Today we want to draw attention to the Chinese cucumber. Probably, someone has heard about it before, but it’s unlikely that they tried to plant it in open ground in their garden. This culture is worth special attention, so let's take a closer look at it.
Description and features of Chinese cucumbers
This hybrid of cucumbers differs from the usual and familiar fruits of the pumpkin family. Chinese cucumbers have different sizes, tastes, and biological characteristics.If you look at it at least once, you will understand that they definitely cannot be confused with simple, familiar cucumbers. The length of the fruits of these hybrids is from 35 to 80 centimeters. They taste sweetish and, depending on the variety, can have the aroma of melon or watermelon. There can be no bitterness in Chinese cucumbers; their skin has a sweetish taste. In the center of the fruit there is a narrow chamber where the seeds are located. The yield of these cucumbers is simply colossal: from one bush you can get up to 30 kilograms of fruit.
To get a good harvest, it is recommended to grow Chinese cucumbers in a greenhouse, but it also works well in open soil. The hybrid grows in both the southern and northern regions of the country. One of the most pleasant features of these cucumbers is their early ripening, since the first fruits appear 25–30 days after planting. It is worth considering that if you are going to grow Chinese cucumbers just for yourself, then you should not plant a lot of seeds in open ground. One fruit is enough to make a salad for 3-4 people.
By the way, it is worth noting the increased productivity of this hybrid of cucumbers; they will bear fruit right up to the onset of frost. Chinese cucumbers are also not afraid of most of the diseases that cucumbers are most often exposed to; they are also self-pollinating, shade-tolerant and climbing.
We have told you many advantages of this type of cucumber, but there are also certain disadvantages:
- They cannot be stored for a long time; it is advisable to eat the fruit on the same day it was picked, otherwise they become soft.
- Some varieties of Chinese cucumbers are suitable exclusively for making salads.
- Low seed germination.
- It is necessary to make a vertical garter or the fruits will be extremely unpleasant to look at.
Main varieties of Chinese cucumbers
Today there are a huge number of different Chinese cucumber seeds in stores; they have long been not uncommon. If you have never planted this hybrid before, it will be difficult to choose any variety. We have prepared brief descriptions so that you can study the main varieties of Chinese cucumbers that are most often planted and choose the most suitable ones for yourself.
Chinese kite
This variety is early ripening, the first fruits are formed 30–40 days after the planting process. The variety is bred in greenhouses. The fruits are formed from 50 to 60 centimeters and have a bright green color. The pulp is juicy and the best thing is: it is without bitterness. Larger fruits are great for salads, and those that are 12–15 centimeters long are most often pickled. If you plan to grow this type of cucumber on an industrial scale, there is no point in picking small fruits.
Alligator
The hybrid does not require special care and is not afraid of most diseases that cucumbers are most often exposed to. Alligator F1 is a variety pollinated by bees, which is why it is better to plant any flowers that attract insects near greenhouses. Cucumber fruits are long, thin and have juicy pulp. There are small but frequent tubercles on the peel. Alligator cucumber is great for canning.
A real man
This hybrid of cucumbers is mid-season and has only positive reviews. The first fruits should be expected 48–54 days after the seedlings have formed. Like the previous variety, “Real Man F1” is pollinated by bees. The fruits have large tubercles and are cylindrical in shape. The length of cucumbers is generally from 30 to 40 centimeters, and their weight is 300–400 grams. There are white, prickly spines on the skin.Approximate yield is from 8–10 kg per square meter.
The variety is great for making salads. The pickled "Real Man" is also quite good. The hybrid is shade-tolerant and resistant to cloudy weather.
Chinese miracle
The Chinese miracle cucumber is not afraid of many cucumber diseases, and it is also cold-resistant. It always has high yields, but, alas, late ripening. The first fruits can be seen 60–70 days after planting. The length of cucumbers can reach 60 centimeters, their shape is cylindrical, and there are small tubercles on the skin. They are not fussy to grow.
Chinese miracle cucumbers have one drawback - the fruits cannot be stored for a long time. It is advisable to consume the grown cucumber or preserve it on the first day after it is picked.
Confucius's Favorite F1
Confucius's favorite early-ripening parthenocarpic cucumber is suitable for spring greenhouses, vegetable gardens or film shelters. The first fruits should be expected 40–45 days after germination. The length of the fruit is 35–38 centimeters with large tubercles and white spines. These cucumbers are resistant to most diseases and are used for pickling.
Chinese Farmer F1
The Chinese Farmer variety is mid-early. It is great for planting both indoors and outdoors. The hybrid is pollinated by bees and other insects. The first fruit is formed 48–54 days after planting.
Farm cucumber bushes have short shoots and powerful stems. The shape of the fruit is cylindrical. Their length is 30–45 cm and their weight is 200–300 grams. Tastes sweet and crunchy. Fruits without bitterness and voids. Cucumbers are good for salads, and one fruit can be enough for the whole family.
Chinese heat resistant
The description of the species is short, the Chinese Heat-resistant cucumber F1 belongs to the mid-early varieties, is not afraid of heat and bears fruit even at a temperature of 35 degrees. The length of the fruit reaches 50 cm. Chinese heat-resistant cucumbers bear fruit for a long time.
White delicacy
The fruits of this species have excellent characteristics: they are elongated and canonical in shape. This is probably the only variety of Chinese cucumbers with a very short length, from 12 to 15 cm; mainly, varieties of Chinese cucumbers are long-fruited. They have thin skin and slightly sweet, pleasant-tasting pulp. They are able to resist most diseases; Chinese cucumbers are also cold-resistant F1, so they are not afraid of sudden temperature changes and frosts. Suitable for both fresh consumption and subsequent preservation. The hybrid is one of the best.
Emerald Stream
The hybrid is early ripening and self-pollinating. Suitable for growing cucumbers in greenhouses, open ground, greenhouse, balcony. Its fruits are long and smooth, cylindrical in shape. The taste is pleasant. The bushes are medium-sized, the flowers of the plant are collected in a bouquet. The hybrid bears fruit for a long time and is able to resist most diseases.
How to grow it correctly?
Growing Chinese cucumbers in open ground is a simple process. First you need to choose the right seeds, a saline solution will help with this. You need to dilute 50 grams of salt in one liter of water and put the seeds there. Planting material of poor quality will float, but good quality will remain at the bottom. Take it out and rinse with cold water.
The next stage is heating the seed. It is placed in a thermostat with a temperature of 50 degrees.After this, the disinfection stage begins, when the seeds are disinfected by placing them in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 10 minutes. After this, all that remains is to soak them and wait for the first shoots to appear. The hatched seeds are planted in the ground.
To get early fruits, cucumbers are grown using seedlings. Because of the root system, pots with a diameter of at least 25 centimeters are used. Planting of seeds is done to a depth of at least 4 meters. The first shoots will appear after 6 days.
Care
The principle of caring for Chinese cucumbers is not very different from the simple cucumbers we are used to. The only difference is the need to regularly tie the cane to the trellis, since the Chinese cucumber is a climbing cucumber. Feeding is also needed:
- 2 weeks after landing.
- When does flowering begin?
- 3–4 when the fruits begin to appear.
There is no need to feed the Chinese cucumber a lot, the main thing is to observe, if something is wrong, the plant will let you know about it.
Conclusion
We have not considered such varieties as Chinese disease-resistant F1 and To the sky F1, however, we have given you a general idea of Chinese cucumbers. Learn how to grow Chinese miracle cucumbers and choose other suitable varieties.
