Vegetables with early ripening periods are extremely popular among land owners. These include the Serpentine cucumber, which is also undemanding in care. If you sow the seeds in early May, the first harvest will be ready for harvest by mid-June.
Description of the variety
Pollination of flower stalks is natural, that is, with the participation of insects. Mixed flowering. The climbing ability of cucumbers of this variety is strong, numerous shoots are strong and strong. The leaves are medium-sized and have a rich green color.
Fruits are elongated. Their length reaches 10 centimeters, and their weight is 70–80 grams. Reviews say that cucumbers have a distinct, specific taste that is difficult to confuse with any other variety. The flesh is very crispy, without the slightest bitterness. There is no unpleasant aftertaste after use. When overripe, the fruits do not turn yellow. They have dense skin with pronounced tubercles, and slight ribbing. The color of the cucumbers is light green, there are barely noticeable stripes.
Advantages and disadvantages
Among other advantages of the Serpentine variety, it is worth highlighting its high yield. From each bush, up to 6 kg of cucumbers with high commercial and taste characteristics are harvested. In addition, it is favorably distinguished by such qualities as:
- short growing season;
- good resistance to major diseases;
- suitable for cultivation in open ground and in greenhouse conditions;
- has excellent taste;
- has an original appearance;
- universal purpose (used for all types of canning and processing, and also consumed fresh);
- not afraid of spring night frosts;
- Suitable for cultivation both in the middle zone and in Siberia.
Practicing gardeners who have already tested the variety on their own plots of land give extremely positive characteristics. No deficiencies have been identified in Serpentine cucumbers. This only includes the need for frequent loosening of the soil, since the root system constantly needs oxygen.
Features of cultivation
The description of the Serpentine variety says that the seeds begin to be sown in the ground as soon as the threat of night frosts has passed. As a rule, this is the beginning of May. The seedling method of cultivation is also allowed, but Serpentine cucumbers should not be allowed to outgrow.Otherwise, they will not take root well. There is a risk of breaking the fragile stems of cucumbers when transplanting.
The distance between bushes when planting should be at least half a meter. Cucumber seeds are sown to a depth of no more than 5 cm. They try to select soil with a good drainage layer, as well as a slight nitrogen deficiency. Soil with high acidity is treated with a small amount of lime before sowing cucumbers.
Serpentine is an unpretentious variety and does not require special care.
Water the plants as the soil dries thoroughly. This quality sets the cucumber apart from its counterparts, which require constant watering and maintaining soil moisture. Feeding is done once a week, but not more often. They try to water Serpentine cucumbers in the evening hours to avoid sun activity. If possible, the water is heated so as not to cause stress to the root system.
Serpentine produces excellent harvests even in unfavorable climate conditions.
Fruiting can be called stable; no gardener has ever been left without a harvest. Harvested cucumbers are well stored for a long period of time, which makes it possible to transport them over long distances without losing their marketability and taste. This advantage caused real delight among Siberian farmers and ordinary gardeners, who immediately planted the useful vegetable on their plots of land. Serpentine is suitable for cultivation on an industrial scale, outperforming competitors in all key parameters.
