CUCUMBER

Characteristics: The cucumber is a creeping vine that roots in the ground and grows up trellises or other supporting frames, wrapping around ribbing with thin, spiraling tendrils. The plant has large leaves that form a canopy over the fruit. The fruit of the cucumber is roughly cylindrical, elongated with tapered ends, and may be as large as 60 centimetres (24 in) long and 10 centimetres (3.9 in) in diameter. Having an enclosed seed and developing from a flower, botanically speaking, cucumbers are classified as fruits. However, much like tomatoes and squash they are often perceived, prepared and eaten as though they were vegetables.Cucumbers are usually more than 90% water.
Specific cares: Traditional varieties produce male blossoms first, then female, in about equivalent numbers. New gynoecious hybrid cultivars produce almost all female blossoms. However, since these varieties do not provide pollen, they must have interplanted a pollenizer variety and the number of beehives per unit area is increased. Insecticide applications for insect pests must be done very carefully to avoid killing off the insect pollinators. The usual commercial method of cultivating cucumbers involves the use of mineral (manufactured) fertilizer
Plagues: Flea Beetles : Do not generally do serious damage. Dust with Rotenone, Remove debris each year. Rotate location
Aphids : Insecticidal soaps or a strong stream of water. Diazinon, sevin, and thiodan are also registered for aphids on cucumbers. * Pesticide use and recommendations for various areas are constantly changing. Check with your County agent for current recommendations.
Measures: Spray the plants with fish emulsion fertilizer about four weeks after germination, or side-dress with compost. Vining cucumbers perform better when growing on trellises than they do sprawling across the ground. They get better air circulation and thus fall prey to fewer disease and insect problems, and they produce more - and straighter - fruits.
Price:1 TL (50 p)
Date of plantation and harvesting:April and July