2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Anguria (lat. Cucumis anguria) - a representative of the genus Cucumber of the Pumpkin family. Other names are Antillean cucumber or horned cucumber. It grows in subtropical and tropical regions of South and North America.
Characteristics of culture
Anguria is an annual liana-like culture that forms long creeping stems during growth, pubescent over the entire surface. The leaves are curly-carved, harsh, equipped with numerous antennae. The fruit is small, cylindrical, covered with thorns, 3-4 cm in diameter. The average fruit weight is 30-50 g. In terms of taste, anguria resembles ordinary cucumbers. Unripe fruits are green in color, ripe fruits are yellowish-orange. Only young fruits are eaten; at a later age, anguria is not edible. Cultivated species of Anguria are grown as a vegetable or ornamental plant.
Growing conditions
Anguria gives good fruit yields when grown on aerated, moderately moist and humus-rich soils. Higher air humidity is also encouraged. This factor is due to the fact that the leaves of the plant have a high evaporation capacity and a root system close to the soil surface. The optimum temperature for the growth and development of the Antilles cucumber is 25-30C.
When the culture is kept in favorable conditions, it is rarely affected by pests and diseases. The best predecessors of anguria are tomatoes, onions, carrots, grains, and legumes. It is not recommended to grow a crop after representatives of the Pumpkin family. Anguria has a negative attitude to the winds, therefore, it is advisable to plant corn, Jerusalem artichoke or sunflower from the north side. Plants do not tolerate frosts, especially at a young age.
Sowing for seedlings and planting in the ground
Anguria is grown mainly by seedlings, first of all, this applies to the regions of central Russia. Seeds are sown in seedling containers or individual pots 25-30 days before the intended transplant in open ground, that is, in mid or late April. The bottom of the seedling container is covered with small pebbles, and then a layer of fertile soil is laid. The soil must be shed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate (for disinfection).
Before sowing, the seeds are soaked for 15-20 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, then washed with warm water and wrapped in a damp gauze or rag. Anguria seeds are sown horizontally. The seeding depth is 1, 5-2 cm. The crops are watered abundantly, covered with foil and placed in a warm room. The film cover is systematically removed to ventilate the crops. With the advent of entrances, the seedling boxes are transferred to well-lit window sills shaded from direct sunlight.
A week after sowing, fertilizing is carried out with a solution of trace elements, after 8-12 days - with mineral fertilizers. With the formation of lashes on the seedlings, pinching is carried out. This procedure will contribute to the formation of side shoots. Before planting seedlings in the ground, it needs a support, which can be twigs. Before planting, the seedlings are watered abundantly and transferred into the hole along with a lump of earth, trying not to damage the root system.
For the first time, the plants are shaded from direct sunlight. To obtain a stable harvest, anguria is planted with an interval of 5-10 days, because initially only male flowers are formed on the plants. The distance between the rows should be at least 50-60 cm, between the plants - 70-80 cm. It is important for angurias to provide reliable support along which the plant will curl.
Care
The Antilles cucumber needs systematic watering, especially during the fruiting period. Regular fertilizing with mineral fertilizers and liquid solutions of microelements is no less important. Weeding and loosening of the aisles is mandatory. The fruits are removed constantly, thus, you can speed up the process of forming new ones.
