Cucumber Ecole (f1): reviews of the pros and cons, growing instructions, useful tips and harvest characteristics, photos

Description of Ecole cucumbers

The Ecole f1 cucumber was bred by the Dutch . The first tests were carried out in 2001, and in 2007 it was included in the State Register of Russia. It grows up to 2.5 m, in greenhouse conditions it reaches 3 m. The shoots do not grow to the sides, but weave vertically. It blooms according to the female type and produces from 3 to 5 fruits at each node.

Distinctive features

The cucumber is parthenocarpic, that is, self-pollinating. It can be grown in stationary greenhouses and under film. However, these cucumbers ripen well in open ground in the North Caucasus region and other southern regions.

In other regions of Russia, cucumber is grown in open beds under film.

Benefits and calories

Ecole f1 cucumbers are an early-ripening crop of this type , which allows you to begin harvesting within 45–50 days after planting. You can use cucumber for salads and other dishes as gherkins or pickles.

However, according to most summer residents, the hybrid is most suitable for early pickling . Cucumbers of this type have almost the same compact shape, retain their calorie content, characteristic taste and elastic pulp for a long time.

Agricultural technology

In order for the Ecole F1 cucumber to grow and develop well in a personal plot, first of all, you need to take into account the following agrotechnical rules:

In the middle zone, the crop can be grown through direct sowing of seeds in open ground. In other regions, it is better to use the seedling method, since in this case the plant begins to bear fruit faster and bears fruit more abundantly. The best time for sowing is the second ten days of May.
For cucumbers, you should choose medium loamy soils that are sufficiently loose. If the soil is heavy, it should be fed with moistened sawdust in the fall.
Sowing seeds can be done in an area where vegetables such as cabbage grew in the previous season;
potato;
onion;
legumes;
pepper.

To ensure the germination of friendly seedlings, before planting, treat the seeds with growth stimulants, which include the preparations Zircon and Epin. Next, the seeds need to be placed in a damp cloth and kept until they swell and sprout. If the seeds from the manufacturer are colored blue or red, it means they have been treated with fungicides and do not require pre-germination.

After planting, provide proper care for the plant, which includes regular watering, tillage, fertilizing and protection from various diseases and pests.

The parthenocarpic hybrid produces equally good yields in both the first and second rotations, therefore it is one of the best options for growing in spring or summer.

Characteristics

Hybrid Ecole is resistant to many diseases of the pumpkin family . It is unlikely that the plantings will be affected by powdery mildew, cucumber mosaic virus or cladosporiosis.

During periods of lack of moisture, the ovaries will not fall off the vines, as happens with many other varieties of cucumbers. The hybrid has no preference for light: it will successfully bear fruit both in the shade and in a brightly lit garden bed.

Bush

Differs in the following qualities:

relatively tall, with proper care it can grow up to 3 m, therefore, under the film it requires an appropriate height of the ceiling and supports;
characterized by medium climbing;
leaves are green, small in size;
bunch-type flowering;
ovaries usually form quickly, 4-5 pieces in one lobe.

The hybrid is classified as indeterminate , that is, it is able to grow in height quickly, forming a strong central stem.

Fruit

Hybrid Ecole f1 cucumbers have the following characteristics:

by type they can be classified as pickles, gherkins;
cylindrical shape;
length reaches 10 cm, but on average - 7-8;
The average weight of a cucumber is about 70 g, but sometimes reaches 95–100;
the skin is dense, green, has tubercles and characteristic spines;
cucumber pulp is juicy and dense;
there are no voids;
the seed chamber is small;
taste qualities are characterized by freshness.

Productivity

If you collect the fruits in the form of pickles, that is, small cucumbers, you can remove 7-8 kg from the bush . When growing them to the size of full-fledged fruits, it is realistic to get 19-20 kg.

Ecole F1 parthenocarpic cucumber (Syngenta)

Planting seedlings

Cucumber Ecole f1, the cultivation technology of which is simple, germinates with tall but fragile seedlings. Therefore, it is better to sow it for seedlings immediately in separate pots.

In addition, the cucumber does not tolerate diving well, gets sick for a long time and is delayed in development. Planting in separate cups guarantees the production of high-quality seedlings, the main indicators of which are as follows:

strong stem (no higher than 0.3 m in height) with short internodes;
dark green color of leaves without any inclusions;
developed roots.

A lack of nutrients or light has a detrimental effect on the development of the plant - the seedlings stretch out. To avoid this, you must follow the rules:

maintain air temperature within 20-25˚С;
ensure good illumination, and if necessary, additional lighting can be arranged.

How to grow

Growing Ecole cucumbers is not difficult . Medium loamy soil with pronounced looseness is best suited for them.

