Cucumbers Friendly family - characteristics and rules for growing the variety

It’s worth starting with a description of the Friendly Family cucumber variety with a high hybrid yield. This unpretentious vegetable was bred by Russian breeders for cultivation on different types of soil. The variety was included in the State Register in 2003. Cucumber Friendly Family F1 is grown in all climatic zones of Russia. The variety was appreciated by both farms and amateur gardeners.

Description of cucumbers Friendly family

Indeterminate type of hybrid with unlimited growth of the main vine. Medium-sized bushes with medium-sized side shoots and short internodes. Wrinkled leaf blade of emerald color with wavy edges.

The variety does not require pollination by bees and produces predominantly female flowers. A bunched ovary is formed in the axils of the leaves. The axils of the main stem produce up to 4 ovaries, the side branches - up to 8.

Description of cucumber fruit Friendly family:

• average sizes 10-12 cm;
• weight up to 100 g;
• cylindrical aligned shape;
• green peel with white stripes;
• small tubercles with white spines;
• dense pulp without bitterness;
• gherkin type.

Dahlias are funny guys - easy to grow

The classic gherkin “Merry Family f1” is supplied to the Russian seed market by agro. The hybrid is an early ripening one, which means the first cucumbers will appear on the bushes in 39-41 days. The characteristics of the variety make it possible to obtain a harvest in greenhouses and in ordinary beds.

The plant of the variety is a vine-like, branching, creeping stem. The color of the lashes is a rich dark green color. The arrangement of leaves is alternate, the leaf blades are large, pentagonal in shape, with spiny pubescence. The formation of lateral shoots is pronounced. The growth point of the hybrid does not mature on its own and the central lash can reach a length of 1.5-2 meters.

Externally, the vegetables of the “Merry Family” are typical gherkins. They do not grow more than 7-8 cm in length, do not overgrow and do not barrel. The average weight of cucumbers is 90-100 g. The surface of the skin is lumpy with white spines. The taste is aromatic, the flesh is crispy with a lot of juice, slightly sweet. The fruits are good for fresh summer salads, pickling, and snacks. After heat treatment they do not lose their shape and elasticity.

Vegetable growers who have had to grow “Merry Family f1” cucumbers note that the variety has no disadvantages. Based on the reviews, the culture meets all the stated characteristics of the originating company and has many advantages. Compared to other early varieties, “Merry Family f1” has abundant and long-term fruiting. And the fruits are tasty both fresh and canned.

Gherkin cucumbers have distinctive features from ordinary ones. The consistency of the pulp of mini-cucumbers is more elastic and dense. The same characteristics of the fruit are preserved during preservation. Therefore, gherkins are considered ideal for winter preparations.

The germination of the seeds is excellent; usually no soaking in preparations or germination is required: just place the seeds in moist soil to a depth of one and a half to two centimeters, and in a little less than a week they will sprout. Flowers tolerate picking well, but given that the sprouts are initially strong and tall, it is better to place them immediately in separate pots.

We have already figured out when to sow dahlias, funny guys: from March to the end of May. Young plants can be fed with regular fertilizers for seedlings - it is best if these are those preparations that promote rapid growth of the root system and inhibit stretching: “Krepysh” or something similar.

And now summer has come. You have already moved the dahlia bushes to the flowerbed, cheerful guys. Planting and care are usual. This type of dahlia is the most unpretentious, but like all flowering ones, it loves organic fertilizers. Do not forget to pick off faded buds in time so that the plant does not waste energy on seeds. Dahlias are funny guys, the photos of which you see, grow up to a meter in the first year. In the future they can grow up to one and a half meters.

Pros and cons of the variety

Cucumber Friendly Family F1 gives the first harvest in 45-48 days. According to the ripening period, the hybrid is classified as a mid-early type. The fruits of the variety are harvested at the gherkin stage. Zelentsy is used for preservation or eaten fresh. Productivity is at the level of the cucumber variety Sparta F1.

pros

Description of the advantages of the cucumber Friendly family:

1. universal purpose of fruits;
2. long fruiting;
3. yield up to 10 kg per 1 m²;
4. excellent taste;
5. resistance to most crop diseases;
6. high yield of commercial products.

