Libelle cucumber: variety description, photo, planting and care rules, reviews

The Libelle cucumber has been known since the 70s of the last century. It has proven itself on the positive side and is in high demand. The highest yields can be achieved in the Central and North-Western parts of Russia. The variety requires pollination by insects, as it belongs to the parthenocarpic class.

Libelle cucumber seeds

Libelle cucumbers on a bush

Libelle cucumbers have thin, delicate skin and small seeds

Description of cucumbers

The Libelle variety is a mid-season f1 hybrid, which indicates that it is impossible to grow a bush from seeds collected at home. This is due to the fact that high-quality seed material can be obtained only through the primary selection of different varieties.

The variety can be grown in open ground, in greenhouse conditions, through seedlings or planting seeds in the soil.

Areas of use of greens:

preparing salads;
canning in its entirety;
pickling;
pickling;
preserved in the form of salads.

Appearance of Libelle

Features of the fruit:

shape – ellipsoid;
color – dark green;
the surface is covered with small spines;
size in length – from 12 to 15 cm;
the weight of one fruit is from 100 to 150 grams;
the side parts have thin white stripes;
the tips are whitish;
seeds – small in size;
the skin is tender and thin;
pulp – sweet, juicy;
crunch present;
there is a slightly noticeable bitterness (this indicates the concentration of cucurbitacin, which is used in the fight against tumor formations).

If the fruits are left uncovered in very hot weather, white spots will form on them. Therefore, it is advisable not to plant cucumbers in the open sun. They need to be covered with leaves.

Bush characteristics:

increased climbing and branching;
leaves – rounded, wrinkled, size – medium, edges – serrated irregular;
shoots are powerful;
The root system is weak, so care must be taken when transplanting to a permanent location.

Due to the increased branching, it is advisable to plant the variety vertically, that is, braid the vines into a support. This will protect the greens from direct sunlight and provide the plant with ventilation.

Ripening time and yield

Libelle ripens from 49 to 55 days after the appearance of the first shoots. Mass harvesting takes place around August. Average yields: per 1 sq. m you can collect 8-10 kg of fruit.

In order for the yield to meet the standards of this variety, it is advisable to plant cucumbers in open ground. This is due to the fact that the variety requires pollination by bees. In this way, the amount of barren flowers can be minimized. As a last resort, it is recommended to use a removable film cover (the film opens during the daytime).

Further care

Proper care will help increase productivity. It should include:

watering;
weed removal,
fertilizing;
loosening the soil.

In the absence of precipitation, cucumbers need to be watered every 3 days with water heated under the sun to approximately +22°C. Watering with cold liquid can cause the plant to stop growing and cause diseases to develop. Watering should be done either in the morning or in the evening. It is advisable to pour the liquid immediately under the root and at the same time make sure that the tops do not get wet. When it gets hot, the frequency of watering can be increased. During fruiting, the portions of water poured should be doubled. You can also get a drip irrigation system. This reduces water consumption and keeps the soil dry longer. Mulching with hay will also help prevent the soil from drying out quickly.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

wide range of uses;
transportability;
excellent taste and juiciness;
quite high yield;
attractive presentation;
resistance to many diseases;
ability to grow in cool climates;
there is no need for pinching;
can be collected in the form of gherkins (smaller than standard size);
bunch type of ovaries (one node contains up to 3 units).

Flaws:

slight bitterness;
pollination by bees is necessary;
average ripening period.

Advantages and disadvantages

Pros:

significant productivity;
stress resistance;
resistance to unpleasant weather conditions;
versatility of use in the kitchen;
good transportation;
relatively long-term storage;
ease of cultivation;
possibility of growing in areas with cold climates;
resistance to a group of diseases.

Minuses:

if there is a delay in harvesting, the greens will outgrow;
average time for harvesting the first fruits;
with a lack of moisture, bitterness may appear;
Among greenies, 10-15% are white-sided.

