Graceful cucumber is an early ripe variety with a high yield, which has long been grown by gardeners in household plots. A vegetable crop bears fruit with crisp fruits 9-12 cm long and 130-150 g in weight, and the crop can be harvested already 40-45 days after the first seedlings appear. Learn more about the characteristics and cultivation of the variety below.
You can collect cucumbers on 40-45 days after germination
Elegant cucumber can be grown in greenhouses and in the open ground
Cucumber Graceful
Breeding history
The variety was bred in the 60s of the last century under the leadership of O. V. Yurin by breeders of the All-Union Scientific Research Institute for Vegetable Breeding and Seed Production (today - Federal State Budgetary Institution “Federal Scientific Center for Vegetable Production”, VNIISSOK village, Moscow Region).
Graceful was a continuation of the line of cold-resistant cucumbers, which include varieties developed in the 30s of the last century and which formed the basis for the further development of domestic selection. These include Vyaznikovsky 37 and Murom 36.
In 1971, Graceful was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation for cultivation in many regions of the country - from central regions to the Far East. In general, it is approved for cultivation in areas such as:
- Far Eastern;
- East Siberian;
- West Siberian;
- Ural
- Middle Volga;
- Volga-Vyatka;
- Central;
- Northwestern.
Graceful cucumber is also in demand in the near abroad, and since 1974 it is listed in the State Register of Belarus.
Grade description
Cucumber Graceful is suitable for cultivation in the open field and spring film shelters. It is an early ripening variety, so about 40-45 days pass from the first germination to full ripening. How the plant blooms and what fruits it brings, we will understand separately.
Plant
The main characteristics of the plant are as follows:
- bee pollinated (in female flowers, ovaries develop only after they have been fertilized with pollen from male flowers, and the process of cross pollination depends on the number and activity of insects);
- mixed flowering type (predominantly male flowers appear in the leaf sinuses of the central stem, and female with ovaries on the lateral shoots of the first order);
- indeterminate (has no growth restrictions);
- medium braided (average weaving can give about 4-6 side shoots);
- middle layer (moderate branching).
Fruit
With proper care of the plant, greenbacks grow with the following parameters:
- length - from 9 to 12 cm;
- weight - 130-150 g;
- the form - aligned ellipsoidal with weak ribbing;
- peel - medium density, light green with white stripes, a white fluff and small tubercles;
- flesh - without voids, dense, juicy and crunchy, bitterness is absent.
Zelentsy are distinguished by their excellent presentation, do not outgrow and do not turn yellow over time.
Feature table
The variety has a number of distinctive characteristics:
Parameter | Description |
Destination | Graceful is considered a salad variety, so the fruits often go to the preparation of salads and served fresh. Meanwhile, most gardeners note that Zelentsy is also suitable for pickling and canning. |
Cold resistance | The variety tolerates cold weather well, so it is suitable for cultivation in the northern regions with a short summer. In addition, it is characterized by early maturity, so it is possible to carry out early planting in order to collect a stable crop in short summer conditions. |
Pollination method | Female inflorescences are pollinated by bees, so cucumbers have many male flowers. They also serve as pollinators for neighboring plants. |
Disease resistance | The variety is famous for being rarely exposed to diseases, possessing stable immunity. He is not afraid of either powdery mildew, or olive spotting (cladosporiosis), or bacteriosis. |
Productivity | With 1 sq. m beds can collect 5-7 kg of greens. |
Agricultural technology
To get an excellent harvest, it is necessary to take into account the basic agrotechnical rules from the moment of sowing seeds to the collection of cucumbers:
- Grow a variety through direct sowing in soil or seedlings. You can sow seeds for seedlings in the middle lane in late April - early May, and transplanted to a permanent place in late May - early June.
Due to the relatively low soil temperature, a powerful root system develops in the plant for the first time after planting, but the growth of its aerial parts slows down. In the future, this has a good effect on his early maturity, productivity and endurance.
- You can cultivate a cucumber on a site that is well warmed up by the sun and protected from drafts. The soil itself should be light and loose. It is advisable that cultures such as:
- Tomatoes
- peas;
- cabbage
- potatoes.
It is not recommended to plant cucumbers after pumpkins and zucchini.
- The site for cucumbers should be prepared in advance, in the autumn fertilizing the soil with manure or humus to a depth of 15-20 cm at the rate of 1 liter per 1 sq. m. During the winter, he will decay, secrete nutrients and warm the earth. To increase the nutritional value of the soil, complex mineral fertilizers should also be poured, and then dig everything up to the point of a shovel if the earth is loose.
- To protect the cucumbers from the winds, near them in several rows it is worth planting tall plants, for example, corn. In addition, to attract insects to cucumbers near the beds, it is worth planting honey bees actively blooming in late August - September.
- Feed seedlings 2-3 times a month, using organic and mineral fertilizers with trace elements.
