Anyone who has a summer cottage wants to plant vegetables on it as compactly as possible. Because you want to get everything to the table, but not a little. Including cucumbers. Preferably early. For a vegetable grower, the question always remains of what seeds to use in order to get a good harvest and spend little effort. In addition, you don’t want cucumbers to have chemical “additives.” This means that it is advisable to breed plants that are resistant to diseases. And if anyone thinks that it is impossible to get a high yield with minimal costs, then he is mistaken. You just need to move away from stereotypes and try growing a hybrid instead of ordinary cucumber varieties. For example, Artist. It has many advantages, but the most important thing is that not just one ovary is formed, but several at once in one place. And the cucumbers turn out juicy and crispy. And growing them will not be difficult. You just need to know some subtleties of care. That's what we'll talk about in this article.
Characteristics and description of the variety
Artist is a super early, parthenocarpic hybrid. The bush is medium-vigorous with a well-developed fibrous root system. This is a productive, shade-tolerant and disease-resistant plant. Indeterminate, leaves are quite large, light green. During the growth process, side shoots appear. The form of ovary formation is bouquet. A node can grow from one to six gherkins. The fruits are harvested 38–40 days after planting the seedlings. They are smooth, weigh up to 100 grams, and are 8–10 cm long. The shape is cylindrical. With faint tubercles and a characteristic greenish color. The skin is quite dense. Cucumbers do not turn yellow and are stored well. The variety is resistant to a number of diseases and bears fruit all summer. Read about the most productive varieties of cucumbers at this link.
Cucumber variety "Artist" is a productive, shade-tolerant, disease-resistant plant
Since the Artist tolerates a lack of lighting well, it can be grown in winter on a windowsill or balcony.
Harvesting
Early morning is the best time to pick ripe fruits. Since the variety is very productive, this has to be done daily. In addition, overloading the vines with overripe cucumbers is harmful to the plant, it reduces the yield, and overgrown fruits lose their taste.
Cucumber Artist
Ripe vegetables are put in a cold place - in the refrigerator or cellar, where they are perfectly preserved, arranged in baskets.
Features of the variety
Artist is an early variety with good yield. But the main feature is that the ovary is shaped like a fan or a bouquet. And then several gherkins of equal size are formed in one node. The presence of a powerful root indicates that the plant can survive for some time without irrigation and at high ambient temperatures. These features are characteristic only of some hybrids. Among the few is the Artist.
The main feature of the “Artist” cucumber is that the ovary is shaped like a fan.
Country of origin, growing regions
The artist is a hybridization product of the Dutch company Bejo (Bejo Zaden BV). Seeds arrive in Russia in original packaging, and only then trading enterprises package them. Seven years ago it was included in the state register of the Russian Federation as a variety that can be grown on an industrial scale and in private plots. It can grow and produce good yields both in open ground and in greenhouses. And this allows it to be bred in all regions of Russia. And summer residents take advantage of this unique feature. True, besides this, the hybrid has some other advantages over other varieties.
Original packaging of cucumber seeds of the “Artist” variety from Beyo
In some cities there are monuments to cucumbers (Lukhovitsy, Nizhyn). And on July 27, gardeners celebrate International Cucumber Day.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of the “Artist” plant include the following:
- Very early ripening, long fruiting, high yield;
- Good presentation. The fruits are smooth, do not turn yellow, and are shelf-stable;
- Up to six ovaries are formed in one node;
- The possibility of growing even in places not suitable for this: a balcony, a window sill, and not just in a greenhouse or in a garden bed;
- Resistance to diseases such as cladosporiosis, cucumber mosaic.
The main advantage of cucumbers of the “Artist” variety is their high yield.
With timely preventative measures, the Artist is not affected by powdery mildew.
There are no major disadvantages as such, except perhaps increased demands on soil fertility. But this, most likely, is not a minus, but a natural need of plants.
Cucumber Artist: reviews from those who planted
Alina, 35 years old, Penza For several years in a row, hybrid cucumbers German and Courage were planted on the plot. Last season we decided to try something new and purchased a couple of bags of the Dutch cucumber variety Artist F1. The weather was already warm, so the seeds were planted in open ground. All the seeds sprouted, but at first the seedlings were covered with agricultural cloth at night. A special net was stretched over the beds, to which the cucumber vines clung as they grew. The yield of this variety was high - it was enough for our family for food and supplies. Next season I will plant more.
