We all love fresh vegetables and try to eat them as often as possible. Inveterate gardeners grow vegetables of different varieties and species on their personal plots. In the spring, there is a stir near the stalls with seeds. What to choose so as not to be disappointed in the fall? In this article we will pay attention to the green cavalier of the garden - cucumber.
Characteristics of Cucumber
This culture has gained immense popularity a long time ago. In the summer, this is the most sought after product. In order to cultivate cucumbers in an open area, it should be remembered that they love warmth, good nutrition, moisture. This culture is a short day. When cultivating a plant, one should take into account all the whims of the culture, and you will be pleasantly surprised by the gifts of the plant.
Cucumber in History
From literary sources it is known that cucumbers appeared 6 thousand years ago. The birthplace of this culture is India and China. In Europe, cucumbers appeared during the Greek conquest of Southeast Asia. In France, the plant began to be cultivated in the VIII century, in Germany and Spain - a little later. Cucumbers arrived in Russia from Asia and became the first crop grown in protected ground. Nowadays, this vegetable took first place in cultivated areas. Gardeners and gardeners gave the best reviews to varieties for open ground. Cucumbers fell in love with all the nations of the world.
Pick the seeds
Cucumber seeds can be planted both in open beds and in greenhouses or greenhouses. Consider the most productive varieties of cucumbers for open ground. In order for the crop to be of high quality, you need to set some priorities when choosing seeds:
- Ripening period.
- What kind of care is needed.
- The size of the cucumber.
- Resistance to external factors.
- Branching bush.
In turn, the seeds can be hybrid and have an F1 badge. These seeds were bred by crossing different varieties. But seeds from such vegetables will not be suitable for reproduction. But the plant is more resistant to external factors. And cucumbers have immobility and immunity to diseases. Hybrid seeds are great for growing outdoors.
Seeds are still divided into early ripe and mid-ripening, self-pollinated and pollinated with the help of bees.
Early ripening varieties of cucumbers
The early ripened cucumber varieties are surprised by the short time when it will be possible to already take the first crop, but such a plant undergoes frequent diseases due to a weak root system, and it bears fruit for a short time. But many gardeners plant early varieties of cucumbers for open ground for sale or in order to enjoy the first cucumbers from their garden. Preference is given to such varieties as:
- Dynamite F1. Harvest can be obtained already on the fortieth day. The leaves of the plant are small in size, the bush is sparse. Cucumber about 15 cm, with tubercles. This variety is fruitful, and it is really possible to collect 10-15 kg of vegetables per square meter.
- Masha. Hybrid variety. Cucumbers will appear in a month. They are well suited for conservation. In the bush there are a bunch of 6-7 cucumbers.
- Elegant. Received the title due to the fact that the cucumber has a beautiful shape.
- Cascade. No less productive variety. Fruits appear a month and a half after sowing. Perfect for winter harvesting.
- Altai variety has a light color of cucumber. The fruit is not large and ripens in 35-40 days.
Mid-season cucumber varieties
Such varieties are not as susceptible to diseases as early ripe ones. They are easier to grow and require less maintenance. Medium varieties of cucumbers for open ground are more popular. They will give an excellent harvest in your plots and gardens. The most popular medium varieties of cucumbers for open ground:
- New Phoenix. The variety is cold-resistant and not afraid of powdery mildew. Cucumbers of bright green color with small longitudinal stripes of white color. Very tasty and crispy.
- Pikuli. The variety is universal and has a stable immunity to diseases. Oval cucumber with spikes, fruit length - about 8 cm.
- Far Eastern. Fruits are great for preservation. The fruit has a weight of up to 200 g and a length of about 15 cm. The variety tolerates long dry weather.
- Gunnar F1. A hybrid plant variety. The bush is tall, the cucumber is very tasty and has an aesthetically beautiful shape.
- Also popular varieties are: Kid, Farmer, White Angel, Raphael.
Self-pollinated cucumber varieties
Such varieties of cucumbers can grow even in the worst of conditions, while not losing their ability to produce a good crop. The yellow flower plays the role of both a boy and a girl, so he can pollinate himself and bring beautiful cucumbers. The best self-pollinated varieties for open ground:
- Friendly family. It adapts well to any conditions and climate. Cucumber reaches up to 12 cm in length. Not bitter and appetizing crunches.
- Zadavaka. The fruit of this variety has a dark green color with a white pattern. The plant can bear fruit until the first frost.
- Spring. Short-haired variety resistant to many ailments. Cucumbers are short in length and have a sweet taste.
- Gerda. High yield cucumbers for open ground are highly resistant to disease. The fruits reach 10 cm in length and have a pleasant, sweet taste.
Bee pollinated varieties
What varieties of cucumbers for open ground to get? The choice of each is individual. Many prefer varieties that are pollinated with bees. It is believed that the pollination process gives aroma and additional taste to the cucumber. Therefore, the most productive varieties of cucumbers for open ground are pollinated by bees. These include:
- Farmer. The fruit has a green color with white spikes. Fruits longer than usual and unpretentious in care.
- Alphabet F1. It has excellent yield. The fruits have the shape and size of gherkins. Not afraid of most diseases, do not have a bitter taste.
- Swallow. Hybrid variety, has early ripening. The fruit reaches 100 g of weight.
- Lord Another hybrid variety. The average ripening period. Not afraid of colds and many types of diseases. The cucumber is deep green in color and has white pimples.
- Compass F1. Not afraid of many diseases. Planted in June. The vegetable tastes good and has small forms. Great for conservation.
