Cultivation of cucumbers - rules and whims
Planting and caring for cucumbers - simple rules and correct tricks
Doing an audit in a box of seeds, I suddenly thought that a long time ago in the press I did not meet letters about how to properly harvest the planting material of cucumbers. Why do I care so much about this question? Yes, because I (I do not know how others) consider cucumbers our third bread.
I remembered my own - literally bitter - experience.
In 1990, we moved to an urban-type settlement. And here he is, his own house, and most importantly - the long-awaited piece of land. And no gardening experience! And where does he come from, if we lived 26 years on the fifth floor, and we only saw the beds from the window of the intercity bus? So I had to learn the basics of gardening by questioning experienced housewives, looking for literature that could help me learn how to manage on earth. And I had to learn everything, including how to collect my seeds myself. After all, I must say that in the 90s it was very difficult to buy good elite seeds. So the housewives tried to grow their own. I studied too. How to plant beetroot and carrot seed plants, how to collect seeds from tomatoes, peppers and, of course, cucumbers. It was then that I came across several problems that I want to talk about. It turned out that collecting cucumber seeds is not so difficult, but what will grow out of them is a big question ...
At first I collected seeds from ordinary trihedral cucumbers. And so, when she sowed her seeds, she received a fragrant blossoming field. Yes, there were a lot of flowers, but all this was a void. The very same cucumbers were born very little. And that's why.
It turns out that it is not necessary to plant freshly harvested seeds of this crop, but rather two, or even three years ago. Moreover, it is desirable to warm them well - hold for a month before sowing in a very warm place.
In a city apartment seeds can be poured into a canvas bag, suspended near the battery. In my own house I put it on the pipe or just on the stove. There is another way to make cucumbers give more female flowers. To do this, you need to pinch the central stem of growing cucumbers after the fifth or sixth real leaf, so that lateral stepsons grow faster. It is on them that most of all and there are flowers of a female type.
All these tricks were told to me by one experienced gardener. He told me which cucumbers to choose seeds from. Namely - from tetrahedral, that is, women.
But that's not all. Here's how you think, where do you have to choose seeds? The same friend explained to me the error of the belief among the gardeners that it should be made from 2 / 3 cucumber. In fact, it is best to choose them from the middle of the fetus! Having taken all the advice into consideration, I tried to correct my mistakes.
Having prepared the seeds according to all the rules, I sowed. And I got it - it’s directly obvious, incredible. Most of the cucumbers were ugly precisely tetrahedral, or rather, simply scanty (the neighbor even called them parallelepipeds). And this is instead of beautiful, spicy and such familiar trihedral cucumbers! So much for the “females.”
Reference by topic: Cultivation of cucumbers without poisons and chemicals on beds
As for the taste, I was already convinced that the cucumbers are bitter, regardless of whether the seeds were selected from trihedral or tetrahedral. They are bitterly for other reasons: because of the hot summer and bad (or irregular) watering. Therefore, you need to try to protect the garden with cucumber from the scorching sun, especially if it is not possible to water them normally.
4 main rules in growing cucumbers
I tried to plant cucumbers in different ways: in corn and in an open bed, I tied them to the trellis and gave them plenty of time to "lie down" on the ground. And, having tried different ways of cultivation and different varieties, I came to the following conclusion.
Harvested seeds are money saving. And bought elite seeds from a well-proven company - this is a lot of savings and money; and the earth, and most importantly - nerves, that is, health.
Of course, we'll have to get on.
Moreover, it is impossible to do this work after a sleeve or just in passing. But I do not want to discourage our truck farmers from nurturing their planting material. Say, seeds of tomatoes (and especially peppers) I just strongly advise you to collect your own. These cultures like to plant fresh water, unless, of course, it's not about hybrids.
As for cucumbers, then, maybe someone will be lucky, and a new variety will appear as a result. Here everyone decides for himself. But still I want to share my experience with those who do not want to take risks.
1. Seeds of cucumbers
If you do not want to bother with your seeds, buy them in a reliable seed store or write in a proven agro-company.
Yes, I won’t argue - it's a little expensive (that's why I now only collect my seeds), but remember the old adage that the avaricious pays twice. In addition, purchased hybrid varieties have one fat plus: many of them are genetically relieved of bitterness (this, for example, Aladdin, Ajax, Katsper, Krak, Sremsky). In addition, hybrid cucumbers are mostly female type of flowering, that is, they have almost no vapors (even in bee-dusted hybrids).
2. Varieties of cucumbers
Among the hybrid varieties are the so-called parthenocarpic varieties. For those gardeners (beginners) who do not know what it is, I will explain. Parthenocarpic - means self-pollinated.
They have almost every flower female - immediately with a cucumber. Such varieties include, for example, Delpina, Crispina, Regia, Eliza, Parker.
