Description and features of African cucumber
Today you will not surprise anyone with outlandish fruits and vegetables. These include the African cucumber.
Description and features of African cucumber
Characteristic
The African cucumber (Kiwano) is an annual vine. It was bred in Africa and South America, but gained popularity in Western Europe and the Balkans.
The taste of the fruit and its appearance depend on the amount of land used and the cultivation method.
Description of the plant
Kiwano resembles a small horned melon in shape. The vegetable has green curly stems and leaves of the same color. They also need to be tied up.
Description of fruits
Cucumber Kiwano has a yellow or orange peel with many needles. The thickness of the peel resembles the skin of a melon and watermelon.
Kiwano fruit has a specific taste, sweet and sour, and contains a lot of moisture inside that helps to quench thirst. If a person tastes a vegetable for the first time, he will feel similarities to cucumber, melon, banana and even lime.
Planting seeds
Before planting in the ground, seedlings are grown from seeds. First, the seeds are prepared for sowing. To do this, they are soaked for 1 day in a solution of sodium humate. Fertilizer Epin-extra is also used, it has the same effect.
Sowing seeds
It is impossible to sow seeds directly into the ground, even if the gardener lives in a southern area, because in spring the weather is unpredictable, frosts are fierce at night that can kill seedlings. When the seeds are swollen, they are transferred to a warm place for 2-3 days. Sowing material is sown in April or early May to grow seedlings in warm weather, which will allow the seedlings to be transferred to open ground.
Seeds are planted only in purchased land, since it is already nutritious and loose. To do this, use a small single container no larger than 10 cm in size.
Seedling care
Good plant care will ensure a decent harvest
First of all, after planting the seeds, the temperature is controlled. It should not be lower than 25 ° C. In addition, they provide the correct light, but so that the rays of the sun do not hit the plant, otherwise burns will appear. Also, mandatory loosening of the soil and moisture control are carried out. This promotes good growth of the plant, which further helps to obtain a bountiful harvest.
Planting seedlings in the ground
Planting African cucumber is carried out 3-4 weeks after sowing the seeds, it all depends on the growth rate of the culture. If the gardener lives in an area where the night temperature drops significantly, it is better to cover the seedlings with foil at night or plant them in a greenhouse.
African cucumbers love space. It allows them to significantly increase their growth. Also, the bushes need support to make it easier to harvest.
The seedlings are planted on a flat surface, preferably near a wall or fence. A large, warm and well-lit area is allocated for planting. Planting scheme - 40 x 35 cm. For 1 sq. m planted no more than 2 bushes.
Cucumber care rules
Kiwano loves water, in the absence of it dries up and dies. Watering is carried out 2-3 times a week, if there is a slight heat outside, if it is very hot - every day. Watering is carried out early in the morning or late in the evening.
Among the mandatory steps for growing a plant are:
- Weeding. In order for the crop to grow well, it is fed with nutrients and minerals to help reduce weeds.
- Loosening. This procedure helps oxygen to reach the roots. The earth is loosened when it begins to crust over. It is best to do this in the morning or in the evening: during the day it is likely to remove all moisture from the soil.
- Pinch. Only the side branches are pinched, since the growth of greenery can affect the amount of the crop. Bushes need to be formed in the form of a circle or so that they grow in one line.
- Hilling. This condition for caring for the plant is especially important if the ground freezes or overheats during the day. Hilling retains moisture in the ground, this is especially important for southern areas.
- Top dressing. They introduce not only organic matter, but also mineral fertilizers. They help the plant grow quickly and increase the volume of greenery. From organic matter, it is preferable to take mullein, chicken droppings or grass. Top dressing is added every 10 days, alternating.
- Garter. The stem is tied up vertically. Thus, the bulk of the greenery goes up, and space is saved at the same time. You can use a net for cucumbers. If you do not tie the cucumbers, they will take up a lot of space. If the culture is grown in a greenhouse, the garter must be carried out.
- Harvesting is carried out in August. They are cut bright orange, their natural color when ripe.
Usage rules
The skin of the cucumber is not edible and therefore does not need to be used. It is cut off and thrown away. The edible part is very tender; it will not work to separate it into slices. The fruit is cut into 2 parts, and the filling is chosen with a spoon, since it looks like jelly.
Pests and diseases
Kiwano has strong immunity, tolerates the appearance of pests and practically does not become infected with diseases.
Conclusion
Horned melon is an exotic vegetable. Recently, she has become quite famous in all countries of the world. To get the desired result, it is necessary to comply with all growing conditions and adhere to the rules for caring for cucumbers.