For most of us, cucumber has long been considered an ordinary vegetable that is firmly rooted in agricultural crops. However, in the era of modern selection methods, new and original varieties appear every year. Chinese cucumber also belongs to these - initially appearing in China, it has gained rapid distribution around the world due to its taste and useful qualities, as well as some biological features. In the article we will consider the characteristics of this unusual culture, its advantages and disadvantages, as well as the general rules of cultivation and the best varieties.

Characteristics of Chinese Cucumbers

According to the name and external similarities, at first glance it may seem that a Chinese cucumber is similar to ordinary, but this is not a subspecies of the familiar cucumber, but its modified version.

Its main features are size, improved taste indices and care methods, however it belongs to the Pumpkin family and has the same agricultural technology as its garden counterpart. This vegetable can reach a length of 30 to 90 cm or more, so if you once If you happen to meet a Chinese cucumber, then you will never again confuse it with anything. It tastes very sweet, exudes an aroma similar to watermelon or melon, and its skin, unlike an ordinary cucumber, is never bitter.

At the same time, the flesh of such a cucumber is quite thick, there are practically no voids in it, and the seeds are collected in a bunch placed in the center. Productivity with proper care can be about 40 kg per bush, which is a pretty good indicator.

You can grow Chinese cucumber both in the beds and in greenhouses, the plant is unpretentious and perfectly tolerates a small amount of light and even cold, so residents of not only southern but also northern regions can afford it.

Benefits

Stable good yield is not the only advantage of Chinese cucumbers over ordinary ones.

• This amazing plant has a number of other positive properties, consider them in more detail:
• resistance to parasites and harmful bacteria;
• endurance - a Chinese cucumber is able to withstand the lack of light and the first frosts, which subsequently will not affect its yield;
• compactness - for a good harvest, it is not necessary to plant large beds, several bushes are enough;
• worthy presentation;
• precocity - from the moment of germination of seedlings to the removal of the first fruits, no more than 40 days pass.

Disadvantages

However, this variety has its own imperfections.

• There are a number of complications that you may encounter in the process of cultivating this vegetable:
• short shelf life - the very next day after the breakdown, the Chinese cucumber will be unusable, as it will become dry, tasteless and soft, so you need to eat it right away;
• unsuitable for pickling and preserving most of the varieties;
• poor sowing qualities - seeds germinate most often weakly;
• the need for a vertical garter - if you do not properly tie the lashes, then in the end you will get curved fruits of a hooked shape.

General growing rules

The principles of growing Chinese cucumber are almost no different from the requirements of a conventional seed. The formation of plants in one stem up to three and a half meters in length and a small and rare shoot formation allow a more dense planting of the described crop. The rules of cultivation include the following:

1. Planting soil is recommended to be made in two layers: the first should consist of fresh manure, and the humus is best for the second, but minor changes in this composition will not affect the growth and development of cucumbers.
2. The maximum yield is achieved when growing Chinese cucumbers in greenhouse conditions, however, it should be remembered that with poor care, the fruits will quickly dry out, and eating them will become unsuitable.
3. To achieve high-quality seed germination, it is necessary to pre-soak them in water before planting and heat at a temperature of at least 40 ° C. An even better option is to soak the seeds in potassium permanganate for 15 minutes, and then treat them with any disinfectant to reduce the risk of cucumber diseases and fungi.
4. After the first harvest, the bush must be immediately immediately watered well to accelerate the formation of new fruits. The soil should always be mulched and moist, otherwise the cucumbers will have an unpleasant appearance, smell and taste.

Did you know? Chinese cucumbers were known and widely cultivated before our era, and today they are most popular in Asia. In Eastern Europe, the plant is not common, although it has excellent taste and high yield.

The best varieties of Chinese cucumbers

Most of the varieties of Chinese cucumber came to us from the Middle Kingdom, and although not so much time has passed since their appearance on the market, gardeners have already managed to note the most suitable varieties for growing in our climatic conditions. Let us consider each of them in detail.

Chinese farmer

Such a hybrid is ideal for cultivation in the garden. The fruits of this variety are especially appreciated for their high portability, versatility, high culinary qualities and resistance to negative weather conditions.The features of cultivation and care include the following:

1. The area where you are going to grow the variety in question requires careful supervision: it must be well-lit and ventilated, and the soil should be periodically drained, otherwise moisture retention will lead to diseases and parasites.
2. The soil should be loose and include a significant amount of humus.
3. Temperature conditions are important for representatives of this variety: after planting, they must be kept at a temperature of at least 30 ° C, otherwise the seeds will not sprout properly.
4. Water the plants at least twice a week, while the water is preheated in the sun. If the weather is too hot and arid, you should not increase the number of waterings - it is enough to spray plants, for example, 2-3 times a day.

