Cucumber Relay F1: characteristics, growing rules, gardening tips

It is worth starting the description of the cucumber variety Relay f1 with the fact that it is a well-known and time-tested domestic product - it was created in 1979. The cucumber is recommended for the Central, North-Western and Southern regions of Russia. This variety feels best in greenhouses. This is a late cucumber - its ripening period varies from 53 to 56 days. The use of Relay f1 is mostly in salads, but it can also be used in canned food.

Description of cucumbers Relay race f1

Cucumber Relay f1 is a prolific, shade-tolerant hybrid with good stress resistance and high immunity. Its productivity is one of the best among the “old” varieties. In greenhouse conditions, you can collect more than 40 kg/m². Main characteristics of the Relay plant:

1. The bush of the variety is medium-branched, with self-regulation of the growth of lateral branches.
2. The leaves are medium in size, wavy at the edges, rich green in color, the flowers are small, bright yellow.
3. The cucumber itself is long - up to 20-22 cm, weighs up to 200 g, and is 4 cm in diameter. The shape of the vegetable resembles a spindle, its color is dark green, almost uniform.
4. The skin of the greens is thin, but quite dense; there are rare, but large, slightly pubescent tubercles on it.

The taste of cucumber is sweet, aromatic, without bitterness. Its pulp, according to the description, is juicy, fresh, and has no voids. The f1 relay boasts excellent transportability and storage characteristics.

Reviews and opinions of gardeners

Cucumber Relay is still in demand among the people. Salamandra (Zaporozhye, Ukraine) left a positive review of the hybrid. It sprouted well, developed vigorously, and bore fruit abundantly. Fresh fruits were knitted until frost, but the cucumber was not suitable for pickling.

Andrey (Penza region) also praised the hybrid for its productivity, but rated the taste as “4”. But Jamila (Northern Kazakhstan) was unable to reap a full harvest - there were a lot of barren flowers. Cucumber Relay has been tested by many years of experience of gardeners. He has good performance and a good reputation.

Pros and cons of the variety

The variety in question has very good yield characteristics and disease resistance. The f1 relay is generally easy to care for and can withstand harsh weather conditions. At the same time, the cucumber needs pollination by bees, which is difficult in greenhouses and requires careful work on the formation of the bush.

pros

Relay has established itself over several decades as a prolific, hardy and not capricious variety. Among the most important positive qualities of a hybrid:

1. excellent yield - in a greenhouse, with decent care, judging by the description, you can grow 40-44 kg/m²;
2. stress resistance - cucumber is able to withstand minor frosts and short-term drought without serious losses;
3. excellent immunity - the variety has developed resistance to various rots and cucumber mosaic;
4. good shelf life and transportability - Relay f1 can be stored for more than a week without losing its taste and presentation, and can also be transported over long distances without spoiling.

Cucumber has an excellent taste and a light, fresh aroma; it can harmoniously complement any summer salad and become a wonderful raw material for preservation.

Minuses

Cultivation of this variety is very profitable, but not as simple as it seems at first glance. There are several unpleasant nuances for a gardener associated with growing Relay f1:

1. bee pollination - a cucumber needs pollination by bees or bumblebees, in a greenhouse for this you need to add insects manually;
2. vulnerability to powdery mildew - unlike varieties such as Lastochka f1, cucumber requires preventive treatment with antibacterial drugs.

Finally, the Relay Race requires a certain sequence of actions for the correct formation of the bush so that the plants can produce the maximum yield promised in the description.

Agricultural technology: what to pay attention to

A bee-pollinated hybrid requires careful care. Only in this case can you count on a good harvest of greens. At the same time, gardeners note that if the rules of care are followed, the plant bears fruit abundantly and for a long time, delighting with the excellent taste of the fruit.

Before planting in the greenhouse, seedlings are grown. In the southern regions, this stage is skipped by sowing cucumber seeds directly into the ground as soon as weather conditions allow.