Planting 20-30 seeds of one of these varieties, an ordinary summer resident, who has to save the land area of beds, will be able to provide his family with a sufficient number of cucumbers, which is enough for salads and for billets, and also distributed to friends and relatives.
3. Cucumber on the trellis
It is desirable nevertheless to grow cucumber on trellis.
And it's easier to take care of them, and harvest. And cucumbers themselves are less sick, because they are better ventilated. But you need to remember that they are afraid of drafts. Protection can be corn or climbing beans (also planted on the trellis). And you can do without them, if you choose the right, safe place for planting.
4. Reasonable watering of cucumbers.
The roots of cucumbers are very tender, so scared to fear cold water. But they should not be watered with boiling water either. But often gardeners do just that! Do you think I'm talking nonsense?
Do you want me to guess when you water your beds? Of course in the evening, when the sun is going to the sunset and the earth for a whole day in the sun has already been almost white-hot.
And what kind of water?
For sure, I will not be mistaken here either, if I say that the one who has been basking in the sun for almost the whole day. So what do the roots of your cucumbers get when you water the sun heated by sun and sun-heated water? The same boiling water! I do not think that such watering will refresh the poor cucumbers, which all day long languished from the day's heat. Therefore, it is better not to be lazy and water your beds early in the morning, when the sun is just beginning its journey on the horizon.
It is especially worth talking about water. Of course, if there is an opportunity to recruit it from a river or lake - this is just perfect. Such water is the best for irrigation: both in composition (there are less salts in it than in well water) and in temperature. But if there are no ponds nearby, then it really is worth collecting water in the evening and leaving it in the yard so that the water temperature and air temperature coincide. In this case, the delicate roots of the plants will not experience any stress.
The input for watering cucumbers must be the temperature of IB-200. So if it's cool outside in the morning, it's better to leave the water indoors.
Watering is not necessary for 0,5 liters for each bush, but so that the earth is thoroughly wet. And then from above it is very good to mulch the bed. In addition, if you use planting calendars and adhere to recommendations related to the zodiac signs, I can give you such advice. Watering should be in signs of water - these are Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.
See also: Seedlings of cucumbers
Cheap useful tunnel
And what about those who do not have a greenhouse, but really want to have an early harvest of cucumbers? Only agrovolokno can help out here. At least, I like it very much. Last year, for example, at the end of March I planted a sprout seeds of cucumber varieties Vocals.
Planted in peat pots, which she put in 0,5-liter plastic cups. Soil mixture: humus mixed with earth from the garden, in equal proportion, 2-liter sand can, 0,5 l of ash, 1 st. l. superphosphate, and all this on an 10-liter bucket of soil. Seeds sowed dry to a depth of 3-4 cm, poured, covered with a film, put in a warm place.
Somewhere in a week cucumbers came up. The temperature in the room (the southern window) was approximately from 16 ° to 20 ° in the afternoon, and at night from 10 ° to 12 °. Planted cucumbers in the garden in early May (usually seedlings by this time should already be 35-40 days).
And to protect the cucumbers from frost, built a tunnel on the garden. For this, a piece of the already mentioned agrofibre and willow rods were needed. I stuck them into the ground along the width of the bed, from edge to edge (they will need 11 pieces on a bed 5 m long - one every 0,5 m), and pulled on top of the covering material, which I pressed down with stones, bricks and planks to the wind did not blow.
The tunnel is ready. In photo 1 you can see all the straightforwardness of this design. But it allows me to do without a greenhouse: to build it, to look after it - fu, one hassle and a waste of money!
Usually in the beginning of June I'm already preparing a salad of my cucumbers. This tunnel is very like my cabbage.
It grows there beautifully, no chemical fertilizers are needed. Moreover: it turns out that the cabbage flea hates agrofibre, so the fight against this pest is now for me - yesterday! Cabbage in the tunnel for development is at least two weeks ahead of that which grows in open ground.
Well, that's all my advice. I really hope that they will be useful to you. I wish all our readers good harvests!
G. VERYEVSKAYA.
Below other entries on the topic "Dacha and garden - with their own hands"
- Growing cucumbers through seedlings in sawdust - my reviews
- Growing cucumbers in a greenhouse: soil, planting seedlings, shaping and top dressing
- Fan shaping of cucumbers - advice from k.s.h. sciences
- Cultivation of cucumbers on a round bed
- Growing cucumbers in the Arkhangelsk region - planting and care
- Technology for growing early cucumbers - planting and care, feedback on methods
- How to make seedlings of cucumbers not stretched
- Growing cucumbers from A to Z - planting and care
- Cultivation of Chinese cucumber - tips garden gardener with experience
- Seedlings of cucumbers FROM A TO Z - K.S.KH. SCIENCE
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FISH FOR CUCUMBERS
When the 3-4 leaflet appears on the cucumbers, I prepare a feeding for them: 0,5 kg of fish heads are poured into a bucket of water and left for 3 days. The water begins to fade, I spread 0,5 L in a watering can with water and feed cucumbers. They come to life in their eyes, because they like such watering, because in the feeding contains natural phosphorus.
