Many summer residents grow cucumbers in greenhouses, but the resulting harvest does not always live up to expectations. And all because there are varieties that will bear fruit especially well in greenhouse conditions.
When choosing planting material for greenhouses, you should pay attention to the method of pollination of cucumbers and their size. It is better to choose self-pollinating plants, because it is not always easy for insects to get into the greenhouse. If it is not possible to make a support, you can grow compact varieties that do not require a garter. It is also important that a cucumber for a greenhouse be shade-tolerant and not afraid of common pests and diseases. And, of course, do not forget about the ripening period. According to this characteristic, cucumbers are early, mid- and late-ripening.
Which is better - a cucumber variety or a hybrid?
Hybrids are usually more expensive than varietal cucumbers, so they seem to be much better. There is some truth in this; hybrids are resistant to diseases and pests, adapt well to living conditions and ripen faster. But it is not recommended to use their seeds next year, because... daughter plants will not inherit the characteristics of the mother plant. Varietal cucumbers, on the contrary, can be propagated by seeds, but they are not so resistant to adverse environmental factors. Therefore, it all depends on the purpose for which you want to purchase cucumber seeds.
The designation F1 on the package of seeds indicates that this is a hybrid obtained by crossing two different varieties.
In order not to think for a long time at the counter about which cucumber seeds to buy, take note of the following varieties!
Cucumber variety April F1
Cucumber April F1 is a self-pollinating, early-ripening hybrid of universal use. Resistant to cold and some diseases, in particular olive spot and mosaic virus. Sometimes suffers from white rot. 40-45 days after the emergence of seedlings, the collection of the first greens begins. The average weight of one reaches 250 g, length - 20 cm. The taste of the fruit is excellent, without bitterness. The pulp inside is light and does not turn yellow. The skin is soft, with large tubercles, but if the greens are not removed in time, it begins to become rough. Fruiting is long and amicable. In a good year, you can easily harvest up to 25 kg of cucumbers from 1 sq.m. Many ovaries are formed, while the “climbing” is moderate. Also suitable for growing on a balcony or windowsill.
Landing Features
Dynamite f1 needs a large, spacious area - the bushes of this variety branch strongly and take up a lot of space, unlike hybrids such as Master f1. The place for the cucumber should be open to the sun, but well protected from winds and drafts. The variety is planted on the balcony only if it faces the sunny side - in this case, they are certainly provided with reliable support on which Dynamite can climb - a net, or fairly high trellises.
Site preparation
The variety in question prefers light, fertile soil: sandstone, or chernozem. In the fall, the area under Dynamite is dug up to a depth of 40-50 cm, disinfected with Trichodermin, and wood ash is added. Soil with high acidity is limed.
4-5 days before planting, the soil under the cucumber is loosened and weeded thoroughly, removing not only the roots of weeds, but also insects that have overwintered in the soil. It is important that the area under the cucumber is cleared of any debris that may contain harmful fungi. After this, the soil for the variety is fertilized with chicken droppings and holes are cut.
Germination of seeds
Dynamite f1 seedlings are germinated in peat tablets, 1 seed per container. The cucumber is planted in late April, deepening it by 1.5-2 cm. Before germination, the temperature for planting is about 25°, after germination – 22°. On cloudy days, the sprouts of the variety are illuminated with lamps so that they receive enough light - otherwise they will begin to turn yellow.
The sprouts of the variety are fertilized with nitrophoska and ash powder, watered every other day, at sunset. 10 days before transferring Dynamite into the ground, they begin to harden - they take the plantings outside, daily increasing the hardening time by 5-7 minutes.
Planting seedlings
This cucumber is transferred to the ground on the 20th of May, after all the spring frosts. The sprouts should have 2-3 leaves. For planting work, a clear, windless day is chosen, 2-4 days after the rain. If there is no precipitation, the soil under the cucumber is additionally moistened before planting. The ideal distance between Dynamite bushes is 50 cm. The recommended row spacing is 65-70 cm. The bushes of the variety are planted with a frequency of no more than 2 plants per 1 m². The depth of the cucumber holes is 4-4.5 cm; a handful of humus or coal powder is placed at the bottom of each hole.
Cucumber variety Generalsky F1
The early ripening superbunch hybrid General F1 is not afraid of cold, shade and disease. Zelentsy grow evenly, up to 12 cm in length. They have a pleasant taste and crunch. You can harvest up to 400 greens from one plant per season. The type of branching in cucumbers is self-regulating, so if you come to the dacha only on weekends, you don’t have to worry that the greenhouse will turn into a cucumber jungle. It will also take less time to pinch out the side shoots. Another plus of Generalskoye is that fruiting lasts until late autumn!
