Bunch cucumbers: how to grow and get a rich harvest

1. Ultra-early ripening varieties and hybrids of cucumbers
2. Early ripening varieties and hybrids of cucumbers

Early cucumbers produce the first harvests of crispy greens within a month and a half after germination. Let's talk about 17 early ripening varieties and hybrids of cucumbers that can be cultivated both in open and protected ground. This selection contains new selections of cucumbers that have become popular among gardeners - productive, cold-resistant, requiring minimal care.

What are bunch cucumbers?

Most varieties and hybrids of cucumber produce single or paired female flowers in the leaf axils. But there are hybrids that form 3 or more female flowers in each node. This type of fruiting is called bouquet or bunch fruiting.

These summer hybrids are either parthenocarpic (not requiring pollination) or bee-pollinated.

The fruits of bunch cucumbers are medium-sized (pickles and gherkins). The plant produces a large number of ovaries, due to which it produces a good harvest. Over the past 20 years, bunch cucumbers have gained immense popularity among gardeners.

The term “bunch” refers to the totality of ovaries (female flowers), and not the number of fruits in a node.

Early ripening varieties and hybrids of cucumbers

In this selection, there are varieties and hybrids of cucumbers that ripen a little later, but at the same time manage to produce a harvest in an average of 42-46 days from the moment of germination:

1. April F1
2. Makar F1
3. Shchedrik F1
4. Adam F1
5. Paratunka F1
6. Courage F1
7. Dmitry Donskoy
8. Marta F1
9. String bag.

April F1

The harvest can be harvested after 44-49 days, the purpose is salad, the yield reaches 15 kg per 1 m², it can be grown both in protected and open ground, but you should take into account the fact that in a greenhouse the yield will be 15% higher.

• The plant type is indeterminate, characterized by medium growth, the degree of branching is weak.
• The main number of flowers on the plant of this hybrid are female, that is, they will bear fruit; the type of ovary formation is bunched, not single.
• The fruits are cylindrical in shape, the ribs are moderately pronounced, there are noticeable tubercles and whitish fluff.
• The weight of each fruit can reach 200 g, length 21-26 cm, diameter 4.5 cm.
• The taste of the fruit is excellent, the yield is high, and disease resistance is complex.

It is recommended for cultivation in greenhouses and hotbeds, although many grow and harvest in open ground. Pruning is minimal, fruiting is abundant.

Makar F1

The harvest can be harvested after 42-43 days, the purpose is salad, the yield reaches 13 kg per 1 m², it can be grown both in protected and open ground, but it should be taken into account that in a greenhouse the yield will be 17% higher.

• The plant type is indeterminate, characterized by medium growth, the degree of branching is weak.
• The main number of flowers on the plant of this hybrid are female, that is, they will bear fruit; the type of ovary formation is bunched, not single.
• The fruits are cylindrical in shape, the ribs are moderately pronounced, there are small tubercles and whitish fluff.
• The weight of each fruit can reach 260 g, length 19 cm, diameter 4.4 cm.

The taste of the fruit is excellent, the yield is high, and disease resistance is complex.

Photo: Makar F1 cucumbers from the agricultural company Manul

Shchedrik F1

The harvest can be harvested after 43-44 days, the purpose is salad, pickling, the yield reaches 19 kg per 1 m², it can be grown both in protected and open ground, but you should take into account the fact that in a greenhouse the yield will be 23% higher.

• The plant type is indeterminate, characterized by medium growth, the degree of branching is weak.
• The main number of flowers on the plant of this hybrid are female, that is, they will bear fruit; the type of ovary formation is bunched (7 or more), not single.
• The fruits are oval-shaped, the ribs are weakly expressed, there are noticeable tubercles and whitish fluff.
• The weight of each fruit can reach 180 g, length 9-11 cm, diameter 3.4-3.9 cm.

The taste of the fruit is excellent, the yield is high, and disease resistance is complex.

Adam F1

The harvest can be harvested after 44-46 days, the purpose is salad, pickling, the yield reaches 10 kg per 1 m², it can be grown both in protected and open ground, but you should take into account the fact that in a greenhouse the yield will be 17% higher.

