What is Chinese cucumber
Strictly speaking, such a separate species as the “Chinese cucumber” does not exist in botany. This is simply an artificially bred long-fruited form of the common cucumber, our favorite vegetable.
The fruits of the Chinese cucumber, compared to ordinary ones, are very thin and long (in some varieties up to 80 cm in length!). Their smell is brighter (some consider it “watermelon”), and they taste slightly different - more delicate and sweet, not bitter at all.
The skin of the Chinese cucumber is tender and thin, does not become rough and does not turn yellow when overgrown. The surface of the fruit is slightly ribbed, large or finely tuberculate. The internal cucumber pulp of Chinese varieties is relatively dense, without voids, and a narrow chamber with small and fairly few seeds is located in the center.
It is these features that determine the main purpose of Chinese cucumbers - they are very tender and tasty fresh in vegetable slices or in a variety of salads and vinaigrettes. And given their size, one cucumber may well be enough for a salad for several people.
And some (attention, not all!) varieties of Chinese cucumbers are great for canning - both on their own and in various assorted varieties. True, of course, first you will have to cut them into “cylinders” before putting them in a jar.
Optimal growing conditions
The Chinese snake is classified as a hybrid, so cucumber seeds cannot be obtained independently. They give a good harvest in the first year of cultivation. Hybrids are intended for use in greenhouses. They also grow well without shelter.
Illuminated areas are considered optimal conditions for growing cucumber varieties. The cucumber tolerates partial shade well. The best temperature for growth should be above +25 degrees. Night temperatures should not fall below +6. Regular watering is required.
There must be mandatory staking of shoots in the greenhouse and in the beds. When the lashes are arranged vertically, the cucumbers have the correct shape. Without a garter, the quantity and quality of vegetables decreases.
Advantages and disadvantages of Chinese cucumbers
Let's put together in one list all the "pros" and "cons" of Chinese cucumbers compared to their ordinary "brothers" in order to decide whether it is still worth pursuing the exotic and growing them on your own plot.
So, the advantages of the “Chinese” include:
- early ripeness,
- cold resistance,
- high productivity,
- long fruiting,
- unpretentiousness in cultivation;
- resistance to many cucumber diseases,
- large sizes,
- brighter taste and aroma.
Do Chinese cucumbers have any disadvantages ? Alas, there are some more or less significant nuances, judge for yourself:
- low germination rate of seed material (with all the gardener’s tricks, it may happen that out of all the seeds sown, only 20-25% will germinate);
- poor keeping quality - due to their delicate constitution, ripe fruits lose moisture very quickly, and with it their presentation and taste; a Chinese cucumber removed from the garden within a day can wilt and become completely soft;
- obligatory vertical staking of growing stems - if you neglect this procedure, cucumber vines up to 3.5 m long will simply fall, and the Chinese cucumbers themselves will “curl”.
How to care for a Chinese kite
The Chinese snake cucumber is characterized as an unpretentious crop. But at the same time, the result of the variety’s yield depends on timely agrotechnical work.
Irrigation frequency
This vegetable crop is quite moisture-loving. Therefore, it is advisable to irrigate plants daily, especially in dry weather.
Watering norms for the Chinese snake:
- seedlings - 1 liter of water for each bush.
- adult plants - from 7 to 10 liters of moisture per bush.
In this case, the plants should be watered only with warm, settled water.
What and how to fertilize
Due to the fact that the vegetable crop grows rapidly and bears fruit for a long time, it requires regular feeding. The first fertilizer is applied 10 days after transplanting the seedlings to a permanent place of growth. Bread infusion made from flour crusts and water is used as a top dressing. Then the plants are fertilized with urea and mullein solution every 10 days.
Loosening and mulching the soil
Since the Chinese snake has a superficial root, soil cultivation must be carried out extremely carefully. The soil must not be turned over during loosening. To saturate it with oxygen, it will be enough to destroy the surface crust. The optimal loosening depth is considered to be 4-5 centimeters.
To protect the root system from temperature changes, it is recommended to mulch the tree trunks of plants. Dry leaves, sawdust and manure-based compost are used as mulch.
Stepsoning
Despite the fact that the Chinese snake has few side shoots, its bushes still need pinching. During the process of agricultural work, all secondary stems emanating from the main trunk are removed. In this case, pinching the shoots is carried out only in the place where they depart.
