Cucumber variety Claudine: description, characteristics, cultivation and care

Description of the variety Claudine F1

Cucumbers Claudine F1 are an early hybrid of the parthenocarpic type. To ripen, cucumbers need approximately 38-40 days from the moment of germination. The hybrid was created by Dutch breeders from Monsanto. It was included in the Russian state register in 2008. The crop is suitable for growing in open ground, greenhouses, and greenhouses.

The bush is indeterminate, medium in height. It produces a lot of foliage, it grows thickly, sometimes covering the fruits from the sun. So it may be necessary to trim off all excess leaves so that the bush is well lit and warmed up from all sides. The leaves themselves are medium in size and bright green. Female type flowers.

Greens are cylindrical, dark green, finely tuberous, with thin skin and white prickly spines

The ovaries are formed in bunches. Each node can have up to 7 cucumbers. The fruits are medium-sized, weighing 85-100 g and 10-11 cm long. The greens are cylindrical, dark green, finely tuberous, with a thin skin and white prickly spines. The pulp is dense, light, and no voids are formed in it. The taste is fresh, sweetish, without bitterness.

Important!

Claudine F1 cucumbers do not require pollination by bees for normal fruiting. So, both in greenhouses and in open ground, they give maximum yield with proper care.

Characteristics of cucumbers Claudine F1

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Many experts consider Claudine F1 one of the best hybrids. But what is special about these cucumbers:

• You can harvest 9-10 kg of cucumbers per square meter per season. High yields are achieved largely due to the fact that the variety is parthenocarpic.
• The harvested crop is suitable for long-term transportation. On the road, the greens do not wrinkle or spoil if they are collected in time.
• Product quality is high. The cucumbers are very beautiful, one to one, dense, can be stored for a long time, and have a pleasant taste and aroma.
• There is immunity to powdery mildew and cucumber mosaic virus.

  The pulp is dense, light, without voids, the taste is fresh, sweetish, without bitterness

• The bush of this hybrid is unpretentious to the location and growing conditions.
• Hybrid for salad purposes.

Important!

Cucumber Claudine F1 belongs to the first generation hybrids. This means that seeds collected from a grown crop cannot be used for sowing next year. They do not have maternal qualities, so they may not even germinate or simply will not produce a harvest!

Rules for planting cucumber seedlings

You can grow cucumber Claudine F1 by seedlings or by sowing. If planting cucumbers is carried out using the seedling method, it is necessary to sow the seeds in cups about a month before transplanting the seedlings to a permanent place. Transplanting to the garden is done in early June, so sowing seedlings is done in early May or a little earlier.

Seedlings are grown immediately in 0.5 liter peat cups. The soil for sowing is taken loose and fertilized. It can be made from 2 parts peat, 1 part sawdust with sand, and 1 part earth. To disinfect the soil, you need to mix it in a container and pour it with a dark pink solution of potassium permanganate.

Containers for planting seeds are filled with soil and seeds are placed in it to a depth of 2 cm. Peat can be sprinkled on top with a layer of 1 cm, but not necessarily. After this, you can move the pots to a dark place and cover them with transparent film to create greenhouse conditions for the seeds. When shoots appear, the film is removed and the containers are transferred to a bright windowsill.

The planting level should be the same as in pots

You need to water the seedlings with settled water at room temperature about once a week. Kemira is used as fertilizer, but only if the seedlings begin to wither. The seedlings need to be transplanted to a permanent place after the appearance of 2-3 developed leaves.

Before planting, the area is dug up and fertilized with humus (you can use the NPK mineral complex according to the instructions). Then they make holes for seedlings and plant cucumbers. They cannot be deepened too much. The planting level should be the same as in pots. It is recommended not to try to remove seedlings from pots, but to plant them in pots so as not to injure the roots. This is why it is worth using peat or paper cups for planting. After planting, the soil is watered and the seedlings should be left for a couple of weeks so that they take root normally.

Important!

Hybrid seeds are usually treated with growth stimulants and disease protectants, so they cannot be washed before sowing.

Features of agricultural technology

These cucumbers are not difficult to care for and do not have any special features in terms of agricultural technology. Both seedling and non-seedling cultivation methods are allowed. The excellent germination of seeds, which was already mentioned above, may lead to the need for thinning: in this case, there is no need to be greedy and do the work of removing excess sprouts - then this will pay off in a high yield.

Advice. Hybrid cucumber varieties do not like transplanting; To prevent the acclimatization period in a new place from being prolonged, it is better to use peat containers.

Sowing method of growing cucumbers

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Direct sowing is carried out in the ground around the end of May or early June.