Landing Features

This cucumber is also known for the fact that it is quite capable of ripening in a greenhouse in the autumn-winter period. However, the most fruitful time for cultivating the hybrid is late spring-early summer. The relay is not capricious regarding soil conditions, but it is better to choose nutritious and loose soil.

Landing dates

Seeds of the variety begin to be planted for seedlings in the first half of April. The main thing is to wait for the air temperature in the area to be at least 19°-20°. Sprouted sprouts of Relay f1 are transferred to protected ground from mid-May, closer to the second half of the month. The night temperature, judging by the description, should not fall below 18°.

Do not forget about good lighting - a cucumber needs a 12-hour day of light.

Soil preparation

Relay f1 is best planted in elevated areas well lit by the sun. The ideal soil for the variety is nutritious black soil, or crumbly, light sandy loam soil. Since September, it has been dug up, completely replacing the top 45-50 cm layer of soil, after which the area under the cucumber is cleared of weeds and disinfected with a solution of copper sulfate. The last stage is fertilization with urea, or mullein. 3-4 days before planting Relay, the area is loosened again, holes are cut for the variety, and chicken droppings and wood ash are placed at the bottom.

Planting seeds

Relay seeds are planted in separate containers, as their root system can be seriously damaged when transferred. Before planting, the material is disinfected in a manganese solution for 40 minutes. 3 seeds of the variety are added to each pot. During this period, the cucumber needs daily watering, fertilization with peat, humus and a growth stimulator. If there is not enough light for Relay f1 plantings, lamps are installed around the seedlings. A germinating cucumber requires a temperature of at least 17°.

Planting seedlings

The seedlings of the variety are ready for transfer to the greenhouse already on the 27-28th day after germination of the sprouts. 6-7 days before planting, they begin to harden the cucumber - they take it outside first for 15 minutes, on the second day for 20, etc. For transplantation, a sunny, but not hot, and windless day is chosen.

Relay sprouts are deepened by 5-6 cm, up to the 2nd leaf. After planting, the seedlings are watered abundantly and the soil around is loosened.

Planting scheme

Relay f1 seedlings are quite compact, but too dense planting can provoke diseases. On 1 sq/m² you can freely place 3 bushes of the variety, in open ground the number increases to 5. Cucumber requires wide row spacing - about 70-75 cm, but the distance between neighboring Relay bushes can be minimal - 30 cm. During the growth process The cucumber must be thinned out so that the plants do not block each other’s light.

Planting seedlings in the ground

Planting Etafeta cucumber seedlings in the ground
When choosing a site for the Etafeta variety, choose sunny (although the hybrid can grow in the shade) places protected from gusty winds. The soil in the garden bed for cucumbers is dug up ahead of time using the bayonet of a shovel, while immediately adding the necessary fertilizers (per m2):

• garden compost or humus - 1.5-2 buckets;
• half-rotted sawdust - 2 buckets;
• potassium sulfate - 25-30 g;
• superphosphate - 45-50 g.

For disinfection, it is recommended to water the future cucumber bed intended for the Relay variety with a solution of Fitosporin or copper sulfate.

Cucumbers of the Estafeta variety, like all others, are planted in their permanent place (in summer greenhouses, greenhouses or under temporary protective shelter) only after steady warming. In this case, the soil should already warm up quite well (up to +13...+15 °C), and the threat of a return of unexpected night frosts should be minimal. In northern latitudes, the most favorable time is at the beginning of June, but in the south it is 2-3 weeks earlier.

Planting of cucumbers is carried out as carefully as possible, carefully removing the seedling from the pot and without destroying the substrate coma. The plant has a hard time with root injuries, takes a long time to heal and gets sick. Naturally, fruiting in this case is greatly delayed. Relay bushes are placed at a distance of 0.45-0.5 m from each other, with row spacing of at least a meter. Plant deep, up to the first full pair of leaves (not cotyledons), so the cucumbers will grow better. For every m2 of planting of Estafeta cucumbers, there are usually 2-3 plants (in a greenhouse) or 4-5 (in an open bed).