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Echinacea - cucumber growth stimulator
Cucumbers try to not treat chemical preparations from diseases, only with aphids I struggle with Phytoverm, since While the national means will work, there will be nothing to save.
Once every two weeks for fertilizing abundantly on the leaves I spray cucumbers with a solution of Mullein (1: 10).
Between treatments mullein spray the plants with infusion of echinacea purple - this is an excellent growth stimulant.
In a liter thermos I put 4-5 flower baskets (cut from flowering bushes), I pour hot water and I insist 45 minutes. Filtered infusion I bring water to 5 l and spray copiously. You can mix the infusions of Mullein and Echinacea, add a solution of Baikal EM-1. Such a composition prevents the appearance of diseases, protects plants from the effects of unfavorable weather conditions, heals the soil.
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The bitterness of cucumbers is due to the content of cucurbitin in them. The presence of this substance is inherited by some varieties. Bitterness can be found not only in fruits, but also in stems, and in leaves. The bitter taste of such cucumbers is felt even when chewing cotyledonous
leaflets of newly emerged shoots.
Bitterness in greens accumulates and with a lack of moisture in the soil during the summer heat and intense sunlight of plants.
Therefore, the cucumbers should be watered regularly and the plants shade in the bright sun.
Currently, many varieties and hybrids have been bred, which generally do not have bitterness. This information is on the back of the bags with seeds, so when you buy carefully study it.
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Last year, the majority of Zasolochny cucumbers were unfortunate. What is the reason and what should be done in this case? Is it possible to find out which variety will be bitter and which will not?
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Infinite cucumbers
For sure, every lady-owner knows the story: the cucumbers have already eaten up to the dump, and are brewed, and the family-friends-fed them, and they go and go, even on the highway, go trade!
I'll risk giving advice, maybe for future use, how to make a cucumber preparation for an excellent rassolnik, - to make a pot for a family in the winter, you will not spend much time or energy.
Cucumbers (go and overgrown) cut thin rings. Tread on a grated carrot, cut into a half-ring with onions. Slice cloves of garlic, add black pepper peas. All
stir in a deep bowl, and for each liter of the mixture, add half a teaspoon of dry mustard and a teaspoon of salt.
All put in sterilized liter jars, pour steep boiling water and roll. Store better in the refrigerator, but just in a cool place is saved for months.
At 1 kg of cucumbers you will need 2 medium bulbs, a large carrot, 4 clove of garlic, a dozen black peppercorns, a laurus leaf.
In the winter I act like this. Varyu 2 l broth from chicken hearts. After 25 minutes I add 4 medium cut potato chips, 2 st. spoons of wetted in the morning pearl barley and a liter of my cucumber billet. Salt nothing! After 20 minutes on a small fire delicious rassolnik ready!
And another word. Recipes of pickled and pickled cucumbers do not count. Is it possible to say something new? Yes! In a jar of pickled cucumbers, before corking, add a watercress branch, you can even have a coarse and with unripe seeds. You will see how it will decorate the taste of canned food!
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Bitter cucumbers, unfortunately, are often found, but the cause of this bitterness is not in cucumbers, but in those who do not properly grow them. Science has established that a substance called cucurbitin is causing bitterness. The concentration of this substance depends both on the variety of cucumbers, and on the conditions of their growing.
It was noted that for some unfavorable reasons for the plant (lack of moisture, sun, nutrients, too low, or, conversely, too high temperature during drought), fruit development is delayed. If such an unfavorable streak drags on for a long time, then the cucumbers will be bitter due to the high content of cucurbitacin. However, there is no silver lining, not a single barrel of tar is complete without a spoonful of honey. Cucurbitacin, if it is in excess, although it spoils the taste of cucumbers, but is useful. In comfort I will tell you that the benefits of bitter cucumbers have long been proven. They very effectively improve the functioning of the liver, pancreas and intestines. Folk i Chinese medicine, for example, from ancient times uses bitter cucumbers as a medicine. And if the bitter i cucumbers are peeled, chopped, seasoned with sour cream or vegetable oil and let them stand, then the bitterness will become almost imperceptible to taste.
I almost forgot one more important point. Cucumbers can become bitter if they are overfed with fresh food. The rule "you can not spoil the porridge with oil" here is absolutely not suitable. In addition, hybrids with genetic absence of bitterness have appeared in recent years. So when I buy seeds, read the labels!
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Why are cucumbers bitter?