Small, neat cucumbers have always attracted the attention of gardeners. They are usually called gherkins; the length of such cucumbers does not exceed 12 cm. Breeders have offered many gherkin varieties for the farmer to choose from. Among them, the Parisian Gherkin cucumber has gained particular popularity. Compared to its analogues, it is distinguished by its high yield and amazing taste of the vegetable. Growing this variety on your own plot of land is not at all difficult, but compliance with certain cultivation rules is mandatory to obtain a rich harvest.
Description of the variety
In order to understand the characteristics of the variety, a description of the Parisian Gherkin cucumber should be given:
- bee-pollinated variety, preferable for growing in open areas or in greenhouses with access for insects;
- The ripening of cucumbers of this variety occurs within 40-45 days after sowing the seed in the ground;
- the predominant female type of flowering gives the variety high productivity up to 4 kg/m2;
- The taste of cucumbers is excellent, the flesh is juicy, crispy, and quite dense;
- cucumbers do not contain bitterness;
- The average parameters of a cucumber are: length 10 cm, weight 85 g;
- bush plant, with medium length vine;
- the variety is drought resistant;
- cucumber is resistant to cladosporiosis, a mosaic virus.
You can learn more about the features of growing gherkin cucumbers in a greenhouse in the video:
The external qualities of the Parisian Gherkin cucumber can be assessed by looking at the photo below.
The variety "Paris Gherkin" is included in the domestic State Register and is considered zoned for the Central region. However, numerous reviews of the Parisian Gherkin cucumber claim that it can be successfully grown in more severe climatic conditions.
Methods of sowing seeds
Parisian gherkin cucumber seeds can be sown directly into the ground or into seedlings. For sowing directly into the ground, glazed seeds are recommended, which were treated in production with disinfectants and growth activators. Their germination rate is close to 100% and the onset of fruiting period will not be delayed. In this case, the manufacturer has established the recommended timing for sowing the seed in the ground:
- the first week of May is perfect for sowing seeds in a greenhouse;
- in beds with temporary polyethylene cover, seeds should be sown in mid-May;
- The last week of May is best suited for sowing on open beds.
In the absence of industrial seed treatment, it is preferable to germinate and sow seedlings at home. Cucumber seeds can be pre-disinfected by soaking them in a weak saline or manganese solution.When sowing, use full-bodied, filled seeds.
You can speed up the growth process of seedlings by germinating the seed. To do this, the seeds are placed in a moist, warm (270C) Wednesday. The hatched seeds are embedded in nutrient soil located in special containers. The dimensions of the container must be at least 8 cm in diameter. This will allow the plant’s root system to fully develop. Containers must have drainage holes.
Growing cucumber seedlings should be placed in a lighted place. The optimal temperature for its growth is considered to be 220C. When 2-3 cucumber leaves appear, the seedlings can be planted in the ground.
Features of cultivation
“Parisian gherkin” is represented by a fairly bushy plant, with developed lateral vines. In order for the leaves and ovaries to receive the required amount of light during the growth process, you need to adhere to the scheme when sowing the plant in the ground: no more than 4 bushes per 1 m2 land. In a greenhouse, the number of plants per 1 m2 should not exceed 3 bushes. Cucumber bushes of the "Parisian Gherkin" variety need staking. In the photo you can see one of the ways to tie cucumbers.
The plant is quite unpretentious; it only needs regular watering and fertilizing. It is recommended to feed cucumbers of the “Parisian Gherkin” variety twice before the fruiting period.
The high resistance of the cucumber variety to common diseases makes it possible to avoid spraying the plant with chemicals during the growth process. This makes the cucumber harvest as clean as possible from an environmental point of view.
The “Parisian Gherkin” cucumber variety has excellent characteristics: the plant’s bush is unpretentious and resistant to a number of diseases and unfavorable conditions. Cucumbers have an excellent taste and crunch. Small, neat vegetables are good fresh and pickled. Having decided to grow gherkin cucumbers, every gardener should definitely pay attention to this amazing variety.