The plant type is indeterminate, characterized by medium growth, the degree of branching is weak. The main number of flowers on the plant of this hybrid are female, that is, they will bear fruit; the type of ovary formation is bunched (3 or more), not single. The fruits are oval-shaped, the ribs are weakly expressed, there are noticeable tubercles and whitish fluff. The weight of each fruit can reach 95 g, length 8-9 cm, diameter 3.0-3.1 cm. The taste of the fruit is excellent, the yield is high, and disease resistance is complex.

Photo: cucumber seeds Shchedrik and Adam

Paratunka F1

The harvest can be harvested after 41-43 days, the purpose is salad, pickling, the yield reaches 12.7 kg per 1 m², can be grown both in protected and open ground, but you should take into account the fact that in a greenhouse the yield will be 24% higher.

The plant type is indeterminate, characterized by medium growth, the degree of branching is average. The main number of flowers on the plant of this hybrid are female, that is, they will bear fruit; the type of ovary formation is bunched (3 or more), not single. The fruits are cylindrical in shape, the ribs are weakly expressed, there are noticeable tubercles and whitish fluff. The weight of each fruit can reach 100 g, length 9-11 cm, diameter 3.9-4.0 cm. The taste of the fruit is excellent, the yield is high, and disease resistance is complex.

Courage F1

The harvest can be harvested after 42-44 days, the purpose is salad, pickling, the yield reaches 18.0 kg per 1 m², can be grown both in protected and open ground, but you should take into account the fact that in a greenhouse the yield will be 37% higher.

The plant type is indeterminate, characterized by vigorous growth, the degree of branching is average. The main number of flowers on the plant of this hybrid are female, that is, they will bear fruit; the type of ovary formation is bunched (3 or more), not single. The fruits are cylindrical in shape, the ribs are weakly expressed, there are noticeable tubercles and whitish fluff. The weight of each fruit can reach 120 g, length 12-15 cm, diameter 4.1-4.4 cm. The taste of the fruit is excellent, the yield is high, and disease resistance is complex.

Dmitry Donskoy

The harvest can be harvested after 41-42 days, the purpose is salad, the yield reaches 11.0 kg per 1 m², it can be grown both in protected and open ground, but you should take into account the fact that in a greenhouse the yield will be 14% higher.

The plant type is indeterminate, characterized by low growth, the degree of branching is average. The main number of flowers on the plant of this hybrid are female, that is, they will bear fruit; the type of ovary formation is bunched (2 or more), not single. The fruits are cylindrical in shape, the ribs are weakly expressed, there are no tubercles, and there is a whitish fluff. The weight of each fruit can reach 95 g, length 10-11 cm, diameter 4.2-4.4 cm. The taste of the fruit is excellent, the yield is high, and disease resistance is complex.

Marta F1

The harvest can be harvested after 41-46 days, the purpose is salad, the yield reaches 15 kg per 1 m², it can be grown both in protected and open ground, but you should take into account the fact that in a greenhouse the yield will be 19% higher.

The plant type is indeterminate, characterized by medium growth, the degree of branching is weak. The main number of flowers on the plant of this hybrid are female, that is, they will bear fruit; the type of ovary formation is bunched, not single. The fruits are cylindrical in shape, the ribs are moderately pronounced, there are small tubercles and whitish fluff. The weight of each fruit can reach 250 g, length 16-19 cm, diameter 4.6 cm. The taste of the fruit is excellent, the yield is high, and disease resistance is complex.

Photo: Marta F1 cucumbers from the agricultural company Manul

String bag

The harvest can be harvested after 41-42 days, the purpose is salad, the yield reaches 13.9 kg per 1 m², it can be grown both in protected and open ground, but you should take into account the fact that in a greenhouse the yield will be 15% higher.

The plant type is indeterminate, characterized by low growth, the degree of branching is average. The main number of flowers on the plant of this hybrid are female, that is, they will bear fruit; the type of ovary formation is bunched (2 or more), not single. The fruits are cylindrical in shape, the ribs are weakly expressed, there are tubercles, and there is a whitish fluff. The weight of each fruit can reach 150 g, length 11-12 cm, diameter 4.3-4.4 cm. The taste of the fruit is excellent, the yield is high, and disease resistance is complex.

