Cucumber is always present in the human diet. This is one of the most common vegetables in the post-Soviet countries. After all, it is unpretentious and brings not only a harvest, but also a financial profit to many summer residents. Greenhouse or open ground, always the choice of the best varieties of cucumbers. Cucumbers can be grown both in the greenhouse and in the open field - breeders offer a large selection of different varieties of seeds.
How to choose quality seeds
In order for your harvest to be rich, you need to decide on which seeds to use. There are two options: variety or hybrid.
The advantage of varietal cucumbers is that from year to year you can collect and store seeds of the same species. Thus, every new season you will take into account your mistakes and improve the quantity and quality of the harvest.
The minus of varietal cucumbers is only the presence of first male flowers, which will need to be cut with a plant growth of 70 cm.
To distinguish the hybrid will help the designation "F1" on the package. These types of cucumbers are bred by crossing different plants - selection. Due to this method, frost resistance is improved and yield is increased. In addition, in the initial stages, the plant has female flowers, which allows you to do without pruning. The next step requires determining - pollinated or parthenocarpic are types of cucumbers.
Important! Do not plant near pollinated and parthenocarpic species. Otherwise, the latter in the course of random pollination may be modified fruits.Parthenocarpic cucumbers do not need to pollinate. They have mostly female flowers.
The best fruit varieties
Summer residents sometimes long pick the best varieties of cucumbers for their garden. In order to try a variety, you need to divide the entire amount of seeds you have into two parts. The first you plant in May, as required. Plant another part at the end of June. Or save until next year. But many have a question because of the landing site.
Someone may wonder what are the most productive cucumbers for open ground. And gardeners who have “protected” garden beds, think about which cucumbers are the most productive for greenhouses.
For good fruiting, it is important to properly pinch and know all about watering cucumbers.
For open ground
- "Vyaznikovsky-37" considered one of the earliest varieties. You can collect 2-3 kg per square meter. The main stem reaches 160 cm in height, thickness up to 2 cm. Usually 20-25 leaves are formed. Ovary elongated, up to 5 cm. Suitable for both pickling and salads. Resistant to powdery mildew.
- "Elegant" resistant to bacteriosis. In no way inferior to the previous grade. His indicators are the same. But not suitable for pickling or marinating.
- "Farmer" It is considered long-ripened (50-60 days) and with high yields. In a good season, you can collect up to 14 kg per square meter. Versatile, as it has excellent taste both after salting and in salads. Not bitter. Its versatility is not only in use, but also in the place of cultivation. After all, this variety is suitable for greenhouses.
- "Alligator" has a high yield - up to 16 kg per square meter. This hybrid has a length of 35 to 40 centimeters and weighs about 300 g. It is not subject to the following diseases: olive spot, powdery mildew.
- "Hermann" bears fruit early, around the 45th day. Not pollinated, and this is a good advantage. The cucumber has medium size, large knobby. Without bitterness. Gives up to 25 kg per square meter. Resistant to frost and typical diseases.
Important! Observe the watering mode. After all, powdery mildew can appear even when the soil dries.
For greenhouses
- "Phoenix 640" pollinated by insects, flowers of the female type. Productivity is long (to the frost). Brings up to 6 kg per square meter. Without bitterness. The fruit itself has a length of 12-15 cm. Average weight - 150-200 g.
- "Spring" - resistant to major diseases (bacteriosis, spot olives, anthracnose). This species can produce up to 25 kg of cucumbers. Fruit ripening is average (50 days). The variety is suitable for open ground, but then brings less yield.
- "True perfection" - a hybrid with the highest yield. Under good climatic conditions, it can produce up to 30 kg of fruit per square meter. It can also be grown in open space.
- "Liliput". If you rarely visit your site or could not come at the right time, then this variety is perfect for you. It keeps for a long time without watering, preserving its taste and yield level.
Did you know? In ancient Egypt, cucumbers were painted on sacrificial tables and placed in the tombs of the most eminent pharaohs.
Growing tips and tricks
Most often, the process of pollination occurs with the help of bees. But sometimes other insects are involved. If the flowers are not pollinated, then you have to do it yourself.
Learn the rules for growing such varieties of cucumbers: "Zozulya", "Courage", "Nezhinsky", "Competitor".This is a fairly easy process. First, you need to wrap cotton with male and female flowers a day before pollination. Wrap should be so that insects could not penetrate there. Moreover, the density of cotton on male flowers should be twice as much. A day later, manual pollination occurs as follows:
- a rim is taken from each male flower (2-3 female ribs are necessary for one female stigma);
- the very process of pollination takes place directly - the rim touches the stigma;
- mark those flowers that were pollinated by hand (for example, using a ribbon).
It will be useful for you to read about what to do so that cucumbers are not bitter.The most common disease of cucumbers is powdery mildew. If you have noticed its characteristic manifestations on the leaves, you can treat the plant with infusion of mullein or cut the leaves, then later treating the cut sites with ground sulfur. Organic mulch will help preserve soil moisture. Many barren flowers may be evidence that you left the wrong fruit for seed.
Did you know? Cucumber for all botanical descriptions - a fruit, not a vegetable. And it is considered a false berry. But in culinary terms, cucumber is traditionally considered a vegetable crop.Hybrid or pure variety - does not matter. It all depends on your climatic conditions and professionalism. Add every year two or three new types of cucumbers, because more and more varieties are growing, and they all become more resistant to pests and diseases.
Crop varieties of cucumbers for open ground in their characteristics have fewer kilograms per square meter. This is due to the fact that they usually prefer pure varieties rather than hybrids.
Do not forget that choosing seeds is only the first stage. It is much more difficult to plant and grow them.