Olga, 45 years old, Moscow region She grew these cucumbers in seedlings and transplanted them into garden beds at the end of May. She cared for the seedlings according to all the rules - watered, loosened, fed. As a result, I think about 10 kg of cucumbers were collected from each square of the area, I pickled a lot of jars of cucumbers for the winter - my family really liked it. We will plant this hybrid in the future.
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Maria, 37 years old, Omsk region We have been growing this variety of cucumbers for three years. First, we grow seedlings at home, and then transplant them to beds in the garden. The Artist variety is distinguished by its endurance, practically does not get sick even in our difficult conditions, and thanks to its early ripening, the crop has time to ripen even in a cold climate.
Mikhail, 60 years old, Kurgan region Unfortunately, I don’t like Dutch varieties of cucumbers at all, I grew various Dutch hybrids, and last season I planted Artist F1. But I didn’t like it either - ripe cucumbers seem beautiful, but not too fragrant and have thick skin. From now on I will plant only Russian cucumbers.
The Artist F1 cucumber has good yield, is resistant to many diseases, tolerates heat and periods of drought well, and its fruits are distinguished by their versatility.
. Therefore, this Dutch hybrid cucumber has become popular not only in its homeland, but also in many other countries in Europe and the world, including Russia.
Growing
In order for the plants to grow strong and please the vegetable grower with a harvest, it is necessary to make at least a minimum of effort. Agrotechnical measures include: soil preparation, irrigation, fertilizing, tying, pinching, pest and disease control. Read how to tie cucumbers in a greenhouse here.
Soil preparation
It is better to prepare the beds in the fall. Before loosening, organic fertilizers should be applied in an even layer over the area. This can be humus, compost, chicken droppings, peat and even leaf soil. After this, you can start digging the area. You can loosen the soil well and efficiently only with a vertically placed shovel. If the position is inclined, then the depth of the loose layer will decrease. There is a practice of growing cucumbers without loosening. Then the seeds are sown in a layer of scattered compost.
Cucumbers are fed with chicken manure.
If you don’t dig up the soil, the weeds are not destroyed, and their seeds germinate instantly. You will have to additionally use herbicides.
In the spring, before planting seedlings, it is necessary to crush large lumps and clods. And loosen with a grappling hoe to a depth of 20 cm.
Precursor plants
Some plants are competitors in the food chain. They may have identical diseases. Therefore, before planting cucumbers, it is necessary to correctly identify the predecessors and not sow greens after them. And you can plant cucumbers after potatoes, legumes, tomatoes and corn. The artist can tolerate a little shading. Therefore, corn and cucumbers can be combined in a planting area. And even place greenery bushes under trees with a sparse crown.
Preparing the soil before planting crops
Fertilizer application
The artist is very picky about soil fertility. In areas poor in humus, yields will be significantly lower than in fertilized areas. Therefore, since the fall, before digging, they try to add humus. Up to 100 kg, but not less than 80 kg per ten square meters of area. If there is no organic fertilizer, then replenish the soil with useful substances for the same area:
- Potassium salt – 250 grams. Increases plant immunity to adverse environmental factors. Plants can more easily tolerate drought;
- Superphosphate – 400 grams. Affects root growth and accelerates the ripening of cucumbers;
- Ammonium nitrate in spring (about 200 grams). Nitrogen accelerates the growth of green mass.
Ammonium nitrate accelerates the growth of green mass of plants
Excessive application of calcium, potassium, sodium, and ammonium nitrate leads to delayed flowering. Plants become pampered and lose immunity to diseases.
Seed preparation
It is better to warm up the seed material before planting. And in order to protect against bacterial diseases, they are treated with streptomycin (500 thousand units per 1 liter of water). The seeds are kept in it for 2 days. We must not forget about soaking and germination before planting. But in the event that the seeds are not pre-treated by the manufacturer. Then they are pink or green.
Before planting, cucumber seeds of the “Artist” variety must be germinated
Wet seeds germinate a week earlier than dry ones and the yield of plants obtained from them is slightly higher. The duration of the procedure is from 8 to 12 hours. After this, germination begins at a temperature of 20 degrees. The seeds are placed on damp gauze. If it reaches 10%, you don’t have to wait for the final result, but start sowing immediately.
Such seed material can only be sown in moist soil. If the soil is dry, the planting site needs to be moistened.
