The work of breeders goes on continuously, more and more plant hybrids appear, obtained by crossing various crops. Recently, ogurdin has gained wide popularity among Russian gardeners. What it is? Already from the name itself, it becomes clear that this culture is something between cucumber and melon.

What is ogurdynya

It is a hybrid that combines the properties of cucumber and melon. The main feature is the size and taste of the fruit: during fruiting, a decent-sized melon with characteristic taste and aroma ripens from a small cucumber 10 cm long. Even young fruits can be eaten - they have the usual cucumber taste and smell. Despite the fact that gourd is considered an exotic culture, it is easy to care for and bears fruit well on the plots.

Ogurdynia

The best varieties of ogurdin

Ogurdynia - "hybrid" of cucumber and melon

There are already about 15 varieties of a hybrid of cucumber and melon, but Russian gardeners are especially fond of sweet Caramel, Candy, Pineapple and Banana, as well as Nectarine and Cucumber Manduria.

Ogurdynya Nectarine, like Manduria, is characterized by a powerful bush capable of producing large spherical fruits weighing up to 3 kg. Unlike the sweet varieties, Nectarine gourd has a refreshing melon flavor that is not so cloying.

Landing times and rules

The timing of planting gourd seeds depends on the method of sowing them: for seedlings or directly into open ground. To accelerate fruiting, the seedling method is preferable.

Eggplant Valentine

Sowing for seedlings is carried out at the end of April, and after a month, young seedlings are planted in a permanent place. Sowing directly into open ground is carried out at the end of May, when the ground warms up enough. The seeding depth is 1.5 cm, while they are located at a distance of 1 m from each other. The planting pattern for the seedling method remains the same, but the seeding depth in the cups is 2-2.5 cm.

Important! When sowing seeds in open ground, not everyone can grow. So that there are no “holes” in the plantings, you can plant two gherkins, and thin them out when shoots appear. A strong sprout is left, and the second is pinched at soil level so as not to damage the roots that have grown together.

Before sowing, it is necessary to carry out preventive seed treatment. To do this, they need to be soaked in Epin's solution to stimulate growth, and for disinfection - in a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

The pre-planting phase of the seat preparation is very important. Since the melon cucumber belongs to the melon crops, it, like other representatives of this group, needs good lighting, it will grow well in a windless area. Therefore, cucumbers are often planted in greenhouses.

ogurdin needs lighting

Note! In the open ground, places are allocated for them near fences, a tank and other structures to protect against winds.

The beds form warm: they are filled with compost, humus and other organic matter, sprinkled with a layer of loose earth. In poor soil, the hybrid will also grow, but the fruits will be small and not at all sweet.

Growing cucumbers

This culture is not considered capricious, its cultivation is not difficult. But there are a couple of nuances that affect the quality and quantity of the crop. When leaving, special attention should be paid to watering and forming plants.

Watering

Puccini cucumbers

After planting, young seedlings need abundant and frequent watering to build up green mass, they are carried out every two days, focusing on weather conditions. After the formation of fruits, watering is needed more moderate. Excess water will cause the fruit to crack, and the taste will become watery.

Important! So that moisture from the soil does not evaporate too quickly, it is recommended to mulch it.

Formation

In order for the cucumber to give high yields, you need to pinch it. The formation process takes place in stages:

  • punching - pinching the main stem after the fifth leaf (by this time the seedling has time to grow up to 25 cm);
  • pinching of lateral shoots after the seventh leaf;
  • control of the number of ovaries: it is recommended to leave 2-3 fruits on one shoot, only in this case the fruits will have a varietal size. The rest of the ovaries are blinding.

Top dressing is carried out periodically, once every two weeks: during the growing season, mullein infusion is shed, and during fruiting, complex fertilizers for melons are applied.

Where can you grow cucumbers

Outdoors. In the conditions of the Central strip, including in the Moscow region, gardeners practice the cultivation of cucumbers in the open air. Immediately after planting the seedlings, they must be covered for several days for adaptation. In the open field, the cucumber is grown in spread, that is, its whips lie on the ground. As the shoots at the roots grow, they are sprinkled with earth for rooting.

In the greenhouse. In protected ground, this crop is grown on a trellis. The lashes are tied to a wire stretched under the roof of the structure, so the distances between adjacent seedlings in the planting scheme are reduced.

Important! With the trellis method, the fruits of the hybrid are placed in nets and suspended. This way, ripening melon-flavored cucumbers will not fall to the ground under their own weight.

Cold resistance and heat resistance

Ogurdynia cannot boast of heat resistance - despite the fact that this culture is very photophilous, at an air temperature above + 30 ° C its ovaries fall off. Therefore, on especially hot days, planting is shaded.

The cucumber hybrid has sufficient cold resistance for breeding it in the Middle lane. To increase this indicator, you can use the following agricultural practices:

  • when planting seeds in open ground, they are preliminarily hardened in one of two known ways: variable temperatures or cooling;
  • when growing seedlings, young seedlings need to be taken out for a short time outside in different weather. Thus, they will also undergo hardening.

Hardening the seeds will allow them to be planted in colder soil (+ 100C), so planting of the cucumber in open ground can be done earlier.

Diseases and pests of gourd

This hybrid is so unique that large losses of plantings from pests and diseases were not noticed. However, birds can cause significant damage to the crop outdoors, so when sweet fruits begin to pour in, the plants are covered with a protective net or various kinds of scarers are installed.

A unique hybrid is well worth the time and effort.