The best varieties of Chinese cucumbers: description and photo

There are many varieties of Chinese cucumbers. They are similar to ordinary cucumbers and belong to the pumpkin genus, but they still differ in taste and size of the fruit.

Chinese cucumbers have their advantages and disadvantages, as well as some peculiarities in care. So that the summer season does not go to waste and the cucumber harvest is plentiful, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the characteristics of varieties and hybrids and methods of growing them.

Description, characteristics and features of Chinese cucumbers

Chinese cucumber is an annual plant. The stem is whip-shaped, rough. There are tendrils on it, with the help of which the plant clings to the trellises. The flowers are mostly female, yellow, and arranged in bunches. Due to this, the plant gives good yield.

Main difference Chinese cucumbers – long fruits. Their sizes reach 35-80 cm, and the maximum diameter is 7 cm. The fruits are green, smooth, with sparse tubercles.

The vegetable has a sweetish taste and juicy, crispy flesh.. There is practically no bitterness in Chinese cucumbers.

Most varieties of this species – early ripening.

Advantages

The popularity of Chinese cucumbers is due to their taste, ripening time and characteristics of the fruit.:

• high productivity;
• pleasant taste without bitterness with hints of melons (watermelon, melon);
• long fruiting periods;
• early ripeness - fruits ripen 30-35 days after planting;
• disease resistance;
• compactness - a bountiful harvest ripens in every bed.

Flaws

Significant disadvantages of Chinese varieties in shelf life and method of cultivation:

• low germination of seeds - it is better to purchase seeds with a reserve;
• short shelf life - picked fruits begin to fade within a day;
• mandatory vertical garter - Chinese cucumbers are grown on trellises;
• Some varieties are consumed only fresh.

Features of cultivation

The secret to the productivity of Chinese cucumbers is the small distance between the seedling bushes. A large number of vines grow in one bed, and on each vine there are several bunches of cucumbers.

Where is the best place to grow

Chinese varieties and hybrids of cucumbers are not demanding on growing conditions. They withstand sudden changes in weather and ripen in shaded areas. The vegetable tolerates hot weather well with air temperatures up to +40°C, but it requires timely watering.

The crop is planted in greenhouses and open ground. The main feature of care is vertical tying on strong trellises.

Reference. Varieties adapted for open ground are less demanding to care for, but their yields are lower than those in greenhouses.

How to prepare seeds

First of all, it is necessary to calibrate the seeds. To do this, they are placed in water and those seeds that float are removed.

For disinfection purposes seeds are placed in a 1% solution of potassium permanganate.

After this, they are kept for 12 hours in solution of growth stimulator "Epin" or "Zircon". Then the seeds are laid out on damp gauze for germination.

Their planted in containers with soil to a depth of 4 cm, and then covered with film. It is opened every day for 2-3 hours. After the shoots appear, the film is removed.

Cucumbers can be planted from seeds. In this case, the average daily air temperature should be at least +13°C.In the southern regions, after planting, the seeds do not need shelter.

Reference. It is recommended to germinate seeds at a temperature of +30°C.

Time for planting in the ground

Seedlings grow in containers for about 25 days. When the height of the stem reaches 15-20 cm and side shoots appear on it, it is planted in greenhouses or beds. Depending on the region, the landing time varies - from late April to mid-May.

If the seeds are planted in open ground, they are covered with film, which is removed after the first leaves appear.

Soil and care requirements

Soil preparation for Chinese cucumbers begins in the fall. The soil is dug up, compost, humus and sawdust are added. In the ground, substances decompose within 4-5 months, so in the spring they will be well absorbed by plants.

In the spring, ammonium nitrate, superphosphate, and ash are added. The latter is used to increase the weight of the fruit.

Important! Ammonium nitrate in excess moisture can burn plant roots.

Chinese varieties almost do not form stepsons, thanks to which plants can be planted close to each other - at a distance of at least 5 cm.

A prerequisite for growing “Chinese” – vertical tying to a trellis, stretched ropes or nets.

Watering Chinese cucumbers should always be plentiful. Water the plants 2 times a week until the fruits ripen. After harvesting the first harvest, watering is not stopped so that new hearths are well filled.

Cucumbers are fed with mineral fertilizers: the first time at the beginning of flowering, the second - during fruiting.

Important! If the soil is well saturated with fertilizers in the fall, then they will not be needed during the growing period of cucumbers.

Loosening and mulching

Loosening the soil is carried out to saturate the roots with oxygen.. Loosen no deeper than 4-5 cm, otherwise there is a risk of damaging the root system.The procedure is repeated 2-3 times a week.

To prevent rapid evaporation of water from the soil, it is mulched with sawdust, grass mixture or peat. In dry weather, moisten the mulched soil.

Chinese cucumbers: best varieties and photos

Almost all Chinese varieties of cucumbers have long fruits.. We have selected the most popular varieties loved by gardeners.

Chinese cold-resistant F1

It can be grown in winter greenhouses, greenhouses and open ground.. Hardy, high yielding hybrid. Ripens in 50 days. Up to 25 kg of cucumbers are harvested from one bush.

The length of the fruit is from 30 to 50 cm. The fruit has a thin skin, a pronounced taste and aroma.

Chinese disease-resistant F1

The main difference is taste. The taste of the fruit contains notes of watermelon or melon, they are not bitter. The sweetest part of the fruit is the skin.