For better pollination, experienced vegetable growers advise planting other pollinating varieties similar to Relay (Crane, Casanova, Hector, etc.). To attract bees, cucumbers are sprayed with honey water.

Care

The variety does not require any complex agricultural techniques. The main thing, based on the description, is to regularly water the plantings, periodically feed them, form the bushes correctly and make sure that the cucumber is not attacked by pests. For the latter, it is necessary to observe crop rotation and maintain cleanliness in the Relay beds and carefully remove all emerging shoots of pest plants along with the roots.

Watering

The f1 relay requires daily watering in a strictly defined regime. It is best to irrigate the cucumber in the morning, before the sun enters its active phase. For proper care, warm water is used - 31°-32° - cucumber does not tolerate cold watering. Before the procedure, it is necessary to stand in the sun for 20 minutes.

The liquid is poured under the bush of the variety, using the drip method, trying not to touch the leaves so that they do not get burned later in the sun.

Garter and bush formation

This variety of cucumber is not too spreading, but its features (bee pollination and large green plants) require special attention to the shape of the bush. In order for the plant to develop correctly, the following manipulations will be required:

1. As the Relay bush reaches f1 25 cm, it is tied vertically to trellises.
2. The variety bush is formed into one central stem, most of the stepsons are removed, leaving only 3-4 shoots up to 6 leaves, so that female inflorescences grow on them.
3. As soon as the main stem reaches a height of 1.5 m, its top, based on the description, is carefully pinched.

Such a cucumber will not need to be constantly blinded from the sides, since the branches on it develop weakly. The only thing you have to watch out for is that the leaves of the Relay do not touch the ground.

Top dressing

The variety is very fond of nutritious fertilizers, so feeding should not be neglected. Relay f1 plantings are fertilized every week. For each bush you need to apply 1 liter. diluted fertilizer. The first feeding is a solution of chicken manure and nitrophoska - the hybrid perfectly accepts the combination of organic matter and minerals.

Subsequently, the variety is fed with wood ash, mullein, sawdust, alternating these fertilizers with mineral fertilizers - potassium nitrate, sodium sulfate, superphosphate, etc.

It is worth noting that cucumber best tolerates fertilizers applied at the root.

Hilling

Relay f1 bushes are earthed up once every 2-3 days to provide them with additional protection from frost and to facilitate access of water and fresh air to the roots. Plants of the variety are sprinkled to a depth of 25-30 cm, throwing mulch of hay or dried field herbs on top of the cucumber. On particularly cold nights, the plants are covered with soil up to a third of their length. Loosening the Relay is carried out every day, after each watering - this is how the vegetable is protected from rotting from stagnant moisture. The recommended loosening depth for this variety is 20-30 cm.

Growing seedlings

Cucumber Relay f1, seedlings
You can bring the beginning of fruiting of the Relay cucumber closer by using the seedling method. The specific day for sowing is scheduled approximately 30-35 days before the planned date for moving the cucumber seedlings to a permanent location.

The algorithm of actions is as follows:

1. The seeds are first disinfected (if they do not have a colored protective shell). They are kept for 20-25 minutes in an opaque and thick solution of potassium permanganate (dark purple).
2. After washing in clean running water, soak in a root formation stimulator (Zircon, etc.).
3. Then the cucumber seed is placed for germination between damp cotton pads or wrapped in several layers of wet cloth (gauze).
4. Prepare the required soil mixture in advance by purchasing universal seedling soil for pumpkin and cucumber crops at the store. It is permissible to mix the soil yourself, using equal amounts of humus, peat (preferably lowland) and ordinary soil from the garden. Before use, the substrate for cucumbers is disinfected (spill with potassium permanganate, calcined in the oven, in the microwave, steamed, etc.).
5. After 2-3 days, when the Relay seeds hatch, sowing is carried out. It is better to plant immediately in individual peat pots or tablets, since cucumbers react extremely painfully to all interventions in the root system. Seed the seed no deeper than 2-3 cm.
6. Before emergence, planting containers are kept in a bright and warm (+25…+30 °C) place. Sprouted cucumber seeds sprout after 2-3 days, dry ones later - after 5-7 days.
7. Sprouted sprouts need cooler conditions (+20...+25 °C) and maximum illumination. As a rule, cucumber seedlings are kept on an insulated loggia (balcony) or windowsill.
8. Subsequent care for seedlings of the Estafeta variety consists of regular moistening after the top substrate layer has dried and fertilizing at least once every couple of weeks (any universal seedling mixture, such as Fertik, Kemira, etc., will do). To prevent the plants from bending and stretching too much, the pots should be rotated 180° daily.
9. At least a week before moving to the site, cucumber seedlings of the Estafeta variety are hardened, acclimating them to outdoor conditions. They are taken out into the garden for a short time or a window is opened for ventilation. Gradually the time is increased.