Minuses

Description of the disadvantages of the Friendly Family variety:

1. cost of seeds;
2. Loss of marketability of fruits due to untimely harvesting.

Landing Features

The Friendly Family F1 variety is grown in two ways. For the southern regions, the seedless method is suitable. Regions with an unstable climate or poor soils cultivate hybrid cucumbers using the seedling method.

Before sowing, the seeds are processed. Disinfect the seeds in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 2-3 hours. After drying, the cucumber seed material is placed in a saline solution. For further work, select the seeds that have sunk to the bottom of the container. To stimulate germination, treatment with growth stimulants is carried out.

Landing dates

For seedlings, cucumber seeds of the Druzhnaya Semeyka variety are planted 3-4 weeks before the planned transplant date. Sowing begins no earlier than the third decade of March. Plants are moved to the greenhouse from the second half of April.

When using a film cover or non-woven material on the site, sowing cucumbers for seedlings begins on April 10. Seed material is sown in open ground from late May to early June.

Site preparation

In spring, the soil on the ridge is spilled with boiling water and covered with film until the next day. After a day, the soil is dug up and leveled. The process is repeated three days later.

In the autumn-spring periods, the top soil layer is treated with a Fitosporin solution or Bordeaux mixture. Before digging the soil for the winter, add bleach.

Description of the scheme for applying fertilizers per 1 m² for cucumbers of the Friendly Family F1 variety:

• 10 kg of compost or 25 kg of manure;
• 15 g magnesium sulfate;
• 40 g superphosphate;
• 40 g of potassium sulfate.

Planting seeds

Seeds for growing as seedlings are placed in separate containers to a depth of 2 cm. Before germination, the cups are placed in a warm place. With the appearance of the first shoots, the temperature is lowered to +18 - +20°C.

The seedlings are placed in a well-lit place. Placing seedlings on a north or west window will require illumination with phytolamps.

When using high-quality soil mixture as a substrate for seedlings, fertilizing is not required. A few days before transplanting, cucumber plants of the Druzhnaya Semeyka variety are hardened off.

Planting seedlings

Transplantation of cucumber seedlings Friendly Family to a permanent place is carried out 25-30 days after planting the seeds. Young plants are transplanted into the greenhouse with the onset of stable warm weather.

Young bushes of the Druzhnaya Semeyka variety are transplanted into open ground beds in early June. The soil should warm up to +16°C. Low temperatures will lead to the death of the plant's root system.

Planting scheme

The crop yield is affected by the location of plants on the site. Close planting of bushes leads to competition between plants for food and lighting. No more than 2-3 seedlings are placed per 1 m² of bed. A distance of 40-50 cm is maintained between cucumber bushes. The row spacing is 70-90 cm.

Secrets of success in growing a hybrid variety

You may be interested in:

1. Planting in areas well lit by sunlight.
2. Organization of systematic and abundant watering. Especially during the fruiting period.
3. Maintains high humidity levels when growing in a greenhouse.
4. Regular ventilation of seedlings in the greenhouse.
5. Support of high agricultural background, systematic inspections of cucumbers and mandatory sanitary cleaning. If seedlings that are severely damaged by diseases or parasites are found, they are burned.
6. Sowing seeds in the ground to a depth of no more than 20 mm.
7. Planting seeds on seedling material in early March. And planting in open ground at temperatures above 15 ° C.
8. Regular aeration (loosening) of the soil and weeding between rows.
9. Application of mulch (organic, inorganic). Suitable straw, mowed green manure (mustard, rye), agrofibre, agrofabric.
10. Preventive treatment of cucumbers against diseases and insects. For the manufacture of tank formulations, only compatible preparations are used. Number of treatments 3-4 per season.

