventilated, and watering is carried out as the soil dries. Bushes are formed by tying plants to stretched ropes or fishing line.

In the open ground

The timing of planting cucumbers in open ground directly depends on the weather conditions of the cultivation region.

In the southern regions, it is recommended to plant seeds directly into the soil. In temperate climates, to grow fruit-bearing asthenia, the seedling method of planting cucumbers is used:

• A site for planting vegetables is chosen with good lighting and shelter from drafts and strong gusts of wind.
• The beds are dug to a depth of 50 centimeters, the soil is mixed with organic and mineral substances, and loosened.
• Sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out at the end of April, so that in late May or early June the plants are transferred to a permanent place of growth.
• 2-3 days before transferring the seedlings, holes are dug in the beds up to 40 centimeters deep and wide.
• The distance between holes is 40-50 centimeters, between rows up to 1 meter.
• The wells are thoroughly moistened.
• On the day of transplantation, the plants are placed in the middle of the hole. In order not to damage the rhizomes, the seedlings are transferred together with a lump of earth from the pot.
• The bushes are covered with fertile soil from above and watered.
• After finishing the work, the beds are mulched with straw or compost.

See also: How to properly grow and care for cucumbers in open ground

Important! Tall plants will require support structures. Therefore, high pegs or trellises are placed on the beds.

Indian cucumber - a “mad” relative of zucchini

Indian cucumber, or momordica, is an exotic relative of the cucumber that is becoming increasingly popular among summer residents.

The plant has lumpy fruits that change color during ripening - from dark green to orange. Along with the color, the shape of the momordica fruit also changes. Over time, they become like a crocodile with an open mouth, in which crimson-colored seeds are visible. Hence another name for the plant – “crocodile cucumber”.

Benefits of Indian Cucumber

The fruits of the Indian cucumber are very tasty and are widely used in cooking. They are used to make salads, sauces, caviar, they are fried and pickled.

Momordica grows incredibly quickly - 8-10 cm per day.

Flaws

Without support, this vine will not grow well and will not bear fruit.

Indian cucumber flowers bloom in the late afternoon, when pollinating insects are no longer available. Therefore, they will have to pollinate themselves.

The fruits of momordica are not only very interesting, but also quite pleasant to the taste.

Growing Tips

The plant is unpretentious. It can be grown both in open ground and on a windowsill.

Momordica seeds must be scarified before sowing and then disinfected in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. They then need to be germinated in a damp cloth or toilet paper in a warm place (about 25°C). All these measures will significantly increase seed germination.

To sow momordica, you can buy ready-made nutrient soil, or you can prepare it yourself by mixing 10 kg of soil from the garden with 10 kg of sand and 5 kg of rotted leaves. Before seeds germinate, the soil should always be moderately moist.

Red cucumber seedlings are planted in open ground in the second half of May-early June, replanting together with a lump of earth so as not to injure the roots. For feeding once every 2-3 weeks, use a yeast nutrient solution (10 g of yeast per 1 liter of water).

The fruits of momordica are not only very interesting, but also quite pleasant to the taste.

Recommendations for caring for plants

Cucumbers are moisture-loving plants and Chinese hybrids are no exception. The bushes also require additional nutrition, mulching of the beds and timely formation of plants.

Watering and fertilizing

Water the vegetable crop with settled, warm water after sunset or early in the morning. The amount of watering depends on the quality of the soil and the region where cucumbers are grown. In hot, arid climates, the amount of irrigation is increased; in the northern regions, irrigation work is carried out less frequently.

Vegetable crops are fed no more than 3-4 times throughout the entire season, alternately using organic and mineral fertilizers.

Loosening and mulching

Due to the superficial location of the rhizomes, the loosening procedure is carried out with extreme care, not exceeding a depth of more than 3.5-4 centimeters from the soil surface. They also remove weeds and mulch the soil with organic materials.

Humus, sawdust, straw or peat are used as mulch.

Important! Measures to mulch the beds will protect weak rhizomes from external influences.

Formation of the lash

It is recommended to form bushes as soon as the plants reach a height of 30-35 centimeters. The formation of plants occurs in 2 or 3 vines, the remaining shoots are cut off.

Also, during the growth process, damaged or diseased branches and leaves are removed.

Growing Chinese cucumbers in a greenhouse

If you want to get a harvest of long cucumbers as early as possible, they should be grown in a greenhouse or greenhouse using seedlings. In this case, the soil begins to be prepared in the fall.

Take turf soil, humus and sawdust in a ratio of 2:4:2 and mix thoroughly. In this case, it is recommended to soak the sawdust with a solution of ammonium nitrate for about 2 weeks (use 20 g of nitrate per 10 liters of water). Add 1 glass of wood ash (per 10 liters of soil mixture), 15 g of potassium magnesia, 40 g of double superphosphate and 10 g of urea to the resulting mass. If you prepare such nutritious soil for Chinese cucumbers, you won’t have to feed them during the growing season.

