Cucumbers are a garden culture, it is very popular among summer residents, despite the fact that growing them is a rather complicated and troublesome business. Especially in the case of a greenhouse. In order to get a good crop in closed ground, you should take into account a lot of different factors - planting dates, frequency of watering and top dressing, methods of forming bushes, frequency of ventilation, etc. Well, of course, first of all, you need to choose the right variety. Otherwise, all efforts may simply be wasted. About which varieties of cucumbers for a polycarbonate greenhouse are most suitable, and we will talk in this article.
Basic selection rules
In most cases today, hybrids are grown indoors. Summer residents call them “grades” only by habit. We will also not deviate from tradition. However, the reader should understand that if the name “variety” contains the English letter F and the number 1, then this is a hybrid of the first generation. And high-quality seeds from him will not succeed. Next year, planting material will have to be bought again.
So what are the best varieties of cucumbers for greenhouses? In order not to make a mistake with the choice of seeds for covered ground, when buying, you should definitely pay attention to such factors as:
- variety seasonality;
- type of branching;
- variety variety (regular, self-pollinated);
- purpose of the fruit;
- the degree of shade tolerance of plants;
- fruit ripening dates.
Given all these indicators, you can choose the best cucumber varieties in this particular case. Many varieties of this crop are suitable for a polycarbonate greenhouse. But do not forget the most important selection factor - the variety must be regionalized, that is, developed specifically for the area where the site is located.
Seasonality
All existing cucumber varieties designed for greenhouses are divided into three large groups:
- winter-spring;
- spring-summer;
- summer-autumn.
The first variety is characterized by low light intensity and very good productivity. However, the fruiting period of such cucumbers is not too long. Since the varieties of this group are not very resistant to various diseases that are widespread in the warm season, it is not recommended to choose them for planting in late spring or summer. In this case, a good harvest cannot be obtained.
Spring-summer cucumbers are unpretentious and have good yields. Such plants are usually resistant to diseases and low temperatures. Although there are varieties that are undemanding for lighting on sale, for the most part the cucumbers of the spring-summer group do not differ in too high a degree of instability.
The main advantage of autumn varieties is long fruiting. Cucumbers of this group are quite productive and unpretentious in terms of lighting.
The best varieties of winter-spring group
Having planted the seeds in a heated greenhouse in mid-February, by May you can already get quite mature greenhouses. In this case, as you already understood, you should choose "winter" cucumbers for the greenhouse. Varieties (reviews of many of them from summer residents are very good) of this group will not be difficult to acquire. Buy, for example, the cucumbers available in almost every specialized store:
- The Gospel 1. This indeterminate (with unlimited growth of stems) hybrid is resistant to cucumber mosaic and powdery mildew. Its fruits are cylindrical in shape and covered with medium sized tubercles. The mass of one green leaf can reach 80-85 g. Blagovest 1 refers to parthenocarpic (self-pollinating) varieties. The fruits of this cucumber can be used both for salads and for canning.
- Moscow greenhouse F1. An early ripening parthenocarpic hybrid with long (up to 40 cm) green leaves of a palecid form.
- The F1 relay race is a high-yielding mid-season hybrid pollinated by insects. It is usually grown in the spring (with the appearance of insects at the time of opening of the buds). The fruits of Relay 1 covered with large rare tubercles can reach a weight of 140-200 g. Usually they are used to make salads. But pickling is also allowed.
- Manual F1. Also a bee pollinated hybrid designed for cultivation in spring. Its advantages include, first of all, resistance to cucumber mosaic. If planted too early, it can be affected by necrosis. Fruits are used mainly for salads.
Spring Summer Group
Next, let's see what varieties of cucumbers for the greenhouse are best suited for cultivation in the warm season. These include:
- Zozulu F1. A hybrid of the female flowering type, characterized by friendly fruiting. Zelentsy medium length can reach a mass of 150-200 grams.
- April F1. The fruits of this hybrid have very good taste and can reach a weight of 160-300 g.