Features of planting and care

The Libelle cucumber is distinguished by the fact that the ovaries contain mainly female flowers. Otherwise, the requirements for planting and care are the same as for other hybrids. Recommendations:

to speed up the ripening time, it is better to use the seedling method;
to strengthen the root system, before planting in the ground, the soil is saturated with manure (humus);
the temperature ranges from 20 to 22 degrees during the day;
at night the temperature should not fall below +10-12 degrees (if necessary, cover with film at night);
watering is carried out regularly, as the variety does not tolerate drought;
after planting in the ground, mineral fertilizing is necessary;
the area should be windless;
Acidic soil is not suitable (lime or dolomite flour is added to neutralize the acid).

To increase the fruitfulness of Libella, it is necessary to plant the vegetable in close proximity to cucumber varieties in which male flowers predominate.

Preparing and planting seeds

Seed material is most often sold in a shell. In this case, no preparatory measures are required. If the shell is missing, then warming up is necessary: the water is brought to a temperature of 50-53 degrees, the seeds are immersed in it for 15 minutes. To speed up germination, it is recommended to place the seed material in an epin solution for 2-3 days (pull it out after sprouts form).

Disembarkation is carried out as follows:

the container for planting seeds should not be less than half a liter in volume, since picking the variety is often not recommended;
the soil is moistened abundantly;
sowing depth – maximum 1 cm;
It is advisable to put a couple of grains in one hole.

Seedling care

After sowing the seeds, the containers are covered with film (glass can be used) and placed in a warm place (minimum temperature - 25 degrees, maximum - 28). Next you need to adhere to the following rules:

Be sure to ventilate the containers daily and spray them with warm water. A spray bottle is used for this.
After the emergence of seedlings, the temperature decreases to +17 degrees. This is necessary so that the seedlings do not stretch upward too much.
After about 6-8 days, the temperature rises again, but to 20 degrees.
Lighting must be provided.
A couple of sprouts should appear from one hole. They are carefully examined and assessed for strength. The weakest one is cut off at the root with scissors.
Watering should be done twice daily in very hot conditions. At normal temperatures, watering once every couple of days is sufficient. Make sure that there is no standing water in the soil (it should be moist, but not wet).
If the seedlings do not get enough sunlight, or the weather is cloudy outside, then artificial lighting is turned on.
After the formation of 2 strong leaves, fertilizing is carried out using nitroammophoska (nitrophoska can be used). The substance is diluted as follows: for 1 liter of water you will need 1 tsp. facilities.

Landing in the ground

It is not advisable to overgrow seedlings - they will not take root well in open ground. Therefore, diving is carried out 21-25 days after the formation of seedlings. For this, the soil is first prepared:

Dig thoroughly (the depth of the shovel bayonet should be from 15 to 20 cm).
Pour the solution while hot. To prepare it, the following dosage is used: for 20 liters of boiling water you need to take 1 liter of mullein, 2 tsp. copper sulfate and 2 cups of chicken droppings.
After sprinkling, the area is covered with a thick film and kept for 6 days.

The planting of seedlings into the garden is carried out so that the root system does not break. The holes are dug according to a 50x30 cm pattern, that is, half a meter between the rows, the distance between the bushes is 30 cm. You need to pour a little water into each hole, add 1 tbsp. l. complex fertilizer. Next, cover with soil and lightly water again. In unfavorable weather conditions, it is recommended to cover the seedlings with film throughout the night.

There is no need to form a Libella bush, since it is quite branched and climbing.

How to care for Libelle?

Caring for the variety includes the following main aspects:

applying fertilizer;
loosening;
weeding;
watering;
spraying against pests;
mulching;
hilling.

How to care:

Before flowering, cucumbers will need to be watered once a week. For 1 sq. m you need to pour in 3 to 6 liters of warm water. This depends on the level of air humidity under different climatic conditions. When fruiting begins, more water is needed - up to 10 liters per 1 square meter. m. In this case, watering is carried out a couple of times a week. The time of the procedure is early morning or evening.
The first application of organic fertilizers is made a couple of weeks after planting in the garden.
Next, you need to add minerals based on potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen every 15 days.
Loosening is carried out every 10 days, the digging depth should not exceed 7 cm.
Hilling is required when the root system is exposed.
With the vertical type of cultivation, there is a need for tying.

