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It's hard to imagine a garden that doesn't have a bed of cucumbers. Today, many varieties have been bred, both for direct consumption and for pickling. Gherkins are especially popular for pickling. You can also pick small fruits from salad varieties. However, the gherkins themselves turn out tastier, and they look more appetizing in a jar.
How do gherkins differ from other cucumbers?
Gherkin varieties are distinguished by elastic, crispy fruits without voids inside. They are oblong in shape, without bulges, the length of cucumbers is about 5-10 cm. Even overgrown gherkins will not be large. Breeders have developed varieties that ripen quickly, have a pleasant taste, produce large yields and are resistant to common diseases.
The best varieties have specific characteristics. The following groups are represented:
- for greenhouses;
- for open ground;
- for film coatings;
- bee-pollinated;
- self-pollinating;
- parthenocarpic (without pollination).
Having tried different varieties of miniature cucumbers, most gardeners choose the best ones for themselves and grow these particular gherkins.
Most common varieties
Gardeners who are just starting to grow gherkins should pay attention to the best and most common varieties.
"Parisian gherkin"
Suitable for growing in open ground or under a film cover. Perhaps these are the best gherkins for canning. The length of cucumbers ranges from 5 to 10 cm, they have a bright taste and an appetizing crunch. Gherkins are dark green in color with large tubercles.
"Diva"
This variety can be planted even on windowsill or on the balcony. Gherkins are characterized by rapid ripening and high yield. The length of ripe cucumbers is between 9.5-11 cm, green in color, oblong in shape.
"Funny company"
Such fruits can be planted in an open garden bed or in a greenhouse. They are characterized by resistance to many diseases and root rot. The cucumber variety is self-pollinating, early ripening. The size of the fruits is about 7-9 cm, they are cylindrical in shape and covered with large tubercles.
"Moravian gherkin F1"
Gherkins are intended for cultivation in open ground, bee-pollinated. The fruits are universal in use, have a short length, and are covered with medium-sized tubercles. These cucumbers resist many diseases.
The above varieties generally require the same care as salad cucumbers. It is preferable to collect gherkins every day. Then they will retain their beautiful shape. In addition, if you regularly remove ripe fruits, the growth of new cucumbers is stimulated.
Mini version of gherkin cucumbers
You can often hear about mini gherkins, the size of which does not exceed 6 cm.After just a couple of days, real fruits, ready for harvest, appear, only very small ones. Cucumbers are crispy and ideal for preparations.
The following are the best varieties of this group.
"Marinade F1"
Gherkins of this variety have a pleasant sweet taste and dark green color. The fruits are covered with small tubercles. These early ripening cucumbers can be grown in open ground or in a greenhouse. They tolerate temperature changes and are resistant to diseases.
"Filippok F1"
This type of gherkins is mid-season, bee-pollinated. The fruits retain their density and taste for a long time. It is characterized by high productivity; you can get 10 kg of cucumbers or more per square meter. Resists many diseases.
"Moth F1"
These gherkins are suitable for both pickles and direct consumption. The fruits are sweet, without a bitter aftertaste. They belong to the mid-season types of cucumbers. Planted in open ground, these gherkins can withstand temperature changes and are resistant to disease. The fruits are elongated, dense, without voids inside, pale green in color.
"Son of Regiment F1"
This is a bee-pollinated variety; it can be grown both in open ground and under a covering in the form of a film. The fruits are light green in color with large tubercles. It takes 40-45 days before fruiting begins. Characterized by abundant yield.
Also, lovers of mini gherkins can try the “Children's F1” variety, which is distinguished by small leaves. The varieties “Favorite Zyatek” and “Nastya F1” are suitable for growing at home (on balconies, window sills). “Tablecloth-self-assembled” and “Mullet F1” will produce small fruits.
Which cucumbers are suitable for a greenhouse?
Greenhouse varieties have several characteristic features.They are early ripening, without pollination, the ovaries are arranged in bunches. “Friendly Family”, “Paratunka F1” are the best varieties for growing in a greenhouse.
A little about “Friendly Family”
“Friendly Family” is a mid-early variety and begins to bear fruit 43-48 days after seed germination. The fruits are oblong, length does not exceed 12 cm. Gherkins are harvested when they reach a length of 4-6 cm. They have a pleasant taste without a bitter tint. The main shoot produces 2-4 ovaries, the side shoots - 6-8 pieces.
The “Friendly Family” variety is characterized by high fertility. From a square meter of bed of these gherkins you can collect up to 20 kg of fruit. They look very neat and are suitable for canning, slicing or salad.
If the greenhouse is heated, cucumbers can be sown directly into the ground. Then you don’t have to wait until the due date, so you get an early harvest.
You can start by growing seedlings. They are placed in a suitable environment where all conditions are met: temperature, availability of light. Seedlings need to be regularly fed, watered, and trimmed. They are planted under suitable weather conditions, and according to the calendar this should be done in mid-April.
In general, the “Friendly Family” variety does not require complex care. It is enough to systematically water them and feed the soil. When the bushes have already become stronger, but fruiting has not begun, they are pruned and pinched.
Great taste – “Sweet crunch”
Another variety recommended for the greenhouse is “Sweet Crunch.” The fruits are regular in shape and light green in color, so they are easy to find on the bush. The skin is covered with spines and large tubercles. Suitable for both canning and fresh consumption.They have an excellent taste, the weight of the fruit reaches 60-70 g.
Conclusion
Gherkins look appetizing in a jar, and they are also good fresh. Due to rapid ripening, fruits can be picked daily, while ensuring the formation of new ovaries throughout the entire fruiting period. There are different varieties of gherkins for growing in open ground and in greenhouses. You can try different types and choose the most delicious and fruitful.