Both of these varieties are resistant to disease and have good yield.
Summer-Autumn Hybrids
Those who want to grow cucumbers in sheltered ground in July - November should consider buying such varieties as:
- Marina Grove F1. Early ripening parthenocarpic hybrid, undemanding to growing conditions. Zelentsy with large tubercles are great for salting.
- Anyuta F1. Also a self-pollinated hybrid of the gherkin type. It is distinguished by photophilousness and good branching. Lumpy fruits are commonly used for pickling.
These are the most unpretentious and productive varieties of cucumbers. For the greenhouse, you can choose other “autumn” hybrids: Courage F1, Cartoon F1, Jumping F1, etc.
Type of branching variety
There are cucumbers intended for indoor cultivation, including the degree of branching. When choosing seeds, this also needs to be considered. Lush varieties of cucumbers for a polycarbonate greenhouse are usually chosen by residents of central Russia. In temperate climates, branched plants produce very good yields. For cultivation in Siberia under conditions of short summers and frequent spring-autumn frosts, cucumbers with long lashes with almost no branches are more suitable.
From branched varieties for covered ground, you should choose:
- Buyan F1. Self-pollinating early ripe disease resistant hybrid. Short greens can be used both for salting and for salads.
- Chistye Prudy F1. Self-pollinating hybrid, shade-tolerant, with crispy fruits. Zelentsy is tuberous and very well kept.
These are high-yielding varieties of cucumbers for greenhouses, which are very popular among gardeners in central Russia. Among other things, they are also not too whimsical.
Of the weakly branched varieties, one can distinguish very popular among Siberian summer residents:
- Cupid F1 , characterized by resistance to high temperatures and diseases. Zelentsy of this variety have a thin skin and are very well suited for salads.
- Ant F1. Parthenocarpic very early variety of the gherkin type. Begins to bear fruit already a month and a half after planting. Zelentsy 10 cm long are great for pickling.
Type of pollination
The usual varieties of cucumbers pollinated by insects are planted mainly only in professional greenhouses equipped with sliding ceiling panels. For an amateur closed design, it is still worth choosing the planting material of the parthenocarpic group.
The best self-pollinated varieties of cucumbers for a greenhouse are:
- Zozulya F1.
- Heroic Force F1.
- Courage F1.
- Tournament F1.
- Sultan F1.
There are many other parthenocarpic varieties. Almost all planting material, sold today in specialized stores, intended for indoor use, belongs to this group. These are actually the best varieties of cucumbers for greenhouses. Zelentsy grow on them without the need to perform any additional actions on the part of the gardener. Partially parthenocarpic varieties also exist. Their cultivation has some of its own characteristics.
Self-pollinated cucumber varieties for the greenhouse are thus best suited. But sometimes summer residents nevertheless choose traditional varieties of this culture for closed ground. Bee pollinating varieties do not lose their popularity mainly because many gardeners consider their fruits more tasty. To grow such cucumbers in an ordinary greenhouse is really very difficult, but not impossible. To get a good harvest in this case, the gardener will have to artificially attract insects. For this purpose, experienced gardeners are advised to install containers with dandelions or some other flowers near open doors and windows of the greenhouse. For fidelity, they can be sprayed with sweet water. Lay out pieces of sugar in the greenhouse, put jam, etc. is not worth it. Otherwise, insects will fly up only to this delicacy, and completely lose interest in cucumber flowers.
The most popular bee pollinated varieties suitable for polycarbonate greenhouses include:
- Fontanel F1. Mid-ripening variety with smooth greenery of cylindrical shape.
- Libella F1. Mid-season hybrid with medium-length fruits.
Selection of the variety by purpose
When buying seeds, you should also decide what exactly is planned for growing cucumbers in a greenhouse. Varieties of this culture are divided into two large groups: salad and intended for canning. The fruits of the first variety are usually distinguished by a thin smooth skin, sweetish tender flesh and low rare tubercles. In addition, salad cucumbers most often have a sufficiently large mass or length.
