To make pickled or pickled cucumbers crispy and tasty, you need to use a suitable variety or hybrid for preparations. Productivity in this case is not the main criterion for choosing a variety; other characteristics of greens are more important, for example, the thickness of the skin, the density of the pulp, the color of the thorns, as well as the size and “lumpyness of the fruit.”
There are many varieties of crops suitable for pickling and pickling; some universal varieties are suitable for the same purposes, but only proven ones. When choosing seeds, you need to take into account the climate of the area, as well as the growing conditions - open, closed ground or temporary film shelters. The best varieties of pickling cucumbers in 2020, according to reviews from gardeners.
Description
The cucumber hybrid Dolomite F1 is parthenocarpic, and therefore does not require pollination by pollinating insects, because the ovaries on its vines are formed without pollination.
What does f1 hybrid and GMO mean, what is the difference?
The main advantage of this cucumber is the ultra-early ripening of the fruits - up to 38 days pass from the moment of seed germination to the appearance of the first cucumbers.
Cucumber seeds Dolomite F1
There are no barren flowers on the vines of this cucumber; only female flowers are formed on them, so the productivity of this variety is maintained throughout the entire growing season.
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The lashes of this variety are strong and powerful, and can reach 1.4-1.6 m in height. The branching of the shoots is moderate, the side stems grow well. The foliage is medium in size, slightly wrinkled, rich emerald color.
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The flowers are collected in bunch-type inflorescences, so each bunch can contain from 2 to 8 cucumbers at the same time.
Cucumbers are medium in size, cylindrical in shape, with an average weight of about 100 g, up to 13 cm in length and up to 4 cm in diameter.
The skin of cucumbers is thin, but quite dense and crispy, covered with small tubercles with light, moderate pubescence.
Cucumber variety Dolomite F1
The pulp is compact, tender, has no voids, and the bitterness in these cucumbers is absent at the genetic level. The taste of ripe greens is typical of cucumbers, with a sweetish aftertaste.
Collected greens can easily be transported over any distance, and can also be stored in appropriate containers for up to two weeks without losing their magnificent appearance and taste.
Self-pollinating varieties of cucumbers for canning
Owners of small plots choose varieties that can produce a bountiful harvest even in a small area. These include self-pollinating (parthenocarpic) cucumbers, which set fruit until the end of August or until the first autumn frost, this is possible in warm regions. They are grown in any conditions, as they bear fruit well without insects. We describe the best varieties in the table.
| Name | Days from germination to ripening | Length (cm)/weight (g) of greens at harvest maturity | Peculiarities |
| Showcase F1 | 40–45 | 8–10/80–90 | Tufted, disease resistant |
| Cheerful gnomes F1 | 35–40 | 8–9/70–90 | High yielding |
| Masha F1 | 38–40 | 8–11/90–100 | Up to 8 fruits are formed in the nodes. The hybrid is endowed with immunity to diseases; it is often chosen for planting in the Moscow region |
| Cupid F1 | 40–45 | 9–12/100–120 | There are up to 8–10 ovaries in each axil. The hybrid is resistant to heat and drought. In the middle zone, including the Moscow region, it can be planted in exhaust gas |
| Mama's Boy F1 | 40–45 | 10–12/80–110 | The type of ovaries is bouquet (4–6 pcs.). Productivity is average |
| Friendly family F1 | 43–48 | 10–12/80–100 | There are 2–7 ovaries in the axils |
| Alliance F1 | 50–55 | 15–16/95–120 | Harvest, bouquet |
| Zador F1 | 38–42 | 8–10/75–85 | There are up to 5 ovaries in the nodes. Suitable for growing in climatic conditions of the Moscow region (open ground) |
Attention! Universal cucumbers are rarely used for canning; sometimes they still become soft. It is better to take already proven varieties, about which there are many reviews, so that you do not have to regret the time spent on spoiled blanks.
When cultivating cucumbers in a greenhouse, you don’t have to pay attention to the ripening period. In regions with a cool climate, super-early and early self-pollinating varieties are grown in the OG, and in the middle zone, mid-early and mid-ripening varieties can be added to those already selected. In the south, all varieties are planted in open beds, even late ones; they manage to produce the entire harvest by mid-autumn.
Main characteristics of the variety
The Dolomite cucumber bears fruit for a long time, and the first fruits can be harvested about a month after the sprouts appear.
Productivity
Cucumbers are usually harvested at the gherkins and pickles stage. Therefore, from each square of garden beds you can collect up to 5 kg of ripe gherkins. And in greenhouse conditions, the yield of the hybrid is even higher.
