We grow lemon-cucumber (crystal apple) in our beds
The lemon cucumber (crystal apple) produces a round, lemon-like fruit. It bears fruit all summer and 10-12 kg of harvest grows from one bush per season. Grown in a greenhouse, but you can also in the open field. Pollinated by insects.
Exotic plant cucumber-lemon (crystal apple)
This type of cucumber is still considered an exotic plant due to its atypical appearance. But some summer residents have already added exotic things to the garden. The plant has a high vigor of growth, quickly filling the allocated area.
The fruits of a crystal apple are medium in size, round in shape. The inside of the fruit contains tender pulp with translucent seeds. Fruit color may vary as it ripens. Unripe cucumbers have a pale green color and light fluff, like peaches. Later, the fruits become white in color, and in the last stages of ripening they become lemon yellow.
The citron cucumber has a relatively thick stem and large leaves. The stem of a lemon-cucumber reaches 5 m in length. The crystal apple variety belongs to plants of average ripeness, it is characterized by prolonged fruiting, up to the first frost. The plant gives a large harvest, 10-12 kg of fruit comes out per season. The lemon-cucumber begins to bloom in a month and a half. Harvesting begins in mid-summer.
Growing ogurlimon
The most common way to grow ogurlimon is by seedlings. The plant loves moisture and warmth. Seeds for seedlings are sown in early spring.
The plant is grown by seeds in late spring. The seeds are planted in open ground 2 cm deep. The gap between the plants should be at least 1 m. When the lashes grow, they are stretched along the ground and straw is placed under them.
Lemon cucumber stalks actively grow over the allocated area, therefore, with the distance between plants in rows less than 1 m, as with ordinary cucumbers, there is a risk of a decrease in yield.
The plant is pollinated by insects and wind, therefore, when growing ogurlimon in a greenhouse, pollinate the plant independently. To do this, use a brush and transfer pollen from a male flower to a female one.
Lemon cucumber is often grown as an ornamental one. With this type of cultivation, it is best to plant the plant near a fence so that it can trudge along it. Fence will not interfere with the sun's rays, which will have a good effect on the amount of the crop.
Choosing a place for planting in the garden
Lemon cucumber feels great in light areas without drafts. The plant prefers light, non-acidic soils. But it will take root on almost any others.
Lemon cucumber is planted in the beds where onions, tomatoes, potatoes previously grew, cabbage and legumes. But it is extremely undesirable to do this where cucumbers, pumpkins, zucchini and squash were previously grown. This is due to the fact that crops have common pests and diseases.
If the soil on the site is heavy and acidic, it is preliminarily improved with humus, sand or compost.
When choosing a place for planting lemon cucumbers, avoid areas with groundwater resources nearby. The preferred temperature is + 25-30 ° C, and the humidity is 70-80%. At temperatures below 12 ° C, the plant stops growing.
When planting a citron cucumber on a heated soil, it must be mulched to prevent rapid evaporation of moisture. The plant is difficult to tolerate cold nights, so for this period it is covered with a plastic wrap awning.
Care
Lemon cucumber (crystal apple) loves moisture. During flowering and fruiting, its need for moisture increases. Therefore, the first thing you need to closely monitor is the optimal indicator of soil and air moisture. Water the plant sparingly, and a little more during flowering. In addition to watering, the soil is regularly loosened and weeds are occasionally weeded.
The soil should always be moist. Drip irrigation helps to reduce the risk of oversporosis damage to the plant. Watering is carried out at the root. When watering under the scorching sun, avoid getting water on the leaves, this can lead to burns. If the lemon cucumber is grown in an area with cold nights, it is best to avoid watering in the evening. This can provoke disease.
Avoid the strong pressure of water when watering, this can harm the plant. The best option is a regular watering can.
In addition to all the standard procedures, the plant is regularly fertilized. The first time a lemon cucumber is fertilized is when it begins to bloom. During fruiting, the plant is fed several times at intervals of one and a half weeks. The final batch of fertilizer is applied a few weeks before the last harvest. For feeding, herbal infusions are suitable.
Diseases
With improper care, citron cucumber is susceptible to the following diseases:
- powdery mildew;
- aphid;
- slugs.
If one of the plants is sick, it is pulled out of the garden and burned. Otherwise, the lemon cucumbers next door will also be affected by the disease.
Harvesting
Harvesting begins when the fruits reach 8-9 cm in length and weight in 50 g. From this moment they can be used for food purposes. If all growing conditions are met, the plant will delight in large portions of the harvest.
Lemon cucumbers are picked as they ripen. Every 2 days, the bed is carefully examined for the presence of ripe fruits. If this is not done, ripe lemon cucumbers will not allow new fruits to grow.
At the onset of the first frost, the entire remaining crop is harvested. Harvesting is best in the early morning or late evening. When harvesting, it is important not to damage the whips, it is advisable not to disturb them at all.
The harvested crop is stored in a cool place, where there is no access to the scorching sun rays. The shelf life of lemon cucumber is one and a half weeks.