Features of the seedless method

If you do not have time to grow seedlings, then the seeds can be planted directly in open soil. Rules:

2-3 weeks before planting, prepare the soil - dig, loosen, level.
Be sure to add humus or compost (dosage per 1 sq. m. 10 liters of organic matter).
20 grams of nitrogen, 30 grams of phosphorus, 15 grams of potassium are also added here.
The soil temperature should be at least +15 degrees.

Planting in rows:

make grooves to a depth of 1 cm;
pour with warm, settled water;
sow seeds at a distance of 30 cm from each other when planting vertically, 1 meter when planting horizontally;
sprinkle with soil (no need to use water).

Planting in holes:

make holes in 2 rows;
the diameter of each hole is 50 cm;
form sides of 8 cm;
pour plenty of water;
allow moisture to be absorbed;
add 3-5 seeds;
cover the top with soil, which is pre-mixed with humus or peat fertilizer;
after the appearance of 2 strong, full-fledged leaves, sort out the seedlings (leave a couple of the strongest ones, cut off the rest);
The depth of planting seed material is one and a half to three centimeters.

The gardener shares his method of planting cucumbers in holes in the following video:

Other planting methods:

Seeds are planted on manure heaps. To do this, a “vegetable garden” is formed from organic matter and grains are planted.
On a compost heap. Do the same as in the previous case.
Spread out, that is, horizontally. In this case, the stems are laid out on the surface of the ground. This method requires care in care, since it is not recommended to move shoots from one place to another.
On a trellis - the most popular and optimal method. Seeds are planted in rows, around which wooden stakes are installed. Trellis wire is stretched over them (slats can be used). The height ranges from 50 cm to 1 meter. The advantage of the method is that the stems do not need to be tied up separately - they are simply thrown over a wire tension. This significantly saves space, reduces the risk of illness, and promotes ventilation. And the fruits always remain clean and dry.
In barrels and boxes - containers are filled with earth mixed with compost or manure, grass. Before planting, watering is carried out. The barrels must be covered with film until the leaves appear. Next, an arc is mounted onto which the plant stems cling.
In bags in which the remains of vegetation are stored.

There are special rules for caring for cucumbers when growing without seedlings:

The first weeding is carried out 10-12 days after emergence.
Thinning is carried out as necessary (if weak bushes are detected).
Slurry must be added (1 part manure to 5 parts water).
You can fertilize with chicken droppings (ratio to water – 1:7). For 1 sq. m requires 5 liters of liquid.
Minerals are used. For 10 liters of water: 20 grams of potassium sulfate, 30 grams of superphosphate, 20 grams of urea.
Watering is carried out by drip or spray. The water should be settled and warm.
Excessive moisture should not be allowed, as the root system will begin to rot.
It is advisable to mulch the soil. For this, grass from the garden is used. It is scattered over the area with cucumbers.
Further care is the same as for seedlings in a greenhouse.

Diseases and pests

The Libelle variety is considered resistant to pests and diseases. But this only happens with proper maintenance and care of plants. Causes of morbidity:

contaminated soil;
sudden changes in temperature (for example, hot during the day and cool at night);
lack of fertilizing;
presence of drafts;
poor illumination of the area;
watering with cold rather than warm water.

Diseases and pests that affect Libelle, and methods of control and prevention:

Fusarium. Specific drugs are used.
Powdery mildew. Folk remedies are used for prevention and treatment. For this, a solution is prepared: for 10 liters of water, take a liter of milk, 10-12 drops of iodine, 1 tbsp. l. brown laundry soap. Milk can be replaced with whey if necessary. The leaves are treated with the mixture.
Gray rot. It’s easy to get rid of it: combine water with baking soda according to the standard recipe.
Bacteriosis. Human drugs are used. Add 1-2 tablets of Trichopolum to 1 liter of water. Pour into the soil.
Among the pests, slugs and spider mites should be noted. They get rid of insects by planting garlic and onions next to the cucumbers. In case of pest invasion, standard preparations are used.