Diseases and parasites

According to the description, the variety has well-developed immunity against most standard diseases. And yet, this cucumber has several noticeable vulnerabilities that are worth knowing about - first of all, powdery mildew and parasites. To avoid crop loss, it is recommended to pre-treat the area under the variety with fungicides. During the period of flowering and fruiting, the Relay is sprayed 1-2 times with a soap-salt solution, or with the drug Fitosporin. It is worth recalling that 1 week before ripening the plant is no longer subjected to any treatments.

Powdery mildew

The disease is provoked by cold watering and frequent temperature fluctuations. Relay dew appears as a whitish coating on the back of the leaf, the edges of which begin to curl upward and wither as it becomes infected. If the disease is detected in the early stages, its spread can be stopped by spraying the cucumber with diluted whey. In more complex cases, planting varieties are treated with Gamair, Alirin-B, or Pseudobacterin-2.

A preventive measure will help protect cucumbers from infection with the powdery mildew virus - spraying Relay f1 bushes every week with a weak solution of iodine, 40 drops per 10 liters of water.

Cladosporiosis

The disease, also called olive spot, affects cucumbers in greenhouses with high humidity and lack of oxygen. Cladosporiosis can be detected by light beige with a greenish tint weeping spots on the leaves of the variety. Timely treatment of plants with Bordeaux mixture, or the drug Oxyx, will help save the harvest of Relay f1. To avoid infection, the cucumber is protected from drafts, the greenhouse is ventilated on warm days and the plantings are watered only with heated water. It is better to immediately remove the affected bushes from the garden bed and burn them.

Ants

These quickly spreading parasites are capable of not only drinking juices from the leaves, but also eating up the roots of the variety, causing the cucumber to quickly dry out. Insects settle in poorly weeded areas at elevated temperatures. To protect the Relay, you must, first of all, find and remove all ant nests from the site. The row spacing of the variety should be mulched with dried wormwood, sprinkled with bay leaves and mustard.

To finally get rid of pests at Relay f1, places where they accumulate are sprayed with garlic infusion. If a cucumber is planted in an area where ants were noticed last year, the soil is treated with any diazinon-based preparation before planting.

Advantages and disadvantages

The first generation hybrid Relay F1 is a cucumber with many advantages. Among them:

• good yield (especially when grown in greenhouses);
• versatility of using greens;
• long period of fruiting of the crop;
• the variety tolerates slight shading;
• leveled fruits;
• resistance to major crop infections, including cucumber mosaic virus. Tolerant to root rot;
• a simple scheme for pinching a plant;
• marketability;
• keeping quality of the fruit (according to reviews, cucumbers can be stored in cool conditions for up to 2 weeks without loss of taste);
• excellent taste characteristics;
• gradual ripening of cucumbers, absence of significant overload of the plant.

Flaws:

• if there is a lack of moisture, the fruits become slightly bitter, so when caring for them, pay special attention to watering;
• at elevated temperatures at night, many male flowers are formed (barren flowers);
• You cannot collect seeds for subsequent plantings. The relay belongs to the first generation hybrids, labeled F1.

Harvesting and storage

The f1 relay begins to catch up, according to the description, by mid-July. If ripe greens are cut every day, the fruiting of the variety bushes can be extended until October. Harvest the cucumber early in the morning, before watering, carefully cutting it off the branch with pruning shears, trying not to touch adjacent branches.

