Exotics in your beds - white cucumbers: varieties, growing characteristics and differences from green ones
White cucumbers look unusual both in the garden and on the dining table. If you like to try something new, this vegetable crop will delight you with exotic fruits. These plants grow well in different climatic conditions and have strong immunity, which makes care much easier. If you follow simple agrotechnical rules, even a beginner can cope with growing white cucumbers.
Are there white cucumbers?
Varieties and hybrids of white cucumbers were developed by breeders in several countries, so they differ from each other. White cucumbers have been cultivated in Russia for many years.
Their distinctive features
White cucumbers have a number of differences from their green “brothers”:
- white vegetables never taste bitter;
- the shell is thin and delicate;
- light cucumbers have a rich taste and fresh aroma;
- the culture easily tolerates temperature fluctuations;
- the bushes grow normally and bear fruit even at a temperature of +45°C;
- plants tolerate partial shade well;
- in dense foliage, white fruits are immediately visible;
- in a greenhouse, fruiting lasts until frost;
- the fruits are set along the entire length of the cane, so white varieties give high yields.
These varieties of cucumbers suitable for cultivation by summer residents who do not have the opportunity to regularly water and harvest crops.
The photo shows a comparison of white and green cucumbers.
Advantages and disadvantages of white cucumbers
Positive qualities of white varieties:
- plants tolerate temperature changes well;
- bushes have powerful stems;
- strong immunity to diseases and pests;
- do not need formation;
- the absence of pigment makes the vegetable safe for allergy sufferers;
- the fruits contain a large amount of micronutrients;
- excellent keeping quality and transportability of cucumbers.
These varieties have few disadvantages:
- the lashes grow well, so they definitely need a garter to a support;
- some varieties require more careful care.
White cucumbers have more positive qualities than disadvantages, which is why some vegetable growers prefer these varieties.
Popular varieties
There are not yet as many white varieties of cucumbers as there are green ones, but among them you can choose ones worthy of cultivation. They differ in such characteristics:
- suitable for open ground and greenhouse structures;
- the fruits have a spiked or smooth surface;
- long or the size of gherkins;
- used for summer salads and winter preparations;
- There are both parthenocarpic and bee-pollinated species.
White varieties of cucumbers are not yet very popular in Russia, so they are not used for sale on the market on a large scale.
On a note. The yield of white varieties averages 10-14 kg per 1 sq. m.
Snow White
High-yielding, early-ripening variety. Easily tolerates temperature fluctuations. The crop is grown in open ground and greenhouses.
The peel is thin, the vegetables taste pleasant, slightly sweet. The color of the fruit is snow-white. The flesh is tender and the texture is soft. The seeds are small; there are not many of them in cucumbers. The variety is very popular among farmers.
Snow White cucumbers are mainly grown for industrial purposes, for sale. The fruits are suitable for canning and fresh consumption..
Italian white
Vegetables have a smooth surface with a small number of tubercles. The length of the fruit is 20 cm. The pulp is soft, juicy and aromatic.
The plant is tall and therefore requires obligatory gartering to a support. Some people grow the crop horizontally. Unpretentious variety, has high disease resistance.
White angel f1
Early ripening hybrid. Vegetables reach technical maturity in 50-55 days. Mixed flowers. These cucumbers are cultivated both in open and closed ground.
The weight of one fruit reaches 60-70 g, length - 7-9 cm. There are small white thorns on the surface.
Vegetables have no bitterness, but when they outgrow they lose their taste. Immunity to diseases is weak. Use White angel for preparing fresh salads and canning. Productivity reaches 12-15 kg per 1 sq. m or 4 kg per plant.
About other exotic crops:
White delicacy
The mid-season variety was bred by Chinese breeders. Technical maturity of vegetables occurs 45-50 days after emergence. The crop is grown in open ground and greenhouses.
Cucumbers have a conical shape. The length of the tuberculate fruit reaches 12-15 cm. The peel is tender and soft, and has no bitterness. Up to 4 kg of crop is harvested from one bush. Cucumbers can be canned, pickled and eaten fresh. The culture has strong immunity to diseases.
Snow Leopard
High-yielding variety. The maximum length of vegetables reaches 25 cm. The bush grows up to 3 m in height. As the crop grows, it is tied up or sent to special nets installed nearby. Vegetables can be removed when they reach 6-8 cm. Basically cucumbers of this variety are pickled or pickled.
Martini f1
Cucumbers have a yellowish tint with a green tint. The fruits are small, 8-14 cm long. The shape of the vegetables is oval-elongated. There is no bitterness in the pulp, even if the cucumbers are overripe. Productivity is high, from 1 sq. m harvest from 10 to 14 kg of crop.
Bride
Early ripening variety, pollinated by insects. Vegetables ripen in about 40 days. The plant is tall. For 1 sq. m, no more than four bushes are grown and up to 20 kg of vegetables are collected. The taste of the fruit is pleasant, slightly sweet. The flesh is tender. The variety needs frequent watering and responds well to organic fertilizing.
Bidigo-Lungo
The hybrid was bred specifically for greenhouse cultivation. Thanks to this, the fruits are harvested before October-November. The variety is early ripening and high-yielding, bears fruit for a long time. The fruits ripen within 50 days after planting in the greenhouse. They are mainly consumed fresh.