High yield with long fruiting. Up to 20 kg of fruits are collected from each bush.

For canning These cucumbers are not suitable.

Chinese miracle

High-yielding variety. Chinese miracle grown in open ground and in greenhouses under film. The harvest ripens in 60 days, fruiting lasts until the first frost. From one bush you get up to 10 kg.

The fruits are thin, prickly, long - up to 50 cm, sometimes up to 70 cm. Cucumbers are sweetish, juicy, thin-skinned.

A real F1 guy

Productivity per 1 m² – 9 kg. The ripening period of the crop is 50-54 days, the duration of fruiting is 3 months.

The fruits are large, tuberous, 30-40 cm long. They have sweet, juicy pulp with a small number of seeds.

Alligator F1

Early ripening hybrid high yield. Up to 15 kg of cucumbers are harvested from 1 m² of bed.

It begins to bear fruit 40-50 days after planting.The length of the fruit is up to 40 cm. They have a thin shiny skin and large tubercles on the surface.

Chinese Farmer F1

This hybrid of Chinese cucumbers is intended for cultivation in open ground.because it is pollinated by bees.

The length of the cucumbers is 40-45 cm, the shape is cylindrical, the flesh is juicy and tasty. Harvest 45-50 days after planting. With proper care, 20-30 kg of cucumbers are removed from one bush.

Heat resistant F1

Early ripening hybrid The first harvest is harvested 45 days after planting.

The fruits are elongated, cone-shaped, with a thickening at the end. Cucumbers can curl into a snake. The maximum fruit length is 50-60 cm.

Shanghai fellow F1

This hybrid is grown in greenhouses and hotbeds. In the southern regions, planting in open ground is allowed. The hybrid produces high yields in greenhouses; in open ground the indicator is lower. Ripening occurs on days 44-46.

Productivity in greenhouses per 1 m² is 25 kg, in open ground – 20 kg.

The difference between this hybrid is the rapid growth of fruits. On the fourth day after ovary, cucumbers reach a length of 40 cm. The taste of the fruit is reminiscent of watermelon, the pulp is juicy and fresh.

Chinese climbing

Late-ripening variety, ripening occurs 65 days after planting – towards the end of summer and early autumn.

The fruits are not large in size, their length is up to 10-12 cm. The peel is thin, slightly lumpy, the taste is fresh.

Beijing Delicious F1

Early maturing bee-pollinated hybrid. Beijing delicious ripens in 46-54 days and bears fruit for a long time.

The length of the fruit is 30-40 cm, the shape is cylindrical. Cucumbers are covered with sparse large tubercles. The fruit pulp is dense and juicy, there is no bitterness.

Productivity up to 18 kg per 1 m².

Soaring to the sky F1

Early ripening, ripens in 45-55 days. Productivity up to 20 kg per 1 m².

The fruits are lumpy, dense, juicy, up to 12 cm long. Suitable for pickling.

Favorite of Confucius F1

Self-pollinating early-ripening hybrid for greenhouses and open areas.

The harvest ripens in 40-45 days. Fruiting continues until October.

The hybrid produces tasty, juicy, large-tubercular fruits with white thorns. The length of cucumbers is 20-30 cm. They are eaten fresh, pickled, and salted.

From 1 m² you get up to 18 kg of cucumbers.

Emerald Stream

Productivity of the variety – 6-10 kg per 1 m². The fruits ripen in 44-48 days from planting.

Fruit length is 20-25 cm. cucumbers slightly ribbed, dark green, lumpy skin, with prickly spines. The flesh is crispy and juicy.

The use of fruits is in salads. You can marinate them, but immediately after removing them.

Chinese kite

Designed for greenhouses. Early ripening hybrid, pick cucumbers already on the thirtieth day.

The fruits are narrow in shape, long, up to 80 cm, covered with tubercles and spines. The pulp is juicy, the taste is rich.

Productivity – up to 8-10 kg per 1 m². These cucumbers are eaten fresh and canned.

Gin

In one season the bush brings up to 20 kg of harvest. Cucumbers ripen at 46-55 days.

Long (30-40 cm) fruits have a sweetish, fresh taste. The peel is bright green, covered with small, sparse tubercles.

The variety is planted in greenhouses and open ground. The fruits are more suitable for salads, since their shelf life is short.

Chinese Emperor F1

Early maturing hybrid, it is planted in open areas and in greenhouses.

Fruits up to 40 cm long ripen on the 45th day. Cucumbers are dark green, with large tubercles and aromatic juicy pulp. The fruits are used in salads and preserved in pieces.

Productivity – 15-16 kg of fruits per 1 m² in greenhouses.

Chinese happy moths

Plants are planted in greenhouses and open ground. The fruiting period is long. Productivity from one bush is 9-15 kg.

The ripening time of the variety is 40-45 days. The fruits are juicy, sweetish, with a thin light green peel. Their length is 10-12 cm. Cucumbers are equally suitable for pickling and for salads.

Conclusion

The advantages of Chinese varieties and hybrids are their taste, productivity and unpretentiousness. Even beginners can successfully grow these vegetables. Cucumbers are planted in greenhouses or in open ground: it is important to choose a variety suitable for the region, ensure its vertical growth and timely watering. Then the harvest will delight you with beautiful and tasty fruits for a long time - from the beginning of summer until the first cold weather.