Chinese miracle

Cucumbers of this variety boast such beneficial distinctive qualities as high stable yield, easy care and resistance to temperature changes and pests. You can cultivate both in the open ground and under a light film coating.This variety also has one absolutely amazing feature: you can cut a small piece from a growing fruit, for example, into a salad, and leave it to grow further, and this will not affect its further development.

Hybrid cultivation and care is carried out in this way:

• it is advisable to start planting seedlings in open ground at a stable air temperature from +18 to +25 ° C. Despite the cold resistance, the development of seedling growth at low temperatures is delayed;
• Before planting in a greenhouse, the soil is preheated, covered with a film, and only after a few days are accepted for planting;
• a lash of lashes is necessarily carried out;
• regular irrigation should be done every 4-7 days, after which the soil is slightly loosened to provide oxygen to the roots;
• weed removal is also one of the main and important techniques that must not be forgotten.

Important! You can achieve special benefits from Chinese cucumbers if you use not only the flesh, but also the seeds, which contain a huge amount of the elements necessary for our body. You need to eat them in their pure form, without mixing with other components.

Chinese emperor

This type of cucumber has a high level of yield, a large mass of fruits and excellent taste. It will not be difficult to achieve good fertility from the hybrid with careful care and timely collection, that is, until the first frost.The variety has no particular subtleties and requirements for growing; the rules for planting are similar to the planting technique of a traditional cucumber. However, it is worth considering that the "Chinese Emperor" can be planted much thicker than the rest, due to the formation of the plant into one stem, the height of which can reach 3.5 m.

Chinese climbing

An unusual variety that is distinguished by its small length, wax coating of the fruit and the absence of voids in the pulp. Such cucumbers have remarkable characteristics that are characteristic of most Chinese cucumber varieties: abundant productivity, thin sweet peel, good transportability and easy care.Long-term fruiting allows cucumbers to be ideal for canning, and thanks to the versatility of the plant, a stable result can be obtained in any climate. The hybrid is rightfully considered one of the best.

Chinese heat resistant F1

A heat-tolerant hybrid was originally bred in China, but now the seed breeding company is engaged in the Russian selection company “Zedek”.

Cucumbers of this variety perfectly tolerate the driest weather and grow even at a temperature of 35 ° C.Excellent taste, resistance to critical weather conditions, a long fruiting period and stable good yield of a heat-insensitive cucumber quickly gained the interest and popularity of gardeners.

Like most other Chinese varieties, the plant needs a mandatory garter, but as a whole does not have any special methods of breeding and care. It is cultivated both in open and closed ground, which is another undoubted advantage.

Did you know? In the United Arab Emirates, breeders were able to produce square cucumbers.

Chinese cold-resistant F1

This hybrid will especially please gardeners of the northern region, since it is absolutely not susceptible to frost, cold and lack of sunlight, while cucumbers retain all their taste characteristics, as they are intended for cultivation in a changing climate.Among the other equally worthy qualities, one can also distinguish:

• fast fruit ripening;
• universality in cultivation;
• high performance;
• excellent presentation.

Caring for a cold-resistant Chinese cucumber will not take you much effort: it is enough to provide Zelentsy with vertical cultivation, timely watering and harvesting.

Chinese disease resistant F1

Developed by breeders of the Zedek agricultural company, this variety until recently could not boast of particular popularity, however, over the past few years, it has consistently held a leading position in the seed market.Both in taste and appearance, “Chinese disease-resistant” are similar to cucumbers familiar to us, and there are no special differences in the methods of growing and caring for this variety.

Hybrids of this series are highly resistant to many cucumber diseases, so the name of the variety fully justifies itself.

Among the other features of the variety, one can distinguish their unusual taste, which differs from other Chinese relatives, with a slight smack of watermelon or melon, as well as the size of the fruit, which is very unstable and can be from 20 to 85 cm.

Chinese funny moths

The hybrid is ideal for growing throughout the year, as it has good resistance to diseases and temperature extremes and quick adaptation to any soil. The fruits of this variety can not boast of their length, however, they have a number of other exceptional qualities:

• endurance;
• unpretentiousness in cultivation;
• long-term storage;
• quick ripening.

To get a good yield from such a cucumber, you must tie the plant with trellis or cucumber net.

Such a unique plant, like a Chinese cucumber, has long won recognition and love from gardeners. Favorably different from traditional cucumbers in their taste and biological qualities, Chinese cucumbers will decorate your garden and add variety to your culinary recipes and diet.

Important! When growing cucumbers in winter in greenhouses, various harmful additives are often used, which are easily absorbed by the skin and, when subsequently consumed, can cause poisoning. To prevent this, rinse the fruit thoroughly in hot water.

So if you decide to grow something unusual but very tasty in your garden, then a Chinese cucumber is an ideal choice.