Direct sowing is carried out in the ground around the end of May or early June. It is important that by the time of planting the earth warms up to +8 degrees, and the air to +10. The land for sowing must be prepared approximately 1-2 weeks in advance. Per square meter of land take 20 g of ammonium nitrate, 30 g of superphosphate, 15 g of potassium sulfate. After this, the soil is dug up and loosened.

The seeds are placed in the holes at a distance of 30 cm from each other. Leave approximately 50 cm of free space between the rows. The sowing depth of the seeds is 2-3 cm. If the nights are still cold, it is worth covering the plantings with white agrofibre to protect them from freezing.

Important!

Seeds should be sown only in moist soil. Then they will germinate faster.

Care

Indeterminate bushes grow quite strongly and produce long side branches, so they need careful pinching. They begin to form a bush from the 10th day after planting for permanent residence. Basic rules of formation:

• Up to the 4th node, all ovaries and stepsons are removed;
• Second-level lashes are limited to a length of 20 cm;
• In the upper part of the plant, the side shoots are allowed to grow up to 50 cm;
• After attaching to the top wire of the trellis, the growth shoot is pinched.

This pruning scheme ensures good ventilation and sanitation of the bed, and also redirects the plant’s forces to fruiting.

Other aspects of agricultural technology:

• Garter. Even before planting the seedlings, the bed should be equipped with a three-level trellis with a coarse mesh attached to it (in increments of about 15 cm);
• Watering. The watering regime is set individually depending on the soil. The main rule is that the soil should not be dry or waterlogged. In the first month of fruiting, the average water consumption for irrigation is 3-6 liters per plant; by the end of the season this figure drops to 1-2 liters. Depending on the weather, water from 3 to 7 times a week;
• Loosening the soil. It is carried out in conjunction with weeding. Necessary for removing weeds and ensuring air exchange in the top layer of soil;
• Feeding. Infusions of dung, mullein, vermicompost, and complex mineral fertilizers are used as fertilizers. The frequency of application does not exceed 1 time in 10 days.

Caring for cucumbers Claudine F1

Cucumber Claudine F1 needs simple care. He has no special requirements. But this does not mean that you can plant cucumbers and simply harvest as they appear. Basic care rules must be followed.

• At the initial stage of cultivation, it is recommended to remove all weak shoots. In their place, you can plant healthy seedlings or sow new seeds.
• Watering is carried out as needed. It is very important that the soil has time to dry out, but not dry out. Water the cucumbers generously so that the soil is well saturated. Do not forget that a lack of water can negatively affect the taste.

  Under the bushes it is necessary to regularly remove weeds or mulch the soil

• Under the bushes it is necessary to regularly remove weeds or mulch the soil. This is done to prevent diseases from growing in the area; besides, weeds take away nutrients from the bushes.
• It is necessary to form bushes. All flowers and shoots are removed from the first axils. In the axil of 5 leaves you need to leave 1 ovary. In the axil, 7-10 leaves are left with 2 ovaries. When the bush reaches a meter in height, you can pinch the top to prolong the fruiting of the bush.

Interesting!

From mid-August you can start hilling the bushes. This will cause the development of lateral roots from the stem, and will extend the harvest period.

• The hybrid responds well to the addition of organic matter and minerals (nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus) to the soil. When growth is delayed, nitrogen is added, and during flowering and the appearance of ovaries - potassium and phosphorus. But an infusion of wood ash, which is made from 10 liters of water and 300 g of wood ash, can be sprayed on the bushes throughout the season.

Proper care allows cucumbers to develop properly. Thanks to this, the yield of the bushes increases.

Rules for watering and fertilizing

All varieties of cucumbers are moisture-loving, which is why in order to obtain high yields, you need to take care in advance of the timely supply of nutritious moisture to the beds. It is forbidden to give this crop a water shower, as it reacts negatively to leaf watering. Otherwise, the risk of developing fungal diseases increases significantly.

Plants should be watered only at the roots. For this reason, gardeners arrange special ditches (small ditches) or lay out drip irrigation tubes along the plant rows.

The last option is the most relevant, since the required amount of moisture arrives at the root of each bush, which does not erode the soil root layer. Periodically, liquid nutrient formulations are added to the cucumbers along with water.

Organic matter can be used as fertilizer. Fermented bird droppings are most effective because they contain a large amount of nitrogen. A bucket or barrel of fertilizer is placed next to the cucumber bed or greenhouse.

During fermentation, organic matter releases a large amount of carbon dioxide into the air, which cucumbers are very fond of. It is prohibited to use fermented bird droppings in their pure form, since the concentrated liquid must first be diluted. To do this, add 500 ml of organic fertilizer for every 10 liters of water.