Advantages of bunch cucumbers

Thanks to the bouquet type of fruiting, bunched cucumbers have several obvious advantages.

They give a stable high yield

The peculiarity of such plants is that the flowers in the inflorescence (bunch) do not open simultaneously, but alternately: 1-2 per day or every other day.

This trait increases not only the yield potential, but also the stability of fruiting. Plants have a “safety reserve” of ovaries: if, due to bad weather conditions or other reasons, one of the ovaries fails to develop, the next one will begin to grow. So you definitely won’t be left without a harvest of fresh cucumbers!

They don't outgrow

It should be noted that competition for nutrients between fruits growing in the axil of the same leaf is higher than between fruits located on the stem at different nodes. This is why bunch cucumbers do not have time to turn into “overgrown” ones.

The more cucumbers growing in one bosom, the slower each of them grows. This property is especially valuable for gardeners who come to the dacha only on weekends and at the same time want to receive “calibrated” raw materials for winter harvesting.

Cucumber F1 Balcony

Many fruits ripen at the same time

At the height of fruiting, when the filling of ovaries occurs in many nodes at once, the plant may have 12-15 fruits suitable for harvesting. Again, this is a real find for summer residents. You can come once a week and reap a good harvest.

Small fruits

The greens of bunched cucumber hybrids should not be large (no longer than 12-15 cm). In cucumbers with fruits longer than 15-16 cm, a large number of ovaries in a node leads to a decrease in the commercial quality of the crop: the fruits become twisted and constricted.

For this reason, breeders do not strive to transfer the tufting trait to long-fruited cucumbers. But the compact size is more of an advantage than a disadvantage for those who love pickled cucumbers.

Features of the formation of ovaries of bunched cucumbers

It is worth considering that even in the most super-bundled hybrids, the number of ovaries in a node can vary from 2-4 to 10-11 or more. The largest bouquet ovaries are formed under the trellis and on well-lit side shoots.

A number of hybrids (especially super-beam forms) have their own peculiarities of beam formation. By the time of mass flowering, only 2-3 ovaries may initially appear in the lower tier of the main stem, and later additional ones may appear. In the middle and upper tiers of the stem, female flowers are formed in larger bunches. In all nodes (regardless of their location), in the process of plant growth and development, new ovaries appear in bunches.

In super bunched cucumbers, strong ovaries appear when the plants develop powerful, with a lot of foliage. If the cucumber bushes grow weak, the number of ovaries in the nodes decreases.

When a very large number of ovaries are formed in the nodes, the plant stops the growth of some greens in order to optimally redistribute nutrients. That is why for such hybrids it is especially important to create the most comfortable conditions for growth and fruiting.

In other cucumbers, the number of ovaries in a node varies to a much lesser extent depending on the vigor of plant growth and growing conditions.

Cucumber F1 Chistye Prudy

Why is the number of ovaries decreasing and what to do about it?

When growing both bunched and supertufted cucumbers, you need to take into account the fact that the number of ovaries in a node is variable, despite the fact that this trait is transmitted genetically. It may vary depending on growing conditions and the location of the node on the plant. This means that if you do not care properly, you can get a smaller harvest than if you follow all the recommendations.

Factors that reduce the number of ovaries in a node:

• excess nitrogen fertilizing,
• insufficient watering and dry soil,
• severe overheating,
• lack of sunlight.

The so-called “bundle resorption” effect occurs when the main stem grows very quickly.

There may be more ovaries in the lower nodes than in the nodes of the middle tier when “overfeeding” the plants in hot weather. Under optimal conditions, when growth proceeds at a normal pace, the number of ovaries in a node increases from the lower nodes to the upper ones and from the main stem to the side shoots.

Cucumber F1 Hit of the season

In case of nutritional deficiency (when, after the main fertilizing, fertilizers were not applied to the soil for a long time or were applied in insufficient quantities), the richest bunches can form in the middle part of the stem, when young plants are already quite powerful, but not yet loaded with fruits, and new ovaries are provided with nutrition .

Under shading conditions, the “bundling” also decreases. Thus, on the same bunch cucumber plant, the number of ovaries in a node can vary from 2-3 to 8-10 or more.