It is not recommended to feed Chinese cucumbers with minerals.

How to grow Chinese cucumber seedlings

In early spring, the prepared soil is poured into containers with a diameter of 10-12 cm. The seeds of Chinese cucumbers are first soaked in potassium permanganate and dried, after which 2 pieces are planted in containers with moistened soil to a depth of 1-1.5 cm. The containers are covered with plastic wrap and placed in warm place (preferably with a temperature of about 30°C).

After the seedlings emerge, the seedlings are placed on the windowsill and the film is removed. Seedlings are regularly watered and sprayed with water at a temperature of 22-24°C. After 2-3 true leaves appear, one strong seedling is left in each container.

Seedlings are planted in a greenhouse at the age of 15-30 days. In this case, seedlings must have at least 9 leaves. Chinese cucumbers grow mostly tall (up to 3.5 m) and produce few side shoots, so they can be planted thicker than ordinary cucumbers. It is enough to maintain a distance of 20 cm between seedlings.

Plantings must be mulched with sawdust, dry chopped straw or hay

When planting, trellises are installed that will serve as support for vigorous stems, and shoots are tied to them. As the plants develop, 5 side shoots coming from the root are removed.

Caring for Chinese cucumbers in a greenhouse

Chinese cucumbers in a greenhouse are usually watered 2 times a week and the leaves are sprayed with warm water daily. To increase productivity, it is useful to treat plants with a urea solution (1 tablespoon per 10 liters of water). The foliar method of processing is preferable. The first feeding is carried out 2 weeks after planting the seedlings in the ground, the second - at the beginning of flowering, the third and fourth - during the period of mass fruiting.

During fruiting, the amount of watering is increased: the soil should be slightly moist all the time. The harvest is harvested every 1-2 days. If you don't want to cut off the entire long cucumber, you can carefully cut off part of it, and soon the vegetable will grow back. It is for this unusual property that many gardeners have long fallen in love with Chinese cucumbers.

In addition, these cucumbers will not overripe (they will not turn yellow and will not lose their taste), even if you do not remove them from the borage for more than a week. But after each harvest, do not forget to water the plants to allow new ones to ripen.

Methods of protection against diseases and pests

Preventive measures are carried out before the vegetable crop begins to bear fruit. The bushes are sprayed with preparations based on fungicides and insecticides. Such measures make it possible to further protect plants from damage by diseases and harmful insects. If troubles arise during the formation and ripening of vegetables, biological means of protection are used.

Also, in order to avoid the development of diseases and pest attacks, it is necessary to observe crop rotation, and plant calendula bushes, garlic or onions next to the cucumber beds.

Care

We provide the Chinese cucumber with thorough watering, just like other pumpkins. I water the bush abundantly every other day, sometimes I practice sprinkling the foliage.

When the plant is formed, I remove up to 5 lateral shoots from the root so that the cucumbers grow better and receive adequate nutrition.

Fertilizing is not carried out in the manure bed, but in the greenhouse and directly in the soil we fertilize regularly. I use a solution of urea, ammonium nitrate, infuse wood ash and mowed grass. For an excellent harvest, the plant will need organic and multi-component mineral compositions.

We harvest every day, because Chinese cucumbers grow “at the speed of light.” We collect fruits from our greenhouse and eat them before the November holidays.

Preparing the soil before planting

You need to start preparing the soil in the fall, since most minerals and substances that fall into the ground decompose into microelements in 4-5 months and only then can they be absorbed by the roots of the plant. A prerequisite for normal growth is the presence of humus, black soil and sawdust (1:2:1), only in such soil will the seeds germinate normally and quickly gain the necessary vegetative mass. In the spring, at the beginning of April, ammonia fertilizers are applied, usually nitrate. 20-25 grams per 1 square meter is enough.

Diseases and parasites

Despite the fact that the hybrid variety Chinese Emperor f1 has strong immunity, it is susceptible to root rot, as well as invasion of aphids and spider mites. Let's look at the description of infections.

Root rot

Root rot is an infection that causes wilting of the leaves and vines of the plant, yellowing of the ovaries and lower leaves. Rotting of the cucumber stems is periodically observed. To combat root rot, Previkur, Alirin and Rizoplan are used.

Aphid

Aphids are small insects that cause damage to plant leaves. When infested by aphids, the tops turn yellow and begin to wither and curl. Wilting and falling of flowers are also observed. To combat aphids, Metaphos, Inta-Vir and Decis-Lux are used.

Spider mite

Spider mites are a pest that causes a slowdown in the development of bushes, the formation of a white web on the leaves of the plant, and yellowing of the tops. To combat spider mites, it is recommended to use Apollo, Actellik and Neoron.