Armenian cucumber: description, cultivation, planting and care with photo

Growing such an exotic vegetable-fruit will not cause much trouble. Try to plant on your site or cottage. Armenian cucumber is a hybrid mixture of cucumber, melon and pumpkin. Heat-loving plant, whose homeland is Africa and Asia. This vegetable, strange in taste and appearance, has several names (Armenian cucumber, Tarra, serpentine melon). Refers to gourds. It was brought from Armenia, hence the name was formed.

Fetal description

This exotic hybrid, a mix of melon and cucumber, has an original appearance. The variety is early ripe, 75-80 days pass from germination to ripening. The plant is tall, with long lashes reaching 4 meters. Some features of the vegetable compared to the cucumber:

• huge fruit sizes - length up to 50 cm;
• sweet taste, like regular cucumbers;
• the rind is covered with soft fluff and has no bitter aftertaste;
• pulp is soft, juicy, white.

Fruits are bright green with light stripes. This variety has a very high yield. The fruits should be harvested when they are young; in maturity, the skin will harden and become tough. The leaves are large, rounded, similar to melon leaves. Does not require cleaning, can be consumed directly with the peel.

Fruits are much larger than ordinary cucumbers. Crispy, juicy, with the taste of melon and cucumber, it has a refreshing and tonic effect. He became famous for his rich harvest. From one whip you can collect 7 - 8 fruits.

Useful properties

This is a rather strange plant that differs from ordinary cucumbers not only in appearance, but also in taste, contains a number of useful substances.

The vitamins included in the composition have a beneficial effect on the human body:

• promote mental performance;
• prevent cancer;
• lower blood pressure;
• helps recover from stressful situations.

The melon fruit does not need to be brought to full ripeness - it must be picked young, having reached a size of no more than 20 cm. Use immediately, fresh, or store in the refrigerator. Serpentine melon has proven itself on the positive side, high yield and long fresh storage. People who have tried this vegetable leave the most positive feedback.

Armenian cucumber cultivation technology

Although this vegetable appeared in Russia relatively recently, it is not difficult to grow it. The plant is quite unpretentious, does not require special attention. This exotic plant can be grown both indoors and outdoors.

Planting and care is not much different from caring for other vegetable crops. It is grown up in greenhouses, film shelters and in an open ground. Since the plant is heat-loving, the best place to plant is a greenhouse.

Preparing seeds for sowing

Growing seeds is common. In order for the seeds to sprout quickly and amicably, the soil must be light and fertile. Before sowing, seeds should be soaked in warm water for several hours and then immediately planted in the ground. Disinfection should not be carried out - Armenian cucumber seeds do not have an outer shell. The first shoots should appear within a week.

If you decide to plant seedlings, the best time would be mid-late April. Seeds are planted to a depth of 4 - 5 centimeters to make it easier for the side shoots to grow. The first time after sowing, the seeds should be watered as needed.

Planting seedlings in open ground

When the first seven leaves appear, Serpentine melon cucumbers are planted in open ground. Seedlings are planted in a greenhouse and under a film in mid-May, in open ground - depending on climatic conditions, but when frosts are no longer expected.

Armenian cucumber is an unpretentious variety. Growing and caring for the plant is as follows:

• the soil should be loosened regularly;
• timely weeding of the site;
• water and feed as needed.

Organic fertilizers are best suited as top dressing. During the growth period of the Armenian cucumber, organic matter should be alternated with a complex of mineral fertilizers.

Mullein is desirable to use in liquid form. To protect vegetables from diseases and pests, it is recommended to water them with garlic and onion infusion.

There are several types:

• Armenian cucumber White Bogatyr;
• Silver Melon.

All these species grow equally in greenhouses and in the open field. Taste qualities are almost the same, the difference is only in color and appearance of the fruit. In enclosed spaces, air humidity should be monitored. This crop does not tolerate excessive moisture.

The fruits should be removed from the lash along with the stalk. Leaving the stalk on the stem, the quality of storage is much reduced. As the plant grows, it is necessary to prepare strong supports for tying cucumbers.

Use in cooking

Armenian cucumber is widely used in cooking. It is marinated, s alted, stewed. Great for grilling, an important ingredient in salads and eaten fresh.

Experienced gardeners, for whom growing vegetables is a common thing, everyone is advised to try planting Tarra on their plot.

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