The variety has excellent keeping quality characteristics. A picked cucumber can be stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of 8°-10° for about 10 days - without the slightest damage to the quality and taste of the product. To ensure the safety mentioned in the description, the Relay is put into storage immediately after collection, without washing the greens - just lightly wipe them with a napkin.

The pride of domestic breeders is the Atlet F1 cucumber: description and characteristics of the variety

The domestic variety Atlet F1 was bred into agriculture. The hybrid quickly became popular among gardeners due to its significant level of productivity and excellent taste. The cultivar is grown for commercial purposes and for fresh consumption throughout the summer.

Landing location	Ripening time	Mode of application	Fruit length	Group	Fruit smoothness	Pollination method
Universal	Mid-season (56-65 days)	Salad	Long – from 15 to 20 cm	Hybrid	Highly lumpy	Bee pollinated

Description and characteristics of the variety

Athlete Gavrish cucumber is a relatively new hybrid with medium ripening periods and prolonged volumetric fruiting. The first greens are removed after 50-55 days from germination

The variety was bred in 1999; it immediately attracted attention for its productivity, durability, and unpretentiousness.

• shoots of indeterminate type;
• bushes length 3-3.5 m;
• leaves are large, bright;
• The color of the stems is bright green.

• length 17-19 cm, sometimes over 20 cm;
• diameter 4-4.5 cm;
• average weight 190-220 g;
• the shape resembles a cylinder;
• tubercles are large, often located;
• the texture of the pulp is dense;
• crispness expressed;
• color bright green;
• small whitish stripes are noticeable on the skin;
• pubescence is weak;
• the spines are white.

Advantages and disadvantages

• high yield - from 1 m2 they harvest from 26 kg to 37 kg per 1 m2;
• resistance to a wide range of cucumber pathogens;
• excellent marketability and taste characteristics;
• shade tolerance;
• tolerance to adverse weather factors;
• cold tolerance;
• transportability and shelf life up to 2 weeks.

Minuses:

It is worth noting that the greens of this hybrid are used exclusively for fresh consumption (salads, slices). When canned or pickled, the fruits soften, lose their shape, and become watery.

Productivity

The variety consistently bears fruit at a high level: average productivity is at least 6 kg per bush in lean years. With regular care, 1 plant produces 10 or more kg of tasty greens; in such cases, 1 m2 yields 30-38 kg.

Seedling method

The timing of sowing seeds is 30-35 days before planting in a permanent place. To speed up germination, they are soaked and treated with stimulants - Agate, Zircon. The soil mixture is prepared fertile and loose from:

Seedless method

Seeds are sown only in heated soil (the temperature should not be lower than 14 degrees). Air temperature within 18 degrees, night drop to 14-15 degrees.

Select areas with soil:

• loamy;
• moisturized;
• well aerated and moisture permeable;
• loose;
• fertile;
• with a neutral pH.

Sowing depth is 1-2 cm. Planting density is no more than 5-7 bushes per 1 m2. A convenient method of planting is trenches with organic nutrition and a depth of 40 cm.

Technology of cultivation and care

Growing technology includes compliance with the following rules:

1. Formation. All side branches are removed, except for the 4-8 central ones on the main shoot. The side stems of the next 2 axils are removed, the next 5 are pinched with 1 leaf and 1 ovary each.
2. Hydration. Water the roots with settled water regularly - 1-2 times a week.
3. Feeding. Requires organic fertilizers and minerals.

Diseases and prevention

The variety is tolerant to fungal pathogens. Prevention is carried out with Fitosporin and copper preparations.

When infected with powdery mildew, spray with fungicides - Ridomil, Aliette, Quadris.

What varieties of cucumbers give a high yield?

In recent decades, experts have developed a huge number of new varieties and hybrids of cucumbers that are resistant to diseases and adverse weather conditions. It is best to plant several varieties on your plot, different in terms of growing time and purpose, thanks to this you will receive a guaranteed harvest.