- If young greenbacks do not appear, then the plant is poorly pollinated, so this must be done manually, simply by holding male flowers on the female pistils.
- Cucumbers do not stay on stems for a long time, so harvesting should be done every day. In addition, in this case, new ovaries will form throughout the summer.
Seed preparation
Seeds are extremely important to properly handle, which involves such manipulations:
- Seeds to calibrate. First, hold them for several minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, and then soak for 15 minutes in warm clean water. Full seeds will drown. They need to be used for planting. The same instances that pop up need to be removed because they will not germinate.
- Warm up the selected seeds a little - put them in a cloth bag and hang them near the heating radiator. This is done to prevent disease and to protect against pests.
After such preparation, the seeds can be sown immediately in the ground, but for maximum germination, they can be germinated beforehand. To do this, the seeds must be placed in a damp cloth or kept for one day in wet sawdust.
Seeds soaked in a growth stimulant and sprouted before the first shoots appear give the best crop of cucumbers.
Growing through seedlings
Seedling cultivation is considered more reliable, because it allows to accelerate the germination of plants and ripening of greenhouses.
Seedling preparation
To get good seedlings, you should adhere to these rules:
- Sow the prepared seeds in separate cups or a container with cells, since the plant does not tolerate picking. In this case, it is better to use special soil, adding wood sawdust or leaves to it to increase aeration. The optimal planting depth is 1.5-2 cm. You can throw 1 or 2 seeds in each hole.
- Before the first shoots appear, cover the landing with glass or film to maintain an optimal microclimate.
- With insufficient daylight, the seedlings should be illuminated with a fluorescent lamp, otherwise it will stretch.
- Reduce room temperature at night.
- Feed seedlings with special fertilizers. For example, such agents as Kemira, Rastvorin, Nitrofoska have proven themselves well.
- Before transplanting seedlings to a permanent place, harden to improve their survival rate and accelerate rooting. To do this, take it to the balcony for 20 minutes and gradually increase the hardening time.
Seedlings are considered ready for planting in the open ground at the age of 20-26 days, when it already has a thick stem, short internodes and 4 dark green leaves.
Transplanting
Saplings can be replanted in the open ground when the soil warms up to + 15 ... + 18 ° C, following this instruction:
- A few days before planting, once again dig the earth and fill it in layers:
- coniferous sawdust;
- humus;
- peat;
- straw;
- cow dung;
- ash;
- black soil.
Sprinkle all this with earth up to 20 cm high and pour water heated to 60 ° C approximately 2-3 days before planting to rid the soil of harmful microorganisms. Sprinkle pre-prepared wells with hot water.
- Plant seedlings in rows so that for 1 square. m accounted for no more than 3 plants. The optimal distance between the holes is 40 cm, and between the rows is 90-100 cm. When installing vertically, supports should be installed, but when horizontal, this is not necessary.
- Planting depth - 9-10 cm. You do not need to plant seedlings deeper, because at the depth the soil will be excessively cold, which is unfavorable for the roots of the plant.
- Sprinkle the soil around the sprouts a little to preserve moisture and prevent crusting, then carefully pour over with warm water and cover with a temporary shelter to protect against unexpected frosts.
When the threat of night frost has completely passed, the shelter must be removed, otherwise the seedlings will not be able to fully be illuminated by the sun.
Direct sowing in soil
Landing work should be carried out after the earth warms up to 15 ° C. At the same time, seeds and soil must be prepared in the same way as in the case of growing cucumber in the seedling method.
Sow the seeds to a depth of 1.5-2 cm, laying 2 seeds in each well. After sowing, the soil should be constantly kept moist, if necessary, watering it every day. Before the first shoots appear, it is recommended to additionally cover the crops with a film to preserve heat and humidity.
How to plant cucumber seeds in a warm bed can be seen in the video below:
How and when you can plant cucumbers for seedlings, read in the next article.
Seedling Care
Graceful cucumber will develop well, grow and bear fruit only with regular care, which consists in the following activities:
- Watering. It should be regular and plentiful, using warm water (at least 25 ° C). The frequency of watering depends on the weather. On dry days, seedlings should be watered every other day, and on rainy days it is better not to touch them at all. It is advisable to water cucumbers in the evening at the rate of about 5 liters of water per 1 sq. Km. m plot.
- Loosening, weeding. A few minutes after watering, the topsoil must be loosened, while removing all weeds.
- Hilling the roots. This is an important condition, because the root system of the plant is on the surface, and if you dig in the ground higher, this will contribute to the formation of additional roots, so that the yield of the plant will increase. To do this, the lateral shoots in some places you just need to sprinkle with earth.
- Top dressing. After 2 weeks from the moment of planting, the first top dressing should be introduced. Seedlings can be treated with Gumi, a mild natural preparation for plant growth in the form of a 30% aqueous paste. In addition, you should remember about mineral and complex fertilizers. In total, during the growing season, feed the plant 2-3 times.