Important! During agricultural work, under no circumstances should the clinging tendrils of plants be damaged.
Formation
According to reviews from gardeners about the hybrid Chinese Snake, cucumber bushes in a greenhouse are formed as shown in the photo. It is recommended to carry out the garter early. They are released into one stem. Axillary shoots are removed from below to a height of 30 cm. The procedure is necessary to ensure that the lower part of the plants is well ventilated.
Further formation of plants is carried out in different ways:
- Remove all axillary shoots. Only the main stem grows. The fruits ripen in the axils of the leaves. As the cucumbers are harvested, the lower leaves are trimmed. When there are no leaves or ovaries left below, the stem is lowered down. A ring is made from the stem at the bottom and tied.
- Let the cucumber grow on one stem. After removing the side shoots, they grow again from the axils of the leaves. Only one lower side shoot is left. He is sent up the same trellis.
- In the axils, the side lashes are removed not at the base of the main stem, but after 2 or 3 leaves.
Each gardener determines for himself the method of growing cucumbers that he likes.
Protection from diseases and pests
Based on the description of the Chinese snake hybrid given by the breeders, the cucumber is resistant to diseases and pests. However, it can be affected by rust. The disease is detected by red spots on the leaves. They quickly attack the entire plant. It is necessary to regularly inspect the bushes and remove affected leaves. It is recommended to burn them and sprinkle the rest of the plants with mustard powder.
Important! Rust affects young cucumber plants. Therefore, a thorough inspection is necessary after disembarkation.
During periods of high humidity, plants of the Chinese snake variety can be affected by anthracnose. For prevention, treatment is carried out with colloidal sulfur. Use the product "Hom".
Features of growing Chinese cucumbers
You can grow Chinese cucumbers in our latitudes both under cover and in unprotected soil. The agricultural technology of ordinary and Chinese cucumbers is similar, although to obtain a rich harvest of “Chinese” cucumbers, you need to take into account some of their features, as well as choose the appropriate variety.
Chinese cucumber seedlings are pre-grown in the same way as for our usual vegetables.
- How to sow cucumbers for seedlings: step-by-step master class
Detailed description of sowing cucumbers for seedlings and picking them (with illustrations).
At the age of 15-30 days (seedlings must have at least 9 leaves), the strengthened seedlings can already be planted in a greenhouse. Chinese cucumbers grow mainly in height and form few side shoots, so they can be planted more densely than ordinary cucumbers - it is enough to maintain a distance of about 20 cm between seedlings.
Chinese cucumbers do not need pollination because... are parthenocarpics. But at the same time, they can pollinate well with other varieties if they grow nearby.
After planting the seedlings, it is necessary to install vertical trellises to which the growing canes will be tied, and also mulch the soil, for example, with dry chopped straw or hay. Then comes the standard care of cucumbers in the greenhouse:
- daily spraying with warm water;
- regular watering as the top layer of soil dries out (this is especially important during fruiting so that the cucumbers do not become bitter);
- 3-4 fertilizing with urea (preferably foliar at the rate of 1 tablespoon of the drug per 10 liters of water) - 2 weeks after planting the seedlings in the ground, at the beginning of flowering and during the period of mass fruiting;
- harvesting every 1-2 days.
Growing Chinese cucumbers in open ground is also completely justified - the harvest will be slightly less than with the greenhouse method, but for our unstable climate it will be good, believe me. The thing is that “Chinese” are less susceptible to diseases and pests than ordinary cucumbers, and are also better adapted to lack of lighting and temperature changes.
With the seedling method, seedlings of Chinese cucumbers are planted in the garden in early April and the plants are immediately covered with film or spunbond until the threat of return frosts has passed. The bed is pre-fertilized with compost.
With the seedless method, the seeds are sown in the garden bed in May - early June, after the soil has warmed up to 15°C. In this case, you also cannot do without shelter.
In both cases, the installation of trellises is also necessary, and the principles of care will not differ from growing Chinese cucumbers in a greenhouse. In open ground, you can harvest the crop until mid-autumn, or even later.
