Peculiarities of growing Balcony Miracle cucumbers in different ways

Cucumbers, which can be grown in a wide variety of conditions, always attract the attention of farmers. One such unique variety is the Balcony Miracle, which is ideal not only for vegetable gardens and greenhouses, but also for growing on heated balconies, loggias, and windowsills.

Introduction to the variety

Balcony Miracle F1 is a first-generation hybrid created by crossing two cucumber varieties. This hybrid gives it excellent flavor, with a slight sweetness and no bitterness.

Originators

Modern plant breeders and plant breeders work daily to create ever more advanced varieties of agricultural crops. One such achievement is the "Balcony Miracle" cucumber variety, added to the State Register in 2018. Representatives of the Sedek company submitted an application for its registration back in the first half of 2016.

The variety was developed by A. N. Lukyanenko, I. N. Dubinina, and S. V. Dubinin. Essentially, it's not just a variety, but a hybrid. It's distinguished not only by its adaptability to indoor conditions but also by its high productivity and excellent fruit flavor.

External characteristics of the plant and cucumbers

This variety is parthenocarpic, meaning it produces female flowers and requires no pollination. This allows the plants to produce their own ovaries and produce a bountiful harvest.

The bushes have compact roots, making them suitable for growing in pots and planters, which can be placed on balconies or indoors. These plants don't require a lot of sunlight, tolerate shade well, and are resistant to drought.

Another advantage is their strong immunity, which eliminates the need for preventative chemical treatments. The only things that can harm this variety are cold winds and drafts, which must be taken into account when planting.

Cucumber bushes of this variety have the following characteristics:

• unlimited growth;
• long central stem (160-170 cm);
• moderate branching;
• strong but shortened root system;
• many lateral shoots;
• medium-sized leaves of a normal green color;
• cluster formation of ovaries (about 4 units).

Now let's look at the characteristics of the fruits themselves:

• the length reaches a maximum of 10 cm, which allows them to be classified as gherkins, and in the pickle stage of development the parameters are 7-8 cm;
• the weight of one cucumber varies from 100 to 140 g;
• the shape is classic - a regular cylinder;
• standard color is green;
• The skin is smooth, with a small number of tubercles and a glossy sheen (the formations are not sharp, there is no pubescence).

Taste and purpose

Balcony Miracle has a harmonious, sweet flavor without bitterness. The flesh of these cucumbers is juicy and crisp. Although the cultivars market this variety as a salad variety, gardeners often use it not only for salads and slices, but also for canning for the winter. These cucumbers are also used to prepare various winter and autumn delicacies.

Ripening time and yield

This variety is mid-early – active fruiting begins 50-55 days after the green shoots emerge from the seeds. However, the first fresh cucumbers can be harvested as early as 40-43 days.

Balcony Miracle produces good yields. In open ground or on a balcony, you can harvest an average of 14-16 kg of cucumbers per square meter, and in greenhouses, this figure will be higher.

Regional features

This variety adapts well to any region. In warm southern regions, it is grown outdoors, while in northern areas, it is grown in greenhouses, which is especially popular in Siberia and the Urals. If cucumbers are grown indoors, the climate zone is irrelevant.

Outside of a greenhouse, the plant feels less secure than under cover. At temperatures below 15-16 degrees Celsius, problems arise—the appearance of barren flowers is almost inevitable.

Planting cucumbers Balcony Miracle

Despite its exotic appearance, growing the Balcony Miracle F1 cucumber variety isn't particularly difficult, even for novice gardeners. However, for successful cultivation, certain rules must be followed.

Optimal timing for sowing seeds

The exact dates for the work depend on various factors:

• Balcony Miracle F1 is a heat-loving plant that doesn't tolerate temperatures below 15-16 degrees Celsius. Therefore, it's best to sow this cucumber variety outdoors starting May 20th.
• The best time to move seedlings to the greenhouse is from May 1 to 10.
• Once you've decided on a growing method, determine the time to sow the seeds for seedlings. To do this, subtract 22-27 days from the expected transplant date.
• Sowing cucumber seeds for indoor growing can be done year-round. However, if you want to harvest fresh cucumbers by a specific date, such as New Year's, you should plan your sowing date in advance. So, if you sow between November 1st and 10th, you can expect a harvest by December 25th or 30th.
  When calculating the seed sowing period, it is necessary to take into account the short winter daylight hours, which will increase the ripening period of cucumbers by approximately 10-12 days.

