It is difficult to find a person who is indifferent to cucumbers. Of course, this vegetable will be most delicious if it is grown on its own and plucked from the garden with its own hands. But which variety to choose in order to get a minimum of worries and maximum pleasure when using it? Cucumber variety Graceful meets these criteria.
Brief description and characteristics of elegant cucumber
According to our readers' reviews, the Graceful cucumber variety has earned itself a well-deserved authority. It is grown, as a rule, in the open field, where it is naturally pollinated by insects.
Cultivation in greenhouse conditions is associated with artificial pollination of the plant.
Elegant in characteristics refers to early maturing, which steadfastly endures all the vicissitudes of the domestic weather in the spring months.
With proper care, within 6-9 weeks after planting, the plant will form 4-5 lateral branches, and it makes it possible to harvest the first crop. According to the description, the fruits have a beautiful ellipsoid shape and reach length 13 cm, weighing up to 140 grams.
The pulp of ripe cucumbers has no voids and contains a minimum of substances that impart bitterness. The fruit has a delicate taste and persistent cucumber aroma.
Positive and negative features of the variety
The advantages of this variety are:
- resistance to major diseases, high resistance to plant parasites;
- the variety is adapted to short-term drops in temperature, is cold-resistant culture;
- has a decent aesthetic appearance and high taste;
- by the end of May, beginning of June, it will delight lovers of their own fresh vegetables, on average 50 days after planting seeds in open ground;
- helps in pollination of other varieties, acts as a catalyst for cross-pollination;
- acceptable yield up to 7 kg per square meter of the garden;
- perfectly suits for preparing fresh salads, but does not lose its qualities when canning.
The disadvantages include an excessive number of male inflorescences, a somewhat rough peel of the fruit, which is very noticeable when used fresh.
Also, agricultural technology is complicated when growing in a greenhouse or greenhouse.
Preparing a bed for planting
Preparation of the site and soil for planting cucumbers Graceful does not differ in original requirements, however, in order to get a decent
the harvest is recommended to follow a number of soil preparation rules, and do not forget about competent crop rotation.
- Like other varieties, Graceful photophilous and picky about soil and air moisture... The beds must be formed on unshaded, wind-free areas. For a more effective plant development, avoid places where the relief is low: cold accumulates in the lowlands, which oppresses them.
- The most favorable soil for planting is loam and sandy loam well fertilized soils with neutral or slightly increased acidity.
- Like many other varieties of Graceful responds perfectly to the introduction of organic matter, therefore, the use of organic fertilizers will have a beneficial effect on the yield.
- In accordance with the rules of crop rotation, cucumbers will feel great in places where onions, cabbage, tomatoes, and potatoes used to bear fruit. It is highly undesirable to plant cucumbers after crops belonging to the pumpkin family: watermelons, melons, zucchini and squash.
- Manure on cucumber beds is best applied in autumn. Turning into humus, it becomes an easily accessible nutrient for this culture, which has a root system located in the upper layers of the earth.
- Before sowing, in spring, it is advisable to fertilize each square meter of the garden with 4 kg of humus or compost. At the same time, it is advisable to use ash as a full-fledged substitute for potash group fertilizers, at the rate of 200 grams per square meter of area. If necessary, in early spring, ammonium nitrate and superphosphate are introduced into the soil at 15 and 40 grams per square meter, respectively.
- To reduce the acidity of the soil, it should lime... At the same time, one must not forget that liming should not be accompanied by the introduction of manure, since the reaction between these compositions leads to a decrease in the content of nitrogen components. If anti-acid measures are carried out in the fall, then fertilization is carried out in the spring.
Basic rules for planting, care and storage
The plot is prepared, we proceed to sowing cucumbers. To do this, select the landing method - seeds or seedlings, and observe the following rules:
- for planting seeds of cucumber varieties Graceful, the optimal temperature for heating the top layer of mail is 15-18 degrees;
- the soil in the planting holes is loosened together with a nutrient composition consisting of peat, humus, mineral fertilizers and sand, and is watered abundantly with warm water;
- seeds are lowered into prepared soil to a depth 1.5-2 cm, after that the garden bed is mulched and covered with a garden film.
Seedling sowing can be used to obtain greater productivity and reduce risks.
Seedlings are planted in open ground, when formed in a plant 3-5 leaves and average temperature 20 degrees... When planting seedlings, planting containers should be used: a cucumber painfully tolerates a dive. We do not disregard the process of hardening young plants.
Caring for the Graceful cucumbers is standard and does not require agrotechnical refinements. And it consists in:
- periodic watering of plants warm water and loosening the topsoil;
- watering every decade is accompanied by the addition of top dressing;
- a bush of 5-6 lashes is formed by splitting the main stem between the third and fourth leaves;
- in the summer time for irrigation use sprinkling methodthat favorably affects the process of photosynthesis;
- given grade not susceptible to major diseases, but for greater safety, it is advisable to carry out preventive spraying every two to three weeks.
Harvested ready-made fruits as they ripen, with the acquisition of sizes characteristic of the variety. You should not wait for the yellowing of the cucumbers: the peel of the fruits picked with a delay becomes coarse, the cucumber loses its taste and marketability.
The best place to store fresh cucumbers is the lower shelf of the refrigerator or cellar, in these places they retain their freshness and their nutritional properties for a long time.
Do not use sealed packaging for storage: the lack of fresh air contributes to the development of mustiness of the greenery and a rapid loss of quality.
The advantages of the Graceful cucumber variety are obvious. We hope that our recommendations will have a positive impact on the yield.