Planting by seeds and seedlings

Cucumbers of this hybrid can be planted in open ground using seeds or seedlings. It is recommended to make beds in places where certain previous crops grew last year:

potatoes - provided that no chemicals were used to grow this crop last season;
pepper – we mean sweet varieties;
cabbage;
onions are the most suitable option.

The place should be well lit, but without drafts.

Planting in open ground in warm regions is carried out in the following stages:

begin at the end of spring, when the average air temperature reaches +15 °C;
Initially, the seeds are soaked overnight in a nutrient solution of nitrophoska with ash;
Holes are made in advance in the garden bed with an interval of a little more than 10 cm in the row;
the distance between rows is determined to be 60 cm;
the holes are watered with heated water;
seeds are sown to a depth of 2-3 cm and covered with earth;
It is recommended to plant several seeds in one hole in order to later carry out a dive with a selection of the strongest plants;
crops are covered with film until shoots emerge.

The seedling method speeds up harvesting by 10-15 days . It is preferable to plant the Ecole hybrid immediately in separate cups with a capacity of 0.3–0.5 liters, since when planted early, the seedlings do not tolerate picking well.

First of all, prepare the soil. It is recommended to bake a mixture of peat, leaf humus, sawdust and soil in the oven for 40-60 minutes - this will destroy pests and fungal spores. You can buy ready-made soil mixture at a specialty store.

Other “Dutch” for your site:
Time-tested and beloved by gardeners, the Othello cucumber
Hybrid "Connie f1", resistant to weather conditions and diseases
What is good about the Pasalimo f1 hybrid and why is it worth growing?

Further algorithm:

Fill the cups with soil mixture and plant the seeds to a depth of about 3 cm.
Moisten the soil with warm water and place the containers in a well-lit place, covered with film.
After the first leaves appear, the film is removed. The soil continues to be watered regularly, avoiding waterlogging.
If there is insufficient daylight, additional lighting must be provided. Two weeks before planting in open ground, the seedlings are hardened by taking them out to the balcony or yard for a short time.
When 3-4 true leaves appear, which acquire a distinctly bright green color, begin planting. Otherwise, the sprouts will stretch out and take root poorly. At the time of planting in open ground, the seedlings should reach a height of about 30 cm.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

Water the plants every 3-4 days with warm water in the early hours or in the evenings.

Important! All cucumber hybrids love moisture. If there is not enough of it, the yield will noticeably decrease.

For 1 sq. m consumes 25–30 liters of water.

Watering largely depends on the weather . In hot, sultry periods, the intensity of this procedure is increased, and in rainy periods, vice versa.

It is also recommended to follow the following rules:

It is better to water by sprinkling or along furrows;
Do not use a powerful stream of water on the bush - strong pressure will damage the root system, which in this hybrid is located close to the surface;
avoid getting water on the leaves, especially in hot weather;
It is advisable to loosen after each watering.

Seedlings are regularly fed with mullein, bird droppings or ash . You can also use special mineral fertilizers.

Tying the bush to a support is necessary , since it tends to stretch several meters. If the stem falls to the ground, the fruits in contact with it will become infected with diseases or become deformed.

When the seventh stem is formed, it is recommended to pinch the main one. Then select and leave one or two strong stems. The ovaries on the lower internodes should be removed - it is believed that this technique will increase the fruiting of the bush.

During the growing season, you need to know the features of growing cucumbers, which will help you avoid difficulties :

If the soil is not loose enough, the development of the root system will slow down, and you will have to carry out the procedure every day, including after every rain.
The bush's growth may suddenly slow down. This happens after too vigorous removal of unnecessary stems: feed the plant with organic matter.
Each mineral fertilizer is first applied in small doses, otherwise the effect of fertilizing may be the opposite: all plants react to the procedure individually.

Cucumber Ecole open ground

Growing and care

As they grow, the lashes are tied to supports and shaped. All lateral shoots and ovaries are cut off up to the 3rd bottom leaf, the remaining ones are pinched after several leaves.

Water every 3-5 days with warm water after sunset or in the morning. In hot weather and during the fruiting period, you can water every day, adding up to 30 liters of water per 1 square meter. m. But moisture stagnation should not be allowed.

There are three basic fertilizers:

After 10 days from the moment of transplantation, water the soil with a solution of manure or add 15 g of Diammofosk fertilizer per square meter.
2 weeks after the first time, water with a solution of 40 g of nitrophoska per 10 liters of water or re-apply Diammofoska at 20 g per 1 sq. m. m.
During the fruiting period, use fertilizer with potassium (30 g per bucket of water). If necessary, repeat weekly.

Resistance to diseases and pests

Although hybrids of this type are characterized by increased immunity, there are diseases that are dangerous for them :

powdery mildew usually affects cucumbers in cloudy weather; it can be seen by a white coating on the leaves;
downy mildew also occurs in conditions of high humidity and is characterized by brown spots on the leaves;
white and gray rot is manifested by a corresponding coating.