Varieties of cucumbers for growing in protected ground

Parthenocarpic hybrids should be selected for cultivation in greenhouses, since they do not depend on pollination by bees. There is a large group of shade-tolerant cucumber varieties and hybrids that are suitable for cultivation in heated greenhouses in winter, spring and autumn, when daylight hours are too short. These are new hybrids “Marathon”, “Relay”, “Olympiad”, “Ladoga” and “Northern Lights”, and many others. It is quite possible to grow bee-pollinated varieties indoors. In order for plants to be pollinated without the help of insects, pollinating hybrids were bred. These are cucumbers with male flowers, which are popularly called barren flowers. They need to be planted with bee-pollinated plants. Among the pollinating hybrids, “Gladiator” and “Hercules” should be highlighted. Do not expect a large harvest from pollinating cucumbers, but if you plant them next to bee-pollinated hybrids, the harvest will certainly be rich.

Varieties for film shelters and open ground

In a warm bed under film covers and in open ground, you can successfully grow both parthenocarpic and bee-pollinated hybrids. The most productive among the new hybrids are “Farmer”, “True Friends”, “Acorn”, “Captain” and so on. Cold-resistant varieties and hybrids are suitable for growing in open ground without film cover. The cucumbers “Be Healthy”, “Karapuz”, “Tom Thumb”, “Dragonfly”, “Ant”, “Hit of the Season”, “First Class” fully meet these requirements. Cucumbers of these varieties can be planted in the garden at the beginning of summer, and in September you will have strong and tasty vegetables on your table, which are perfect for canning and for fresh consumption. Bundle cucumbers and gherkins have become very popular among gardeners. These are green plants that grow in several pieces from one axil on the stem of the plant. The hybrids “Maryina Roshcha”, “Hit of the Season” and “Green Wave” give an excellent harvest. If you want to get a high harvest at the very beginning of summer in a short period, grow early ripening varieties. The seed packaging says "hybrid sprinters". Cucumbers of the varieties “Regina-Plus”, “Bouquet”, “Amur”, “Alphabet” give the greatest yield in the first month of fruiting.

Cucumbers for pickling and salads

Traditionally, the varieties with thick skin and pimples are the most suitable for preservation. Many modern varieties and hybrids have excellent pickling qualities, such as “True Friends”, “Saltan”, “Chistye Prudy”, “Farmer”, “Lord”, “First Class”, “Dragonfly”, “Ant”, “Trump Card” ", "Bouquet", "Alphabet" and so on. Salad cucumbers have thin skin. They are much larger in size than cucumbers suitable for canning. Cucumbers of the Zozulya, Chinese and Alligator varieties are large in size and have excellent taste.

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What the Relay Race will delight you with

Salad-type cucumbers are selectively removed from the bush when the greens reach a length of 16-20 cm and a weight of 175-225 g. At the same time, the dark green skin with light stripes, as can be seen in the photo, is covered with large pimples with light spikes up to almost half of the greens. The juicy pulp of the cucumber is distinguished by its aroma and pleasant sweet taste; the delicate small seeds are not noticeable in the salad. The description of the benefits does not end there. For winter-spring cultivation, “Estafeta” has no equal; the yield of cucumbers is 25-45 kg/m2.

From a marketing point of view, the variety has the most important property - greens are able not to lose freshness for a long time (up to 10 days at 5-8C) and retain their presentation during transportation.

Productivity of the variety

Productivity is determined by the quality of care. In good conditions you can harvest from 25 to 44 kg per m2. Greenhouse plants produce higher yields.

May be interesting Characteristics and features of growing cucumbers Friendly family f1 and Cheerful family f1 Pepper “Yellow Bull F1”: a variety with many strong qualities Why do cucumber leaves curl inward

Advantages of the variety:

• high productivity;
• delicious vegetables;
• good resistance to adverse conditions;
• wide scope of application;
• do not deteriorate during long-term storage;
• perform well during transportation;
• are resistant to certain types of diseases;
• bears fruit for a long time;
• look attractive and appetizing.