To prevent the development of diseases and insect attacks, it is necessary to maintain cleanliness in the beds, for which weeds are promptly removed. If any disease was noted in the garden last year, you will have to collect all the grass and tops in the fall, then destroy it by burning, and treat the ground with special means.

Characteristics of the variety

According to reviews from vegetable growers and consumers, the old cucumber variety Libelle f1 can easily withstand competition in the modern market.

Productivity and fruiting

Although the flowers of Libelle f1 cucumbers are mostly female, the variety is pollinated by bees. This should be remembered when choosing a planting site - open ground and removable film shelters are suitable. Good fruiting can be ensured by placing the Libella f1 hybrid next to varietal cucumbers that produce many male flowers. If you plan to grow it in indoor greenhouses, consider how pollination will occur.

Libella f1 cucumbers are a mid-season variety. The first greens are ready for harvest 50 days after the seedlings peck. The average yield per square meter is up to 10 kg. One of the peculiarities of the variety is that the greens ripen quickly - they need to be collected on time.

Although the Libelle f1 cucumber is productive and resistant to unfavorable factors, if agricultural practices are incorrect, you may not get fruit. Timely watering, fertilizing and suitable temperature - all this affects the quality and quantity of greens.

Application area

Libella f1 cucumbers have a universal purpose. The variety is used for fresh consumption, pickling, canning and preparing winter salads. According to reviews, Libelle f1 cucumbers are tasty and crispy. They travel well, last a long time, and look attractive, making them a variety suitable for commercial cultivation.

Resistance to diseases and pests

The Libella f1 variety is resistant to downy mildew and spotting, which most often affect cucumbers. This does not mean that a hybrid cannot get sick at all. If not properly cared for, cucumbers can not only get sick, but also die before they even have time to set greens.

Of the pests for the Libelle f1 variety, the greatest danger is aphids. It is advisable to fight it using traditional methods, for example, using ordinary wood ash. It’s even better to promptly destroy anthills in the garden; these insects are carriers of aphids.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Like any variety, Libella f1 has strengths and weaknesses. The undeniable advantages include:

High yield.
Good taste.
Attractive appearance.
Universal purpose of fruits.
High resistance of the variety to diseases.
Libelle f1 cucumbers are harvested not only as greens, but also at the gherkin stage.
The variety is suitable for growing in regions with cool climates.
The scourges do not need pinching.
In the southern regions, the variety can be grown on a trellis.

Among the disadvantages it should be noted:

Average ripening time.
The need for pollination by bees, which makes growing the variety in greenhouses problematic.
The fruits are somewhat bitter, especially with insufficient watering.
The variety has a large number of “white-sided” fruits, which may not look very attractive in preparations, but does not affect the taste.

How to harvest and store crops?

The harvest is harvested when the cucumbers are ripe in the morning. To do this, they are trimmed with garden shears. Feature: collection is carried out daily. If this is not done, then unharvested fruits will prevent the formation of new ovaries.

Storage rules:

For long-term preservation, mostly hard cucumbers are used.
The place should be dark and cool.
Fruits must be ventilated, so plastic containers, bags and the like are excluded. Wooden boxes are recommended for storage.
The maximum room humidity is 80%.
Temperature range - from +1 to +5 degrees.
Before storing, each vegetable is carefully inspected and damaged fruits are discarded.

Hybrid Libelle F1 – cucumber with authority

You can see different spellings of this tricky, beautiful name: Libelle, Libella cucumber, but know that we are talking about the same hybrid. It was included in the State Register back in 1976, and for four decades now it has been pleasing gardeners with excellent harvests.

The hybrid is mid-season; the ripening time for greens varies from 45 to 55 days. Recommended for growing in beds, under shelters, and in greenhouses.

ON A NOTE! Libelle F1 is pollinated by insects, so it is necessary to ensure the presence of bees and bumblebees on the site.