White crunch f1
Hybrid mainly grown in greenhouse conditions, but it is also suitable for open ground. It takes about 45 days from sowing to harvesting the fruit. Productivity is high. The fruits are thornless, the skin is smooth and white.
Cucumbers are tasty, tender and aromatic. They reach 180 g in length, but it is better to collect fruits up to 10 cm. Even overripe cucumbers are not watery, but they still lose their taste.
White sugar f1
This mid-season hybrid was bred by Ural breeders. The fruits are 8-12 cm long and have a creamy white color. Harvest is harvested 45-50 days after germination. The sparsely tuberous fruits have a delicious taste and are universal in use.
The lashes are not spreading; they do not require pinching or pinching. The crop is grown both in open and closed ground.
For your information. Growing cucumbers on trellises will make it easier to care for and collect vegetables, and will save space on the site.
Features of cultivation
Traditionally, white varieties and hybrids of cucumbers are cultivated both in greenhouses and in open ground. Planting is carried out with seeds or seedlings, the age of which reaches 25 days. The distance between planting holes is approximately 15-20 cm.
After thinning, 2-4 plants are left per linear meter, depending on the variety. The soil for planting cucumbers must be fertile, loose, slightly acidic or neutral - pH = 6.5-7.
Additional addition of wood ash or lime to the soil will serve as a preventive measure. from the development of fungal diseases. To maintain soil moisture and looseness for a longer period, plantings are mulched.
Grown plants are tied onto a stretched mesh or vertical trellises. This provides them with optimal growing conditions - sunlight and fresh air, and also keeps the vegetables clean.
Ovaries are formed on both the main and side shoots, so they do not require shaping. But if desired, the growth point of the main stem is pinched, thereby stimulating the formation of side shoots and increasing the yield.
Otherwise white cucumbers need standard agricultural practices:
- loosening the soil;
- weed removal;
- watering;
- fertilizing with mineral fertilizers - for example, potassium sulfate, superphosphate or ammonium nitrate - 3-5 times during the entire growing season.
Organic fertilizers are also used as fertilizers, fermented infusions of mullein, chicken manure or nettle.
Important! It is necessary to regularly weed the soil around the plants.Growing weeds create shade and take nutrients from the soil.
Unlike green cucumbers, white cucumbers are less demanding on the frequency of watering. They are moistened abundantly in the morning or evening with warm, settled water every 3-4 days. Watering in the middle of the day provokes leaf burns.
White cucumbers love high humidity. To do this, dig a container into the ground next to the plants - for example, a barrel - and fill it with water. During evaporation, air humidity will increase, creating an optimal regime for the crop.
Cucumbers are cut when they reach a length of 10-15 cm - about twice a week. Most varieties and hybrids do not lose their taste when outgrown. In greenhouses, white varieties bear fruit until frost.
Typical diseases and pests
The main feature of white cucumbers is their resistance to diseases and pests.. They are practically not affected by aphids, peronospora and other characteristic diseases.
According to reviews from experienced gardeners, white cucumbers are not treated with anything when growing, but rules for prevention of diseases and pests are observed:
- do not plant cucumbers close to each other;
- periodically remove weeds from the site;
- do not moisten the plantings with cold water;
- Fertilize regularly;
- After planting, young plants are treated with Bordeaux mixture.
If you follow these measures, you will not have to fight diseases.
Uses of white cucumbers
White cucumbers are well suited for preparing summer salads and any preparations.. Small fruits are used for whole-fruit canning.
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Reviews from summer residents
White cucumbers are actively grown in most regions of the country. They are not afraid of cold weather and have strong immunity to diseases and pests. For these and other advantages, vegetable growers evaluate white varieties positively.
Marina, Voronezh: “I’ve been gardening for about 15 years now. Last year I decided to try something new. I planted a cucumber of the White Sugar f1 variety. The vegetables ripened in about a month and a half. The plants did not get sick. The fruits are juicy, slightly sweet, pleasant to the taste. I also removed gherkins and marinated them in jars. Also covered mixed with green varieties. They look great. The whole family liked it. I advise everyone!".
Olga, Mtsensk: “I have been growing white cucumbers for 4 years in a row. They are really good for canning. Vegetables remain dense, elastic and crispy. I just don’t use overgrown fruits for this. They don't look great and they don't taste the same. Children love to eat fresh cucumbers; they never come across bitter ones. The peel is thin and tender. Plants are unpretentious in care. I harvest in 1-2 days. I really liked the vegetables. I will continue to grow it".
Tatyana, Ryazan: “At the beginning of spring, my husband and I plant the white cucumber variety Bidigo-Lungo in the greenhouse. In May, young vegetables are already growing. We care for plants just like green varieties, but the yield and benefits are much higher. We use organic matter and mullein infusion as fertilizers. We don’t use nitrogen products because we want the vegetables to be natural. The plants must be tied to a vertical support. We really like the appearance of the fruit. The culture is unpretentious in care and, unlike ordinary varieties, is not afraid of the cold.".
Conclusion
White cucumbers differ slightly from their green “brothers”: the taste, methods of use, cultivation and care are the same. The only difference is the color.Vegetables are cultivated in greenhouses, hothouses, and open ground, from early spring to late autumn.
In open ground, white varieties bear fruit until October. They are easy to grow and with minimal care allow you to get an excellent harvest.