11. Timely, regular sampling of cucumbers due to possible overripeness. Samples must be taken at intervals of 1-2 days.
12. Regular feeding. Treatment on the leaf and under the rhizome with a mixture of complex minerals and growth stimulants. Frequency: once every 7-10 days.
13. Pre-planting preparation of the substrate, shedding from soil pests with special means, for example, Aktara, Nurel D, Antikhrushch. As well as the introduction of organic compounds - rotted slurry or bird droppings.

The seed material of Russian breeders is high-quality and inexpensive, with guaranteed high yields, good germination rates and resistance to disease. However, there is one drawback - collecting seeds from this plant crop is useless, since the seeds of hybrid varieties are bred by specialists by crossing 2 specific varietal species.

Note!

Those who want to repeat planting the hybrid will have to buy seeds again, but it’s worth it.

Growing cucumber seedlings on a personal plot is a relatively cheap and quite profitable activity, but the yield of vegetables depends entirely on the selection of seed material with good properties.

Care

The parthenocarpic cucumber variety Friendly Family F1 is grown mainly in greenhouses. The hybrid sets fruit without pollination. Large yields are obtained by observing air and soil humidity levels and timely application of fertilizers.

Watering

Cucumber bushes are watered with warm, settled water at the root. At moderate temperatures, the procedure is carried out once a week. As the air temperature rises, watering is carried out more often. Moisture deficiency leads to bitterness in fruits.

Heavy, clay soil does not need frequent watering. Light, sandy or sandy loam soils are irrigated often, but not abundantly.

Garter and bush formation

Crowding and lack of lighting reduce the yield of cucumbers of the Druzhnaya Semeyka variety. Forming and tying the vines reduces the risk of disease development and facilitates fruit harvesting.

Tying cucumbers is done simultaneously with planting seedlings in the ground. When sowing a variety with seeds directly into the soil, the procedure is performed when the plants reach 10 cm.

Top dressing

The period of return frosts is dangerous for cucumber seedlings. It helps to protect plants by placing mullein mixed with bird droppings in a circle around the trunk.

Young bushes are fed with complex fertilizers. The process is combined with evening watering. One plant consumes up to 2 liters. solution. Formed lashes prefer organic additives.

Hilling

The procedure stimulates root formation. Loosening and hilling saturate the soil with oxygen. Lateral roots grow. The plant absorbs more moisture and nutrients from the soil.

Planting cucumbers for seedlings and in open ground

Many experienced gardeners believe that it is possible to plant cucumber seeds directly into beds or greenhouses. But some still adhere to the seedling method. What your choice will be is up to you.

Prepared seeds, in the seedling method, are placed in special soil to a depth of no more than 3 centimeters, with the sprout facing up. If you skipped the pre-germination time, you can plant 2 seeds in one hole.

When the sprout grows 4 centimeters in length, it is better to plant the plants in cups. Many people use special peat pots or eggshells. In these cases, there is no need to remove the seedlings from the “pots”. True, in the case of shells, you will have to make a hole at the bottom for the roots to come out.

The optimal temperature for normal germination and growth is 25 degrees Celsius. When 2 or more true leaves appear on each bush, the seedlings can be transplanted into the ground, according to the instructions on the seed package. But before this it is necessary to carry out hardening. Namely, a week before the intended planting, you need to move them to a cool room (16 degrees Celsius). This process will help the seedlings quickly adapt to new growth conditions in a greenhouse or open ground.

Diseases and parasites

The Friendly Family F1 variety is resistant to mosaic, olive spot and powdery mildew. To prevent the development of diseases on cucumbers, follow the watering rules. The bushes are regularly sprayed with fungicidal preparations.

Ascochyta blight

Description of the symptoms of the disease on cucumbers Friendly family:

• the formation of gray spots on the foliage;
• the appearance of black bodies of the fungus;
• the formation of brown spots on the stems;
• gum secretion.

Sick plants are treated with a solution of copper sulfate and urea. The greenhouse is disinfected annually.

Fusarium wilt

Mold destroys up to 50-60% of the crop. The first sign of the disease is the withering of the tops of the vines during the daytime.