The hybrid bush is tall, with long lashes (see photo of the bush). It is recommended to plant no more than three plants per 1 m2 and it is advisable to follow this rule. The fruits are quite large, elongated (up to 15 cm), weighing up to 120-140 grams. This hybrid is very productive, so during the period of mass fruiting it is necessary to collect greens almost every day.

Libelle cucumbers are dark green in color, with pronounced longitudinal stripes of yellow or whitish color.

The pulp is very juicy, with a characteristic sweet taste, crispy. There are a lot of seeds inside, but they are very small and can hardly be felt.

Where are hybrid greens used? Salads, canning, pickling (you just need to remove them when the cucumbers are small), all kinds of marinades - this cucumber is good everywhere. Libelle F1 is a fairly lightweight hybrid, and judging by reviews, suitable for transportation.

Why is the Libelle cucumber hybrid valued?

The cucumber is grown in various regions of the country, and this only proves its popularity. What are the strengths of the hybrid, what are its “advantages”?

Libelle F1 has a very high yield. In a greenhouse, provided proper agricultural technology is used, you can collect up to 20 kg per 1 m2, but in open ground the results will be more modest (up to 12 kg).
Unpretentiousness.
Resistant to temperature changes and cold snaps.
Excellent taste (even with slight overgrowth of the greens, the taste remains at the same level).
Excellent presentation of cucumbers (you must agree, this is also important).
Disease resistance.

Flaws:

if cucumbers are grown for pickling and preservation, it is necessary to control the harvest, as they quickly grow to 14-15 cm and become too large;
The hybrid is demanding of good nutrition (feeding is required).

It is difficult to say whether this can be considered a disadvantage, rather a peculiarity of growing this hybrid.

Reviews

★★★★★
Natalia, 48 years old. I have known about Libella for many years; my mother grew this variety.
What can I say - the taste is wonderful, the crunch is preserved even when canned, care and planting are simple (we plant them straight into the garden). But in my opinion, it is not suitable for sale, since the white stripes on the sides and ends do not add attractiveness. And there is still bitterness, but personally in our family there are no complaints about this. Moreover, this bitterness prevents the formation of tumors. ★★★★★
Vladimir, 59 years old. I have been growing Libelle in my garden for 7-8 years.
Initially, I planted the seeds in large pots, then transferred them to the greenhouse, and only then to the garden beds. And then a neighbor advised me to immediately throw the seeds into the ground. Indeed, the yield does not suffer with this method, and little time is spent. But I plant the seeds a little earlier than expected (2-3 weeks). I do this: I artificially warm the earth. The moment warm air arrives, I plant the seeds and immediately wrap them tightly with film. I don’t open it for a couple of weeks so as not to let in the cold. There is quite enough humidity there. But if the soil suddenly dries out, you have to turn on the generator again and water it under the pressure of warm air. But this happens extremely rarely. If anyone wants, take the advice, it will be less hassle, and you will harvest on time.

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The Libelle variety is grown in summer cottages, private gardens and large vegetable farms. It is characterized by excellent taste and yield, and has many advantages. But in order to achieve such indicators, it is necessary to strictly follow simple rules of cultivation and care.

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Watering and fertilizing

Libelle cucumbers love moisture, but this does not mean that the soil should be turned into a swamp.

Water only with warm water and under the root. In cool weather, watering should be reduced - this will protect the plantings from downy mildew and rot.

Libelle cucumbers are potassium lovers, but they remove few useful substances from the soil. If, when planting seeds, you added humus or other fertilizer for digging, feed the first time no earlier than two weeks after germination.

Mineral fertilizers are alternated with organic ones, feeding Libelle cucumbers once a week after watering. Instead of mineral fertilizer, you can take ash, which is scattered on damp soil at the rate of 2 tablespoons per bush, or special fertilizers for pumpkin plants - they are sold in specialized stores. Fresh cow manure is infused for 2 weeks, diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10.

Important! Horse manure is not suitable for feeding - its use sharply deteriorates the taste of cucumbers.

Residents of regions with warm climates will find it convenient to grow the Libelle variety on a trellis, tying them up as shown in the video.