In the open ground
In the area, when the desired soil temperature has reached, which is 15 degrees, they begin to plant seedlings or seeds.
When sowing, you can put up to 150 grams of wood ash or the same amount of humus in each hole. The distance between rows in the greenhouse should be about 100 cm, and the gap between plants should be 10 cm. Planting depth is 1.5 - 3.0 cm. When two true leaves of the Artist appear, they are thinned out, removing weak ones so that the distance between the shoots is about 30 cm. Carry out the first fertilizing with mullein solution. After 10–12 days you can feed it a second time, and then after the same period of time a third time.
Wood ash is a mineral fertilizer
Cucumbers love moisture very much. Therefore, you should not forget to water them. The watering schedule is every three days, and the norm is 300 liters per 10 square meters.
When loosening or harvesting the crop, it is not advisable to touch or move the lashes from place to place. Therefore, it is better to grow the hybrid in open ground also on a trellis.
In greenhouses
In greenhouses, they try to plant Artist seedlings. Then the harvest can be harvested earlier. According to the instructions on planting dates on the packaging, the hatched, pre-wetted seeds are planted in pots. At their location, the light regime and temperature are maintained at 20–22 degrees, gradually reducing to 18. Fifteen-day-old seedlings are planted in greenhouses. Planting scheme, according to the instructions on the package 30x100. The cultivation technology is the same as in open ground. There should be slightly increased air humidity in the greenhouse. Pumpkin plants love this. This article will tell you about preparing the soil in a greenhouse for cucumbers in the fall.
Features of growing a hybrid indoors:
- Artist is an indeterminate variety. Therefore, it requires pinching and lifting onto a trellis. Then the greens are well illuminated by the sun, and it is much easier to collect them. In addition, the lashes are not injured;
Pinching is the process of removing shoots that interfere with the further development of the plant.
- Watering should be regular, as should fertilizing with mullein or fermented and diluted chicken droppings (once every 8–10 days). Read how to water cucumbers here.
You should not leave traces of mullein on plants. They are washed off the leaves by sprinkling with warm water.
Sowing
When growing cucumbers in seedlings, you need to prepare a container in advance. It is best to use peat cups, but you can use any other container with a diameter of at least 10 cm.
Some summer residents soak the planting material before sowing, but this is not necessary, since hybrid varieties germinate well without prior preparation.
Soil for seedlings is poured into the container, then a small depression (about 1 cm) is made in the center and the seed is placed there. The crops are watered with warm water and placed in a bright place. Before emergence, monitor the soil moisture level: it should not dry out or be waterlogged.
As soon as the first true leaf appears, the seedlings begin to be fed with mineral fertilizers. This can be “Veriohumus”, “Agricola” and other types of additives. They are bred according to the instructions.
The seedlings are planted in the ground as soon as they have three or four true leaves. After two weeks, the cucumbers are fed by adding mineral or organic fertilizers to the soil.
As you can see in the photo, the “artist” cucumber requires shaping. To do this, pinch off all the stepsons. As the bush develops, the lower leaves are gradually removed from the plant. This helps get rid of possible diseases, and also contributes to better fruit filling. As the plant develops, the first flower should be removed from the bush. In addition, all growing stepsons are cut off. The second and subsequent knots with flowers are left. As soon as the first cucumber sets, begin to remove the lower leaves.
Productivity
Oddly enough, regular harvesting increases plant productivity. You need to collect gherkins every day. Preferably in the morning and evening, cutting off the stalks with a sharp knife. You can often see fallen flowers lying near a bush. This plant itself regulates the number of ovaries. So this process should not upset the gardener in any way. If you properly care for the Artist hybrid, you can get a lot of cucumbers. The yield of gherkins is from 20 to 25 kg per square meter. And one bush can grow about 10 kg of crispy greens.
From 1 square meter you can harvest up to 25 kg of “Artist” cucumber gherkins
You can store fresh cucumbers for about 5 days. They just need to be kept one-third of the way in water with the stems facing down.
Description of the hybrid Artist F1
The producer of the hybrid is BEJO ZADEN (Holland), known on the Russian market for high-quality seed products. In 2009, Artist F1 applied for admission; in 2010, he was registered in the State Register catalog. Recommended in all regions of the country, grown on open ground ridges and in film shelters.
The cucumber is valued by amateur gardeners and farmers who grow the hybrid for sale. It is distinguished by good marketable yield, attractive appearance of greens, and suitability for transportation.