Description of methods for combating fungal infection of cucumbers:

• dressing seeds before planting;
• ventilation of the greenhouse;
• the use of chemicals at the first signs of illness.

Aphid

The pest multiplies massively from mid-summer. Green or black colonies are located on the underside of the leaf. Affected cucumber plants are sprayed with chemicals.

Disease resistance and growing characteristics

The hybrid has good stable resistance to major diseases and pests of cucumber crops. It is important to maintain a high agricultural background, systematically inspect the seedlings and be sure to carry out sanitary cleaning.

Attention!

If bushes heavily damaged by diseases or parasites are found, they must be dug up and destroyed.

The Friendly Family F1 variety is unpretentious and resistant to the formation of various pathologies for this plant crop, so cultivating cucumbers of this type is suitable even for inexperienced vegetable growers. Key points for plant growth:

1. Preparation of seeds and seedlings.
2. Soil preparation.
3. Full spacing between bushes.
4. Timely watering
5. Care and tying up of seedlings.

To plant seed or seedlings in the garden, you need to prepare the substrate - feed it and dig it up to enrich the soil with oxygen, make a hole with a diameter of 300-400 mm. The interval between holes must be at least 600 mm, otherwise the plants will interfere with each other. This interval is left when cultivating cucumbers horizontally.

If you plan to plant several rows, for example, in a greenhouse, the interval between grooves is 500 mm. Planting of pre-treated seed material is carried out in moist soil heated to 18 ° C to a depth of 20-30 mm.

The bed can be covered with PE; it helps to retain the heat accumulated by the soil during the day for a longer time at night, protects the plant from damage during rain, and also reduces moisture evaporation. During the day, PE is removed from the garden bed and returned at night.

Watering:

1. Traditionally, plants are moistened under the rhizome three times a week, depending on how dry the soil is.
2. Experts often argue about top watering, but most vegetable growers agree that if cucumbers are irrigated from above, then do it early in the morning or in the evening (with little sun activity).
3. Watering during the day can cause sunburn of the foliage.

Water needs to be warm or at room temperature. A lack of moisture will negatively affect the taste of greens.

Note!

Seedlings require careful care. First of all, the soil around the shoots must be systematically carefully loosened, and weeds must be removed.

Growing plants using the vertical growth method should be tied up. This will not only provide the cucumbers with access to the sun and make it easier to pinch shoots from the side, but will also simplify harvesting. And also, regardless of weather conditions, the harvest will remain clean, which cannot always be achieved with horizontal cultivation techniques.

Whether it is necessary to pinch cucumbers or not is up to the vegetable grower to decide, because there is no specific opinion on this matter, and many gardeners do not see any difference when picking cucumbers. However, companies involved in the packaging and sale of seed material indicate on the package not only a description of the varietal species, but also the technology for pinching the plant crop, if necessary.

Harvesting and storage

Regular harvesting of fruits prevents cucumbers from overgrowing. Untimely removal of gherkins from the stems retards the growth of new fruits.

Friendly Family cucumbers are plucked from the stem with pruning shears or cut with a knife. The stalks are left on the vine. The harvested crop is transferred to a cool room or shaded with woven material.

The Friendly Family variety bears fruit for a long time if agrotechnical practices are followed. The sweetish crunchy pulp of cucumbers makes the use of the vegetable universal.

How to remove stepchildren

In order for a cucumber bush to bear fruit well, and not just branch with leaves, you need to remove the stepsons in a timely manner. These are shoots on the main stem that take away strength for active crop growth. They need to be cut with pruning shears or simply removed by hand.

Not all varieties need this procedure. If you do not want to deal with the removal of stepsons, then you can choose a variety that does not require stepsons. Such bushes, as a rule, grow with one stem, do not climb and form a voluminous bush.

Stepchildren need to be cut off in a timely manner before they reach more than 5 centimeters. Removing longer shoots can have a negative impact on the health of the entire bush. Even if fruits have already begun to form on it, it still needs to be removed.