Area of application of fruits
The harvested crop has universal uses, so they can be served fresh, added to summer salads, and also used for preservation. Since these cucumbers tolerate heat treatment well, and no voids form in them, the greens look great in jars, and the taste of pickled gherkins remains sweet.
Diseases and pests
This hybrid has a fairly high resistance to MR, root rot, gray mold and fusarium. However, if agricultural practices are incorrect or the rules for planting seeds or seedlings are not followed, cucumber vines can be affected by ascochyta blight and wet rot. Plants can also be attacked by the sprout fly.
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Ascochyta blight most often affects cucumber plantings in greenhouse conditions. The causative agent of the disease can safely multiply in the beds without affecting the cucumber vines, and the first symptoms of the disease begin to appear at the moment the cucumbers ripen. The first symptoms of the disease are the appearance of watery spots on green plants; over time they dry out and die.
Wet rot can enter the soil along with infected seed material; the disease develops along with the plant and enters the setting fruit. As a result, they begin to rot. The main symptoms of the disease are the appearance of spots on the shoots, and necrotic spots appear on the foliage. As a result, plants may die.
To prevent the development of this type of rot, you need to treat cucumber vines with solutions of the following drugs: Oxychoma, Topaz, Rovralya, Khoma, Sumilex.
The sprout fly most often reproduces on seed material or young seedlings. Its larvae, getting into the shoots of cucumbers, feed on the cell sap of the plant. As a result, the affected cucumber vines dry out and die. To combat this small pest, the following chemicals are used: Fufanon, Kemifos, Iskra, Novaktion.
What is special about F1 varieties?
The F1 marking is a sign that the seeds are hybrid and were obtained by crossing varieties from the first generation. Such plants are much stronger than ordinary species. They are superior to them according to various criteria:
F1 cucumbers are distinguished by their unpretentiousness to the growing location
- ease of cultivation;
- taste qualities;
- productivity;
- unpretentiousness to the place of cultivation;
- relative resistance to diseases and pests.
The only disadvantage worth noting is the high cost of seeds. The reason for the increase in price is not only the high quality characteristics, but also the difficulty of breeding hybrids, since seeds collected from grown cucumbers of F1 varieties are no longer hybrids, and most likely will not bear fruit at all. Work to obtain even ready-made, existing hybrids is carried out over several months.
The main advantages of the variety
The main advantages of the cucumber hybrid Dolomite include:
- high resistance to powdery mildew, cladosporiosis, cucumber mosaic virus;
- good stable fruiting;
- the crop is perfectly transported to different distances and can also be stored for a long time in appropriate conditions;
- wonderful taste of gherkins in fresh and pickled form;
- ultra-early harvest ripening;
- fruiting continues throughout the summer season;
- This cucumber does not require special care.
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The best hybrid varieties for greenhouses and open ground
Characteristics of hybrid cucumber varieties
Almost all varieties of F1 cucumbers can be grown both in a greenhouse and in open ground. They are universal in a sense. But there are crops that produce large volumes of yield only when grown in a certain place.
The following hybrids bear fruit abundantly when grown in a greenhouse: “Zozulya F1”, “Courage F1”, “April F1”, “Springhead F1”, “Gunar F1”, “Masha F1”.
The following are most suitable for open ground: “Admira F1”, “Bidretta F1”, “Kumanek F1”, “Herman F1”, “Farmer F1”. They not only produce large volumes of harvests when grown in this way, but also feel better and get sick less often.
Planting and care
Planting seed material in prepared beds can only be done in the south of Russia in the first ten days of May. In areas with a temperate climate, cucumber seeds are planted in the second ten days of May. If the weather in the region is too cold, then this cucumber variety should be planted in late May - early June.
Important! The soil temperature at the time of planting cucumber seeds should be at least 15 degrees Celsius.
How to prepare a site for planting
To get good yields from this hybrid cucumber, you need to choose the right site - it must be fertile and well lit by sunlight. The soil should be neutral acidity and well permeable to moisture.
When planting cucumbers, it is necessary to follow the rules of crop rotation. The best precursors for this vegetable crop are potatoes, tomatoes or cruciferous plants.
The area for cucumbers is prepared in the fall - after harvesting, all remnants of vegetation are removed, organic matter (humus or compost) is added and the area is dug up using a spade.
Advantages and disadvantages
A hybrid is a variety obtained by crossing two varieties that have the necessary characteristics. As a result, the new crop seeds have improved properties and are suitable for cultivation in any area. They are designated by the marking F1 next to the name.
