Cucumber "Finger": features of the variety and cultivation
Cucumbers are planted in almost every garden every year. To date, there are a large number of their varieties. It is a vegetable that can be consumed both fresh and canned. The popularity of cucumber is growing every year, so the area of its cultivation is expanding. This type of plant has many advantages over others. In this article we will focus on such an interesting variety as "Finger".
Variety Description
Cucumber "Finger" refers to early ripening varieties that are pollinated by bees. It was bred by a famous breeder at one of the Russian stations. This early ripe hybrid is characterized by a long period of fruiting with a period of about two months.
The main characteristics of the cucumber:
- after the moment the plant is planted in the soil and before the first fruit appears on it, about forty-five days pass;
- cucumber growth occurs on bushes that can reach a height of 0.2-0.25 meters;
- the leaves are large, have a dark green color;
- in the finger cucumber, the female flower predominates;
- fruit color - dark green;
- vegetable length - up to twelve centimeters;
- the skin is covered with a small number of tubercles of small size;
- the surface is characterized by smoothness and lack of thorns;
- one cucumber weighs an average of one hundred and ten grams.
Having studied the reviews of people who like to grow vegetables, we can conclude that the real yields of this vegetable are quite high. It produces from six to seven kilograms of fruit per square meter.
The dense structure of cucumbers allows them to be transported over long distances, so planting "Finger" is possible not only for personal purposes, but also for trade.
Advantages and disadvantages
Thanks to the efforts of breeders, "Finger" has practically no flaws. And this fact is proven by the reviews of farmers who constantly plant this vegetable. The advantages of the plant include the following characteristics:
- excellent taste and attractive appearance;
- susceptibility to transportation;
- long period of fruiting;
- the formation of a bundle ovary;
- wide area of growth;
- resistance to diseases and pests;
- frost resistance in the spring and autumn seasons;
- greater productivity.
The only drawback of the variety is the need for a quick harvest. Cucumber is a dietary product that mainly consists of water. But, despite this, it contains many useful elements. For example, vitamins B and C, folic acid, a large amount of potassium, phosphorus, iron and copper. The use of this vegetable can have the effect of rejuvenating and healing the skin, as well as the body as a whole. The plant is able to relieve swelling, improve digestion. But it is strictly forbidden to use it for gastritis, ulcers, kidney failure.
How to land?
Soil preparation should begin in the autumn. Manure is introduced into it, in the amount of one bucket per square meter of territory. It would also be advisable to introduce mineral mixtures into the soil.For example, 20 grams of potassium nitrate, 200 grams of ash and 40 grams of superphosphate. In the spring, the beds need loosening.
"Finger" is bred in two ways: seeds and seedlings. It is worth planting at the end of May, having previously fertilized the soil with humus. If planting occurs with seeds, then before placing them in the ground, the materials should be warmed up and soaked. Each seed must be immersed in the hole to a depth of no more than 3 cm.
If preference is given to planting seedlings, then until the moment of planting it is necessary to properly spread the plants at a distance of at least thirty-five centimeters from each other. The planting process must be carried out in warm ground. The root of the seedling should be immersed in the soil by about thirty centimeters.
We must not forget that the height of a young plant should not be less than twenty-five centimeters, and each bush should have about five leaves. If the young plant has a greater height, then the root is deeper.
Growing Features
On the advice of experienced gardeners, it is best to grow the finger cucumber on a vertical trellis. If the gardener is equipped with a greenhouse or greenhouse, then you can pinch the main bush lash over the trellis. For normal growth, the room must have a temperature of at least twenty-two degrees Celsius.
The bushes need watering daily, but portions should not be large, since with strong moisture the plant may die. Irrigation water should be warm and settled in sunlight. The most favorable time for watering is early morning. The plant does not need moisture, so drying out is unacceptable.
The first two weeks after the seedlings are planted in the ground, it is necessary to apply nitrogen fertilizers, as well as organic matter in the form of peat or manure. The second dressing of the bushes is carried out during the flowering period. For this, complex fertilizers are introduced into the soil, which are a mixture of nitrogen and potassium. In case of violation of the thermal regime, the use of foliar dressings is recommended. During the period when a weak and small fruit appears on the plant, it is worth making mullein, feeding with urea or using humus.
Care tips and helpful tips
Care for this variety of cucumber is no different from others. In order to get as many ovaries of the future fetus as possible, the plant should be regularly watered and fed. After heavy rain passes, the soil must be loosened. If there are weeds on the territory, then they should be disposed of.
Cucumber care is a few rules that cannot be ignored:
- weeding;
- watering and loosening the soil;
- top dressing during flowering, ovary formation, at the beginning of the fruiting period.
If you follow the following tips, you can get a good harvest of Finger cucumber:
- do not plant the plant in acidic and waterlogged soil;
- when six leaves appear, the plant should be pinched;
- to protect cucumbers from drafts, you can plant beds of corn around it;
- in very hot weather, watering should be done in the evening, otherwise the vegetables will be bitter.
Protection against diseases and pests
This variety is considered quite resistant to diseases. Preventive measures to take:
- disinfection of seed to create strong immunity in the future plant;
- mandatory disinfection of the soil until the sowing of seeds;
- ensuring constant monitoring of soil moisture so that excessive moisture does not provoke a fungal infection;
- timely weeding of weeds that are carriers of diseases;
- fertilizer application strictly according to the instructions.
In order to carry out prevention with a possible pest, it is worth using not only substances of a chemical nature, but also decoctions from the tops of tomatoes and potatoes. The use of such funds will become a reliable protection against ticks, aphids and caterpillars.
If you try to grow a Finger cucumber at least once, then, undoubtedly, it will become a permanent resident of your garden. Compliance with the rules for planting, growing and caring will ensure a good harvest of this variety. This vegetable will delight you with its pleasant taste not only in salads, but also in preserves. "Finger" is a dietary, low-calorie and healthy product, the cultivation of which is not associated with particular difficulties.
For what you need to know when growing Finger cucumbers, see the following video.