Main characteristics
The bushes are powerful, with very strong vines and a well-formed root system.
The hybrid belongs to the group of indeterminate cucumbers; the length of the central shoot is not limited (over 2 meters). The plants are vigorous, medium-branched, with large leaves of rich green color. Note! Artist F1 is a cucumber with predominantly female flowers. In any season, with proper care, a harvest is guaranteed.
At the genetic level, the characteristic of parthenocarpy is laid down, that is, the plant does not require pollination. In the pulp of greens, the seeds almost do not ripen and are in their infancy. Therefore, there is no coarsening of the skin or seed coats, and cucumbers are also not prone to yellowing and overgrowth. Hybrid Artist is a form prone to the bouquet type of ovary formation, but the characteristic appears only with full compliance with agricultural technology and good nutrition. The number of ovaries in the sinuses is no more than 3-4 pieces.
A hybrid of early species, the beginning of harvesting of greens occurs on the 40th day after the appearance of full shoots. Gherkin-type cucumbers, green in color with slight spots and short whitish stripes. The length does not exceed 10 cm, the weight of greens is 90-95 grams. The skin is dense, thick, with large tubercles and thick white pubescence.
The pulp is dense, juicy, there are no seeds or a very small amount (undeveloped). Emptiness and bitterness are absent at the genetic level. White-thorn cucumbers are usually used for salads, but Artist’s greens are suitable for pickling, pickling, and canning. The fruits retain their presentation and taste for a long time and are suitable for long-term transportation.
Advantages and disadvantages
Russian summer residents have been growing the first generation hybrid Artist F1 for almost ten years. Over the years, he has shown himself excellently in various regions of the country. He is valued for the following qualities:
- early release of greens;
- long fruiting period;
- high yields (up to 8.5 kg per square meter in open ground, up to 11 kg per square meter in greenhouses and greenhouses);
- tendency to bunch type of ovary formation;
- resistance to various diseases (viral cucumber mosaic, olive spot);
- parthenocarpy;
- excellent taste of fruits, lack of bitterness in greens;
The hybrid is resistant to temperature changes and is easy to maintain. Shows high collection rates on open ground ridges, in shelters, and in greenhouses. It is characterized by keeping quality and excellent presentation.
One of the disadvantages noted is the high cost of seed material of foreign hybrids. Every year we have to purchase seeds, since the plants of the first generation of hybrids labeled F1 do not retain their parental characteristics.
Diseases and pests
The most pressing issue facing gardeners is the prevention and control of diseases. The artist has immunity against olive spot, VOM, and cladosporiosis. Manufacturers also emphasize that the hybrid is not afraid of powdery mildew. The artist cannot resist the following diseases:
- Downy mildew. The appearance of white, sweat and brown spots. The leaves dry up;
- Brown spot. A fungal disease that affects the entire plant. It may be caused by sudden temperature changes;
- Among the pests, the greatest harm can be caused by spider mites, whiteflies, slugs, aphids, thrips and other insects.
In garden plots, the best way to combat diseases is still to treat plants with Bordeaux mixture. In addition to good efficiency, it is practically not as dangerous to people as chemical agents. You just need to prepare the solution correctly. For a bucket of water, take a hundred-gram glass of copper sulfate and freshly slaked lime. The solution should be faint blue. A nail left in it should not immediately become covered with rust. Read about cucumber diseases here.
Vitriol is diluted with warm water. When cold, the crystals will not disperse and will clog the sprinkler.
Further care for cucumbers Artist
In order for cucumbers of this hybrid to develop well and regularly produce large harvests, the following agrotechnical measures should be carried out:
- Loosen and weed
the root zone of cucumber vines at least once a week. - Carry out garter shoots
.
Since cucumbers of this variety are prone to active branching, it is necessary not only to tie the central and side shoots to the trellises, but also to form
a bush along the way (preferably in one stem), removing excess stepsons; - Observe the irrigation regime
. Although this variety can easily tolerate short periods of drought, it is better to water the plants regularly with warm, settled water. Cold water can lead to the development of root rot in cucumbers of this variety; - Regular feeding
. Cucumbers respond well to the application of organic matter throughout the season, but usually the application of humus, manure or greenberries is alternated with the application of complex mineral fertilizers such as Izabilion, Megafol or Terraflex. In this case, the first feeding of the Artist cucumber is carried out a couple of weeks after transplanting the seedlings or when real leaves appear on the plants. Then fertilizing is carried out regularly at intervals of 1-1.5 weeks; - Collect ripe greens in a timely manner
so that new ovaries appear more actively on the cucumber vines.