As a rule, in order to prevent “resorption of the bunches” on the stems of cucumbers, it is enough to comply with several conditions:

• maintain soil temperature within 21-24°C,
• avoid overheating the air, especially at night,
• do not “overfeed” cucumbers with nitrogen fertilizers,
• ensure uniform lighting of plants.

It is important to understand that bunched cucumber bushes are not able to “feed” numerous ovaries - some of them dry out even under ideal growing conditions. However, the more diligently you follow agricultural techniques, the more cucumbers you will eventually remove from the bush.

Secrets of growing bunched cucumbers

In general, the requirements of bunch hybrids for temperature, watering and fertilizing are exactly the same as for all other cucumbers. But there are small nuances.

Cucumber F1 Karapuz

Lighting

Bundle hybrids are mostly light-loving, although a number of them are also adapted to partial shade conditions. The rule is simple: the higher the illumination, the more ovaries are formed in the nodes. Therefore, cucumber crops are strongly recommended to be placed in sunny areas.

If the area is partially shaded, it is better to choose a shade-tolerant cucumber hybrid.

Wind protection

Like any varieties and hybrids of this crop, bunch cucumbers do not like drafts. For a cucumber bed, it is important to choose a place protected from the wind.

Good soil composition and structure

Cucumbers do not tolerate stagnant water near the roots, so the main requirement for the soil is that the garden bed must have good drainage. The best soil for bunched cucumbers is loose, nutritious, structure-preserving, which provides air access to the roots.

Shelter

In the case of bunched cucumbers, at the beginning of fruiting, it is important to grow healthy plants with a powerful root system, strong stem, and active leaves. Only such bushes can feed numerous ovaries.

If you do not have the opportunity to grow cucumbers in a greenhouse, before mass flowering begins, it is advisable to keep them under temporary film covers or in tunnels, use warm ridges or other tricks to prevent young plants from freezing.

Feeding

During the fruiting period, plants take a large amount of nutrient minerals from the soil, so they are in dire need of fertilizing. Since the cucumber root system does not tolerate high concentrations of salts in the soil solution, fertilizers cannot be applied in large doses.

It is necessary to feed frequently (at least once a week), but in small doses (10-20 g/sq.m of complex mineral fertilizer).

Filling of fruits will speed up if you place a barrel of fermented manure or grass in the greenhouse. The carbon dioxide released during fermentation of the contents of the barrel promotes the ripening of cucumbers.

Formation on a trellis

In open ground, the yield of bunched cucumbers increases noticeably when grown on a trellis. Both in a greenhouse and in open ground on a trellis, plants must be formed in a timely manner by pinching side shoots.

Harvest

The fruits are collected frequently (daily or every 1-2 days), without overgrowing them. Overgrown green plants hold back the growth of new ovaries.

However, as mentioned above, if you come to the dacha once a week, nothing bad will happen to the cucumbers. The only negative is that new fruits will ripen more slowly than with regular harvesting.

Description and characteristics of the variety

Karapuz F1 from "Manul" is a highly productive gherkin hybrid with self-pollinating properties. It is characterized by:

• early harvest (42-45 days from germination);
• extended fruiting until autumn;
• high repairability;
• absolute formation of female inflorescences.

The bushes grow to medium compact sizes and are distinguished by moderate branching and climbing. The nodes produce up to 4-5 greens of beautiful appearance and excellent taste.

Features of mini gherkins:

• length does not exceed 6-7 cm;
• diameter 2 cm;
• weight 40-60 g;
• tubercles sparse, low;
• pubescence is weak, white;
• the flesh is crispy and juicy;
• the skin is glossy, bright green.

The fruits do not genetically outgrow or expand. Ideal for pickling pickles and marinating.

Choosing a bunched cucumber hybrid

In order for the result to meet all expectations, before buying a bag of seeds, it is important to pay attention to various varietal characteristics.

Cucumber F1 City cucumber

Fetal characteristics

If you initially take into account the characteristics of the fruit when choosing a hybrid, no unpleasant surprises await you. Carefully study the description on the packaging: the nature of the pubescence, the shape and length of the fruit, taste and pickling qualities.

