F1 ant cucumbers look attractive in appearance; they are easy to distinguish from other varieties. The fruit is 10-12 cm long, they acquire a deep green saturated color and are covered with small tubercles with black spikes. They are distinguished by aroma and have an elastic, crispy structure. The peculiarity of the "ant" cucumbers is the absence of a bitter taste. Harvesting is carried out on the 45-50th day after emergence of seedlings.
Seeding and cultivating
To grow a selective crop, listen to the following recommendations:
- The cultivation process begins with preliminary preparation and seed treatment.
- For planting, choose material 3-4 years ago, although 10-year-olds also show good germination rates.
- Before planting in the soil, the seeds are disinfected and germinated.
- Seeds are heated for three days at a temperature of 50 degrees, after which they are soaked in a non-concentrated solution of potassium permanganate.
- Seeds are washed and left in clean water for 12 hours.
- Then proceed to germination. To do this, the seeds are wrapped in a damp cotton cloth. It is important to take cotton material to ensure ventilation.
Seed hardening
After the planting material has grown, hardening is carried out. This is optional, but most gardeners prefer this procedure. So seeds tolerate extreme weather conditions less stressfully. Seeds are placed in the refrigerator for 18 hours, maintaining a temperature of 2 degrees.
Growing seedlings
You can omit this point, because the seeds take root well in the area even after they hatch. The advantage of this method is the early harvest. Cucumbers "ant" - a culture that is difficult to tolerate transplant. Therefore, it is better to sow in individual containers, and plant on the bed after 2-3 leaves appear on the sprout.
Landing
This is the final stage. Reinforced seedlings are planted on a site or in a body in holes of small depth - up to 5 cm. At the same time, a distance of 5-6 cm between adjacent plants is maintained.
The subtleties of caring for cucumbers
In order to provide the crop with good care, it is necessary to loosen the soil in the near-stem zone and systematically water the bushes. Soil should contain a sufficient amount of useful minerals and organics. Top dressing is made in the fall, mixing the earth with humus. If acidic soils prevail in the area, then the soil is lime.
The variety of cucumbers "ant" is characterized by high germination, because the plants need thinning. When thickened, growth will be weak, and harvest time will be delayed.
Interesting! Did you know that cucumbers grow at night, so watering is best done in the evening.
It is recommended not to pour water under the root, but to spray lightly over the entire surface of the soil where the plants twist. The soil is periodically loosened.
Pinching cucumbers "ant" is a mandatory and necessary process, if you miss the moment, then the vitality of the plant will go to growth in length, and not on the formation of bushes. The procedure is carried out after the appearance of the sixth leaf. The length of the lateral stems is shortened to 40 cm, the rest is removed.
Now you know when to plant cucumbers in the open ground, how to properly care for the crop and how to contribute to a plentiful harvest throughout the season.