Chinese, or long-fruited cucumber, is a whole subspecies of the melon family. In appearance and taste, this vegetable is almost no different from ordinary cucumbers - green peel, dense and juicy pulp. This cucumber can reach 50-80 cm in length alone.
The plant can produce good yields both in a greenhouse and in open ground conditions. Resistant to disease, heat and tolerates low temperatures. Some varieties of Chinese cucumbers produce their first harvest within a month after sowing the seeds.
In addition to high yield (from 30 kg of cucumbers per bush), all varieties of this plant are distinguished by good taste and ease of cultivation.
Optimal planting density (4-5 plants per sq. m) allows you to save space in the greenhouse.
But there are also disadvantages.These include a low percentage (about 2%) of germination of cucumber seeds, a short shelf life of no more than a day, and the fact that some varieties of cucumbers are unsuitable for canning.
Varieties of Chinese cucumbers
The choice of Chinese cucumber variety depends on what they are intended for. They all differ not only in appearance, but also in ripening time and degree of resistance to cucumber diseases.
Cucumber variety "Chinese snake"
A variety bred specifically for growing in a greenhouse. It begins to bear fruit 30-40 days after the seedlings are planted in the ground. The fruits are bright green, grow up to 50-60 cm, and have a slightly convoluted shape. There are sparse and large tubercles on the skin. The pulp is juicy, with a slightly sweet aftertaste, without bitterness. Large fruits are good for salads. Cucumbers 12-15 cm long are tasty even when pickled. But picking small fruits is unprofitable when it comes to growing Chinese cucumbers on an industrial scale.
Cucumber variety "Chinese farm"
The hybrid belongs to the mid-early varieties; it begins to bear fruit 50-55 days after emergence. Seed germination is unstable, but the plant is hardy and powerful.
The fruits are smooth and cylindrical in shape. The peel is smooth, dark green in color. Cucumbers grow up to 45-50 cm and have an even cylindrical shape.
Cucumber variety "Chinese miracle"
The variety is unpretentious and heat-resistant - can withstand temperatures up to 40 degrees. It is distinguished by active and rapid germination of seeds.
Sprouts appear 5 days after sowing. The fruits are dark green, with a thin skin. The pulp of the Chinese miracle variety is dense, juicy, almost without seeds. Cucumbers are good in salads and in homemade preparations.
Cucumber variety "Alligator"
An early ripening hybrid, characterized by long-term fruiting. The fruits are long, thin, with juicy pulp. Peel with small frequent tubercles. The variety is suitable for canning. The plant is unpretentious in planting and care, resistant to many cucumber diseases. Alligator is a variety that is pollinated by bees, so it is recommended to plant fragrant flowers near the greenhouse to attract them. This video talks in detail about this particular variety of Chinese cucumbers:
Cucumber variety “Emerald Stream”
Mid-season variety with vigorous bushes. The fruits are dark green with large tubercles. They grow up to 55 cm in length. By the end of ripening, they gain an average weight of 200-250 g. Emerald Stream bears fruit for a very long time. Does not require sunlight, so it is ideal for growing in film greenhouses. The yield from one bush of this variety is 20-25 kg of cucumbers.
How to grow Chinese cucumber in a greenhouse
The agricultural technology for growing Chinese cucumbers differs little from the usual method. The main conditions for their stable growth are light, constant humidity, and fertile soil. This is easier to achieve in a greenhouse - there the Chinese cucumber will not depend on changes in weather. This has a beneficial effect on their growth and productivity. Regional climate characteristics are not particularly important when choosing a cucumber variety if they are planned to be grown in a greenhouse.
Soil preparation
The land for cucumbers begins to be prepared in the fall - from mid-October. The future planting site should be well ventilated and illuminated, so you should not plant plants close to the wall - you need a space of at least 1 m wide on each side.Since the plant has almost no side shoots, it will not take up much space and will not interfere with other plantings.
It is necessary to take care in advance about fertilizing for future plants. It is prepared in this way:
A deep container is installed in the greenhouse, into which layers of manure, fallen leaves, straw, nettles, and tomato stems are poured. Add a set of mineral fertilizers for melons and melons there. All this needs to be filled with water, covered with a lid or film and left until spring.
Chinese cucumber, like all melons, loves fertile soil saturated with organic fertilizers. The earth is dug up along with cow or horse manure and plant humus. At this stage, it is also recommended to apply mineral fertilizers - Kalimag, superphosphate and sawdust soaked in a solution of ammonium nitrate. Then the ground is well watered and covered with film.
