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Breeders have bred several varieties of bush cucumbers, popular in summer cottages and garden plots. All plants were intended by their properties for cultivation in commercial production. The bush cucumber variety Malysh for open ground celebrated its 20th anniversary several years ago, which emphasizes its attractiveness for vegetable growers.
Description
The Baby cucumber, as indicated in the description of the variety, is a determinate, compact bush-type plant with gherkin-shaped fruits. Cucumbers of the Malysh variety are distinguished by short stems, from 30 to 50 cm. Only in years with frequent warm rains, as well as in greenhouses, are the vines longer. They branch weakly; a characteristic feature of the variety is short internodes. The leaves are denser, as are the numerous ovaries of the cucumbers.
Each node bears up to 6 fruits. A cucumber bush of the Malysh variety produces 40-47 greens. The fruits are medium in size, up to 9-10 cm in length, cylindrical, with densely located large tubercles. The skin of cucumbers is tender, dark green, with characteristic light stripes converging towards the top of the fruit. In overripe cucumbers, the skin becomes significantly rougher. The pulp is juicy, elastic, crispy, without voids. Malysh cucumbers have excellent taste, without bitterness.The most popular weight of harvested greens is 60-80 g, larger ones are 100-120 g.
Characteristic
Reviews from gardeners about the Malysh cucumber indicate good yield - up to 2-2.5 kg of fruit per plant. The variety is early ripening, cucumbers are harvested 40-45 days after emergence. The authors of the variety, scientists from the Volgograd Experimental Station, created a plant for the Lower Volga region. Baby cucumbers show their inherent positive qualities in other areas as well. Often cucumbers of this variety, which have gained recognition, are grown indoors. Signs of varieties of bush cucumbers:
- Growing in open ground;
- There are only 1-2 undeveloped side branches;
- The main lash ends in inflorescences;
- Early fruiting, which lasts two to three weeks;
- Convenient care and harvesting due to limited growth of vines;
- The versatility of the fruit. Bush cucumbers are tasty in salads and retain their crunchy properties when pickled or canned.
Advantages
The green kids have found their lovers. Cucumbers of this variety have many advantages:
- High taste qualities;
- Stable yield;
- Precocity;
- Harmonious ripening of fruits;
- Cute, neat cucumber shape, convenient for pickling in jars;
- Excellent commercial properties: storage up to 10 days without loss of fresh taste, transportability;
- Developed immunity allows the plant to resist the cucumber mosaic virus and downy mildew;
- The rapid yield of the crop gives cucumbers the opportunity to avoid infection with fungal infections.
Some summer residents who are busy with their main job and come to the site once a week are dissatisfied with the quality of Malysh cucumbers, such as friendly fruiting.Indeed, the fruits of this variety must be collected daily, at least every other day. Only under such conditions does the gardener get smooth, beautiful, non-rough cucumbers.
Intensive fruiting also requires regular watering. When choosing cucumbers for growing, it is necessary to take into account these plant care factors and choose the most suitable varieties.
Growing
As is clear from the description of the variety, reviews from gardeners and photos of the plot with Malysh cucumbers, these plants with short stems can be planted more crowded. The row spacing is only 45 cm wide, and the holes are 20-25 cm apart. Cucumbers are sown directly into the ground or planted as seedlings. The latter method will ensure fruit ripening one to two weeks earlier.
How to grow cucumber seedlings
When growing the Malysh cucumber variety in seedlings, the seeds are sown in late April or May. Good plants develop from seeds from Aelita Agro.
- Separate containers are prepared for plants, since cucumbers die if their root system is damaged;
- Soil for seedlings is purchased in specialized stores;
- If you take garden soil, it is mixed with humus, compost or peat in a 1:1:1 ratio;
- Fertilizers are added to the substrate bucket: 30 g of nitrophoska and 2 tablespoons of wood ash;
- The seeds are disinfected in a pink solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes, then they can be treated with any stimulating drug according to the instructions;
- Experienced gardeners advise soak cucumber seeds The baby is in a nitrophoska solution, and then placed in the refrigerator for 3-4 days;
- Seed planting depth – 1.5-2 cm;
- The containers are placed on a tray and placed in a warm place for the cucumber seeds to germinate.
Seedling care
Shoots appear after 5-6 days. At a temperature of 28 degrees, seeds germinate on the 4th or 5th day. For the first three days, the sprouts are kept at a reduced temperature of up to 20 0Happy day and 16 0C at night, so as not to stretch out too quickly. Later, the favorable temperature for cucumber seedlings is 23 0During the day, at night it drops to 17 degrees. The sprouts are watered with warm water - up to 30 degrees, moderately, without waterlogging the soil.
When the cucumber seedlings form 4-5 large leaves, they are transplanted into open ground. Usually - at the beginning of June. Before transplanting, the plants are hardened off for a week to make it easier to acclimatize after moving. Young cucumbers roll over, carefully removing the cups, leaving the earthen lump intact. To do this, the seedlings are watered abundantly before moving.
Site preparation
Baby cucumbers like loamy and sandy loam soils with a neutral reaction. In the garden, for planting cucumbers, you need to choose those areas where peas, corn, potatoes or tomatoes were grown last year. It is better not to plant cucumbers after zucchini, melons and garlic.
- In autumn, humus or manure is added to the soil per 1 square meter. m add 25 g of potassium sulfate and 40 g of superphosphate;
- When loosening the soil in spring, it is enriched with 20 g of ammonium nitrate per 1 sq. m. m.
Sowing seeds in open ground
Cucumbers of the Malysh variety are sown in beds when the soil warms up to 15 degrees. Plant the seeds to a depth of 2.5-3 cm, in still damp soil. For faster seed germination, the holes are covered with film or agrofibre.You need to watch when the shoots appear and open the film, otherwise the sprouts may get burned if they come into contact with polyethylene. In case of return frosts, cover the tender shoots of cucumbers overnight.
Watering and loosening
For the good development of Baby cucumber plants, you need to monitor the condition of the site. Timely weeding, which includes removal weed and loosening the soil will contribute to the successful growth of the crop. Oxygen in loose soil, without a surface crust, will more actively flow to the roots, which strengthens the plant’s immunity.
Cucumbers are watered using sprinkling and drip irrigation. You need to be careful not to overwater the roots. Otherwise, bush diseases are possible. It is better to water the plants in the evening with water heated in the sun. During periods of drought, cucumbers are watered in the morning and evening.
Feeding
To fully realize their potential, Malysh cucumbers are given 3 or 4 feedings with potassium-phosphorus agents.
- The first time is fertilized at the beginning of the formation of buds;
- The next feedings are carried out after 10 days;
- Use complex fertilizers “Ideal”, “Rodnichok”, “Fertility”, “Breadwinner” and others, following the attached instructions;
- Mineral preparations are also added to organic matter. 200 g of mullein, 5 g of urea, potassium sulfate, and superphosphate are dissolved in 10 liters of water.
Protection from diseases and pests
Baby cucumbers can be affected by white and gray rot, root rot, spotting and cucumber mosaic.
- Preventively disinfect seeds and soil;
- Gardeners water the area under cucumbers with a solution of a glass of salt per 10 liters of water;
- A healthy plant is less susceptible to disease, and cucumber immunity is ensured by loosening the soil, killing weeds, fertilizing and proper watering.
Resistance to diseases and adherence to agricultural technology make it possible to grow bush plants in different climatic conditions.