Late ripe varieties of cucumbers
Harvest from such plants can be harvested only after 50 days. Not to say that such varieties are popular among gardeners and gardeners, but there is a demand for them. Varieties of cucumber seeds for late ripening open ground:
- Relay race. Cucumber has a sweet taste. It reaches a length of 25 cm and weighs approximately 250 g. It is mainly used for the preparation of salads.
- Chinese miracle. Ripens only two months after planting. The fruit is small in size and has a thin peel.
- Chinese climbing. The variety has medium-branched bushes. Cucumber is cylindrical in shape, approximately 12 cm long and weighs 100 g. It tolerates low temperatures and is resistant to many diseases.
Hybrid varieties
As already mentioned, such varieties are not afraid of diseases, poor climatic conditions. Cucumbers can be stored for a long time, tolerate transportation well and have very excellent taste. The most productive varieties of cucumbers for open ground were bred by crossing. The disadvantage of such varieties is that it will not be possible to dry the seeds on their own, as seeds from cucumbers will not be suitable for the next sowing. Next year it will be necessary to purchase cucumber seeds again. The best varieties for open ground:
- Marinda Marinda F. Self-pollinated variety of cucumbers. Bushes do not have many leaves, they are stress resistant to external factors. Five or more cucumbers are formed in one place. The taste of the fruit is consistent, does not have a bitter taste.
- Paratunka F1. Bushes of medium height. Ripening of the fruit - on the fortieth day from sowing. Not afraid of powdery mildew and bacteriosis. Cucumber has a flat surface, weight 90 g and a length of 9 cm.
- Grasshopper F1. The seeds are self-pollinated. Bushes are high and climbing. They are immune to many diseases. Cucumber of medium size, located on a bush very densely. From the garden you can remove up to two buckets of young greenbacks.
- Xena F1. Early grade. The bush is tall and neat in shape. The fruit of the plant has a weight of 115-130 g and a length of 15 cm. The plant is resistant to many viruses and diseases.
- Emerald Earrings F1. The variety is young, was bred in 2011. The bush has powerful branchy thickets with many ovaries. You can eat fruits already in the gherkin stage. The maximum size of the fruit is 11 cm, weight - 110 g. Ripening occurs on the 42nd day.
- The July rush. A variety of early ripening. The bush is medium length and is woven with powerful branches. Small cucumber, with a dark color. High-yielding variety - you can remove up to three buckets from one square meter. Hardy for most diseases.
Hybrid Canning Varieties
Besides the fact that cucumbers are consumed fresh, they are also grown in order to make tasty preparations for the winter. For this, gardeners acquire cucumber seeds, which are well suited for conservation. Let's give an example of the most fruitful varieties of cucumbers for open ground, which are perfect for winter pickles:
- Goosebumps. Great variety and has a distinctive feature. The spikes on the cucumbers are black in color, which is a sign of good quality for conservation. Fruit weight - 95 g, length - 12 cm. The plant has dense greens, yield up to 7 kg. Ripening occurs on the 45th day. Resistant to disease.
- Lord The variety has an average ripening period. Pollinated by bees. It can produce crops before the first freeze. Resistant to disease. Cucumber bright green, with white small stripes. It has a pleasant aroma in marinade and in salads.
- Brigantine F1. A variety of early ripening. With proper processing and top dressing, you can increase disease resistance. Cucumber has a beautiful, regular shape. Weight - 100 g, length - 15 cm. Excellent crunches in canned form and has a pleasant aroma.
- Siberian salting F1. The grade is young. Self-pollinating and matures in 40 days. Cucumbers are small in shape, about the finger of a person. Great for pickling in jars.
- Nezhinsky. The variety has long established itself in the market. It tolerates drought. The fruits ripen late, but they are great for harvesting for the winter.
- Competitor. The variety is popular with many summer residents. The shape of the fruit is fusiform. Cucumber has an emerald color. In canned form leaves with a bang.
Popular varieties for open ground
- Espagnolette F1. In one inflorescence there are up to three fruits. Cucumbers are bitterness and have a sweet taste. The color is pleasant green, the peel is covered with small pimples with a light pubescence. The weight of the cucumber reaches 95 g. Ripens in two months. It has an excellent crispy taste in the marinade.
- Wonder Crystal. A variety of early ripeness. The fruit is thin-skinned, with small pimples, with light fluffiness. The variety is not afraid of many diseases. The main stem of the plant is vigorous. You can collect up to 10 kg of crop per square meter. In salting, it acquires aroma and taste.
- Sugar kid F1. Ovary ripens in 40 days. The variety is resistant to ailments. Gherkins are covered with large tubercles. The pulp is dense and sweet in taste. Small cucumbers fit well for pickling in jars. As a result, the gherkins will be hard and crunchy.
- Cruise F1. This variety of cucumbers is pollinated by bees. The plant is resistant to drought, and diseases such as powdery mildew and peronosporosis. The cucumber is light green in color with small pimples. Size - 10 cm in length, weight - 110 g. The taste is sweet and aromatic. Such cucumbers can be fermented without vinegar.
How to choose seeds?
If you choose the right seeds, you can get beautiful and tasty cucumbers. Crop varieties for open ground have high endurance from many diseases and adverse climatic conditions. But you need to consider some factors when choosing seeds:
- Consider the conditions where you will cultivate a vegetable crop.
- Decide what time frame you want to harvest.
- For what purposes you grow. If used fresh, there are certain varieties. If for conservation, you must give preference to the appropriate varieties.