At the initial stage of diseases, it is enough to treat the plants with a solution of potassium permanganate and sprinkle the leaves with ash. At a later stage, fungicides are used, completely affected leaves are removed and burned.

Pests also bother the hybrid:

aphids suck the juices from the leaves, they are repelled by “Karbofos” (use a small amount of the product);
spider mites are destroyed with the drug "Vertimek" or infusion of potato tops;
To remove whiteflies, it is recommended to carefully wash the leaves with soap and water.

The main preventive measure against these pests and diseases is regular loosening and timely watering with inspection of seedlings.

Features of the variety

Description of Ercol f1 tomatoes will make it possible to easily grow them on the plot, without worrying about the harvest, simply taking into account all the necessary requirements.

Plant:

Bush: determinate.
Height: 55–70 cm.
Inflorescence: intermediate.
Ripening time: 100–110 days.

Fruit:

Type: cylindrical.
Weight: 110–130 g.
Color: red.
Taste: excellent.
Density: high.
Number of cameras: 2–3 pcs.
Transportability: high.
Shelf life: 1.5–2 months.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The obvious advantages of the variety include the following qualities::

high productivity;
long fruiting period;
resistance to many diseases;
lack of bitterness even with rare watering;
self-pollinating.

There are also disadvantages:

overripe fruits have a hard skin;
since this is a hybrid and not a variety, you will have to buy seeds every time;
they have characteristic spikes.

Harvesting

Zelentsy can be collected all summer until autumn. They are removed from the bush after 2–3 days. Rare harvesting reduces the yield and quality of greens.

Zelentsy are perfect for pickling

Cucumbers of the Ecole F1 variety are good for preservation. For these purposes, small cucumbers only 5–7 cm in length are used.

Fruits need to be removed every 2–3 days

Greens are stored in the refrigerator for 5–7 days. And if you put them in an open bag and cover the top with damp gauze, the shelf life can be increased to 10 days.

A cucumber consists almost entirely of water, but in addition it contains mineral salts and beneficial microelements. And it contains more iron than grapes. Potassium found in cucumbers strengthens the cardiovascular system and prevents the formation of kidney stones. Regular consumption of these vegetables has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the thyroid gland.

You can prepare many different dishes from cucumbers: salads, snacks, etc. But, of course, fresh cucumbers are tastier and healthier.

Ecole F1 cucumbers are perfect for pickling

Reviews

Dutch developments have always enjoyed well-deserved popularity among gardeners . Ecole f1 is no exception. The hybrid captivated me with its yield, beautiful appearance and taste of gherkins.

Irina, Odintsovo : “I usually don’t like hybrids, but I liked Ecole. Especially because these cucumbers are great for pickling and pickling. Firm, crispy, great taste.”

Semyon, Novorossiysk : “I didn’t always succeed with seedlings of other hybrids. Either the seedlings stretched out, or, on the contrary, withered. I took the risk of trying Ecole f1 - it worked! He turned out to be unpretentious and pleased with his large harvest and miniature cucumbers.”

Elena, Omsk : “I am pleased with the high yield of the Ecole hybrid. At the same time, the bushes can be planted relatively compactly, because they do not grow much in width. Well, the fruits – small cucumbers – look very neat in a jar, tasty and crunchy. I advise everyone to grow this hybrid.”

Feeding

The hybrid is fed several times a season with organic matter and mineral fertilizers.

At the beginning of flowering, add 15 grams of a solution of urea, potassium sulfate, superphosphate and an infusion of manure diluted in water in a ratio of 1:10. The remaining fertilizing is carried out with a solution of infusion of manure or green fertilizer (1/10) every 2-3 weeks.

These are the main stages of growing a crop such as the Ecole f1 cucumber. Reviews from gardeners are unanimous: the plant is very promising and lives up to expectations for high yields. With a little effort, you can surprise your loved ones with delicious, juicy and crispy cucumbers.

Opinions of summer residents regarding the Ercol f1 variety

Additional information that is not in the description can be obtained by reading reviews. It is here that gardeners share their experiences and talk about the characteristics of the variety.

Nadia. The first experience turned out to be successful. The tomatoes grew to everyone's surprise. The harvest was amazing. Formed into one stem. Tomatoes were used for canning solely because of their “convenient” shape.

"Erkol", like all hybrid varieties, is very hardy. Thanks to this quality, it is chosen by many summer residents as one of the main varieties for cultivation.

Number of fruits and their use

With proper agricultural technology, tomatoes of the Ercol variety produce a good harvest. The fruits ripen almost simultaneously. From 1 plant you can harvest 1.5–2 kg of tomatoes.

The use of tomatoes is universal. Very good for fresh salads and festive table decorations. Suitable for winter preparations in any form, whole fruit or processed.