The fruits of varieties and hybrids intended for preservation are usually compact and covered with high tubercles. Their pulp is dense, crisp.
Of the salad cucumbers, the most popular are:
- Zozulya F1. Parthenocarpic hybrid, very responsive to mineral fertilizers. Zelentsy have a cylindrical shape and are distinguished by a pronounced ribbing.
- Tamerlan F1. Mid-early hybrid, self-pollinated, with smooth dark green fruits.
For canning, grades such as:
- Grasshopper F1. Self-pollinated early ripe hybrid with oval-cylindrical fruits.
- Bouquet F1. Early ripening parthenocarpic variety. Zelentsy have a length of 10-15 cm and are covered with high tubercles.
Shade resistant varieties
In the event that there is a lack of lighting in the greenhouse, it is best to use special varieties. There are also many cucumber seeds for the shade-tolerant group greenhouse. Very popular, for example, are varieties:
- Marfinsky . Highly pollen bee salad variety. Long greenbacks have a light green color.
- Regatta F1. Lettuce hybrid with cylindrical greenery up to 20 cm long.
- Dean 30-CH. Chinese mid-early variety with large (up to 500 g) fruits, suitable for both salads and canning.
Dutch cucumbers
Good yields differ not only in domestic varieties. Imported seeds in our country are also quite popular. For example, our summer residents really like the Dutch varieties of cucumbers. For greenhouses, they are good. The main advantages of these varieties include resistance to disease and the complete absence of bitterness. In terms of productivity, Dutch cucumbers are in no way inferior to domestic ones. The most popular varieties bred in this country are:
- Cupid F1. An early ripe shade resistant variety with glossy greenbacks of dark green color. Fruits are suitable for salads and for canning.
- Hector F1. Early ripe hybrid with small and very tasty fruits.
Early varieties of greenhouse cucumbers
Many summer residents choose planting material for covered ground, focusing, inter alia, on the timing of fruit ripening. Those varieties from which you can get an early harvest, are well-deserved popularity. One of their distinguishing features is its resistance to low temperatures. There are also many such varieties bred specifically for greenhouses. Most often summer residents grow:
- Cucumbers Cartoon. This high-yielding hybrid is good primarily because its elongated cylindrical fruits are never bitter.
- Matrix Salad hybrid, self-pollinated, disease resistant, with cylindrical fruits.
Of course, there are other early varieties of cucumbers. In fact, plants of this group are really just perfect for a greenhouse. Many summer residents manage to get two crops of such varieties per season, even in an unheated, closed construction.
The most popular cucumbers among gardeners
All varieties described above have their supporters among summer residents and are grown in greenhouses very often. They are quite unpretentious and give good yields. However, some varieties of cucumbers for the polycarbonate greenhouse are just perfect, and therefore they are especially popular among most gardeners. These include:
- Ant . Hybrid early ripening with short shoots and small tuberous greenery.
- Bidretta F1. Unpretentious high-yielding hybrid bee pollinated, gherkin.
Useful advice
In the greenhouse, very favorable conditions usually arise for the development of various kinds of harmful microorganisms. And the cultivation of even the best variety can end in complete failure only because the owners did not take appropriate measures to prevent infection of plants.
So that the cucumbers remain healthy throughout the growing season, they must be sanitized before planting in the greenhouse. To destroy harmful microorganisms, chlorine or copper sulfate is usually used. In the first case, the powder is simply scattered on the ground in an amount of 150 g / m 2 and sealed with a rake. Copper sulfate is diluted in water in the ratio of 10 tablespoons per bucket of water and the soil is shed with the resulting solution (1.5-2 m 2 ).
Having picked the most suitable variety for the greenhouse, you can get a very good crop of cucumbers. There are many groups and varieties of this garden culture. And they all have very good characteristics: high productivity, endurance, unpretentiousness. However, it is necessary to take into account the features of this particular greenhouse and the growing conditions when buying seeds.