Main advantages:
- Earlier ripening of the first harvest.
- Possibility of cultivation without the need for pollination by bees (parthenocarpic, self-pollinating), which allows you to grow the crop even in such limited growing conditions as an indoor balcony or loggia.
- High yield and long fruiting. Some samples, subject to the basic requirements of agricultural technology, show productivity 2-3 times higher than conventional varieties.
- Healthy and strong seedlings with strong roots, that is, when the plant is transplanted to a permanent place, it quickly takes root and adapts to the new environment.
- No bitterness in vegetables.
- Transportability and shelf life of fruits without loss of commercial qualities for a long time.
- Resistance to major types of diseases (for example, powdery mildew) and unfavorable climatic conditions.
Main disadvantages:
- Some gardeners note less rich taste in comparison with varietal varieties.
- Hybrid seeds are unsuitable for sowing in subsequent seasons.
Growing seedlings
Seed material for seedlings is planted in separate containers, and the seeds must be planted to a depth of 1.5 cm. After planting the seeds, you need to water the soil with a spray bottle.
The containers are placed in a room with an air temperature of about 26 degrees Celsius. Seedlings should be illuminated for 15-16 hours a day. After the sprouts appear, the temperature in the room should be reduced to 17 degrees Celsius.
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Cucumber seedlings are transplanted into garden beds or into a greenhouse about a month after the sprouts appear. By this time, up to 6 permanent leaves appear on the plants.
The distance between neighboring plants should be 0.4 m, and the row spacing should be about 0.6 m. In this case, the seedlings are transplanted together with a ball of earth so as not to damage their delicate root system. A layer of rotted manure or compost is placed at the bottom of each planting hole. The plants are sprinkled with soil, watered and the root zone is mulched.
Nadyusha
The cucumber variety Nadyusha has an early period of fruiting. The growing season is only 30 days, from the moment the seeds begin to germinate. This variety needs pollination by bees, so it is better not to rush into planting it in a greenhouse. Otherwise, this may lead to a decrease in yield indicators.
Description of the bush
The plant is of short stature. The female type of flowering predominates, although plants with a combined type can be found. The height of the bush is only 2 m. The leaves are moderate in size and characterized by a dark green tint.
Description of fruits
The fruits of the Nadezhda variety are not large and are characterized by a rectangular shape. The length of the fruit is 7 cm, and the cross-sectional diameter is about 5 cm. The weight of greens can vary from 80 to 100 g. Their entire surface is covered with brown pubescence and small light thorns.
The taste of this cucumber variety is pleasant, with distinct notes of sweetness. It should be noted that there is absolutely no bitterness observed in these fruits. Ripe products are suitable for fresh consumption or for pickles for the winter.
Further care
Caring for Dolomite cucumber bushes is quite easy - you need to follow the irrigation regime, tie up the vines, regularly apply fertilizers, loosen and weed the garden beds.
Irrigation regime
Cucumbers love moist soil, so you need to water the bushes 3-4 times a week, and during periods of drought - every day. If the weather is rainy, then it is enough to water this cucumber hybrid up to 2 times a week.
Watering is carried out with settled warm water in the evening hours in the root zone of plants. In this case, you need to ensure that drops of moisture do not fall on the foliage and stems of the cucumber vines.
The next day after watering, it is necessary to loosen the root zone of the plants, while simultaneously pulling out all the weeds.
Fertilizing
During the entire period of growing this cucumber hybrid, fertilizing is applied up to 6 times. To do this, mineral fertilizers and organic matter are alternately added to the cucumber beds.
Of the mineral fertilizers, it is best to use superphosphate, urea and potassium sulfate. You can use rotted mullein, bird droppings or compost as a source of nitrogen. Many vegetable growers successfully use Ideal or Fertility instead of organics.
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Garter of cucumber lashes
Typically, the cucumber vines of this cucumber are tied to trellises or a special cucumber net in several places.
If necessary, pinch the top of the main shoot.
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Nastya
The cucumber hybrid variety Nastya, category f1, is included in the State Register of the Russian Federation and is intended for cultivation in the Eastern and Central parts of the country. This crop should be grown in open ground conditions. The hybrid ripens early. The growing season, from the moment the first shoots appear, lasts for 35 days. The variety is self-pollinating, so external pollinators in the form of bees are not required.
Description of the bush
The plant is characterized by unlimited growth, the height can reach 4 m. The side shoots are of moderate characteristics. The female type of flowering predominates. In each node, it is possible to form 5-7 ovaries at once, which increases productivity. The leaves are small and dark green.
