Content
Summer residents choose cucumber varieties for planting very carefully. The hybrid of the Dutch selection “Director f1” received good recommendations from vegetable growers. The variety was developed by scientists from the agricultural company Nunhems B.V. Combines the best qualities of the parent lines - Hector and Meringue cucumbers. During the development of the new hybrid, breeders took into account all the requests of farmers. The article concentrates important points for summer residents - a description of the Director cucumber variety, reviews of those who grew the hybrid, photos of the plant and fruits.
Main characteristics
What should you know about the Director cucumber in order to properly plan plant care? Of course, the main parameters:
- Ripening period. According to the description of the variety, “Director f1” cucumbers are mid-season. More precisely, to mid-early varieties, if we take into account the time of harvesting the first harvest. Cucumbers can be consumed 40-45 days after the first shoots. Some vegetable growers are happy to grow a hybrid twice a season.
- Plant type. Parthenocarpic semi-indeterminate. This information is very necessary. Summer residents immediately know that the “Director f1” cucumber does not need pollination by bees, and the plant’s stem length is average. Therefore, it can be safely grown in a greenhouse without fear of thickening and lack of ovaries.In addition, the number of cucumbers set does not depend on temperature fluctuations.
- Bush. Medium-climbing with well-developed side shoots. Many ovaries are also formed on them. The ovaries are fasciculate, with 2-3 female type flowers located in one leaf axil.
- Leaves medium ones are dark green in color, although they can grow to large sizes.
- Fruit. Small in size (up to 10-12 cm), weighing up to 80 g, cylindrical in shape. Cucumbers with aromatic juicy pulp, very tasty, without bitterness and with small seeds inside. There are no voids in the fruits. They are covered with a smooth dark green peel, which fully corresponds to the description of the Director cucumber variety (see photo).
- Productivity. The indicator is considered the maximum expected when cultivating hybrids. According to reviews from farmers, from one bush you can get from 20 to 25 kg of tasty cucumbers of the “Director f1” variety.
- Disease resistance. The variety resists crop diseases well, so it can be successfully grown in fields without intensive chemical treatments.
- Transportability and storage ability very high. Cucumbers are stored in a cool room for up to 7 days without loss of marketability and taste.
- Application. Universal. Used fresh for salads, canning, pickling and pickling. In any form, the taste and quality of cucumbers are excellent.
In their reviews, many vegetable growers note the high yield of the Director cucumber and post photos of the results obtained as proof.
Briefly about the characteristics of the variety in the video:
Advantages and disadvantages
What you should know before planting a cucumber called “Director” on your site. Of course, there are its pros and cons. All of them are indicated by the manufacturer in the description of the “Director” cucumber variety.The second important source is the reviews of gardeners who grew the “Director f1” cucumber. Among the advantages of the hybrid, they note:
- the power and height of the bushes, which are easy to care for;
- taste and product characteristics of cucumbers;
- duration of fruiting and the ability to grow in the second whorl;
- resistance to cucumber diseases;
- shade tolerance, which expands the possibilities for placing beds;
- cultivation in any type of soil with the same yield;
- regenerative abilities – rapid recovery of plants after damage.
Among the disadvantages, gardeners name a large number of stepsons that have to be removed in time. This procedure takes time, but it saves the root system from excessive stress, and the owners of the beds from a decrease in cucumber yield.
Features of cultivation
The agricultural technology of the variety does not differ significantly from the cultivation of other types of cucumbers. But gardeners should know all the intricacies of growing the “Director” hybrid and its care requirements.
According to the description of the variety, the “Director f1” cucumber is grown in two ways:
- seedlings;
- seedless.
The variety grows well when sown directly in the ground. With this method, you need to prepare the bed in advance:
- in the fall, remove all plant debris, apply fertilizer and dig deep;
- in the spring, pour a hot solution of potassium permanganate and dig again, now shallowly;
- level the soil and form ridges with row spacing for easy care of cucumbers.
