Content
Cucumber is one of the most popular vegetables. Many people love him, especially children. However, many are hesitant to plant a cucumber on their plot, believing that caring for it is difficult. In fact, there are no particular difficulties in growing cucumbers; it is enough to follow some simple rules of care, and an excellent harvest is guaranteed.
Description of the variety
Cucumber "Farmer" is one of the best hybrids for growing in domestic conditions. The variety is characterized by high yield - up to 25 kg of fruit can be obtained per square meter. The cucumber does not require special care other than plenty of regular watering. If the earthen clod dries out frequently, the cucumber fruits begin to taste bitter. It is recommended to use drip irrigation or mulch the soil for this variety.
The cucumber fruits of the “Farmer F1” variety have an excellent taste and are suitable for all types of culinary processing and fresh use. Both greens and gherkins are used for pickling.
The cucumber greens are smooth and in good presentation. They have excellent transportability. Thanks to the thick skin, they do not wither for a long time.
Characteristic
The cucumber hybrid “Farmer F1” is indeterminate, mid-season, from germination to the appearance of the first fruits it takes from 40 to 45 days. Pollination of the variety occurs with the help of bees and other insects.Cucumber vines are long, medium-branched, and can exceed 2 meters. Flowering is mainly of the female type. The leaves of the cucumber variety "Farmer F1" are green and medium in size. Up to 2 ovaries are formed in the nodes.
The fruits of the “Farmer” cucumber are large-tubercular, the tubercles are located sparsely. The fruits are smooth, slightly ribbed, white spines. The length of the cucumbers is up to 12 cm. The cucumber pulp is dense and crispy.
The variety "Farmer F1" is characterized by high resistance to a complex of diseases. Cucumbers practically do not suffer from powdery mildew, olive spot, and are resistant to other viral and bacterial diseases.
The variety is intended for cultivation in open ground, spring shelters, and tunnels.
Growing cucumber in open ground
Cucumber "Farmer F1" can be germinated in two ways - by sowing directly into the ground or through seedlings. Cucumbers grown without transplanting grow stronger because from the beginning of development they get used to changing temperatures at different times of the day. However, they bear fruit later than those grown from seedlings.
Sowing in open ground
Sowing of cucumbers is carried out when the ground warms up to 10-12 degrees. Cucumber seeds “Farmer F1” are placed in a dug hole, 2-3 pieces at a depth of no more than 7 cm. After the cucumbers emerge, one of the strongest sprouts is left.
It is undesirable to grow cucumbers in the same place for several years in a row, even if the land is regularly fertilized. The best predecessors for cucumbers:
- Tomatoes;
- Potato;
- Legumes – peas, beans;
- Onion.
Watering the cucumbers is carried out as the soil dries, being careful not to wash out the holes with a strong stream. If fertilizers were not applied to the hole before planting, you can add complex nutrients when watering.
The first shoots of cucumbers appear quite quickly, within one week. It is necessary to carry out weeding on time; young seedlings of cucumbers are very sensitive to lack of sunlight. There is no need to shade plants grown in open ground.
If "Farmer" cucumbers are planted too often, thinning is carried out. One cucumber bush requires a space of at least 30 cm in diameter. More dense plantings of cucumbers lead to nutrient deficiency, which affects the yield.
Growing cucumber seedlings
Sowing cucumber seeds of the “Farmer F1” variety for seedlings begins about a month before the expected planting date. There is no point in sowing earlier - overgrown seedlings do not take root well and their productivity is lower. If planting on time is not possible, you can briefly slow down the development of seedlings - reduce watering and lower the temperature in the room where they are located.
For normal development of cucumber seedlings within a month, a volume of soil of at least 0.5 liters is required, preferably a little more. Since the root system of cucumbers is very sensitive to damage, the growing container must be selected taking into account ease of removal. In addition to traditional plastic cups, plant growers in reviews recommend peat pots, tablets or special bags for seedlings.
