Vegetables

Mini Angel Cucumber is a high-yielding, disease-resistant variety that is perfect for a vegetable garden. It produces smooth, dark green fruits with a crisp, sweet flavor. With 800 seeds in each pack, these Mini Angel Cucumber are sure to provide an abundant harvest.  Key Features:   F1 Hybrid: High yielding variety producing multiple fruits per plant.  Compact size: Ideal for container gardening or limited space.  Dark green, cylindrical fruits: Approximately 14-15 cm long and 4 cm wide.  Sweet and crispy: Excellent for salads, snacks, and pickling.  Disease resistance: Resistant to common cucumber diseases like CMV, CVYV, and Px.  Early maturity: Ready to harvest in just 50-55 days after planting.  Vigorous vines: Climbing or sprawling habit, adaptable to various trellising methods.    Benefits:   Enjoy fresh, homegrown cucumbers: Get a taste of delicious, crunchy cucumbers right from your own garden.  Perfect for small spaces: Ideal for balconies, patios, or even window boxes.  High yields: Harvest plenty of cucumbers throughout the season.  Easy to grow: Suitable for beginner gardeners.  Disease resistance: Reduce the risk of losing your crop to common diseases.  Early harvest: Enjoy fresh cucumbers earlier in the season.  Versatile usage: Perfect for salads, snacks, pickling, and more.  Nutrient-rich: Cucumbers are a good source of vitamins and minerals.      Land Preparation:      Loosen the Soil: Break up the ground 20-25 cm (about 9.84 in) deep using a spade, rototiller, or tractor. This aeration improves drainage, facilitates root growth, and incorporates organic matter.   Strike the Right Balance: Cucumbers thrive in slightly acidic soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0. Test your soil's pH and adjust accordingly. Use lime to raise pH and elemental sulfur to lower it.   Organic Boost: Enrich the soil with well-rotted manure or compost at a rate of 2-4 kg/m². This increases organic matter content, enhances drainage, and provides essential nutrients.   Fertilizing for Success: Consider adding a balanced fertilizer like 10-10-10 NPK at a rate of 1 kg/100 m (about 328.08 ft) ² before planting. This provides additional nutrients for optimal growth.   Create Mounds: Build raised beds 15-30 cm (about 11.81 in) high using a mixture of soil, compost, and aged manure. Ensure good drainage holes are present.   Refine the Surface: Rake the soil to a fine tilth, removing any large clods or debris. This creates a smooth and welcoming environment for Mini Angel Cucumber seeds.   Furrows or Hills: Depending on your planting method, form planting hills or furrows. Ensure proper drainage by making them slightly elevated.   Mulch Magic: Cover the prepared bed with a thin layer of mulch (straw, hay, or wood chips). This suppresses weeds, retains moisture, and regulates soil temperature, creating a favorable microclimate for Mini Angel Cucumbers.    Sowing     When sowing the Mini Angel Cucumber crop, the process depends on several factors, including your climate, preferred method, and variety. Here's a breakdown of the two main options:   Direct Sowing:   Suitable for: Warmer climates with consistent soil temperatures above 68°F (20°C) after the last frost.   Timing: Sow Mini Angel Cucumber seeds directly outdoors when the soil has warmed sufficiently, typically late spring or early summer. Ensure no risk of frost remains.   Method: Make planting holes or furrows about 1 inch deep and spaced according to cucumber seeds (typically 12-18 inches apart). Sow 2-3 seeds per hole and cover lightly with soil. Water gently.   Starting Seeds Indoors:   Suitable for: Colder climates or early harvests.   Timing: Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks (about 1 and a half months) before the last frost date.   Method: Use individual pots or seed trays filled with seed starting mix. Sow 1-2 seeds per pot, 1/2 inch deep. Place in a warm location (70-80°F) with bright light. Water regularly keeps soil moist but not soggy. Once seedlings have developed true leaves, thin to one strongest plant per pot. Harden off seedlings for a week before transplanting outdoors when soil temperatures are warm, and all risk of frost has passed.    Transplanting:      Preparing the Soil:   Choose a sunny location with well-drained soil.   Amend the soil with organic matter like compost or aged manure to improve drainage and nutrient content.   Dig planting holes twice the diameter of the seedling pots, spaced according to Mini Angel Cucumber seedlings (typically 12-18 inches apart).   Transplanting Technique:   Gently remove seedlings from pots without disturbing the roots.   Place the seedling in the planting hole at the same depth it was in the pot.   Fill the hole with soil and gently firm it around the base of the plant.   Water generously settles the soil and eliminates air pockets.   Aftercare:   Water regularly, especially during hot weather, to keep the soil moist but not soggy.   Mulch around the plants to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.   Provide support for vining varieties using poles, trellises, or netting.   Monitor pests and diseases and take appropriate action if necessary.   Harvesting:     Pickling Mini Angel Cucumbers are usually harvested earlier than slicing varieties when they are smaller and firmer. Their skin should be bumpy, and the blossom end should be closed.   Slicing Mini Angel Cucumber typically requires more time to reach full size and have smoother skin with an open blossom end.   Use sharp pruners or a knife to cut the cucumber stem, leaving about 1 inch of stem attached to the vine. Avoid pulling or twisting, as this can damage the plant.   Harvest cucumbers regularly, ideally every 1-2 days, to encourage continuous fruit production.   Avoid harvesting Mini Angel Cucumbers in the heat of the day, as they may be wilted or sunburned. Early morning or evening are ideal times.   Storage:     Crisper drawer: This is the best place for most cucumbers. Wrap individual Mini Angel Cucumber in a damp paper towel or place them in a breathable container to maintain moisture but prevent sweating. Avoid plastic bags, as they can trap moisture and accelerate spoiling.   Zip-top bags: For longer storage (up to 1-2 weeks), place each cucumber in a separate zip-top bag with a metal spoon inside. The spoon absorbs ethylene gas, which hastens ripening. Remove any condensation that forms in the bag.   Cool pantry: If your pantry stays cool and dark, you can store unwashed cucumbers there for a few days. Place them on a paper towel to absorb any excess moisture. 