Features of the variety
A distinctive feature of the Chinese snake is its long, slightly curled fruits at the end. In order to grow them properly, the crop must be tied up after transplanting into open ground or into a greenhouse. Otherwise, a plant with such heavy fruits will not be able to fully develop, which will lead to the death of the entire crop.
Gardeners also need to take into account that this variety cannot be grown in the same beds for a long time, as it greatly depletes the soil. Cucumbers need to be replanted every two years. To achieve good yields, it will be necessary to purchase new seed material.
The Chinese snake is distinguished by fruits that are slightly curled at the ends.
Country of origin, growing regions
The Chinese snake cucumber was bred by Chinese breeders. It was originally intended mainly for consumption raw, but later it was also used for preservation. The variety entered the State Register of Russia only in 2015.
In Russia, such a cucumber can be grown in greenhouse conditions in all regions. In the southern regions it can also be grown in open ground.
It should be remembered that this variety was bred specifically for cultivation in greenhouses. Under such conditions, the crop produces a higher yield and ripens earlier. It can be grown in open ground only if the average daily air temperature does not fall below +25 degrees Celsius.
Advantages and disadvantages
This hybrid has many advantages over other varieties of cucumbers. These include:
- high yield (Chinese snake bears fruit until frost);
- resistance to various diseases that affect other varieties of cucumbers;
- versatility of use - the fruits of the Chinese snake can be eaten in salads or used for preservation;
- high taste qualities - the fruits of this species are sweet, without a bitter aftertaste.
Chinese snake bears fruit until frost
The disadvantages of this culture include:
- poor storage quality - such cucumbers should be eaten a few hours after harvesting. How to store cucumbers fresh, read this link.
- low seed germination - out of 10 units of seed, only 3 sprout;
- the need to tie the stems of such cucumbers to a trellis.
This cucumber must be tied to a trellis.
Such fruits are not suitable for transportation to other regions for sale. Already on the second day they lose their taste and become soft and watery.
Chinese snake (Chinese snake)
Super early hybrid of Chinese cucumber. Russian selection 2015.
It is preferable to grow in film greenhouses and greenhouses, although it can also bear fruit well in open ground conditions. The harvest is harvested 35-37 days after germination. Productivity 10-15 kg per 1 sq.m.
It is unpretentious in care, pollinated by insects, tolerates lack of lighting and/or temperature changes, and is resistant to most diseases (powdery mildew, cladosporiosis, tobacco mosaic virus, etc.). Requires mandatory vertical garter.
The bushes are powerful, branched, well leafy. The stem is tall (up to 3.5 m long), with a minimal number of side shoots. The harvest grows quickly and develops throughout the long growing season.
The fruits are dark green (sometimes with thin white longitudinal stripes), narrow, long (up to 50-60 cm), weighing 150-300 g, with large but few tubercles, often bending in an arc (especially when overgrown). The pulp is juicy, without bitterness, the skin is thin, there are few seeds.
The taste is excellent. Purpose – salad (recommended for fresh consumption).
Pros and cons of the variety
The hybrid is popular among gardeners due to some advantages:
- the cucumber variety is resistant to major diseases;
- female flowers predominate on the plants, forming many ovaries;
- in greenhouses, cucumbers grow until frost;
- grows well without shelter, at temperatures above +25 degrees;
- the hybrid is resistant to temperature changes;
- The Chinese snake cucumber variety is distinguished by its high yield;
- vegetables have excellent taste, without bitterness;
- The use of cucumbers is universal.
Along with the advantages, gardeners note a number of disadvantages of the Chinese Snake variety:
- poor germination of Chinese snake cucumber seeds;
- fruits quickly change taste after picking;
- the variety is demanding on watering;
- cucumber produces long shoots;
- The Chinese kite takes up a lot of space.
Emerald Flow F1
An early hybrid of Chinese cucumber. Russian selection 2007.
It is preferable to grow in film greenhouses and greenhouses, although it can also bear fruit well in open ground conditions. The harvest is harvested 44-48 days after germination. Productivity 6-8 kg per 1 sq.m.
It is unpretentious in care, parthenocarpic (does not need pollination), tolerates lack of lighting and/or temperature changes, and is resistant to most diseases (powdery mildew, etc.). Requires mandatory vertical garter.
