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A huge assortment of seeds can confuse even an experienced gardener. Today, there are many varieties and hybrids of cucumber, all of them have strengths: some are more productive, others are resistant to diseases, and others are characterized by early ripening. How to choose the right variety and not get lost in the variety of seeds?
Foreign seeds are distinguished as a separate block; most often they are obtained as a result of selection, therefore they compare favorably with domestic seed material. The most common are the Dutch varieties of cucumbers - they are more popular among summer residents and gardeners due to their excellent characteristics and high taste.
What are Dutch cucumbers?
Most often, people call all hybrids of this crop Dutch cucumbers. But this is wrong: there are Dutch seeds not only hybrids, but also cucumber varieties. Hybrids are obtained as a result of selection, combining the positive qualities of several varieties. A hybrid also differs from a variety in that it does not produce offspring. That is, excellent fruits will grow from the purchased seeds, but it will be impossible to collect seed material from them for the next seasons.
There are also cucumber hybrids that have seeds inside, you can plant them and even get something in the end. But cucumbers grown in this way will no longer fully meet the characteristics declared by the seed manufacturer: the plant may get sick, the fruits will not be smooth and beautiful, and the cucumbers may even become bitter.
The cost of Dutch seeds is an order of magnitude higher than domestic ones. But such a high cost is fully compensated by the yield of cucumbers - most often, Dutch crops bloom in clusters, each of which produces 3-10 cucumbers. On average, it is believed that a ton of Dutch cucumbers can be harvested from one hundred square meters of land.
Strengths of the Dutch
Both varieties and hybrids of cucumbers grown from Dutch seeds are distinguished by high quality fruits. In general, the advantages of Dutch cucumbers look like this:
- high yield is inherent in all varieties and hybrids of Dutch origin;
- resistance to most diseases;
- the presence of both bee-pollinated and non-pollinated species;
- suitability for planting in the ground and in greenhouses;
- lack of bitterness in fruits and high taste;
- cucumbers grow to approximately the same size, even and beautiful;
- The versatility of cucumbers - almost all varieties are suitable for salads and canning.
We can say that Dutch varieties and hybrids of cucumber combine all the best qualities of this vegetable.
How to choose the right variety of "Dutch"
Choosing a cucumber variety is a responsible undertaking; this is exactly the case when the advice of neighbors and reviews from sellers can harm the owner. Because when choosing a cucumber, it is important to take into account individual characteristics, such as:
- depth of groundwater;
- soil type;
- planting seeds in a greenhouse or open ground;
- presence of bees on the site;
- weather conditions (temperature, duration of summer, amount of precipitation, frost);
- expected frequency of watering;
- frequency of harvesting (every day, only on weekends);
- purpose of cucumbers (for fresh consumption, for pickling, for sale).
If everything is clear with most factors, then some need decoding.
What do bees have to do with it?
The fact is that Dutch varieties, like other cucumbers, are divided into three types:
- Bee pollinated.
- Self-pollinating.
- Parthenocarpic.
For the first type, bees are definitely needed; if there are no bees on the site, or the cucumbers are planted in a closed greenhouse, you can’t expect a harvest. Unpollinated female flowers will become barren flowers.
Self-pollinating hybrids are more common than other species (almost all “Dutches” belong to this species). They are universal: suitable for both greenhouses and open ground. Self-pollinating varieties have inflorescences that combine female pistils and male stamens; these are the so-called hermaphrodites. They do not need additional pollination; they cope with this process on their own.Self-pollinating hybrids often do not produce seeds, but such cucumbers are also found with seeds.
Parthenocarpic species do not require pollination at all; all their flowers are female. Cucumbers can also be planted in a greenhouse and in open ground.
Salt or cut into salad
According to their taste characteristics, three types of cucumbers are distinguished:
- Salad.
- Salting.
- Universal.
They are all good, but each in their own way. Salad cucumber has thin, delicate skin and juicy, tasty pulp. It is good to eat raw, add to salads and other dishes. But salad cucumbers are not suitable for preservation - they “loose” in brine, becoming soft and shapeless.
For pickling and marinade is used pickling varieties of cucumbers. Their peel is thicker; after soaking in brine, these cucumbers become crispy and appetizing.
A universal variety suitable for any purpose. This is an excellent option for private cultivation, when the owner will use the same cucumbers for both canning and fresh consumption.
The best Dutch cucumbers
Only after analyzing all the factors can you choose the appropriate variety of cucumbers. If groundwater flows close to the site, you need to choose seeds that are planted shallow (1-2 cm). For summer cottages where the owner visits only on weekends, hybrids with slow growth are suitable.
"Angelina F1"
One of the best representatives of the “Dutch” hybrid “Angelina F1”. This is a very early cucumber, belonging to the category of “self-pollinating species”. Cucumbers are medium in size, the length of the fruit reaches 14 cm. These are universal cucumbers, excellent in pickling and tasty and crunchy in salads. The hybrid is not afraid of shaded areas; it is also resistant to most diseases characteristic of cucumbers. You can see the fruits of the Angelina F1 cucumber in the photo below.
"Hector F1"
Another very early variety is the Dutch hybrid Hector F1. The fruits of this variety are compact in size and thin skin with large pimples. The Hector bushes are small and not spreading, but cucumbers grow on them in clusters.
An amazing feature of the fruit is its stable bright green color - cucumbers do not turn yellow from overripeness, they can be stored for a long time after picking. “Hector F1” is equally good for greenhouses and open ground; the variety is self-pollinating. The seeds are hardened against low temperatures and various diseases. You can see the hybrid in the photo.
"Bettina F1"
The variety "Bettina F1" is best grown in greenhouses. These cucumbers are great for farmers selling vegetables. They retain their presentation for a long time, do not turn yellow and do not deteriorate during transportation. The fruits ripen very quickly, and the plants bear fruit for a long time. Therefore, the yield of the variety is high.
The cucumbers themselves are medium (12 cm), cylindrical, and regular in shape. The skin on them is dense, with tubercles. Bettina F1 cucumbers can be pickled, fermented and eaten raw. A distinctive feature of the hybrid is that all the fruits are located on the main stem.The plant does not really like the sun; this variety is excellent for greenhouses and shaded areas of the garden. You can look at the Dutch hybrid in the photo below.
"Dolomite F1"
“Dolomite F1” is also an extra-early variety. These cucumbers can be planted both in a greenhouse and in the ground - they are self-pollinating. A special feature of the hybrid is its ability to regenerate - after low temperatures or drought, the plant quickly recovers, resuming fruiting.
If Dolomite F1 is properly cared for, it will be possible to harvest throughout the season. The fruits are dark green in color, the skin is dense with bumps and spines. This variety is excellent for preservation - the cucumbers turn out very crispy. Like all “Dutch”, “Dolomite F1” is not afraid of diseases and temperature changes. A sample of the fruit is shown in the photo.
Final word
Dutch varieties of cucumbers fully deserve the recognition and love of gardeners. They are the result of selection, therefore they combine the strong qualities of the best varieties. Growing "Dutchies" is even easier, thanks to their versatility and resistance to stress and disease. All of them are very productive, but in order to collect a lot of high-quality fruits, you need to carefully choose the variety.