Disadvantages of the variety:

• compares unfavorably with other, earlier ripening varieties;
• if watered incorrectly or exposed to heat, it can cause bitterness;
• there are diseases to which the plant is not resistant;
• Hybrid origin does not make it possible to obtain seeds from cucumber.

Unlike other parthenocarpic hybrids, cucumbers of the Estafeta F1 variety require pollination with the help of bees. In the absence of insects, the gardener can carry out independent pollination by hand from the male to the female ovary. But this is painstaking work, impossible with large volumes of cultivation. On average, every 700 m2 of plantings should be treated by a family of insects. The plant should be alternated with varieties of cucumbers pollinated by bees. For example, Gladiator, Little Crane or Hector. In open spaces, the problem of lack of insects is, as a rule, rarely encountered.

Characteristics of Relays that make growing in heated indoor greenhouses difficult

Relay is a hybrid, but not parthenocarpic, meaning it requires pollination. On the main lash there are male barren flowers, and on the stepsons there are female flowers with ovaries. Moreover, this variety has very few male flowers. For good pollination, it is recommended to plant 1 bush of another bee-pollinated variety for 5–10 Relay races, for example, Hector, Topolek, Zhuravlyonok, Rodnichok. But even under this condition, pollination does not occur on its own. Pollen must somehow get from the stamens of male flowers to the pistils of female flowers. To do this, bumblebees or bees are used in large closed greenhouses: they place and maintain 1 bumblebee family or hive for every 500–1000 m² of planting.

The relay is grown in large winter-spring greenhouses

Of course, no one will buy bees and bumblebees for personal consumption and cultivation in small greenhouses. After all, Relay grows well and bears fruit in the summer in open ground or under light film shelters, where wild bees, wasps, bumblebees, butterflies, flies and other pollinating insects can freely enter. If you want to grow Relay in winter on a windowsill, closed balcony or other enclosed space, then you will have to pollinate it manually. To do this, take cotton swabs or a paint brush. Collect pollen from the male flower on them and transfer it to the stigma of the female one. You can pick a male flower, remove all the petals, and use the stamens to pollinate the pistils of several female flowers.

Video: hand pollination of cucumbers

In addition, despite the shade tolerance of Relay, winter-spring cultivation requires illumination with phytolamps. It is also necessary to observe the temperature regime: during the day +25... +30 ⁰C, at night +16... +17 ⁰C. This is another feature of the variety: if the temperature does not drop at night, then a lot of barren flowers form on the bushes. Farmers take all these nuances into account, but their work pays off in the spring. And for one family, you can forget about the difficult care of Relay in the winter-spring period and grow this hybrid in your garden, like ordinary cucumbers. In greenhouses and open ground they bear fruit all summer until frost.

Pests

Of the insect pests at this time, cucumbers should only be wary of spider mites, unless you introduced cockchafer larvae, which do not have a dormant period, into the soil with organic matter. And you most likely brought spider mites from indoor plants.

Ticks can be successfully treated with harmless folk remedies:

• laundry soap solution;
• water infusion or decoction of walnut leaves (even the Colorado potato beetle is afraid of it);
• Infuse crushed garlic in water;
• decoction or infusion of red hot pepper, etc.

Greenhouse agricultural technology Relay races

The success of planting seedlings in the garden depends on the integrity of the root ball. If the roots are damaged, the plant will “sick” for a long time. Seedlings from pots are planted in a cucumber bed at intervals of 40-50 cm in a row. To form adventitious roots, the plant is buried in the soil up to the first leaves - this increases the adaptability of the already very resistant variety “Relay”.

How to water Relay

Watering cucumbers is simple:

• in winter, water once a week before noon with warm water;
• in the spring, with the onset of warmth, watering is carried out 2 times a week.

Water should be poured exclusively at the root, being careful not to get on the stem and leaves of the plant.

Some time after watering, carry out shallow loosening. The soil under cucumbers should be saturated with air - this is a good prevention of root rot.