The bushes are very tall, branched, the stems are weakly intertwined. It reacts to pinching of side shoots by forming new ovaries. The fruits grow quickly and form throughout the long growing season.
The fruits are elongated-cylindrical in shape (sometimes slightly curved), dark green, long (up to 30-50 cm), weighing 100-200 g, with a thin tuberous skin. The pulp is juicy, aromatic, without bitterness, there are few seeds.
The taste is excellent. Recommended for fresh consumption.
Diseases and pests
The presented hybrid is resistant to diseases that affect other varieties of cucumbers. It is not afraid of diseases such as mosaic, powdery mildew, downy mildew and cladosporiosis. The only disease that can damage such bushes is rust. It appears in the form of large red spots that form on the leaves. This disease quickly affects all plants planted in the garden. To combat it, it is recommended to inspect the bushes daily, immediately pick off damaged leaves and be sure to burn them to stop the infection. Those plants that remain in the garden should be sprinkled with mustard powder. Read about diseases of cucumbers in this material.
It should be remembered that the disease can affect plants a few days after planting them in the garden. That is why you need to check their condition daily. The sooner you notice the disease, the faster you can get rid of it.
Chinese cold-resistant F1
Mid-early hybrid of Chinese cucumber. Russian selection.
It can be grown in open ground, greenhouses and winter greenhouses. The harvest is harvested 50-55 days after germination. Productivity up to 10 kg per 1 sq.m.
It is extremely unpretentious in care, parthenocarpic, shade-tolerant and cold-resistant, resistant to most diseases (fusarium wilt, powdery mildew, downy mildew, etc.). Requires mandatory vertical garter.
The bushes are powerful, intensively growing, medium leafy. The fruits grow quickly and form throughout the long growing season. The most abundant harvests are observed in the first 2-3 weeks of fruiting.
The fruits are elongated-cylindrical in shape (sometimes strongly curved), dark green, long (up to 30-50 cm), weighing 150-300 g, with a thin, very bumpy skin. The pulp is juicy, aromatic, without bitterness, there are few seeds.
The taste is excellent. Recommended for fresh consumption and preservation.
Reviews
Reviews from gardeners about the Chinese snake are mostly positive. The hybrid is distinguished by unusual fruits and excellent taste:
Vasilisa, Belgorod : “I’ve been growing the Chinese snake for the second year. A very unusual and tasty hybrid. Snake cucumbers are wonderful fresh, and when marinated they resemble gherkins. I feed the plants only with self-prepared fertilizers (bread and mullein).”
Ivan, Klin: “I tried to grow a Chinese snake for the first time after seeing this miracle on a neighbor’s property. The fruits are very long and thin, as in the photographs. The taste is sweet and fresh with an unusual aroma. When I want a salad, I simply break off part of a cucumber right in the garden. The remaining piece continues to grow. Very unusual, I will plant more. It is immediately necessary to clarify that other varieties are more suitable for harvesting for the winter. Although this one is tasty when preserved in pieces, it doesn’t look very nice in jars.”
History of selection and characteristics of culture
The Chinese snake cucumber is an early ripening, high-yielding vegetable crop. The variety was obtained at the beginning of the 21st century by Chinese breeders. In 2015, the Chinese snake was included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements. From this period it began to be grown in Russia.
Initially, the variety was bred to produce fruits in greenhouses. But, as vegetable growing practice has shown, cucumbers can also be grown in open-air garden beds.
According to the characteristics, Chinese snake is a fertile crop. By following the growing rules, every summer resident will be able to get giant, decorative cucumbers of unusual taste.
Agricultural technology or proper cultivation: sowing seeds for seedlings, picking
Preparatory work begins in the fall.
Preparing the beds:
- Prepare humus, sawdust and black soil in a ratio of 1:1:2. The resulting mixture is scattered onto the beds; it will decompose throughout the winter;
- In spring, the soil is fertilized with ammonia fertilizers, for example, saltpeter and superphosphate. You can also fertilize with ash. Phosphorus has a positive effect on ovary formation, ash improves the development of vegetative mass;
- Cucumber beds should be loose. To prevent the soil from drying out, it is mulched with sawdust or humus.
Sowing seeds for seedlings
The hybrid can be sown with seeds directly into the ground. However, the harvest will ripen much later, and many seeds will not sprout. Therefore, the seedling method is recommended for the hybrid:
- Seed material is soaked in warm water (up to +35 degrees). It is optimal to use a manganese solution by soaking for 10 minutes. Afterwards treatment with trichodermin is carried out;
- Afterwards, the seeds are sown in peat pots, deepened by 2 cm;
- The planting container must have a diameter of at least 25 cm, since the root system of the hybrid is larger compared to others;
- The temperature required for germination is +32…+35 degrees. Therefore, the containers are covered with film to create a greenhouse effect;
- After 6-12 days the sprouts will hatch. The cover is removed gradually. Initially, the seedlings are left without it for 2-3 hours a day, gradually increasing the time;
- As soon as the shoots grow to 15-20 cm, they can be planted in a permanent place of growth. This mostly happens towards the end of the third week.
Transplanting:
- Seedlings must be watered abundantly. Moisture deficiency has a negative impact on the set of vegetative mass and on the future harvest;
- During planting in the ground, the plants are fed. For each bush you will need 25 g of saltpeter, half a glass of ash;
- No more than 3-4 seedlings are placed per 1 m2.
Since the bush has unlimited growth, trellises are installed.
Harvesting and storage
The Chinese snake begins to produce its harvest in the first half of July. The cucumber grows very quickly, instantly overgrowing and becoming tough and broken. Overgrown vegetable varieties taste like zucchini. Therefore, Chinese snake greens are collected daily, preferably in the late evening, after 10-15 minutes. after watering - this stimulates the cucumber to bear fruit until the end of September. The variety is cut very carefully, without touching, if possible, other vines and leaving a third of the stalk on the bush.
This cucumber can easily be transported over any distance, but it is very poorly stored. Therefore, it is recommended to consume this variety of greens immediately after harvesting, maximum – after 2-3 days. Store Chinese snake on the top shelf of the refrigerator, vegetables are placed at a distance from each other, there should be enough air between them.
Preparing and sowing seeds
In order for the seeds to produce healthy shoots, they must first be prepared. To do this, they are kept in a solution of potassium permanganate for 10 minutes. In this case, the temperature of potassium permanganate should be at least +35°C. Then the seeds need to be treated with Trichodermin to prevent fungal diseases.
Growing container
Cups, pots or seedling boxes are suitable for sowing seeds. It is better to sow in smaller containers, as the variety has low germination. And if you sow in a box, it may turn out to be half empty, and it takes up more space than cups and pots. When shoots appear, they can be transplanted into a larger box. But it should be remembered that cucumbers do not like moving.
Did you know? In Ancient Egypt, cucumbers were depicted on sacrificial tables, and they were also placed in the tombs of the pharaohs.
Sowing
Before sowing, disinfected seeds must be germinated. To do this, place a damp cotton or gauze cloth on a small plate or saucer, and carefully place the seeds on it. It is necessary to place the seeds so that they are wet on both sides.
For rapid germination, you need to place the plate in a warm place. The higher the ambient temperature, the faster they will germinate. At a temperature of +30°C, germination will occur in 1–2 days.
Sprouted seeds should be planted in pre-moistened grooves, then sprinkled with 3 mm of soil. Glasses with sown seeds must be covered with film to create a favorable climate. It is recommended to place 2-3 seeds in glasses. When the sprouts emerge from the ground, the film can be removed. If you maintain a room temperature of +20°C, after 5–7 days you can expect the first leaves to appear. After the seeds germinate, leave the strongest plant in the glass. You cannot tear the sprouts out of the container; you can damage the sprout that you have chosen for seedlings.
Care
Watering
The cucumber crop responds positively to watering, so it is recommended to carry out the procedure every day.
- When planting on 1 bush, it is enough to pour 1 liter of water. In the future, when the vegetable grows, the dose can be increased to 10 liters. It is important that the liquid is heated throughout the day. It can be poured into a special container in the evening so that it has time to reach ambient temperature.
- If cucumbers are grown in a region with low humidity levels, you can water them twice a day: before sunrise and in the evening. When performing this procedure, it is necessary to ensure that drops do not fall on the stems and fruits, otherwise they may be damaged when exposed to the sun.
- If the soil under the greenhouse is not sufficiently moistened, the vegetables will not have time to gain the required amount of minerals, so during harvesting they will be small and bitter.
Loosening
The plant must be loosened regularly
The root system of the plant is located near the soil horizon, so you need to loosen the soil to a depth of no more than 5 cm. This is done so that the bush receives a sufficient amount of oxygen.
Weeding is carried out periodically to rid the cucumber from the growth of weeds.
These procedures are best performed after moistening the soil to prevent the formation of a crust on the surface, 2-3 times over the course of one month.
Stepsoning
This variety has practically no side branches, which prevent the main trunk from receiving the required amount of minerals. Sometimes preventive stepsoning should be carried out.
Pay attention to the tendrils with which the cucumber will cling to the support: if they are damaged, the plant will not be able to stretch upward and will soon wither.
Can you eat watermelon seeds? Beneficial properties and harm of watermelon seeds
To properly remove a side shoot, you need to find the area of the plant where it is growing from. Then take a knife or pruning shears and cut it at an angle of 30° at a distance of 4 cm from the main stem.
Fertilizer
During the formation of ovaries, it is necessary to apply mineral fertilizers approximately 3 times and organic matter - 2 times.
If feeding is carried out only for the first time, ammonium nitrate is an excellent remedy. To prepare the solution, about 15 g of raw materials and 1 liter of water are taken per bush.
After it is carried out (with a frequency of 1 week), the application of fertilizers alternates until the plant has collected a sufficient amount of nutrients.
Formation of lashes
In order for the plant to grow tall, it is necessary to build a support or a solid structure next to it, to which the stems will cling. Its construction will require piles up to 2 m high, located along the perimeter of the landing.
A week after placing the seedlings in the ground, it is necessary to tie the first stems to the supports. In the future, culture will do this itself.
Treatment for diseases
The Chinese snake is not susceptible to the negative effects of fungal pathogens, which are the main pests of this crop.
The only pathology of this variety is rust. If its signs are detected (the appearance of spots), it is necessary to remove the affected areas and burn them, and treat the rest of the bush with a solution of Bordeaux mixture.
Other pests include aphids and spider mites. Chemicals (Fitoverm) will come to the rescue.
To prevent the appearance of various diseases, you need to adhere to one rule - do not plant seedlings in areas where vegetables belonging to the Pumpkin family previously grew. You can plant dill next to the bushes, which is considered a good protector against attacks by harmful parasites.
Diseases and parasites
Chinese snake, like most other Asian varieties, is famous for its highly developed immunity. Pre-planting treatment with a disinfectant and compliance with the rules of agricultural technology (primarily warm watering and clean weeding) will be quite enough to protect the cucumber from most known diseases. However, in open ground, the gardener faces a serious struggle for the harvest with some types of parasitic insects.
Rust
Rust can infect a cucumber due to dampness and cold watering. The disease manifests itself in the formation of reddish-beige shapeless marks - first on the leaves, then on the stems. Chinese snakes are treated for rust by dusting them with chalk-lime powder. In case of severe infection, the plantings of the variety are treated with Bordeaux mixture - 2 times with a break of 1 week.
To prevent the Chinese snake plant, it is sprayed with an infusion of whey and iodine every 10 days. You should also not neglect loosening - water should not stagnate at the roots of the variety - otherwise the cucumber will begin to rust.
Thrips
A small dark brown cucumber beetle settles on the leaves of the variety and eats up the shoots. The main sign of the appearance of this parasite is small grayish dots on the foliage. If detected early, spraying with onion-garlic infusion will help rid the Chinese snake of pests. If there are a lot of thrips, the cucumber is treated with Agravertin, Karate, or Vertimek. In this case, the treatment is carried out in 2 stages - the plantings are sprayed after 8-9 days. If the Chinese snake is cultivated in a greenhouse, its walls are treated with a solution of copper sulfate.
Slugs
Cucumber often suffers from slug invasion in hot and rainy summers. Snails settle on the reverse side of the leaf. In the process of fighting the parasite, it is worth remembering that it is active in the dark. To rid the Chinese snake of slugs, in the evening under the bushes of the variety, bait is laid out - pieces of cardboard or thick paper soaked in beer or sugar syrup, and in the morning the snails that come across are collected. To prevent the appearance of these pests, a green or gray toad is placed in the area with the variety.