Before transplanting, cucumber seedlings must be hardened off. To do this, plants are taken out into the open air, starting from several hours, gradually increasing the residence time. After 3-4 days, it is advisable to leave the plants outside overnight.
It is advisable to transplant cucumbers of the “Farmer” variety in cloudy weather. If clouds are not expected in the near future, seedlings are planted in the evening. It is advisable to shade the plants during the day for 1-2 weeks.
After planting, it is advisable to water the cucumbers abundantly to avoid the formation of air cavities in the soil. Watering is repeated after 2 - 3 days.
Caring for mature plants
Caring for grown cucumber bushes is not difficult; in order to get smooth, beautiful cucumbers, like in the photo, just follow the following recommendations:
- Provide the plant with regular watering;
- Maintain crop rotation;
- Don't forget to fertilize;
- Protect plants from fungal diseases;
- Harvest on time.
Cucumbers suffer greatly from irregular watering; both drought and waterlogged soil are detrimental to them. When there is a lack of moisture, plants slow down their growth, the leaves begin to wither and then dry out. The lower leaves are affected first. If there is excess moisture in the soil, the roots do not have enough oxygen, the process of photosynthesis slows down, and the plant may die. Therefore, for growing cucumbers, not only timely watering is important, but also good drainage.
If you grow a crop in one place for several years, you may notice a decrease in yield, even if fertilizers are regularly applied. This is explained by the fact that plants remove the same substances every year, giving very little nutrients to the soil. Gradually, an imbalance occurs in the chemical composition of the soil, and the soil structure deteriorates.
Fertilizers for “Farmer” cucumbers are applied in two ways - at the root and by spraying green leaves. It is advisable to use the first method at the beginning of plant growth, the second is preferable during the flowering of cucumbers and the formation of ovaries.
At the initial stage of development, plants most need nitrogen and magnesium. However, you need to be careful when applying nitrogen fertilizers; excess nitrogen causes an abundant growth of green mass in cucumbers to the detriment of fruiting.
During flowering, cucumbers especially need magnesium and potassium. Magnesium fertilizers are applied under the roots of cucumbers during watering; potassium fertilizers can be applied during foliar feeding. Spraying with potassium fertilizers reduces the amount of barren flowers, and the fruits grow faster. The amount of the drug for processing cucumbers is calculated according to the description of the standards in the instructions.
Protecting cucumbers from fungal diseases is not difficult - there are many safe fungicides that will provide long-term protection against fungal infections. Chemicals must be used strictly following the instructions. If the use of chemicals to protect cucumbers is undesirable, you can use products containing lactic acid, which inhibits the development of fungi. Whey is often used for these purposes.
It is necessary to harvest on time - overgrown cucumber fruits lose their taste, the seeds become hard. In addition, cucumbers waste energy and nutrients, and the formation of new ovaries is suspended.
For these purposes, you can use sugar syrup, a solution containing honey and other means.
Following simple recommendations and loving plants is guaranteed to bring a rich harvest. The main thing is not to be afraid to try.
Reviews
“Farmer” has been in our garden for 10 years in open ground, we bought it on the advice of the seller. one might say by chance. On a trellis in one row along the raspberries - half of the bed is in the shade, half is in the sun. A ridge with a slope to the northeast, i.e. conditions are spartan. We plant dry seeds under plastic bottles. And a couple of varieties for pollination (usually included in the package). They take a long time to emerge - weak, crooked, and somehow do not begin to grow for a long time. We open when the weather clears. All this time in the same place. Care as for ordinary cucumbers - watering, fertilizing. But the harvests are encouraging - beautiful, green, even huge cucumbers don’t turn yellow if you look at them. But the most important thing is in late autumn. when all other varieties die, right up to frost, even if the leaves are only at the ends of the vines, there are cucumbers. And I really want them in the fall. And over time, the cucumbers only become beautiful and crunchy. And they are very good in pickling! Try it, you won’t regret it!