Branch type

It is also necessary to pay attention to the type of branching of plants. The bunched arrangement of the ovaries can be combined with both weak growth of lateral shoots and powerful branching.

Cucumber F1 Petrel

Cucumbers with weak shoot growth ( Alphabet F1, Bouquet F1, Balalaika F1 ) require minimal labor for pinching; gardeners even call such hybrids “single-stem.” They are distinguished by their early ripening and friendly yield in the first month of fruiting.

Plants with powerful branching ( City Cucumber F1, Balcony F1, Petrel F1, Karapuz F1, Hit of the Season F1 ) require regular shaping, but are more resistant to the vagaries of weather and diseases and provide stable and long-term fruiting, right up to autumn frosts.

Disease resistance

Resistance to specific diseases must be indicated in the description of each hybrid. This is an important point to pay attention to, especially if your cucumbers have been sick in previous years.

Bee-pollinated cucumbers

Special mention should be made of bunched bee-pollinated cucumbers ABC F1, Faithful Friends F1, Compass F1 . The peculiarity of these hybrids is that the ovaries of pollinated flowers are retained on the plant even at a time when they lack nutrition. They can freeze and begin to grow after their “big brothers” are picked, even if 2-3 weeks have passed since pollination.

Cucumbers from this group are great for pickling. Plus they are sweet and tasty.

*** For detailed information about new products and the assortment of vegetable seeds, as well as their cultivation technology, read the website Author's vegetable seeds.

Ultra-early ripening varieties and hybrids of cucumbers

Let's start with cucumbers, which ripen the earliest. Varieties that manage to produce a harvest in less than forty days, almost a month from germination, are called super early, ultra early, ultra early ripening.

This selection contains 8 varieties and hybrids of the earliest ripening periods (33-39 days):

1. Masha F1
2. Muromsky 36
3. Ant F1
4. Tempo F1
5. Miracle toddler F1
6. Fan
7. Anyuta F1
8. Emelya F1

Masha F1

The harvest can be harvested after 35-37 days, the purpose is salad, the yield reaches 12 kg per 1 m², it can be grown both in protected and open ground, but you should take into account the fact that in a greenhouse the yield will be 18% higher.

• The plant type is indeterminate, characterized by medium growth, the degree of branching is weak.
• The main number of flowers on the plant of this hybrid are female, that is, they will bear fruit; the type of ovary formation is bunched, not single.
• The fruits are cylindrical in shape, the ribs are moderately pronounced, there are small tubercles and whitish fluff.
• The weight of each fruit can reach 220 g, length 14 cm, diameter 4.2 cm.

The taste of the fruit is excellent, the yield is high, and disease resistance is complex.

Photo: Masha F1 cucumbers from Seminis

Muromsky 36

The harvest can be harvested after 33-44 days, the purpose is salad, the yield reaches 11 kg per 1 m², it can be grown both in protected and open ground, but you should take into account the fact that in a greenhouse the yield will be 16% higher.

• The plant type is indeterminate, characterized by medium growth, the degree of branching is weak.
• The main number of flowers on the plant of this hybrid are female, that is, they will bear fruit; the type of ovary formation is bunched, not single.
• The fruits are cylindrical in shape, the ribs are moderately pronounced, there are small tubercles and whitish fluff.
• The weight of each fruit can reach 210 g, length 13 cm, diameter 4.0 cm.

The taste of the fruit is excellent, the yield is high, and disease resistance is complex.

Fan

The harvest can be harvested after 39-41 days, the purpose is salad, the yield reaches 19.8 kg per 1 m², it can be grown both in protected and open ground, but you should take into account the fact that in a greenhouse the yield will be 42% higher.

• The plant type is indeterminate, characterized by low growth, the degree of branching is average.
• The main number of flowers on the plant of this hybrid are female, that is, they will bear fruit; the type of ovary formation is bunched (3 or more), not single.
• The fruits are cylindrical in shape, the ribs are weakly expressed, there are no tubercles, and there is a whitish fluff. ​​​​​

The weight of each fruit can reach 100 g, length 9-11 cm, diameter 4.1-4.4 cm. The taste of the fruit is excellent, the yield is high, and disease resistance is complex.