Cucumber variety Emelya F1
The early-ripening, productive hybrid Emelya F1 does not require pollination. The variety is intended for greenhouses, but can also bear fruit on the balcony. Zelentsy ripen in about 40 days and are distinguished by thin, delicate skin and large tubercles. Their taste is especially surprising - sweet, juicy, without bitterness. Even overgrown fruits do not lose these qualities. Fruit length – 13-15 cm, weight – 120-150 g.
Emelya is universal, good for salads and a variety of seams. Resistant to many diseases, but can sometimes be affected by downy mildew and root rot. Adapts well to low temperatures and will withstand moderate lack of light. Requires shaping and gartering, because the lashes sometimes reach a length of 2.5 m or more.
Cucumber variety Emerald City F1
The early ripening bunch gherkin hybrid Emerald City F1 is distinguished by smooth and beautiful greens that just beg to be added to a salad or rolled up. The weight of one greens is on average 90-110 g, length - 9-12 cm. Inside there is juicy, dense pulp without bitterness, and there are also no voids. Plants do not require pollination by insects. From 1 square meter you can collect almost 12 kg of greens per season. Cucumbers of this variety bear fruit for a long time and are not afraid of powdery mildew, olive spot and mosaic virus. Suitable not only for private needs, but also for industrial cultivation, because greens retain their presentation for a long time.
What cucumbers to grow in a greenhouse
In greenhouses, it is best to grow cucumber hybrids with shortened side shoots that do not require shaping, that is, there is no need to pinch the side shoots. I usually shape cucumbers in order to prevent thickening, which causes cucumber yields to fall, and also increases the risk of stem rot and powdery mildew, which are not so easy to cure later.
All varieties and hybrids of cucumbers according to ripening periods are divided into: early ripening (early), mid-ripening, late ripening. And according to the method of pollination: insect-pollinated and parthenocarpic (self-pollinating).
Self-pollinating varieties of cucumbers: reviews, photos, yield
If you want to have the earliest fresh cucumbers on your table, then opt for self-pollinating varieties. After all, we usually plant early cucumbers in a greenhouse, since in the middle zone there are no insects yet in April, that is, there is no one to pollinate the flowers.
Self-pollinating cucumber varieties produce high yields. And hybrids are unpretentious and practically not susceptible to disease, and besides, there is no particular hassle with them in forming a bush.
Herman cucumbers are the best representative of Dutch hybrids
Today this is the most popular cucumber variety on the Russian market. Early ripening, high-yielding. The authors of this hybrid are the agricultural company Monsanto. In 2001, German F1 was included in the state register of the Russian Federation (approved for use in all regions of Russia). Suitable for both greenhouses (greenhouses) and open ground. The period from full germination to fruiting is 40–45 days. From myself : there is no bitterness at all. An early hybrid, very hardy. When the temperature drops to +9, it feels great, only slightly “slowing down” the growth of the greens. Cucumbers grow 10-12 cm long. I use them for salads and for canning.
Zozulya cucumbers, an excellent early hybrid
Cucumber Zozulya F1 is an early-ripening (45-50 days from germination to fruiting) hybrid with thin-skinned fruits. Known since 1977.
The cucumbers are cylindrical in shape with slight tuberculation, dark green in color with slightly pronounced light stripes, light thorns. Zelentsy reach sizes of 14-22 cm, the average weight of a ripe fruit is 140-300 grams. With good care, the yield in the first month per square meter is 8-12 kg.
From myself : I’ve been growing it for about 10 years. It’s never let me down. Cucumbers up to 25 cm long are very good for pickling in a barrel. Always ripens smoothly and is resistant to various rots. Suitable for both greenhouses and open ground.
Cucumber variety Connie F1
Connie's cucumber is so unpretentious that you can grow it not only in a greenhouse, but also in open ground or even on a balcony. The variety is self-pollinating and early ripening; the first harvest can be harvested within 40-42 days after emergence. The fruits are beautiful, small (length - up to 9 cm, weight - up to 80 g), and do not overgrow on the bushes. And how juicy and crispy they grow, no bitterness! They can be added to salads or canned. Connie is also disease resistant and can withstand dry periods well. If the climate is cool, it is better to grow this variety through seedlings.
Description of Dynamite cucumbers
Cucumber Dynamite f1 is an undemanding hybrid with decent taste. The variety gives a yield of about 7-9 kg/m² - on the balcony and in the ground, and 12-13 kg/m² - in the greenhouse. Main properties of the plant:
- The bush is indeterminate, tall, spreading, long-climbing.
- The leaf of the variety is medium wavy with carved edges, large in size, bright green in color.
- Cucumber – cylindrical in shape with narrowed edges, length – 12-14 cm, weight – 11-120 g, diameter – 4 cm.
- The skin of the variety is dense, dotted with large, sparse tubercles, the color is uniform, dark green.