Seed processing and germination

Pre-planting cucumber seedlings significantly impacts their viability and productivity. Special procedures help remove harmful microorganisms from the seed surface and accelerate their growth. The cucumber seed preparation process includes the following steps:

• Warming up. To do this, you can dry the seeds in an oven at 40-50 degrees Celsius or attach the seed packet to a hot radiator for several days. This procedure increases the number of female flowers, leading to a higher yield.
• Disinfection. Soak the seeds for several hours in a weak solution of potassium permanganate; it should have a light pink tint. This will protect the plants from diseases and pests.
• Germination in damp cloth. Do this at a temperature of 27-29 degrees Celsius. This process not only accelerates plant growth but also serves as a sorting step. Healthy, plump cucumber seeds should germinate in 2-4 days in a warm, humid environment. Any cucumbers that haven't sprouted within this time should be discarded. Germinated seeds can be sown directly into the soil.

Growing seedlings

Growing cucumber seedlings is used not only for subsequent planting in garden beds but also for indoor gardening. This is because small containers are easier to place in a bright and warm location, cucumbers require less water, and the concentration of nutrients in a limited volume of soil is optimal.

To sow cucumber seeds for seedlings, you need to prepare small containers and substrate:

• small pots with a diameter of about 6-9 cm or peat cups are suitable as containers (in plastic containers, it is necessary to make drainage holes);
• You can buy ready-made soil for sowing or prepare it yourself by mixing peat, sand, humus, and fertile soil in equal proportions.

Plant the sprouted seeds 1.5-2 cm deep in the soil mixture. Keep the seedlings at a temperature of 25-28 degrees Celsius until cotyledon leaves appear. After germination, they require plenty of light and a temperature of 21-23 degrees Celsius.

Transplanting cucumber seedlings to a permanent location

The technique for planting seedlings is familiar to almost every gardener. It involves removing the plant along with its root ball and transferring it to a pre-prepared hole. The hole should be 2-3 cm larger than the root system and remaining soil.

Planting in a flower pot

Sowing outdoors is common, but the Balcony Miracle cucumber variety was specifically bred for indoor cultivation, which requires several important considerations:

• The container should have a capacity of at least 5-9 liters. Cut-off plastic bottles, ceramic pots, etc. can be used for this purpose.
• The container should have drainage holes, and broken brick or expanded clay should be placed on the bottom of the container.
• To fill the containers, it is recommended to use soil similar in composition to that used for sowing seedlings.
• When replanting seedlings, carefully remove them from their original containers, keeping the soil ball attached to the roots. If the seedlings were grown in peat pots, there's no need to remove them, as the peat decomposes in the soil.
• It is recommended to water the plants immediately and leave them in a warm, dry place.

When replanting cucumber seedlings, you can provide additional fertilizer. To do this, add 0.5-1 tablespoon (depending on the volume) of nitrophoska and the same amount of urea to the new soil.

Care instructions

Cucumbers grown in any conditions require attention and care from gardeners:

• Plants should be watered every 2-3 days. In hot weather, greenhouse and garden cucumbers can be watered even twice a day. While conditions are easier to control in an apartment, it's still important not to allow the soil to dry out. Tap water should be left to soak for 24 hours, preferably in the sun, so that it's warm by the time you water.
• Cucumber roots are close to the surface, so they require plenty of air. Regular loosening of the soil is necessary to ensure the desired looseness. In open ground and greenhouses, the area around the trunk also needs to be cleared of weeds.
• Mulch for Balcony Miracle cucumbers is not necessary, but you will have to use it if you do not plan to visit the dacha in the next few days.
• The Balcony Miracle responds well to fertilizing with nitrophoska or urea, applied every 10-12 days. Indoor cucumbers grown on a windowsill can be fertilized differently. They'll appreciate wood ash, weed infusions, and crushed eggshells.
  If you don't have these components on hand, you can purchase a complex mineral fertilizer at the store.
• Cucumbers need to be supported, as their main stem grows quite long. In the garden and greenhouse, trellises and soft ropes are used for this purpose. Similar supports should be installed on the balcony as well.
  But for indoor growing, it's best to purchase a planter from which the vines will hang freely, so they won't need staking. The tops of the bushes should still be pinched to ensure a bountiful harvest.
• It's recommended to harvest ripe cucumbers every day. This will prevent them from becoming overripe and turning yellow, and will also make room for new fruit.

Resistance to diseases and pests

The Balcony Miracle cucumber lives up to its name, also because it boasts impeccable resistance to fungal and viral diseases. Plants are resistant to powdery mildew and cucumber mosaic. This characteristic makes this hybrid one of the most popular varieties.

The bushes are also resistant to pest infestations. However, if adverse weather is forecast, it's best to treat the plants with insecticides and fungicides.

Positive and negative qualities

The advantage of cucumbers is their versatility: they can be grown both outdoors and indoors, and can also be used in salads or preserves. They also have other advantages:

Reviews

The Balcony Miracle F1 cucumber is a self-pollinating plant, making it easy for even city dwellers to harvest. Some experimenters sow seeds two months before New Year's to enjoy fresh cucumbers during the holiday season. For indoor plants, be sure to use fluorescent lamps for additional lighting.

Frequently Asked Questions