Many novice gardeners are unaware of the existence of bush cucumbers. The length of their stems reaches only 30-50 cm. Care for such a culture is simple, the ripening period is short. You can even recognize such plants by their names: Baby, Kustovoy, Korotyshka, etc. The cucumber Malysh is popular in our latitudes, the fruits of which are universal in use. The description and characteristics of this variety can be found below.
Description and characteristics of the variety of cucumbers Kid
This variety of cucumbers belongs to the early ripening species, the fruits ripen 40 days after germination. The length of the whip reaches only 30-40 cm, fruits - up to 9 cm... The dark green skin has a coarsely tuberous structure with a white edge.
The plant has good immunity, which makes it possible to resist downy mildew, cucumber mosaic virus and other diseases. The yield is not record-breaking, but stable, 2-2.5 kg can be removed from one bush (about 40-45 zelents). The mass of one medium-sized specimen is 80-90 grams.
The Malysh variety was developed by the breeders of the Volgograd experimental station VNIIR.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Malysh variety has already been appreciated and loved by domestic gardeners. In their reviews of the properties and qualities of a grown vegetable, the following advantages are often highlighted:
- ultra early maturity, good germination;
- lovely taste qualities without bitterness;
- universal use (fresh and for winter preparations);
- fruit well transportedkeeping the presentation;
- in a small area fits more bushes;
- shortened stem length allows you to easily move between rows without fear of damaging the branch or fruits;
- long shelf life without loss of presentation (10 days);
- good resistance before pests and diseases.
The culture is not devoid of shortcomings, the main of which is intensive fruiting. Harvesting is recommended daily to prevent the cucumbers from overripe.... The culture also loves water very much, so it is impossible to break the irrigation regime. The Malysh variety is grown exclusively in the open field, which limits the cultivation methods.
Soil requirements for planting
The soil for Malyshok cucumbers is light, non-acidic. The preparation of a site for laying out beds should be done in the fall. First of all, you should correctly determine the location. It should be well lit and ventilated. If there are tall plantings nearby, then a little shading does not interfere with the growing season and fruiting. Favorable predecessors are:
- tomatoes;
- early potatoes;
- corn;
- peas.
After zucchini, pumpkin, squash, garlic, it is not recommended to grow cucumbers due to the devastation of the soil.
The place for the beds must be dug up with the simultaneous introduction of manure (bucket per 1 m2)... An alternative is to fertilize the soil with a mixture of potassium salt (25 g) and superphosphate (40 g). Spring work is accompanied by the digging of the site and the introduction of ammonium nitrate (15-20 grams per 1 m2) into the soil.
Sandy and loamy types of soil are considered ideal soils for growing cucumbers.
Sowing rules
Seeds for sowing are prepared in advance. They need to be sorted out and soaked for 20 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection. After the procedure, the seed is washed in clean water and dried. Immediately before planting, the seeds should be wrapped in a damp cloth for germination. It is important during this period to ensure that the fabric remains damp.
The prepared seeds are planted according to the scheme:
- distance between the rows is 45 cm;
- interval between the holes - 25 cm;
- depth immersion of grains - 3 cm.
After planting, the bed is covered with a film that is not removed until shoots appear. In unfavorable weather, it is recommended to cover the emerging shoots at night so that they do not freeze in case of frost.
To get an early harvest in cold climates, gardeners use a seedling method of planting cucumbers. For this, the prepared seeds (soaked in a solution of nitrophoska) are sown in late April or early May in separate cups filled with a substrate of peat, humus and soil. You can also add a little wood ash and nitrophoska (1.5 tablespoons per bucket of mixture). After 4-5 leaves are formed on the seedlings, you can transfer them to open ground.
It is necessary that the air temperature be above + 16-18 ° С during the daytime. At night, it is better to cover the bed with agrofibre for the first time to create protection for plants from freezing.
When transplanting seedlings into beds, you need to carefully transfer each bush to the hole along with the substrate. The root system is poorly developed in young shoots, it is easily damaged if handled carelessly.
Variety care after planting
Timely weeding and loosening of the soil contribute to the growing process, therefore you should regularly remove weeds from the beds... Such a neighborhood can damage the roots of seedlings, provoke plant decay. Aeration is an integral part of normal care; lack of oxygen weakens the culture's immune system, making it vulnerable to disease.
Cucumbers are very fond of water, the Malysh variety is no exception. It is better to water the bushes with a weak pressure, a strong stream exposes the roots, as a result of which the plant dries up. The following types of watering are considered ideal:
- sprinkling;
- drip system.
The frequency of procedures is once a day, and in the absence of rain, humidification is carried out twice.
Varieties with an early ripening period are characterized by intense vegetation. This explains the need for frequent watering and introduction of baits. The first portion is introduced before the flowering period, the subsequent ones - every 10 days. A solution is used as food, which is prepared from the following components:
- a bucket of water;
- a teaspoon of urea, potassium sulfate, superphosphate;
- a glass of mullein (mushy consistency).
An alternative to mullein is humanite (1 tablespoon per bucket of water). Fertilizers are also suitable:
- Breadwinner;
- Fertility;
- Fontanelle;
- Ideal.
Experienced gardeners warn beginners about the mistakes that are often made when growing bush cucumbers:
- When forming 6-7 leaves pinch off the tip on a branch to form another branch. In the case of cucumbers, Kid, this procedure is considered superfluous.
- It is not worth reducing the distance between the holes when landing, thickening provokes decay... In addition, the thickets become attractive to pests.
- When growing seedlings, it is necessary in 1-2 weeks harden the plants before transferring to open ground... Otherwise, they will fall on the beds at the first wind.
- Irrigation should be carried out under strict soil control. Prevent stagnation of water in it, otherwise it will lead to decay of the roots.
- No matter how resistant the variety is to diseases and pests, you should not plant seeds annually in the same place.
Diseases and their prevention
Often, cucumbers are affected by fungal diseases. This can happen due to soil or seed contamination. As a preventive measure, it is recommended to soak the seed before planting. in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. You can also water future beds with it. For this purpose, a saline solution is also suitable (1 glass per bucket of water).
The following diseases are considered the most dangerous for the culture:
- gray rot;
- white rot;
- cucumber mosaic;
- olive spot;
- root rot.
Regular monitoring, proper care and a quick response when the first signs of plant damage are detected will help protect the crop from death. It should be remembered that a healthy and strong bush is more protected from diseases than weak shoots. You need to strengthen immunity with timely complementary foods... The nutrient composition of the soil saturates cucumbers with useful substances.
When growing cucumbers, it is important to introduce a sufficient amount of phosphorus and potassium into it. But nitrogen is used in a limited dose.
Harvesting and storage rules
On the 39-40th day after the emergence of seedlings above the surface of the earth, the harvest time comes. The deadline falls in the first half of July. Intensive maturation makes you inspect the beds daily. Active fruiting occurs within 2 weeks... Harvested vegetables are stored in a cool place for 10 days if necessary. During this time, the fruits do not lose their qualities and presentation.
The safety of the harvested crop is influenced by the method of extracting the fruit from the lash. It is important to leave a small tail on the vegetable without damaging the skin.... At the same time, the stems do not need to be turned over, and even more so to swing on the sides to detect the greenery.
Simple rules of care and resistance of cucumbers to diseases make it possible to grow a crop in regions with different climatic characteristics. And early ripening guarantees a good harvest.