Sowing in the ground
Sow the cucumber variety Director f1 in the ground with dry or soaked seeds. If the seeds are soaked, then you need to wait until they hatch. This is how suitable planting material is selected.The minimum value of soil temperature at which sowing of “Director” cucumber is allowed is considered to be +14°C.
The "Director" hybrid grows well after legumes (except beans), cabbage varieties, potatoes, and onions.
The planting pattern in open ground is 50x50 cm. For parthenocarpic and tall cucumbers, it is important not to violate the recommended distance. This will allow the plants to develop properly and produce high yields. For 1 sq. m area you need to place no more than 3 cucumber bushes. The seeds are buried 2 cm. 2 cucumber seeds are placed in one hole, and in the true leaf phase the weaker specimen is pinched off.
Sowing seedlings
The seedling method allows you to get a harvest of cucumbers much earlier than when sowing in the ground. In order for the “Director” hybrid seedlings to grow strong and healthy, it is necessary to adhere to certain requirements.
- Seed preparation. According to reviews from summer residents, cucumbers of the “Director” variety have excellent germination (see photo).
But some still soak them in a growth stimulant or disinfectant solution of potassium permanganate. If planting material was purchased in a licensed package, then the necessary preparation has already been carried out by the manufacturer. - Soil preparation. “Director” cucumbers are well suited to ready-made soil mixture for seedlings, which you can buy. The second option is to prepare the soil yourself. You will need turf soil and humus in equal quantities. Then ash (0.5 cups), potassium sulfate (5 g) and superphosphate (10 g) are added to the mixture bucket. After mixing, the soil is spilled with a solution of potassium permanganate and calcined to disinfect it.
- Preparing containers. Cucumber seedlings does not tolerate transplants, so summer residents try to do without picking. Separate plastic cassettes or containers, peat tablets or cups are prepared for seedlings. Plastic containers are washed with a disinfectant solution and dried. The drug "Extrasol-55" is suitable.
- Sowing. Fill the containers with soil mixture, leaving 1 cm to the top side. The soil is slightly compacted and moistened. Make holes 2 cm deep and lay out the seeds of the Director cucumber.
The optimal temperature for germination of cucumbers of the “Director” variety is + 22°С…+26°С. The seedlings also need to be provided with good lighting.
As soon as the first true leaf appears on the seedlings, the cucumbers are fed with complex fertilizer, for example, Kemira-Lux or Radifarm. When 3-4 leaves are formed, the “Director” seedlings can be transplanted to a permanent place. Before planting, seedlings are treated one leaf at a time with Epin or Zircon.
Planting in the ground and care rules
For open ground, the recommended planting pattern for Director cucumbers is 30 cm between plants and 1 m between rows. Plants are placed in a checkerboard pattern to maintain the optimal number of cucumbers per 1 square meter. m area.
The most necessary measures for caring for the “Director f1” cucumber, as described and reviewed by experienced gardeners:
- Proper watering. The soil should not be allowed to dry out. Water the cucumbers carefully at the root with warm, settled water. In the greenhouse, they monitor the condition of the soil and water it when the top layer dries out. In open ground, you can practice daily watering, but in the evening.
- Regular feeding. It is recommended to feed cucumbers once every 2 weeks. “Director” responds well to organic matter – an infusion of bird droppings or cow manure.If these components are not available on the site, then use urea, superphosphate, and ammonium nitrate. In addition to root feeding, foliar irrigation with complex fertilizers for vegetables is important for the crop. Mineral fertilizers are applied taking into account the growing season of the cucumber.
- Bush formation. In order to form on the plant, the main vine is pinched. This is done after 8-9 sheets. The second necessary action is to remove the stepsons on the cucumbers. According to the description of the “Director” cucumber variety and reviews from summer residents, this procedure should be done at least once a week (see photo).
In the greenhouse, cucumbers are formed on trellises. - Prevention of diseases and pest infestations. The main condition is careful compliance with agrotechnical requirements. The Director cucumber does not require regular treatments with fungicides. At the breeding stage, the variety received sufficient protection from diseases.
Reviews
Careful study of the description of the “Director f1” cucumber, reviews of the variety and photos will help you grow a high yield at minimal cost.
Video confirmation:
