Cucumber Nectarine and Manduria: reviews, cultivation and care

What is cucumber

This vegetable is native to Central Asia. This hybrid was obtained by crossing cucumber and early ripening melon varieties. The plant belongs to the Pumpkin family. When unripe, the vegetable has the aroma and taste of a fresh cucumber, and after full ripening it turns yellow and becomes juicy, like a melon.

Did you know? 100 g of melon contains only 38 kcal, and the pulp of the fruit consists of 90% water.

Thus, a cucumber crossed with a melon produced a new type of fruit, which was called cucumber and combines the positive qualities of both crops.

Biological characteristics

Central Asia is considered the birthplace of the culture.
It was there that creative breeders “gave her life.” For the job, they took an ordinary cucumber and an early-ripening melon. Despite this, the plant belongs to the Pumpkin family. The unripe fruit has the taste and external characteristics of a cucumber. However, it later turns into a juicy melon with a bright yellow color. When scientists created a hybrid of cucumber and melon, they wanted to get not only the exotic taste and aroma of the fruit. The yield and beneficial properties of the crop played an important role. Over time, the set goals were achieved.

Ogurdynya has a number of positive qualities:

• the pulp contains an abundance of valuable components;
• refined taste;
• long fruiting;
• high yield rates;
• early ripeness of fruits;
• simple growing scheme.

The disadvantages of the hybrid include a tendency to disease, a short storage period and a low level of transportability. Despite this, many gardeners are happy to grow a hybrid on their plots. The length of the tops reaches about 2 m. The shoots are strewn with large green leaves. The root system is located very close to the soil surface. Flowering begins in May and continues until August. The buds are colored yellow.

The weight of ripe fruits often reaches 3 kg. Up to 20 hybrid vegetables are harvested from one crop.

Advantages and disadvantages of cucumber

When breeding cucumber, breeders wanted to get not only a new and exotic product, but also to endow it with good taste and yield indicators. Let's consider the main advantages of this culture and how it is useful for humans.

• The positive qualities of cucumber include:
• high content of vitamins and beneficial macro- and microelements in the fruits;
• early ripeness of vegetables;
• long fruiting period;
• high productivity;
• good taste;
• versatility of using fruits (for preparing salty and sweet dishes);
• ease of care.

• Fresh cucumber fruits can bring great benefits to the body:
• have antioxidant properties;
• stimulate metabolism;
• remove toxins from the body;
• are a good diuretic;
• promote the outflow of bile;
• help in the treatment of anemia.

• Ogurdynya also has minor disadvantages, which include:
• susceptibility of plants to bacterial diseases;
• short shelf life of fresh fruits;
• low transportability.

Cucumber cultivation and care

Preparing seeds, sowing seedlings

It will be good if the seeds are allowed to germinate before planting. To do this, place the seeds in a damp cloth or cotton wool and put them in a warm place. This will improve germination and also help determine the suitability of the seeds. In general, when growing seeds in seedlings, you don’t have to soak or germinate them. But if you plant directly into the ground, it is better to do it with sprouted seeds.

When planting, the seeds are placed on the edge, the seeding depth is 1.5-2 cm. Immediately after planting, it is necessary to water with warm water, and then do not water for 2-3 days.

Location, soil, lighting

Ogurdynia loves warm, sunny places, sheltered from the wind, fertile and light soil; it is good to add compost to the soil. The soil should be light and retain moisture well.

In the middle zone it is grown by seedlings, however, when grown in a greenhouse, it is quite possible to plant the seeds directly into the ground at the beginning and even the end of May. The distance between plants is from 50 cm to 1 m.

Cucumber care

While growing green mass, the plant needs regular watering, with a small amount of water, but the soil must be kept moist at all times. The root is superficial, so you need to water it a little, but often. Ogurdynya loves mulching - compost, hay, straw, it’s a good idea to sprinkle it with river sand. Feed with fertilizer containing nitrogen.

When the fruits begin to form, watering is reduced, and later stopped altogether, so that the fruits gain sugar content. At the initial stage of fruit formation, fertilizing with potassium fertilizers is good.

It is worth remembering that cucumber does not like frequent fertilizing and it can negatively affect the harvest.

Topping. In general, this cucumber variety can easily grow and produce a good harvest without pinching. However, bush shaping is recommended.

To get more fruits, the plant should be formed correctly: the main stem is pinched above the fifth leaf, and the side shoots behind the seventh or eighth. There are other recommendations for pinching, namely after the appearance of 3 or 4 fruits. Pinching the main stem stimulates the formation of side shoots with ovaries. But even here, gardeners usually leave 2-3 ovaries on the shoot, so that their excess quantity does not take too much energy from the mother stem to ripen excess fruits.

In greenhouses we tie the plant up.

Choosing the best variety

Cucumber combines the external characteristics of a cucumber and a melon, so its fruits have an unusual appearance and look very original in the garden.

Important! There are only about 15 varieties of cucumber, which differ from each other in the taste of the pulp, the size and shape of the ripe vegetables.

Let's look at a brief description of cucumber:

1. The total height of the plant can reach 2 m. The leaves of the bush are large and green.
2. The root system is well developed and is located close to the surface of the earth.
3. The vegetable is characterized by early ripening; the harvest can be harvested 1.5–2 months after planting.
4. The flowering period lasts from late May to late August. The flowers have yellow petals.
5. The early stage of ripening occurs at the end of June. The fruits taste like cucumbers, have green, pubescent skin, and are up to 12 cm long.
6. The vegetables fully ripen in August, take the shape of a melon and are covered with a thin yellow peel. At this time, their flesh becomes very aromatic and acquires a honey, fruity taste. Some varieties have ripe fruits similar to melon with the taste and aroma of cucumber.
7. The weight of a ripe fruit can reach 3 kg, and its length can be up to 50 cm. The vegetables contain few seeds and have juicy, creamy pulp.
8. The productivity of cucumber is quite high. From one plant you can harvest from 10 to 20 ripe vegetables.
9. The plant has good immunity to diseases and is not attacked by pests.

The most popular varieties include:

1. Manduria (Nectarine). The most common variety of cucumber. Ripe fruits can reach a length of 50 cm and are shaped like a torpedo. The flesh is crisp and juicy, very sweet and contains almost no seeds. The weight of one fruit is about 1–1.5 kg, and up to 10 vegetables can be formed on one bush. The ripening period for the first harvest is from 70 to 75 days.
2. Orenburgskaya. The fruits of this variety have an oval-oblong shape. The first harvest can be harvested 1–1.5 months after planting. When unripe, the vegetables reach 12 cm in length and have a characteristic cucumber taste. Ripe fruits retain their oblong shape and can weigh up to 2 kg; their pulp is juicy and sweet. The yield from 1 bush is 10–12 fruits.
3. Melonflehuozus. Includes a whole line of varieties (Taro, Dakgreen Marks, etc.). Ripe fruits have an elongated snake-like shape and sweet, juicy pulp with a sufficient number of seeds, which tastes like an ordinary melon. Ripening time ranges from 65 to 80 days, and the weight of one fruit is up to 5 kg with a length of about 90 cm. One bush can grow from 10 fruits.
4. Larton F1. The fruits of this variety are round in shape and ripen within 70–80 days from planting. The pulp of ripe cucumber is sweet, dense and crunchy, and has the taste and aroma of melon. The weight of one vegetable can reach 1.2 kg, and the yield can be up to 20 fruits from one bush.
5. Fasano. The fruits of this variety are round in shape and up to 15 cm in diameter. Their weight can reach 3 kg, and their length can be up to 40 cm. The pulp of ripe vegetables is very sweet. The first harvest can be harvested 60 days after sowing the seeds.

Varieties

Cucumber varieties differ in fruit shape, color, smell and taste. There are 15 varieties in total.

Varieties for those who prefer large-fruited crops:

• Manduria;
• Green;
• White;
• Orenburgskaya;
• Special;
• Candy.

Fruits of unusual color are produced by the following varieties:

• Tarot;
• Duck Green Label;
• Melanphlechuosus Sahio.

Smooth, slightly elongated fruits with incredibly sweet and fragrant pulp are obtained from varieties:

• Orange banana;
• Fisano;
• Banana;
• Caramel;
• Alexandria;
• New;
• Pineapple.

Reference . Silver melon, or Armenian cucumber, is often called cucumber. But these cultures are different. As the cucumber ripens, it turns into a melon. The Armenian cucumber looks like a long cucumber with a ribbed green or white surface. When overripe, the fruits turn yellow and lose their taste.

Optimal timing for cultivation

If you plant cucumber in open ground, the seeds are sown at the end of May. Although the plant is cold-resistant, late spring frosts can destroy the seedlings. The optimal time for sowing seeds for seedlings is the second half of April.

In this case, the seedlings will have time to form and become well established for planting in open ground. You can harvest ripe fruits before the first autumn frosts.

Planting a variety

Cucumber loves the sun, so choose a well-lit area without drafts. It should not be planted next to melons to prevent cross-pollination. In addition, when choosing a place to plant, it is worth considering what vegetables grew on the site last year. Pumpkin plants are bad predecessors. It is not recommended to plant them in the same place twice.

Soil preparation

The soil must be fertilized, since cucumber requires fertile soil. To do this, in the fall, in dug up beds of 1 square meter. m add 25 g of superphosphate, 12 g of potassium sulfate, 15 g of ammonium nitrate and 0.5 buckets of humus. If the soil is not saturated with useful substances, the fruits will not grow large and the taste will not please you.

Planting method

The vegetable is planted both by seedlings and by sowing seeds. If the second method is chosen, then it is carried out at the end of May. Cucumber seeds are pre-soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes. The size of the recess should be 1.5 cm, and the distance between the bushes should be 1 m.

The harvest can be harvested earlier if the crop is planted as seedlings. To grow it, the seeds are sown in pots in early May. Some gardeners do this in early April. In this case, the fruits are harvested at the beginning of summer.

Seedling

Seedlings are grown as follows:

1. They take the vessels. For example, cups. Fill them 3/4 with peat and humus (you can buy a special soil mixture).
2. One seed is placed in each.
3. They are deepened by 2-2.5 cm.
4. Put everything together in a box and cover it with film.

They are planted in a permanent place after about a month, when the temperature reaches 20°C. Seedlings are grown both in greenhouses and in open ground, but often the cultivation of a hybrid of cucumber and melon is carried out in greenhouse conditions, because temperature changes can adversely affect the growth of bushes. When grown in a heated greenhouse, the crop can be harvested for a long time, but not during the cold season.

When planting, you need to be careful not to damage the roots, from which you should not remove the earth ball. It is necessary to deepen it as much as possible, then a powerful root system will be formed. For better adaptation of plants in a new place, they are covered with non-woven material.

Features of growing crops

In the northern regions, to increase the volume of fruit harvest, it is recommended to grow cucumbers in a greenhouse. Seeds can also be sown directly into the ground, but for faster ripening of the crop, it is recommended to first grow seedlings.

Did you know? The world's largest melon was grown in Austria in 2009. The weight of the fetus was about 200 kg!

Let's take a closer look at how to grow cucumbers yourself.

Growing seedlings

Cucumber seeds can be found in specialized stores. Before planting, it is recommended to soak them in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 15–20 minutes to prevent fungal infections. Individual plastic cups filled with a mixture of humus and peat are most often used as containers for seedlings.

Let's look at step-by-step instructions for sowing seeds and growing seedlings:

1. Make small holes about 2 cm deep on the surface of the soil and water them a little.
2. Place seeds at the bottom of the depressions and sprinkle them with loose soil.
3. Place all the cups in a common box and cover with film.
4. Place the box in a well-lit and warm place. Sprouts appear after 4–5 days.
5. After germination of the planting material, containers with young seedlings should be kept at a temperature of at least +20°C in a well-lit place. There should be no drafts in the room.
6. If necessary, moderate watering should be done so that the soil in the cups does not dry out.
7. A month after sowing the seeds, young seedlings can be transplanted to a permanent place in a greenhouse or open ground.

Preparing the site for planting seedlings

To reap the maximum harvest from large and tasty fruits, you need to correctly determine the appropriate place for planting the crop.

A site for growing cucumbers must meet the following requirements:

• well lit by the sun;
• have fertile soil;
• be protected from drafts;
• be located away from melons to avoid cross-pollination of plants.

Important! It is not recommended to plant cucumber in an area that was used for growing pumpkin crops last year - this will lead to low yields and the ripening of small fruits.

The plot chosen in this way for growing vegetables must be properly prepared for planting seedlings.

The main preparatory steps are listed below:

• in the fall you need to dig up the soil and add fertilizers to it (humus, superphosphate, ammonium nitrate, potassium sulfate);
• loosen the soil in the spring;
• Before planting seedlings, water the soil a little and, if necessary, remove small weeds.

Rules for planting seedlings

When the weather becomes warm outside and the likelihood of night frosts disappears, young cucumber sprouts are transplanted into open ground.

It is best to carry out this procedure at the end of May or beginning of June, when the outside temperature is stable at about +20°C.

A step-by-step algorithm for planting cucumber seedlings in open ground is presented below:

1. Dig holes in the soil at a distance of at least 20–30 cm from each other.
2. Carefully remove the plant seedling from the individual container along with the earthen lump formed around the roots.
3. Immerse the seedling in the prepared hole as deeply as possible to form a developed root system. Cover the roots with soil.
4. Cover the rows of plants with a layer of film so that the sprouts better adapt to new conditions.

When replanting, you need to act very carefully so as not to expose the cucumber roots and damage them.

Pickle Manduria

This vegetable is versatile in use. At different stages of ripeness, it can be consumed like a cucumber or melon. According to external features, the hybrid has retained the spherical shape of a melon, and the stems and leaves of the plant remain from cucumber crops.

Description of Manduria cucumber

This is a climbing plant, its height does not exceed 2 m. The leaves are large, corner-shaped, cucumber-type. The Manduria cucumber bush is lush and massive, the shoots are strong, fleshy, capable of supporting the weight of large cucumbers and melons.

Fruits at the stage of technical maturity are light green, with vertical dark stripes, up to 12 cm long, weighing 100-200 g. At the stage of biological maturity, they become gray-green with small yellowish spots at the base. The skin is thin, covered with soft fluff. The shape is oval or round, weight ranges from 800 g to 1.2 kg. During this period, Cucumber Manduria acquires all the characteristics of a melon: taste, shape, aroma.

Manduria cucumber is distinguished from simple melon crops by its short growing season. The first fruits appear 70 days after planting, and after 90-100 days you can enjoy them. The ripening period is in June.

Important! This crop is good to grow in regions with a short summer period.

Planting cucumber Manduria

The crop is grown from seeds. They are planted as seedlings in early April. In this way, the first ripened cucumbers can be obtained already in early June. Manduria cucumber seeds are planted in special peat cups filled with a mixture of soil and humus.

As soon as the air temperature outside rises above + 20 ᵒC, the plants are transferred to open ground. The planting holes should be deep, so the seedling will develop a strong, branched root system and will be resistant to temperature changes and lack of precipitation.

You can sow Manduria cucumber at the end of May directly into open ground. Before planting, the seeds are soaked in a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate for half an hour. Then the seed is embedded in the soil to a depth of 1.5 cm. A distance of 0.5 m is maintained between seeds, and 1 m between rows. Manduria cucumber is a spreading, tall plant that needs space.

Growing and caring for Manduria cucumber

The culture grows well and bears fruit, like all melons, in open sunny areas. Cucumber Manduria needs regular and abundant watering. It is also worth considering that the crop is not grown using trellises, only horizontally. During the ripening period, the total weight of the crop on one bush reaches 20 kg, the plant may break.

As soon as the plant is 25 cm long, it is pinched to form side shoots. To do this, remove the central shoot after the 5th leaf. The lateral shoots should be pinched after the 8th leaf appears. No more than 4 ovaries should be left on each shoot to ensure larger melons.

Before the fruits ripen, Manduria cucumber is watered every other day, moderately. Once the melons begin to grow, reduce watering to keep them sweeter.

After planting and until the ovaries appear, the Manduria cucumber is fed with manure and saltpeter 2 times a month. For 1 bucket of water take 1 liter of cow dung and 1 tbsp. l. saltpeter. All components are dissolved to a liquid state.

Important! After the ovaries appear on the Manduria cucumber, they stop applying fertilizers.

Reviews of cucumber Manduria

Ivan Alekseevich Stepanov, 42 years old, Volgograd, bought Carosello Manduria (cucumber) thanks to reviews on the Internet. I wanted to try something exotic. The first greens began to ripen closer to July, later than the deadline stated by the authors of the hybrid. I attributed this drawback to the cool summer. The greens were thin, like pencils, and tasted like cucumber, only not as crunchy. Later they began to thicken and took on the shape of a real cucumber. At this stage I liked their taste more. In mid-July the fruits became completely round and dark. It tasted like real melon, but less sweet and aromatic. Vita Igorevna Menshova, 36 years old, Barnaul I waited a long time for germination, by the end of June Ogurdynya Manduria sprouted. At the end of July the fruits appeared. Thin, long, fresh. After a week, they began to taste like cucumbers, only softer; I liked them in the salad. It’s also good that they contain practically no seeds. In August, we finally waited for the cucumbers to turn into melons. Of course, our climate is different; you can’t grow other melons. In general, I liked Ogurdina Manduria more as a melon. Who likes a melon that is not cloying and not very aromatic, which can be grown in the cold, pay attention to the Manduria cucumber.

Basic rules of care

Ogurdina belongs to unpretentious plants, but without minimal care it will not be possible to get a good harvest of fruits. The bushes need to be watered in a timely manner and fertilized to stimulate the growth of green mass and the formation of ovaries.

In addition, you need to care for the soil around the plants, preventing the appearance of weeds and a dense earthen crust, which impairs the access of air and moisture to the roots. Let's look at all the intricacies of plant care in more detail.

Rules for watering and fertilizing

For active growth and the formation of many ovaries, the plant needs a sufficient amount of moisture and nutrients, so it is important to pay attention to proper watering of plants and timely application of fertilizers.

Watering and fertilizing the bush is carried out according to the following rules:

• You can water the bushes only with warm water;
• during the period of active growth of green mass and formation of ovaries, the cucumber is watered often, but not too much, so that the surface root system of the plant has time to absorb moisture and it does not stagnate in the soil;
• the soil around the plants should always be slightly moist;
• at the stage of fruit ripening, watering is reduced to increase the sugar content of vegetables and improve their taste;
• you can use an automatic drip irrigation system;
• in the phase of active growth and formation of ovaries, it is recommended to fertilize every 14 days with an aqueous solution of manure and nitrate;
• It is recommended to combine fertilization with watering so that the fertilizing is better absorbed by the root system of the plant.

Did you know? The famous navigator Christopher Columbus included fresh cucumbers in the diet of his ship's crew to protect sailors from scurvy.

You should not apply too much fertilizer containing nitrogen - this will lead to an increase in the volume of green mass and a decrease in the number and size of fruits.

Weeding and loosening

To prevent the weeds growing around the cucumber from drowning it out, you need to regularly weed the soil around the bush. This procedure must be performed carefully so as not to injure the roots of the plant located close to the surface of the earth. Removing weeds will help preserve all the moisture and nutrients contained in the soil for the cucumber plant and increase the yield of the crop.

After rains and watering, it is recommended to carefully loosen the soil around the plants to improve its breathability. To keep the soil loose longer, you can lay a layer of compost or hay mulch around the bush.

Bush formation

Cucumber bushes need shaping. To increase the yield, the stems of the bush are pinched and the number of ovaries that form on them is controlled.

The formation of a cucumber bush is carried out according to the following rules:

1. After the main stem of the plant reaches a length of 25 cm, it is pinched above the fifth leaf. This procedure will stop its growth and stimulate the formation of side shoots with fruit ovaries.
2. The side shoots are pinched above the 7–8th leaf, leaving 2–3 ovaries on them. It is not recommended to leave a larger number of ovaries, since the resulting fruits will grow small.
3. After 3–4 fruits form on the shoot, it is pinched at the level of the 2–3rd leaf located above the topmost vegetable to ensure the ripening of the formed fruits and to prevent the formation of new ovaries.
4. To satisfy the growing plant's need for water and nutrients, the side shoots of the bush lying on the ground can be buried in several places with earth to form additional roots.
5. You can install trellises next to the bush and let the shoots climb along them, but in this case you also need to take care to install supports so that heavy fruits do not break off the fragile branches.

Important! Proper formation of the bush will help avoid overloading the plant with fruits and ensure their uniform and high-quality ripening.

Ogurdynya "Matsaren"

Cucumber “Matsaren” is a hybrid of cucumber with an unusual appearance and taste. While almost all cucumbers have round or oval fruits, this one is distinguished by narrow, elongated fruits with a narrowed tip, which somewhat resembles a narrow pear. The peel has a sea green color.

Cucumber (Cucumis melo), variety "Matsaren". © Lyudmila Svetlitskaya

According to the manufacturer's promise, the average weight of a cucumber is 400-500 grams, which was true, since my melons weighed on average 300-400 grams and were 20-25 centimeters long. 3-4 fruits ripened on one bush. When sown in mid-May, they matured in mid-to-late August.

Fully ripened fruits become soft. For this reason, I was even afraid to taste the first fruit, considering it lost, but the aroma emanated from it was pleasant, so I took a risk and did not regret it.

Inside, this cucumber looks very elegant and resembles some kind of exotic fruit: inside the seed chamber there is a bright orange “jelly” with seeds, the flesh itself is greenish-yellow, and near the peel it turns bright green. When cut, a fairly strong pleasant aroma is felt, the layer of edible pulp is about 1.5 centimeters. The consistency of the pulp is crumbly and very sweet in taste, with an unusual pleasant aftertaste.

The only drawback of the variety: low transportability due to the softness of the fruits. Cucumbers of this variety were the only ones that burst during transportation from the site to the city. But, overall, in my opinion, the variety deserves a “5” rating. I recommend for landing.

Ogurdynya "Matsaren". © Lyudmila Svetlitskaya

Cucumber “Matsaren” in a section. © Lyudmila Svetlitskaya

Diseases and pests

Cucumber has good immunity to many diseases, but if grown and cared for improperly, it can be susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections.

The reasons for their occurrence may be:

• improper watering;
• excessive density of plantings;
• lack of preventive seed treatment;
• lack of sunlight combined with cool weather.

To prevent diseases it is recommended:

• regularly treat plant bushes with fungicides containing copper (for example, Fitosporin);
• follow recommendations on agricultural practices for growing plants;
• Do not plant cucumbers in the same area for 2 years in a row.

Let's consider ways to treat diseases and get rid of possible pests of this vegetable crop:

1. Bacterial rot. Symptoms of the disease are brown spots on the leaves, rotting of flowers and fruit ovaries. The affected parts of the bush must be completely cut off and burned, and the cut areas should be treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or sprayed with Bordeaux mixture.
2. Root rot. This disease occurs rarely, but can completely destroy plants. Symptoms of root rot are: yellowing of the lower part of the stem, brown color of the roots, wilting of the plant. A bush affected by the disease cannot be saved, so the plant is dug up along with its roots, and the place where it grows is watered with a solution of copper sulfate. To save the remaining bushes from the disease, the preventive measures described above are carried out.
3. Birds. When fully ripe, the fruits become very aromatic and sweet, so they can attract birds. Birds can damage the delicate skin of fruits, after which they quickly rot. To scare away birds, beds with cucumbers are covered with a layer of netting or various repellers are installed near the plants.

Cucumber "Green Beauty"

According to the description of the variety on the bag of seeds, the weight of the fruits of this hybrid is 500 grams. In my garden, I collected 6 fruits from one Green Beauty cucumber bush with an average weight of 350 grams, the largest reached 400 grams. The fruits, in addition to being round, may have a slightly elongated or pear-shaped shape. Everything turned out perfectly even, like balls.

Cucumber (Cucumis melo), variety "Green Beauty". © Lyudmila Svetlitskaya

The color of the peel, as in the picture, was a solid green with slight ripples, but when fully ripe, yellowness appeared in the upper part. The smell is weak. The flesh is bright green, which is why, at first glance, the fruit seems unripe, but at the same time the cucumber is so juicy that it even resembles jelly.

When I dared to try Green Beauty, it turned out that neither the first nor the second was true. Even when fully ripened, the pulp of this ogudyn retains an unusual bright green color. The taste, despite its unripe appearance, was simply amazing, very sweet, truly melon-like and slightly tart. Personally, it reminded me of the popular Ethiopian ribbed melon, and the manufacturer describes its aroma as reminiscent of Cantaloupe cantaloupe.

The pulp was not jelly-like, not hard or crumbly, but moderately elastic. The 18% sugars declared by the manufacturer also, apparently, were completely true. Still, I will give this variety a “4+” due to its too small size and layer of pulp (approximately 1 cm). I recommend trying it.

Cucumber "Green Beauty". © Lyudmila Svetlitskaya

Cross-section of Green Beauty cucumber. © Lyudmila Svetlitskaya

Rules for harvesting and storing crops

A special feature of cucumber is that it can be harvested at the initial stage of its ripening or when the fruits are fully ripe. Vegetables on the bush are formed continuously until autumn, so you can collect cucumber melon throughout the summer.

A list of basic rules for harvesting this crop is presented below:

• to prepare salty dishes, vegetables need to be cut 30–40 days after planting the seedlings, when the fruits do not differ in taste from cucumbers;
• To make cucumber jam, the fruits need to be picked only after they are fully ripe;
• ripe vegetables must be removed from the bush in a timely manner so that they do not draw out nutritious juices from it;
• Harvesting ripened fruits must be done carefully, trying not to damage the delicate skin of the vegetables;
• To extend the shelf life of fresh fruits, it is recommended to leave a stalk up to 5 cm long when cutting them.

Important! Cucumber fruits can be stored fresh for 50 days in a well-ventilated and dark room with an air temperature of about 0

°
WITH.

Ogurdynya “Lazy Dream”

The melon “Lazy Dream” looks very much like the melon of the popular variety “Kolkhoznitsa”. When fully ripe, it has a bright yellow thin skin and a very sweet taste with a melon aroma. The average weight of the fruit, according to information on the website of the seed seller, is one kilogram. Also, they write, these melons should be early and successful even in the cold summer.

Cucumber (Cucumis melo), variety “Lazy Dream”. © Natalya Gagarinova

Perhaps I came across too fresh seeds, but this variety produced female flowers later than all others, which means I had to wait longer for full ripeness. Therefore, when we actively ate other varieties of ripened cucumbers, we picked this one with a green peel. It was crispy, had a pleasant smell of freshness and was only a little sweet, more reminiscent of a tasty and sweet cucumber.

The fruit, picked later, in September, was yellow and, indeed, had the smell of melon and a sweet honey taste, the consistency of the flesh was crispy. The average weight of the fruit in my conditions is 400-500 grams, there are 4 melons on the bush. The main advantage of this variety is its relatively thick layer of pulp, which is not comparable to many other varieties of cucumbers. Based on the totality of its merits, my rating for the variety is “4”, although it could well have been “5” if the fruits had set earlier. I recommend trying it.

Cucumber (Cucumis melo), variety “Lazy Dream”. © Lyudmila Svetlitskaya

Cross-section of the Lazy Dream Ogurdynya. © Lyudmila Svetlitskaya

Recommendations for use

How cucumbers are eaten directly depends on the degree of ripeness of the collected fruits.

If the vegetables were collected at the initial stage of ripening, then they can be consumed:

• fresh - for preparing salads;
• for salting and marinating;
• for preparing various canned snacks.

At the stage of full ripening of the fruits, their taste changes and becomes sweet.

In this case, cucumber can be consumed:

• fresh - as an independent dessert;
• for preparing candied fruits and dried vegetable slices;
• for preparing compotes and fruit drinks;
• for jam for the winter.

Cucumber belongs to the universal and exotic plants, the fruits of which are ready for consumption in mid-summer and have excellent taste characteristics. By following simple recommendations for growing this unusual crop, you can get a generous harvest of vegetables that can be used to prepare both sweet and savory dishes.

Popular varieties

Today there are approximately 15 varieties of culture. Each of them has its own size, external features and taste.

The best varieties of cucumber include the following options::

• Banana;
• Melonflechuozus (Taro subspecies, Dakgrin Marks);
• Fasano;
• Larton F1;
• Manduria;
• Nectarine.

The last species on the list is considered the most popular and in demand variety among farmers. Its fruits, when ripe, reach 0.5 m in length and are shaped like a torpedo.

Nectarine cucumber pulp has:

• crispy character;
• juicy texture;
• richly sweet taste.

In addition, there is a small amount of seeds inside the fruit. The weight of the vegetable varies from 1 to 3 kg. About 10 vegetables grow on one crop. Full ripening of the fruit occurs in 75-80 days.

The original cucumber variety Manduria is a climbing crop. The height of its shoots often reaches 2 m. In terms of external characteristics, the foliage resembles cucumber plates, with narrowed edges. The strong branches are fleshy in nature, so they can easily support the weight of large striped fruits. At the technical stage of maturity, they are colored light green. Over time, they acquire a yellowish tint, which indicates an optimal level of ripeness.

The Manduria cucumber variety is suitable for cold regions with short summers.

Characteristics of cucumber

Some gardeners believe that cucumber is a tropical fruit that tastes like a vegetable. Cucumber is also called snake melon. A particularly popular variety of vegetable is cucumber-lemon.

No less popular is the “Chinese cucumber” variety. Summer residents argue a lot about the name and origin of the vegetable. But you can’t argue with the fact that cucumber has excellent taste!

• Green cucumber resembles a cucumber in appearance and taste.
• The ripe yellow vegetable has a taste and aroma similar to melon.

The peculiarity of the culture is that it is early ripening. With proper care, the harvest is harvested before the onset of autumn frosts. In recent years, gardeners have often grown cucumbers. And breeders are working to create new types of unique crops. The taste of cucumber may resemble:

• peach;
• banana;
• cucumber.

More than 15 varieties of vegetable crops are known. The most popular:

• white cucumber;
• special cucumber;
• Orenburg cucumber.

The average weight of a vegetable is 2.5 kg. The above varieties are early. Their stems are strong, the leaves are large, dark green. The snake-shaped cucumber deserves special attention. It is oblong, up to 90 cm long.

Hybrid of cucumber and melon Ogurdynya – review

An unusual gift from our mother-in-law almost led us to the Michurin Prize.))

The story of my acquaintance with this. uh. vegetable is very unusual.

How, indeed, is this Russian miracle itself? selection.

Last year, along with other seeds, my mother-in-law gave me cucumber .

She probably explained what it was and how to plant it, but I didn’t really listen.

Last year I didn’t have the chance to plant these seeds; they sat safely in an unheated temporary hut all winter.

I planted them at the same time as other cucumber seeds in May, along the grid.

By the way, all our other cucumbers burned this summer, as it was very hot and dry. But there is no cucumber. They are growing beautifully, and now they have finally begun to produce their first harvest.

I was sure that they would not sprout at all, because our winter was also very cold, up to -20, and I thought that the seeds were frozen.

Imagine my surprise when I saw the sprouts hatching. Confident that I was growing cucumbers, I watered them often and directed the vines onto the net.

And here the amazing story of our acquaintance with cucumbers is just beginning.

Having waited for the first fruits, my husband and I were surprised by their unusual stripes, like watermelons, their pear-shaped shape and the taste of zucchini.

After asking our neighbors, we came to the conclusion that this is a type of cucumber.

Several fruits were picked and added to salads.

By the way, later I found information that cucumbers at an early stage of maturity are indeed used as cucumbers. They can be eaten raw, added to salads, and even salted and pickled.

Well, then, in a conversation with my mother-in-law, I mentioned this miracle of selective science, and even joked that we had developed a new variety of squash and cucumbers.

Zucchini grew next to the cucumbers, and I assumed that they were cross-pollinated during flowering.

This is how cucumber blooms. Just like cucumbers:

And then my mother-in-law remembered that it was she who gave us the seeds. So that I plant it along the fence and use it as a hedge.

The frequency of cucumber leaves is indeed good. Thicker than cucumbers.

In general, she and I laughed and began to wait for the real ripeness of the cucumber.

And so, this morning, while watering the garden, I felt a rather strong pleasant aroma of ripe melon. At first I didn’t understand where he was coming from. Then I saw that several fruits had fallen from the vines, split open from ripeness, and were lying on the ground, emitting this wonderful honey aroma.

So, I invite you to take a closer look at this wonderful vegetable.

There is almost no information about cucumbers on the Internet. Therefore, I will write in my own words, although I have only been gardening for two years, I still don’t know much.

In terms of resistance to weather conditions and unpretentiousness, cucumbers are many times superior to cucumbers.

As I already wrote, unlike the burnt cucumbers, it was preserved perfectly and brought its fruits to us, surviving a very hot and dry summer.

I watered the cucumbers 1-2 times a day: morning and evening. Sometimes only in the morning or evening.

The number of fruits also exceeds this figure for cucumbers.

At the moment there are new flowers, there are ovaries, green and ripe fruits.

Here is the green fruit:

There is a slight waxy coating on the skin:

Ripe palm-sized fruits:

Now they have a pot-bellied oblong shape, just like melons. And before they looked like pears.

On the cut we see juicy and aromatic pulp. Inside there is a cavity with seeds. Everything is exactly the same as in an ordinary melon.

The peel is thin, no thicker than an apple. You can cut it, or you can eat it with it.

When cutting the fruit, the skin bursts and cracks, as if cutting a ripe watermelon:

The pulp is juicy and aromatic. The taste is exactly the same – honey melon.

It turns out that several varieties of cucumber are grown in Russia:

Currently, the following varieties are cultivated in Russia: Alexandria, Bananovaya, Caramel, Candy, Novinka, Fisano, Manguria, Pineapple, Improved, Special, Green, White. Plants of these varieties are powerful, with great fruiting potential. The fruits are from 30 to 50 cm long, wide, torpedo-like, very tasty, crispy, almost without seeds, they can be eaten directly with the skin.

Banana, Caramel, Candy. A real paradise for those with a sweet tooth!

The weight of one fruit is almost 250 grams.

But I couldn’t find the calorie content anywhere. I guess it's about the same as a regular melon.

I hope you learned something new from my review.

Of course, I recommend the cucumber.

At the very least, it is worth trying for its taste and unusualness.

Well, if you plant it on your site, I think it will be something to surprise your friends with.

And yes, it will also look great as a hedge!

What else grows in my garden:

Zucchini, and three recipes for delicious dishes made from it.

Sorrel, the review contains a recipe for an unusual casserole!

Horseradish is a horseradish recipe for all diseases!

Beans are an omelette for weight loss!

Well, as usual - I recommend a review of the site! – what am I doing here and how much am I earning?

Thank you all for your attention to the review! Have a delicious autumn!

Attractive qualities and varieties of cucumbers

And the reviews are as follows: first of all, cucumber spoils vegetable growers with a variety of shapes, colors and flavors. Its fruits have the rare ability to change their shape, color, taste and aroma depending on the stage of ripeness. At an early stage, they are no different from cucumbers and have a pleasant cucumber smell. At this time, they can be eaten fresh, prepared delicious salads, salted, pickled, used for all types of processing, during which they do not lose their original color and aroma.

When ripened, these fruits experience a miraculous transformation: they become like a melon and acquire a unique taste and melon aroma. The orange-yellow, juicy, sweet cucumber pulp with an orange-honey or banana flavor is a real treat for children. The most excellent preserves, the sweetest candied fruits, amazing jams, marmalades and compotes are prepared from it, and the amazing taste of dried slices of this fruit, as vegetable growers who have already mastered it say, cannot be expressed in words.

And one more thing: cucumber has a high yield, sufficient early maturity (1.5-2 months from planting to harvesting), cold resistance (although some advise growing cucumber in a greenhouse or hotbed in order to guarantee a harvest) and disease resistance. Many consider this vegetable to be the crop of the future and directly urge experimental enthusiasts not to stay away from growing cucumbers: “You will fall in love with this plant from the first days. It is simply a must for growing here in Russia. Try it and you will like it."

It would be surprising if there weren't some pretty negative responses. Something reminiscent of a line from a famous comedy film - “What a disgusting thing this jellied fish of yours is!” Presumably, this is because the real (desired) cucumber was obtained by crossing the best productive varieties of cucumbers and very early, sweet varieties of melons, which have proven themselves when grown in any climatic conditions.

When breeding this plant, only the best representatives of these two beautiful and popular crops were carefully selected for their beneficial properties and qualities. If this principle of crossing is violated, then naturally the quality of the vegetable will be completely different. The conclusion suggests itself: when mastering this type of plant, you should choose the best varieties of cucumbers.

It is possible that you will have to experiment with several varieties and choose the ones you like. But, I would like to think, this will not stop our enthusiastic vegetable growers. Currently, the following varieties are cultivated in Russia: Alexandria, Bananovaya, Caramel, Candy, Novinka, Fisano, Manguria, Pineapple, Improved, Special, Green, White. Plants of these varieties are powerful, with great fruiting potential. The fruits are from 30 to 50 cm long, wide, torpedo-like, very tasty, crispy, almost without seeds, they can be eaten directly with the skin.

Ogurdynya Orenburgskaya is also recommended for cultivation. This plant is strongly climbing, reminiscent of a cucumber, but the vines are stronger, with large melon-like leaves. Its unripe fruits (greens) up to 12 cm long can be picked at the end of June - beginning of July. The fruits are dark green, densely pubescent, tightly adjacent to the vines. As it grows, the fluff thins out and almost disappears. Can greens be eaten fresh or processed? - salt, pickle, preserve. By August they are fully ripe, become juicy, aromatic, two-kilogram melons of an elongated oval shape, painted yellow, and sometimes become netted. One bush grows up to 10-12 melons.

Ogurdynya

Green Dragon

A plant with long vines, spreading. The fruit has light green, aromatic pulp and is shaped like a pear. The peel is yellow-green with dark stripes. Looks very impressive in the garden.

Caring for the plant is the same as caring for a melon. The main stem is pinched above the 5th leaf to allow side shoots to grow. You need to water once a week, more often during drought.

Young fruits taste like cucumbers; as they ripen, they acquire a melon-like taste and aroma. They are well stored and the variety bears fruit for a long time, until the coldest weather. The price of one bag containing 5 seeds is about 95-100 rubles.

Cucumber care

To strengthen the rather weak root system of the cucumber plant during intensive growth of the bushes, new root shoots are regularly added. At the stage of active vegetation, every two weeks the cucumber bushes are fed with mullein solution. At the initial stage of growth and intensive growth of green mass, the cucumber is watered every other day and to maintain constantly high soil moisture, the surface of the earth around the bushes is mulched with straw, sawdust or compost. As the ovaries ripen, watering is gradually reduced, since an excess of moisture at this stage of cucumber development can lead to cracking of the fruit, a deterioration in its taste and a decrease in sugar content.

Starlings, pigeons and sparrows love to peck the delicious, sweet, thin-skinned cucumber fruits. To protect against these “feathered barbarians”, wind bells, mirror turntables and other repellent devices are installed in the area where the cucumber plant grows.

Cucumbers bear fruit until the first autumn frosts, the yield of individual bushes of this amazing garden crop can reach 25-30 kg per season, so by planting only 5-6 bushes of such an unusual vegetable on your plot, you can not only feast on its fresh fruits, but also make a lot of all kinds of delicious preparations from them.

Cultivation of cucumbers

Scientists and breeders are constantly working to develop new and improve existing plant species. Cucumber is a hybrid vegetable, a mixture of cucumber and melon of early varieties. Many people love the early ripening fruit; they recommend it to their friends and acquaintances, praising its beneficial properties and taste.

Benefit

The fruit has low calorie content and a rich composition that helps strengthen the immune system. This vegetable is especially useful for children. You can make a delicious sweet puree from it.

The benefits of the hybrid are also appreciated in the beauty field. It makes excellent masks and wraps.

Description

Fruits 8-12 cm long appear on the bush in June - early July. Green, they taste and look like cucumbers. When ripe, the fruit becomes similar in flesh to a melon. The taste of cucumber can even be banana or caramel, and the color depends on the variety.

The plant can reach 3 m in length, which is why it is compared to vines, and some people plant it along the hedge.

Varieties

Today there are already 15 varieties of hybrids on the market. You can easily choose the appropriate type for your site that matches your preferences in taste, size, etc. Don't settle on just one variety.

The following varieties of cucumber are popular: Osobaya, Candy, Belaya, Orenburgskaya, Manduria. These plants have strong stems and a lot of foliage, the weight of the fruit reaches 3 kg.

The following types of vegetables have a serpentine shape and unusual color: Taro, Melanflechuosus Sakhio, Mark Duck Green. These fruits are up to 90 cm long.

An elongated shape and large size are characteristic of the varieties Alexandria, Banana, Caramel, Novinka, Fisano, Larton, Pineapple, and Orange Banana.

Growing

There are many varieties of vegetables

When growing, it is necessary to take into account some characteristics of the crop. The plant “loves” a warm and dry climate, so a well-lit, ventilated and unshaded place, protected from drafts, is suitable.

The soil

The soil for cucumbers is the same as for cucumbers: loosened and capable of absorbing and retaining water. The plant is moisture-loving, so proper watering is especially important in the initial stages of its growth.

Landing

You can grow vegetables using seedlings or by sowing seeds in the ground. The planting method depends on your region of residence:

• for areas with a mild climate, they choose to plant seeds in the ground, doing this in the second half of May;
• in regions where the warm season is delayed and the summer itself is short, it is better to plant the plant using seedlings.

This culture is cold-resistant. Suitable for growing in a greenhouse.

Seed preparation

Before planting in open ground, cucumber seeds must be soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for half an hour. This measure will promote their rapid germination and determine which of them are unsuitable for planting.

Sowing

In the first stages, the issue of soil irrigation requires a lot of attention. Enough moisture will allow the seeds to germinate.

They are planted to a depth of 2 cm at a distance of 50-100 cm from each other.

When 5-6 leaves are formed on the plant, pinch off the top. This allows it to send out side shoots. By sprinkling some of them with soil, you promote the formation of additional roots, which makes the crop stronger and allows it to receive more moisture and nutrients from the soil.

Plants are easy to care for

Caring for crops consists of several simple rules. It is necessary to water the plant once a week, in a greenhouse - even less often (2 times a month)

It is important to do weeding regularly. It is better to remove unnecessary grass using pruners

Fertilizers are needed by the crop only during the growth stage. When the first ovaries appear, fertilizing must be stopped. The optimal type of feed would be manure, ash or minerals. They are applied around the shoots, being careful not to touch the plant itself.

Difficulties in growing

The main difficulty when growing is to provide the crop with a sufficient amount of water, avoiding waterlogging of the soil. The miracle plant is prone to bacterial diseases and ovary rotting. Before the next watering, look under the leaves; perhaps the soil has not yet dried out and it needs to be put aside.

Harvesting

Vegetables can be harvested within 1.5-2 months after planting. The crop bears fruit until the first frost. One bush can produce up to 20 fruits weighing 1-3 kg, depending on the variety.

It is recommended to store cucumbers in a dark and ventilated area. The air temperature should be around 0 °C. In such conditions, the fruits will be able to “lie” for about 50 days.

Growing

Armenian cucumber seeds are sown in the soil only after it has warmed up to +15-25 °C. It usually reaches this temperature in the second half of May. To ensure that the seeds germinate together, they are soaked in water with a root formation stimulator. At suitable temperature and air humidity, the first shoots appear within a week. In areas with a cool climate, the crop is grown by seedlings at the end of April. To avoid diving, seeds are planted directly in cups.

Experienced farmers prefer to buy seeds that are coated, which contains pesticides and nutritional components. They do not need preliminary preparation, so they are immediately planted in the soil. Treated seeds germinate better, and the plants grown from them are less sick and ultimately produce a generous harvest. Some gardeners independently collect seeds for further planting. To do this, choose a large, healthy and fully ripe fruit. Using a spoon, remove the seeds from it, wash them under running water and spread them in a thin layer on a napkin. Afterwards, the already dried seeds are placed in a glass container. Their shelf life is 3 years.

The Armenian cucumber tolerates slight soil salinity and grows in clay soils. It produces a good harvest when grown on fertile lands with low moisture levels. However, the most suitable soil for it is light and loose. Sunny areas are chosen for growing crops. Exposure to ultraviolet rays in this case does not cause harm, but, on the contrary, stimulates growth. Before planting, the soil is dug up and leveled. All weeds are removed along with the roots. When the soil is significantly depleted, mineral fertilizers are applied.

Attention! If the seed material is collected with your own hands, it is checked for quality: immersed in a container with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. The floating seeds are unsuitable for use, so they are thrown away.

The procedure for planting a cucumber is simple. Place 2-3 seeds in each hole to a depth of 5 cm. At the same time, maintain a distance between holes of at least 70 cm, and between rows - at least 150 cm. When planting seedlings, adhere to the following agrotechnical practices:

• make holes of shallow depth;
• a seedling is placed in the center;
• the roots are sprinkled with soil, but do not compact it;
• water abundantly.

It is worth noting that seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place only after 6-7 true leaves grow on it. If this is done earlier, it will be difficult for the plant to adapt to the new environment. Since the procedure is carried out after the threat of frost has disappeared, the plants do not need shelter. When growing crops in greenhouse conditions, carefully monitor the microclimate. Dry climate has the most favorable effect on Armenian cucumber.

Our experience in growing cucumbers

We began cultivating this culture in the late 90s, and to this day we cannot get enough of it. But it is better to grow it in a greenhouse, since in open ground plants often die due to weather conditions.

About cucumber varieties

Last season, 3 types of cucumber varieties were grown:

• white,
• green
• green improved.