To prepare an effective fertilizer yourself, you need to adhere to the following recommendations:

• It is necessary to prepare a large barrel with a lid and install it on the sunny side of the site. The container must be filled with bird droppings, which can be either fresh or dry. The excrement of ducks, pigeons, ostriches, chickens and geese can be used to obtain organic fertilizers.
• Water should be poured into the barrel on top of the litter, but so that its level does not reach 25 cm to the top, since fermentation will occur, which will require more free space. The contents of the tank must be thoroughly mixed with a long stick and then closed with a lid. The solution is left for 14 days. The higher the air temperature, the faster the fermentation will end.
• The contents of the tank must be stirred daily, as carbon dioxide is released during this process. Organic fertilizer will be ready for use only after bubbles stop appearing on the surface.

It is recommended to feed cucumbers during the flowering period, as well as throughout fruiting (every 9-11 days). Fertilizer should be applied at the root, using at least 1.5 liters of liquid for each bush.

Diseases and pests of cucumbers

Fungicides are used to control diseases

Hybrid Claudine F1 has good immunity to powdery mildew and cucumber mosaic virus, but it can still get sick if you don’t care for it properly. Signs of the appearance of diseases can be yellowing and drying out of foliage, the appearance of strange spots on leaves, pagons, and inhibition of development. To combat diseases, fungicides such as Fitosporin, Bordeaux mixture, and Oxychoma are used. From folk remedies, at the initial stage of damage, a solution of potassium permanganate, whey, ash, and iodine can help.

If the bushes are attacked by pests (aphids, whiteflies, spider mites), you should get rid of them immediately. The insecticide “Aktara”, “Nemabactin”, “Fitoverm” or the like will help with this task. Among the folk remedies, wood ash, with pepper and mustard, which are used to crush the leaves, can repel pests. Traps or repellers will save the area from mole crickets.

Harvesting and processing

The harvest will be ready for harvesting approximately 40 days after the first cucumber shoots appear. Greens should be harvested immediately after ripening to prolong fruiting. But in principle, the fruits can hang on the bushes for a long time, they do not barrel, and retain their taste even when overripe.

Cucumbers are suitable for preparing fresh salads and summer snacks, but it is better not to use them for pickling

The harvest is recommended for fresh consumption. Cucumbers are suitable for preparing fresh salads and summer snacks. But it’s better not to take them for pickling. Due to their thin skin, they become very soft and the taste may deteriorate.

Interesting!

The harvested crop can be stored in a cool room or in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks.

Advantages and disadvantages

Pros of these cucumbers:

1. Fast ripening (harvest 39-40 days after sowing).
2. Long fruiting period.
3. Resistant to temperature changes.
4. Easy care.
5. Good keeping quality of cucumbers.

Flaws:

1. Overripe cucumbers do not barrel, their shape remains the same (however, this characteristic is controversial, sometimes it is considered an advantage).
2. The greens are prickly (this is clearly visible from the photo on the bag).

Reviews from gardeners about the cucumber variety Claudine F1

Gardeners love the Claudine F1 cucumber for its pleasant taste and ease of cultivation.

• Sofia Mirshavka : “I love Claudine F1 cucumbers. They grow quickly, even if you sow the seeds directly in the garden, they hardly get sick, and they produce large harvests. At one time I tried to grow them in a greenhouse, but the yield there was no higher, so now I only plant them in open ground. The harvest is not suitable for canning, but it is an excellent variety for eating. Cucumbers have a pleasant, refreshing taste, just what you need for summer salads!”
• Tatyana Sklyar : “I usually grow cucumbers using the seedling method, so they develop faster. I also grow Claudine F1 through seedlings. The sprouts turn out strong, with a thick stem, and do not break. Only 1-2 seedlings out of a dozen can be weak. After diving into open ground, they quickly take root. I harvest as soon as the cucumbers grow to 10 cm. While young, these cucumbers are very tasty!”
• Igor Veremey : “I’ve been planting Claudine F1 cucumber on my plot for several years now. Last year the bushes became sick with powdery mildew - I treated them with fungicides. The plants quickly recovered and gave a good harvest, but still less than on healthy bushes. The greens are beautiful, tasty in this hybrid, I like the fact that they have a thin skin and pleasant, juicy flesh; I have never noticed any bitterness.”

Growing methods

“Claudine F1” seeds are sown when the night temperature is at least 10C. Sowing depth - 2 cm, in a row method - 50x30cm. It is recommended to cover early sowings with film to protect against frost. A good harvest can be harvested on fertile and loose soils treated with mineral fertilizers.

Seeds should be planted in moist soil.

Hybrid varieties do not like to be transplanted from place to place. Therefore, it is better to plant seedlings in peat pots or plastic cups. In this case, the root system is not injured, and the young plant acclimatizes well in the new place.

It is impossible to prepare Claudine F1 seeds for the next season, since they sprout barren bushes.