Advice!
Irregular harvesting can significantly reduce the yield of the Artist cucumber.
Diseases and pests
The cucumber hybrid Artist is highly resistant to cucumber mosaic virus, cladosporiosis, powdery mildew and downy mildew.
Diseases of cucumbers:
Blackleg on cucumbers Anthracnose of cucumbers Downy mildew of cucumbers
conclusions
Gardeners are gradually switching to growing hybrids. The reason is not only the high yield, but also the resistance to certain diseases inherent at the genetic level. With all this, caring for hybrids is exactly the same as for conventional varieties. But there are still some wonderful features of cucumbers. An example of this is Artist F1. Not one green leaf is tied in knots, but several. And the fruits are even in color and appearance. They last a long time and do not turn yellow. A huge plus in the Artist’s piggy bank is the early stages of maturation. Only about 40 days pass and you can try cucumbers. When grown in greenhouses, you can not only provide your family with greens for a long period, but also export them to the market.
Landing
Artist F1 cucumbers can be planted using pre-prepared seedlings, or plants can be grown from seeds directly in open ground. Let's take a closer look at these methods.
Seedling method
It is recommended to sow seeds for growing seedlings in early April. To do this, you can use special pots (or cassettes) and soil. It should be a mixture containing peat, humus and sawdust in a ratio of 2:2:1. The composition should also include fertilizers (per 10 liters of soil) - nitrophoska (30 g) and wood ash (40 g).
Each container is filled with soil prepared as described above, then up to 2 seeds are placed in it. Seedlings should be watered periodically. After about 30 days, it appears about 3 full-fledged leaves, after which the plants can be planted in a permanent place.
Direct sowing of seeds into the ground
It is important to take into account the unpredictability of the weather in recent years, when after the onset of warm sunny days and the establishment of night air temperatures that promote the growth of heat-loving vegetable crops, cold weather returns again. By this time, some summer residents have already managed to sow cucumbers. As a result, their germination occurs very slowly. They can also become damp and unsuitable for growing. And sowing a new batch leads to a waste of time.
To avoid such a situation, it is necessary to wait until the soil warms up to +15°C, while the daily air temperature should be above +21°C.
Sowing seeds in the soil should be done at a depth of 2 to 3 cm. The distance between plants should be 10 cm. The soil must be well moistened. To protect the plantings from low air temperatures at night, they are covered with film or agrofibre.
Reference! The “noses” of the sown seeds should be directed downwards, then the first shoots will appear faster, in the period from 5 to 8 days after planting.
Diseases and parasites
Artist f1 cucumbers have strong immunity to powdery mildew, cladosporiosis and PTO. However, if the recommendations for planting and caring for the plant are not followed, the variety runs the risk of becoming infected with root rot, and the plant is also susceptible to invasion by spider mites and whiteflies. Let's consider a description of infections and methods of combating them.
Root rot
Root rot is an infection that occurs as a result of sudden changes in air temperature, excessive watering, and non-compliance with the rules of agrotechnical processes. With root rot, the lower leaves of the plant wilt, brown spots appear, flowers fall off, and fruit development slows down. Yellowing of the stems and leaves of the bushes is also observed.
To combat root rot, cucumbers are recommended to be treated with the chemical preparations Previkur Energy, Fundazol, Tiram and Copper sulfate, as well as the biological preparations Trichodermin, Fitolavin and Fitosporin.
Spider mite
Spider mites are small pests that cause damage to the entire crop of the Artist f1 variety. The insect is located on the foliage of the plant. When a spider mite invades, a white web forms on the leaves, fruit development slows down, and the tops become yellow. To combat spider mites, vegetable growers recommend treating cucumbers with Actellik, Apollo and Neoron substances.
Whitefly
Whitefly is a small insect that reaches a length of 1 mm and is white in color. During a whitefly invasion, a white coating forms on cucumbers, yellowing of the leaves of the plant, and an accumulation of midges on the back of the leaf. There is also a slowdown in the development of bushes, a decrease in the yield of the variety and drying of the leaves. To combat whitefly, vegetable growers recommend using the chemicals Aktara, Verticillin, Fufanon and boric acid.