They have few differences:

Listen to the radio broadcast:

How to achieve a good harvest of cucumbers. (The main summer resident of the country Andrey Tumanov)

• white young fruits are white, when ripe they are bright yellow,
• the green one has green and yellow,
• the improved one has the same, only the fruits are 2 times larger.

I’ll tell you about the care and cultivation and taste of cucumber.

We sow cucumbers in early April, and after two months we taste the first fruits, which taste like cucumbers: tasty, sweet, crunchy. But we have enough cucumbers for every taste, so we decided not to touch the cucumbers anymore, let them grow until the fall.

Last year, the main vine, approximately 1 m long, bore 3 fruits. We pinched the top, after which many side lashes appeared with the beginnings of new ovaries. But just at this time hot weather arrived, and after 3-4 days these ovaries fell off. This happened due to the fact that during the day the temperature in the greenhouse increased sharply, the pollen became sterile and the flowers did not have time to be pollinated.

But there were still 3 fruits left that started first. By the end of July, they reached a length of 50 cm and a weight of 1 kg, and became bright yellow and fragrant. And when we tried the first one, it turned out that it tasted like melon and had a thin, edible rind.

In mid-August, the heat became less severe, the rains passed, and a comfortable temperature was restored in the greenhouse. Something unimaginable began to happen in our cucumber “jungle”: a lot of long, thin cucumbers appeared on numerous shoots, which began to grow by leaps and bounds.

About the beneficial properties of cucumber

The ordinary, familiar melon has many advantages.

1. The fruit pulp contains
   easily digestible sugars,
2. starch,
3. organic acids,
4. proteins,
5. vitamins,
6. fiber,
7. pectin,
8. various mineral salts.
9. It contains substances that help the production of serotonin - the hormone of happiness. If you feel sad, eat a few pieces of melon and your mood will improve.

Cold resistance and unpretentiousness of cucumber

Despite the fact that melon is considered a heat-loving plant, its fruits do not ripen in every climate. The main advantage of cucumber is its cold resistance. This culture is young and not yet widespread. It can grow without shelter in cool climates and is undemanding when it comes to watering. It does not get sick like cucumbers, and it is also early-ripening and productive, compared to ordinary melons (ripens within a month after fruit set).

From one plant at a time you can collect up to 12 or even more fruits, while the plant bears fruit without interruption. Soon, I think, every gardener who grows cucumbers will have the opportunity to plant this crop and get a melon harvest in sufficient quantities - for food and improved health. Cucumber fruits are stored for 20 to 50 days, depending on ripeness and storage conditions, and they can be consumed directly with the peel.

Boarding times and rules

The timing of planting cucumber seeds depends on the method of sowing them: seedlings or directly into open ground.
To speed up fruiting, the seedling method is preferable. Cucumber Prestige

Sowing of seedlings is carried out at the end of April, and after a month the young seedlings are planted in a permanent place. Sowing directly into open ground is carried out at the end of May, when the ground has warmed up sufficiently. The seed placement depth is 1.5 cm, and they are placed at a distance of 1 m from each other. The planting pattern for the seedling method remains the same, but the depth of sowing in cups is 2-2.5 cm.

Important! When sowing seeds in open ground, not all may sprout. To ensure that there are no “holes” in the plantings, cucumbers can be planted in twos, and when seedlings appear, thin them out. The strong sprout is left, and the second one is pinched at soil level so as not to damage the roots that have grown together.

Before sowing, it is necessary to carry out preventive seed treatment. To do this, they need to be soaked in a solution of Epin to stimulate growth, and for disinfection - in a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

The pre-landing stage of site preparation is very important. Since the melon cucumber belongs to the melon crops, it, like other representatives of this group, needs good lighting and will grow well in a windless area. Therefore, cucumbers are often planted in greenhouses.

cucumber needs lighting

Note! In open ground, places are allocated for them near fences, tanks and other structures for protection from winds.

The beds are formed into warm ones: they are filled with compost, humus and other organic matter, and sprinkled with a layer of loose soil. In poor soil, the hybrid will also grow, but the fruits will be small and not at all sweet.

Care

Since the Armenian cucumber does not like excess moisture, it is watered abundantly, but infrequently. In dry and hot weather, this is done about once a week. If there is periodic precipitation, the frequency of the procedure is reduced to twice a month. Water the plant with settled water heated in the sun. The use of cool liquid is unacceptable. This can lead to plant stunting and reduced yield. Water Armenian cucumbers at the root, trying not to wet the tops. Getting water on the leaves can lead to the development of diseases. To help the soil retain moisture longer, it is mulched. To do this, use straw, rotted compost or dry leaves.

The most commonly used fertilizers are:

1. Vermicompost is a natural fertilizer that contains many macro- and microelements, phytohormones and amino acids. They are fertilized once every 10 days before fruiting begins.
2. Humus. It contains substances necessary for the growth, development and fruiting of the plant.
3. Nitrogen fertilizers. The Armenian cucumber needs them most before flowering.
4. Phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. They are needed for the formation and ripening of fruits.

In order for the plant to grow well and develop properly, gardeners regularly remove weeds. Grass takes moisture and nutrients from the ground and shades the crop. The soil is loosened at least 2 times a week. After this procedure, oxygen enters in greater quantities to the root system and it becomes stronger. To prevent the fruits from contacting the ground, wooden trellises are installed and shoots are directed along them for vertical growth.

Characteristics of the variety

An early-ripening melon crop, intended for cultivation both in greenhouses and in open ground. The growing season (from the first shoots to the first harvest) is 70-80 days. An unusual vegetable with the taste of melon and cucumber is characterized by a long and continuous fruiting period, right up to frost.

Armenian cucumber (see photo) is a long-climbing, powerful plant that forms a large number of side shoots with large, light green, round leaves. The main whip can grow up to 4 meters in length. On average, from 5 to 10 cylindrical fruits of a soft light green color are formed on the plant, with a characteristic silver edge. Armenian cucumbers are much larger than we grow in our beds. The length of fully mature fruits is 40-50 cm with a weight of about 1 kg.

Bright green cucumbers are used both fresh and for canning. The pulp of the fruit is dense, white, juicy and crispy, slightly sweet with the taste of melon. Greens should be collected in a timely manner, otherwise their skin will become rough, they will turn yellow, and lose their aroma and taste. Armenian cucumber is characterized by high yield and good seed germination.

Despite the great similarity with the usual cucumbers, the fruits of the Armenian exotic have a number of distinctive features:

• the skin never has the bitter taste that often appears in ordinary cucumbers;
• the fruits of the Armenian cucumber smell like melon;
• the presence of a sweetish cucumber taste;
• gigantic fruit size.