Preparing seedlings
Chinese cucumber, just like regular cucumber, is grown as seedlings. It is harvested in late February - early March. Seeds are planted in separate plastic pots. For seedlings, purchased ready-made soil for indoor plants is well suited. A drainage hole is made in the pot, soil is poured and a seed is planted to a depth of 2-3 cm.
The earth is watered and each pot is covered with film. Seedlings can also be grown in the greenhouse itself - this will then facilitate the process of planting in the ground.
Legumes retain nitrogen in the soil and will help feed the roots of Chinese cucumbers. Before planting in the ground, bean stems are cut to the very roots.
The first shoots can be expected 7-10 days after sowing. But you shouldn’t throw away empty pots at the end of this period; some varieties can “sit in the ground” for up to two weeks.
As soon as the shoots appear, the seedlings are opened. Next, you need to monitor watering and air temperature. Plants are planted in the ground as soon as 2-3 leaves have formed on it.
Planting plants in the soil
Before planting, the film is removed from the prepared area and dug up again with the addition of sawdust and river sand. These additives will provide natural aeration to the root system - Chinese cucumbers need loose soil saturated with oxygen. Mineral and organic fertilizers are also added.
Now you need to install supports for the plants. It is better to do this before planting - the root system of these plants, regardless of the variety, is powerful and well developed. When digging trellises after planting, there is a risk of damaging the roots of the cucumbers. Plants grow strong and heavy, so the supporting structure must be strong and stable.
A hole is dug at the planting site. Its diameter should correspond to the size of the pot. The plant is carefully removed along with a lump of earth and planted in the ground. To avoid damaging the roots, this can be done by cutting the plastic pot lengthwise.
You need to add a little sawdust to the hole under the root, cover it with soil and water it.
Rules of care
During the growth process, it is necessary to monitor soil moisture and periodically feed the soil with mineral fertilizers and organic humus.To do this, you will need a container with fertilizing, which you prepared in advance. A lack of nutrients immediately affects the appearance of the fruit. The table below details changes in appearance, their causes, and how to help plants cope with them.
Appearance | Cause | How to help |
|---|---|---|
Fruits are too thin | Chinese cucumber lacks boron | Water the ground around the plant with a solution of borax (one and a half spoons per bucket of water) or boric acid (1 spoon per bucket of water) |
The fruits are shaped like hooks, and the leaves have acquired a yellow, dried border around the edges | There is not enough nitrogen in the soil | Water the soil around them with ammonium nitrate solution (30 g of nitrate per bucket of water) |
Pear-shaped fruits | Cucumbers lack potassium | Apply mineral potassium fertilizers to the soil before watering |
The fruits stop growing, the tips of the leaves dry out and turn black | Not enough calcium | Calcium fertilizers are sold in the form of tablets, which are dug in to a depth of 1-2 cm.
|
The leaves are thin and narrow, with a purple tint | Signs of phosphorus starvation | The lack of phosphorus can be compensated with the help of birch ash. It needs to be scattered around the plants and watered from above. Do not bury ash directly at the roots - it can burn them |
Feeding cucumbers It is carried out very carefully - fertilizer is scattered at a distance of 20-30 cm and the soil is lightly loosened to a depth of 5-6 cm so that it does not become compacted. As it grows, the stem is carefully tied to a trellis, cutting off the yellowed lower leaves.
Most greenhouse varieties pollinate themselves. During the flowering period, when warm weather is already setting in, you can open the greenhouse during the daytime. You just need to make sure there are no drafts.
Chinese cucumbers need water to grow properly.. With the appearance of the first fruits, the plant is watered and sprayed every day. Chemical and organic fertilizers should not be applied - the soil is already sufficiently saturated with everything necessary. Excess chemicals during the fruiting period can spoil the taste of the cucumbers themselves.
In open ground conditions, the plant bears fruit until the first frost.. In a greenhouse, the fruiting period can be increased. To do this, you need to heat the greenhouse. For optimal growth, it is necessary to maintain a constant temperature of 30-35 degrees.
Conclusion
Growing Chinese cucumbers is an interesting and profitable activity. With a minimum of financial costs and effort, you can collect up to 40 kg of tasty and aromatic fruits from just one bush. One cucumber is enough to feed an ordinary family of 3-5 people with fresh salad.
There is an opinion that a Chinese cucumber, after a part is cut off from it, continues to grow, and the cut restores its original structure. Experiments by gardeners have shown that this statement is only half true. Indeed, after cutting, the cucumber does not die, and can still grow a little. But the cut area dries out, and such a cucumber loses its presentation.
Therefore, it is better to adhere to the general rules for harvesting cucumbers, and the plants will delight you with tasty fruits for a long time.