Dynamite pulp is very juicy, without bitterness, with a pronounced aroma and crunch. Cucumber is ideal for salads; it does not lose its density and sweetish taste in canned food. Thanks to its thick skin, Dynamite f1 can easily be transported even over long distances.
Cucumber variety Courage F1
The self-pollinating universal hybrid Kurazh enjoys great respect among summer residents. Approximately 40 days after the emergence of shoots, you can already harvest the first greens! The fruits appear uniformly and are stored well after being picked from the bush. From one plant you can collect up to 18 kg of crunchy and sweet fruits weighing up to 150 g. When growing, regular watering and fertilizing are required, otherwise the greens will begin to taste bitter and become hollow. Also, to get a good harvest, the bushes need to be shaped. But the plant has strong immunity to common “cucumber” diseases (powdery and downy mildew, mosaic, olive spot).
Cucumber variety Murashka F1
A universal and high-yielding hybrid with many advantages. Murashka is early-ripening, does not require pollination by insects and is resistant to powdery mildew and cladosporiosis. Rarely forms barren flowers. From one plant in a greenhouse you can harvest up to 12 kg of greens. The fruits do not overgrow on the bush, do not taste bitter and are distinguished by juicy pulp and a pleasant crunch. The seeds in greens are small and soft, the skin is thin. Cucumbers are suitable for salads and homemade preparations. The peculiarity of Murashka is its long fruiting period: the harvest can be harvested almost until the end of September.
Description
The plant is indeterminate, of medium vigor, medium branched, moderately leafy. It is characterized by constant shoot regeneration. The internodes of the variety are short. The leaves are small to medium in size, green or dark green in color, slightly wrinkled on the surface, and have a long petiole. Female flowering type. There are from 1 to 3 female flowers in one leaf node.
The fruits of Dirigent are short, cylindrical, up to 10 cm long (maximum length 14 cm). The ratio of length to diameter is 3.1:1. The skin is thin but dense, green in color, with short light stripes and moderate spotting. The shirt type is German. The surface of the cucumber is covered with frequent and very small tubercles, the pubescence is white and dense. The pulp is dense, without voids, tender, juicy, without bitterness, white-green in color. The taste is sweet - good and excellent. Gardeners also speak highly of the taste of the crop. The seed chamber is small, small seeds are in the stage of milky ripeness. The size of the fruit does not change throughout the entire harvesting period. The weight of greens, according to the State Register, is 67 - 80 grams.
Cucumber variety Relay F1
Relay is one of the most popular and long-lasting hybrids, which is characterized by high yield and excellent taste. Refers to mid-season crops, used mainly for preparing salads. Not suitable for canning. Zelentsy are shaped like a spindle, covered with large tubercles and dark skin. They tolerate transportation well.
The weight of one fruit can reach 200 g. Under favorable conditions, up to 40 kg of cucumbers can be harvested from 1 sq.m! Relay also has a small disadvantage - the plant is insect-pollinated, which means it will have to attract bees and bumblebees to the greenhouse. But, according to experienced gardeners, this is even good, because the presence of insects confirms the environmental friendliness and usefulness of ripened vegetables.
Source
Care
In order for the Dynamite variety to produce a good and high-quality harvest, it is necessary to observe the following features of crop care:
- Weeding. The beds in which cucumbers are grown must be cleared of weeds. To do this, you will have to loosen the soil to a depth of 2-4 cm during the first 3 weeks. After this, loosen the soil once a week.
- Watering. During the growth and formation of fruits, plants must be watered abundantly. To get a high yield, you need to use warm water for humidification. Before flowering, irrigate the soil once every 6-8 days, and during the fruiting period - once every 3-4 days. If the water does not seep through well, use a fork to make punctures between the rows. This loosening should be done carefully so as not to injure the root system. It is forbidden to water plants with a stream from a hose.
- Feeding. When growing the Dynamite variety in a greenhouse, you need to add nutritional components 5 times a season, using organic and mineral compounds. The first time fertilizing is applied during flowering. A solution prepared from 10 liters of water and urea, potassium sulfate and superphosphate (10 g each) is used. After stirring the composition, add 200 g of mushy mullein. All subsequent feedings should be carried out using a solution made from 10 liters of water, 10 g of potassium sulfate and 0.5 liters of mullein. 4-6 liters of solution will be consumed per 1 m2. If there is no litter, then you can replace it with drugs such as Breadwinner, Fertility, Ideal.
- Tying cucumbers. This procedure must be carried out regularly as the shoots grow. As soon as 6-7 leaves are formed, the main stem should be pinched. This will stimulate branching and increase yield.
Lyutoyar is not even a variety of cucumber, but rather a hybrid of a parthenocarpic species. In this article you can find out what a cucumber is and where is the best place to plant it.