Read more less

FITO Kasata Bitter Gourd Seeds offer a combination of desirable aesthetic qualities, good yield, and early harvest time. They are also a good choice for those who are looking for disease-resistant seeds.   Key Features   F1 Hybrid: This indicates the seeds are a first-generation cross between two bitter gourd varieties, known for desirable traits like uniformity, vigor, and disease resistance.  White Color: Kasata bitter gourds are known for their attractive white color.  Medium Tubercles: The gourds have a bumpy texture with medium-sized bumps.  Long & Attractive: Kasata bitter gourds are known for their long and visually appealing shape.  Productive: The plants are known to produce a good yield of gourds.  Benefits:  Early Harvest: You can expect your first harvest in around 45-50 days after planting.  Size & Shape: The gourds grow to a good size (20-25 cm long and 3.2-3.6 cm wide) with a cylindrical, elongated shape, ideal for various culinary uses.    Land Preparation:      Choose a Sunny Location: Select a sunny location with well-drained soil. Gourds won't tolerate soggy conditions, so avoid planting them in areas that tend to flood or have poor drainage.  Prepare the Soil: The ideal soil for gourds is fertile, well-drained, and loamy or sandy. A soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0 is preferred.  Amend the Soil (optional): If your soil is not fertile or well-drained, you can amend it before planting. Here's how: Add organic matter: Apply decomposed manure or compost to the planting area at a rate of 10-12 tons per hectare. You can also add aged manure to the planting holes.  Improve drainage: If your soil is heavy clay, you can improve drainage by adding sand or other organic matter. Raised beds are another option for improving drainage in poorly drained soils.  Tilling and Weeding: Begin preparing the land 3-4 weeks before planting. Till the soil to a fine tilth, which is a loose, crumbly condition that is easy for plant roots to penetrate. Remove any weeds or debris from the planting area.   Sowing     Sowing Time:  Sowing Fito Kasata Bitter Gourd prefers warm weather. Aim for planting in the spring or summer months after the danger of frost has passed.  Some regions may have a second planting window during the rainy season.  Seed Selection:  Choose high-quality Fito Kasata Bitter Gourd seeds from a reputable source. Consider factors like variety, maturity time, and disease resistance.  Direct Sowing vs. Transplanting:  Some gourds, like bottle gourds and luffa, thrive with direct sowing in prepared planting holes.  Other varieties, like sponge gourds, may benefit from starting Fito Kasata Bitter Gourd seedlings indoors in pots before transplanting outdoors.  Planting Depth:  Follow the recommended planting depth for your specific gourd variety. It's usually around 1-2 inches deep.  Seed Spacing:  Each planting hole should hold the recommended number of Fito Kasata Bitter Gourd seeds for your chosen gourd variety. Thin seedlings later if necessary to maintain proper spacing for mature plants.  Watering:  Water the planting area thoroughly after sowing Fito Kasata Bitter Gourd seedlings to ensure good seed-to-soil contact and promote germination.    Transplanting:      Timing is Crucial: Transplant Fito Kasata Bitter Gourd seedlings when they have developed 4-5 true leaves, typically around 2-3 weeks after sowing.  Harden Them Up: Before transplanting, harden off your seedlings for a week or two. Gradually expose them to increased sunlight, wind, and cooler temperatures to mimic outdoor conditions. This reduces transplant shock.  Prepare the Planting Area: Ensure the chosen location has well-drained, fertile soil amended with compost or manure if needed. Space the planting holes according to your specific Fito Kasata Bitter Gourd variety.  Dig Carefully: When removing seedlings from their pots or trays, gently loosen the soil and lift the entire root ball to minimize root damage.  Plant at the Right Depth: Dig a hole deep enough to accommodate the seedling's root ball. Plant the seedling so the lowest true leaves are slightly above the soil surface.  Water Well: Water the newly transplanted Fito Kasata Bitter Gourd seedlings thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots and eliminate air pockets.  Continuing Care: Provide regular watering during the initial establishment period, especially during hot or dry weather. Monitor for signs of transplant shock, such as wilti0ng, and provide shade if necessary.  Harvesting Gourds     Look for Signs: Generally, gourds are ready for harvest when the stem begins to brown and dry out. The skin may also change color, becoming dull or developing a yellowish tinge for some varieties.  Tenderness Test (for culinary gourds): For gourds consumed fresh, gently press the skin with your thumb. If it yields slightly, it's ready for picking. A hard, unyielding skin indicates it needs more time.  Sharp is Best: Use sharp pruners or shears to cut the gourd from the vine. Leave a short stem attached (about 1-2 inches) to help prevent rot during storage.  Timing is Key: For continuous harvest, pick gourds regularly at the recommended stage. This encourages the plant to produce more fruits. Leaving gourds on the vine for too long can hinder further production.  Avoid Frost: Don't wait for frost to harvest your gourds. Frost can damage the fruits and shorten their storage life.  Drying Gourds: If you're harvesting gourds for crafting purposes, allow them to dry completely on the vine before picking. This can take several weeks. Signs of dryness include a completely brown and papery stem and a lightweight feel to the gourd.  Ripening: If your melons are slightly underripe, you can try to ripen them at room temperature for a day or two. However, don't expect them to ripen significantly if they're picked too early. 

Read more less