- Tying. To simplify the collection of cucumbers, you can also help the bushes to grow vertically on open ground. To do this, at each edge of the row you need to nail the poles, and between them, at a height of 1.3-1.5 m, stretch a wire or rope. After the lash of the cucumber reaches the wire, it must be tied to it. However, it should be borne in mind that with vertical cultivation, the plant must be reliably protected from drafts and cold winds. In addition, the site should be lit by the sun for a long time.
- Bush formation. Cucumbers have weak and poorly developed roots, which cannot fully provide moisture and nutrients to the whole plant, which is why some of its parts are covered with yellowness and fade. In this regard, it is extremely important to remove the excess parts of the bushes in a timely manner - pinch the crown of the main stem after 3 of this leaf or 6-8 in case of late branching. On a correctly formulated bush there should be 5-6 lateral shoots.
Some experienced gardeners believe that bee pollinated cucumbers do not need to be planted. With the natural growth of the bush on the main stem there will be enough empty flowers for pollination, and on the side shoots the main crop will be tied.
- Disease protection. To do this, you need to spray the leaves with a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate or vitriol at the rate of 1 tbsp. l powder per 10 liters of water. If there are yellow and diseased leaves, they must be removed.
- Pest control. Cucumbers of this variety may be attacked by gourds. To destroy it, you need to take 1/2 cup of ash, 25 g of grated soap and dilute in 5 l of warm water. Process the tops with this solution. Sometimes a spider mite is also found. It can be found by the strings of cobwebs on plants. To destroy the pest, the plant must be treated with tincture of onion husks (100 g per 5 l of water). If slugs are found, they will have to be collected manually, and ash or lime should be scattered across the bed.
Features of growing in a greenhouse
In the case of growing cucumbers in greenhouse conditions, the following nuances should be taken into account:
- You can plant seeds in the greenhouse a month earlier, that is, in late March - early April.
- It is necessary to prepare the greenhouse in advance, since the autumn, removing the remains of old plants. It is better to dry and burn them. In order to disinfect the soil, you need to pour it with a hot solution of potassium permanganate or Intavir.
- Cucumbers should be pollinated by insects, but if they are few, female flowers need to be pollinated by themselves. To do this, some gardeners grease the leaves of plants with sugar syrup or honey and open the windows to attract insects. To make syrup, add 100 g of sugar or 50 g of honey to warm water.
- No need to rush into the formation of a bush. It is better to wait until the cucumbers rise to the end of the twine and begin to sag, and only then remove the apical part.
- If the weather allows, the windows in the greenhouse should be regularly opened for ventilation, but care must be taken to ensure that there are no drafts.
Read more about how to grow cucumbers in a greenhouse, read the article.
Harvesting
Cucumbers need to be collected daily or every other day, since they cannot be allowed to overgrow. Fruits must be twisted or pinched to preserve moisture and reduce its release at the cliffs.
Timely collection of fruits will allow the plant to direct its forces to laying and pouring new ovaries.
To extend the fruiting period, you should also follow these rules:
- At the end of summer, fertilize through the leaves. The fact is that at this time the air temperature drops significantly, to which the roots of the plant react poorly - they absorb less nutrients.
- In August, mulch the roots with hay, peat, humus or sawdust with a layer of up to 5 cm. This is also done in order to protect them from night cooling.
- To carry out preventive measures to combat cucumber diseases so that the plant does not get sick from frequent cold rains and morning dew.
- Carry out rejuvenation of cucumbers. To do this, cover the root stem with soil, so that new roots appear there that better nourish the plant.
Graceful cucumber belongs to bee-pollinated varieties, therefore, full-fledged seeds are formed in its fruits. They can be used as seed, since varietal differences in them are laid at the genetic level. Such seeds should not be planted next season, but after 2-3 years. Unlike commercial material, before planting, you will need to prepare them - soak, disinfect, prune and germinate.
Pros and cons
The advantages of the variety include:
- high taste;
- marketable condition;
- early ripening;
- universality in use;
- high immunity against many diseases;
- stability and adaptability to weather changes;
- ability to pollinate other varieties of cucumbers.
The disadvantages of the variety include:
- the presence of a thick peel, especially in overripe fruits;
- uneven coloring - there are cucumbers with white sides (white-sided), which are not particularly suitable for pickling;
- the appearance of internal voids during heat treatment in the process of pickling;
- softening during salting.
Grade Graceful has been well-deservedly popular among amateur gardeners and professional farmers since the days of the USSR. Suitable for cultivation in regions where the weather often changes and cool summer prevails. Because of the thick crust, not everyone likes the fruits, although they have an amazing taste and are not bitter. With the organization of proper care gives a good harvest.