Consumers give good reviews about the appearance and taste of Libelle cucumbers. Look at the photo:

Seed preparation

Libelle cucumber hybrids have a predominantly female type of flower and do not require pre-heating of the seeds. If they are covered with a colored shell, they are planted in the ground without any additional procedures. If the shell is missing, immediately before sowing, soak the seeds in hot water at a temperature of 53 degrees for 15-20 minutes. This will kill the pathogens of anthracnose and bacteriosis.

Before planting, it is good to germinate the seeds of the Libelle hybrid by soaking them for several days in Epin solution (it increases germination and increases the resistance of cucumbers to diseases). Seeds covered with a shell do not germinate.

Landing rules

In colder climates, they are best grown horizontally in small greenhouses that can trap warm air at night. During the day they are opened, allowing access to the sun, fresh air and bees.

For Libelle cucumbers, choose a sunny place protected from the winds. If you have acidic soil, before planting add lime or dolmite flour at the rate of 1 liter jar per 1 square meter. m. In any case, add a few handfuls of well-rotted compost to each hole.

For insurance, three Libelle cucumber seeds are planted in each hole, placing them in the center of the hole, at a distance of several centimeters from each other. Planting depth is about 1.5-2 cm. There should be 3-4 plants per square meter.

We water the planting well with warm water and cover it with film or lutrastil. We remove the cover only for watering and ventilation. When the night temperature is consistently above 12 degrees, the shelter can be removed completely.

Planting methods

There are several ways to carry out seed cultivation. These include:

planting in open ground;
use of trellises;
greenhouse method.

Most often, the Libelle F1 cucumber is planted using seedlings. To do this, seeds are germinated 3-4 weeks before planting on the site. Keep the seedlings in a warm place and monitor air circulation. Seedlings do not tolerate drafts well.

Seeds covered with a colored film can be planted in the ground without prior germination. A similar method is used if the soil is rich in mineral components.

Planting in open ground

Using this method, seedlings or seeds are planted directly on the site, having previously cultivated a bed. The soil for growing should be loose. The dense top ball does not allow water to pass through well, so the plants die from drought.

Excess moisture and acidic soil also have a bad effect on the growth of Libelle F1 cucumbers. First of all, the roots and taste of future fruits suffer from such factors.

It is recommended to grow this crop in an area where potatoes or tomatoes grew a year earlier. The Libelle F1 cucumber variety gives a good harvest on soil that contains phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen. The lack of these beneficial substances can be compensated for at home using a mixture of humus, ash and sand.

Planting is carried out only in the warm season; the slightest frost causes crop failure. The average temperature per day should not be below 14°C.

Trellis method

The trellis design makes caring for the bushes much easier, and the mesh weaving helps the stems receive the same amount of sunlight. The frame of the product must be strong and well driven into the ground. A loose structure can fall under the influence of precipitation and cause injury to cucumber vines.

Wooden blocks or metal pipes are used as a basis. Next, a trellis net is pulled over the frame, which is secured with twine. The height of the yard should reach 2 m.

The seedlings under the trellises are fertilized and hilled as they grow. As soon as the height of the bush reaches 30 cm, it is pruned.

Greenhouse method

Only high quality seeds are germinated in greenhouses. The determination criterion is the brightness and integrity of the color film. A distance of 50 cm is maintained between the rows, otherwise the clustered bushes will give a weak harvest. In greenhouse conditions, the lashes must be tied so that they grow vertically.

Prevention and control methods for diseases

Despite the fact that the variety is resistant to various diseases, at a temperature of about 10 0 there is still a risk of damage. Also, this temperature inhibits growth and development. At the same time, it is undesirable for the temperature to rise to 35 0C - this negatively affects fruiting.

By regularly inspecting the leaves, you can detect various diseases and pests in time. For example, if aphids have infected the foliage, the insects can be removed or the plantings can be sprayed with a warm soapy solution.

Cucumber disease

You can also plant garlic, onions or dill in rows or bushes. The smell of these plants repels many pests.