Photo: cucumber hybrids Veer and Muromsky

Ant F1

The harvest can be harvested after 36-39 days, the purpose is salad, pickling, the yield reaches 15 kg per 1 m², it can be grown both in protected and open ground, but you should take into account the fact that in a greenhouse the yield will be 19% higher.

• The plant type is indeterminate, characterized by medium growth, the degree of branching is weak.
• The main number of flowers on the plant of this hybrid are female, that is, they will bear fruit; the type of ovary formation is bunched (3 or more), not single.
• The fruits are oval-shaped, the ribs are weakly expressed, there are noticeable tubercles and whitish fluff.
• The weight of each fruit can reach 110 g, length 9-10 cm, diameter 3.1-3.3 cm.

The taste of the fruit is excellent, the yield is high, and disease resistance is complex.

Photo: Ant cucumbers from the agricultural company Manul

Tempo F1

The harvest can be harvested after 36-41 days, the purpose is salad, pickling, the yield reaches 20 kg per 1 m², it can be grown both in protected and open ground, but you should take into account the fact that in a greenhouse the yield will be 25% higher.

• The plant type is indeterminate, characterized by medium growth, the degree of branching is weak.
• The main number of flowers on the plant of this hybrid are female, that is, they will bear fruit; the type of ovary formation is bunched (4 or more), not single.
• The fruits are oval-shaped, the ribs are weakly expressed, there are noticeable tubercles and whitish fluff.
• The weight of each fruit can reach 150 g, length 10-11 cm, diameter 3.2-3.4 cm.

The taste of the fruit is excellent, the yield is high, and disease resistance is complex.

Photo: Temp cucumbers from the agricultural company Partner

Anyuta F1

The harvest can be harvested after 39-41 days, the purpose is salad, the yield reaches 16.0 kg per 1 m², it can be grown both in protected and open ground, but you should take into account the fact that in a greenhouse the yield will be 24% higher.

• The plant type is indeterminate, characterized by vigorous growth, the degree of branching is average.
• The main number of flowers on the plant of this hybrid are female, that is, they will bear fruit; the type of ovary formation is bunched (2 or more), not single.
• The fruits have the shape of a spindle, the ribs are weakly expressed, there are tubercles, and there is a whitish fluff.
• The weight of each fruit can reach 120 g, length 10-11 cm, diameter 3.3-3.7 cm.

The taste of the fruit is excellent, the yield is high, and disease resistance is complex.

Photo: Anyuta cucumbers from the agricultural company Manul

Emelya F1

The harvest can be harvested after 39-42 days, the purpose is salad, the yield reaches 16.0 kg per 1 m², it can be grown both in protected and open ground, but you should take into account the fact that in a greenhouse the yield will be 26% higher.

• The plant type is indeterminate, characterized by vigorous growth, the degree of branching is average.
• The main number of flowers on the plant of this hybrid are female, that is, they will bear fruit; the type of ovary formation is bunched (2 or more), not single.
• The fruits have the shape of a spindle, the ribs are weakly expressed, there are tubercles, and there is a whitish fluff.
• The weight of each fruit can reach 150 g, length 12-14 cm, diameter 3.9-4.1 cm.

The taste of the fruit is excellent, the yield is high, and disease resistance is complex.

Photo: Emelya cucumbers in open ground from the agricultural company Manul

Miracle toddler F1

The harvest can be harvested after 37-39 days, the purpose is salad, pickling, the yield reaches 15 kg per 1 m², it can be grown both in protected and open ground, but you should take into account the fact that in a greenhouse the yield will be 19% higher.

• The plant type is indeterminate, characterized by medium growth, the degree of branching is weak.
• The main number of flowers on the plant of this hybrid are female, that is, they will bear fruit; the type of ovary formation is bunched (3 or more), not single.
• The fruits are oval-shaped, the ribs are weakly expressed, there are noticeable tubercles and whitish fluff.
• The weight of each fruit can reach 80 g, length 9-10 cm, diameter 2.9-3.0 cm.

The taste of the fruit is excellent, the yield is high, and disease resistance is complex.