Echinocystis is a grassy annual of the Pumpkin family. It has spread around the world from North America. The name can be translated as "prickly fruit", but gardeners often call echinocystis "mad cucumber." This name was fixed due to the property of ripe fruits to burst at the slightest touch. More recently, the liana was considered a weed, but today it is increasingly used in landscape design. Unpretentious and fast-growing echinocystis forms a continuous green cover on the hedges and walls of buildings.
Plant description
Echinocystis is a flexible, climbing creeper. The genus represents only one species - echinocystis lobed or mad cucumber. Its fibrous rhizome nourishes grassy flexible shoots. They are covered with furrowed green bark with short pubescence. Stems grow up to 6 m in length. At the nodes are petiole leaves and strong twisted tendrils.
The foliage, similar to grapes, is painted in a light green color. A thin, smooth sheet plate has a lobed shape with 3-5 distinct angles. The length of the sheet is 5-15 cm.
Flowering begins in June and can continue until the beginning of autumn. Small white flowers are collected in racemose inflorescences. On one plant are male and female flowers. The diameter of the corolla does not exceed 1 cm. Blooming echinocystis exudes an intense, pleasant aroma that attracts many bees. For this reason, the plant is considered an excellent honey plant and is massively cultivated by beekeepers.
By August, the fruits begin to ripen - green oblong seed capsules with internal partitions. The length of the fruit is 1-6 cm. It is covered with a thin green skin with soft spikes. The fruits contain several squashed seeds, similar to pumpkin seeds. Seeds are immersed in mucus. As they ripen, especially in rainy weather, the fruits accumulate fluid. Thin skin does not withstand internal pressure and bursts from below. As a result, seeds with mucus fly apart up to several meters.
Growing and planting
Echinocystis seeds are best planted immediately in open ground. Do this in spring or autumn, immediately after harvest. Autumn plantings will rise in April-May. Spring seedlings will germinate by the end of May. They may not have time to grow as much as the gardener would like. They develop faster and form a continuous green cover. Seeds are well tolerated by frost, so in spring you can find multiple self-seeding. To remove unnecessary plants, it is recommended to pull them out until 2-3 leaves appear.
The vine grows best on light, well-drained soil. It is advisable to have landings near water bodies. The soil must have a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. Echinocystis develops slowly on alkaline lands. Between plants it is recommended to maintain a distance of 50-70 cm. When planting, you should immediately take care of the support. It must be stable, since in just a season the crown grows significantly. Its weight along with juicy fruits is quite large.
Care Features
Echinocystis is an undemanding, tenacious plant. It grows beautifully under the scorching sun and in deep shade. Since the culture is annual, it is not necessary to cover it for the winter. In the fall, when the leaves are dry, cut off the entire shoots and destroy, and dig the ground.
The only important condition for the growth of echinocystis is regular and plentiful watering. Without water, the liana dries and grows very slowly. Therefore, it is often planted along the shores of reservoirs or in the lowlands, where groundwater comes close to the ground. In order for air to penetrate the roots, the soil needs to be loosened from time to time.
During the season, it is recommended to feed the vine with organic feeds 2-3 times. Compost, chicken droppings or rotted cow dung are suitable.
During the flowering period, honey aroma attracts many beneficial insects, which at the same time pollinate other fruit plants. However, echinocystis should be planted at a distance from useful crops, so that the liana does not "strangle" them. Alas, the plant behaves aggressively towards other inhabitants of the garden. In just a few years, thickets of echinocystis can dry an adult plum tree or apple tree. The rhizome of the creeper does not creep, only self-seeding should be wary.
Diseases and pests for echinocystis are not a problem. Liana can grow next to the affected plant and not suffer.
Using
Echinocystis is used for vertical gardening of the site. He will turn the old fence into an exquisite green fence or braid the arbor. Without support, the plant serves as an excellent groundcover.
If the owners are keen on beekeeping, then echinocystis will be especially useful. All summer fragrant flowers will attract bees. Honey from it is painted in amber color and has a rich aroma.
