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Many gardeners have the opinion that growing cucumbers is not very difficult, especially when the crop is intended for open ground. In some ways, of course, they are right if they have accumulated experience behind them. Beginning gardeners need to know when and on what soil it is better to plant cucumbers, as well as navigate the choice of seeds. Today we’ll talk about cucumber varieties that are optimal for the middle zone.
Basic rules for planting cucumbers in open ground
It is optimal to plant cucumbers in the middle zone at the end of May. Varieties intended for open ground can be planted with seeds or seedlings, the main thing is that the ground is warm at the time of planting.
To get a good harvest of cucumbers in the middle zone, it is important to follow several basic planting rules:
- Proper seed preparation will help you get healthy cucumber sprouts. Immediately before sowing, the seeds are heated and moistened. This procedure will give the future plant immunity and reduce its incidence.
- As for the cucumber bed, its preparation requires digging a small trench with approximate dimensions of 30x30 cm. The bottom of the trench is covered with humus about 15 cm thick, and the top is filled with earth mixed with manure. As a result, you should get a bed with a small mound for cucumbers. Elevation is necessary for good drainage.
- Seeds are sown along the mound in one line. Each seed is buried in the soil to a depth of 2 cm. It is important to maintain a step between seeds of 15 cm, and the distance between rows should be at least 70 cm. For better germination results, place 2 or 3 seeds in one hole at once. From the sprouted sprouts, the stronger one is selected, and the rest are removed.
- The middle zone is characterized by a cool climate, accompanied by morning frosts. To protect the cucumbers from cooling, the beds are covered with film.
Many outdoor gardeners often use cucumber seedlings, trying to get early harvests. For such transplants, you need to have a certain skill so as not to injure the root system of the plant.
But the main thing is that when planting a plant together with a glass, the root system remains intact. Such a plant does not get sick and immediately begins to grow intensively.
The best varieties for beginning gardeners
To get a good first harvest of cucumbers on your plot, you need to select seed material suitable for the climate of the middle zone. To begin with, it is advisable to give preference to varieties that are less demanding in care. After gaining experience, it will be possible to experiment next year with more demanding plants. Many cucumbers can be called the best varieties for open ground, but it is advisable for novice gardeners to try vegetables that have already proven themselves.
"April F1"
The big advantage of the variety is its unpretentiousness, resistance to low temperatures, good fertility and tasty fruits.
The vegetable belongs to the hybrids of an early species. The first fruits can be obtained 45 days after germination. The plant is very compact and practically forms a bush itself. This allows you to grow a cucumber even in any container on the loggia, and in the open ground it is convenient to cover it with film to protect it from morning frosts. Large cucumbers grow up to 25 cm long, weighing about 250 g. The vegetable is ideal for beginner gardeners in open ground.
"Erofey"
The advantage of cucumber is its resistance to viral diseases.
Cucumbers of this variety belong to bee-pollinated type. The plant is characterized by intensive growth of the stem with developed shoots covered with flowers of a mixed type. Short fruits up to 7 cm long are considered universal, as they are used for canning and preparing fresh salads.
"Ant F1"
One of the earliest cucumbers for open ground allows you to get an early harvest 39 days after germination.
The vegetable belongs to parthenocarpic hybrids. The fruit, with a maximum length of 12 cm, is covered with large pimples. The plant forms medium-sized vines with small side shoots.The advantage of the hybrid is its immunity to disease.
"Masha F1"
The plant withstands many diseases and is not afraid of poor growing conditions.
Gherkin-type cucumbers are early-ripening hybrids. The first harvest can be removed from the bush 39 days after germination. The parthenocarpic gherkin produces fruits with large pimples. The advantage of the hybrid is the complete absence of bitterness at the genetic level, long-term and abundant fruiting.
"Competitor"
The advantage of the variety is good yield with excellent taste of ripe fruits.
This variety of cucumbers is considered pickling. The plant begins to bear fruit on the 53rd day after planting in the ground. Cucumber is not afraid of powdery mildew and a number of other bacterial diseases. Small fruits weighing 120 g and a maximum length of 12 cm are densely covered with large pimples.
"Springhead F1"
The hybrid, resistant to almost all diseases, is a mid-season bee-pollinated cucumber. Fruiting occurs on the 55th day after planting in the ground. Ripe cucumbers are covered with small pimples. With a maximum length of 12 cm, the fruit weighs 100 g. Cucumber is most suitable for barrel pickling and preservation. The advantage of the variety is its crispy fruits without bitterness with a sweet aftertaste.
Optimal varieties for shady gardens
The disadvantage of open ground is often the presence of shady areas of the garden. The sun's rays may be blocked by large trees or tall structures. Cucumbers, of course, do not like extreme heat, but still, without the sun, the plant does not receive the full range of natural vitamins.And for the middle zone in a cool climate, it will generally be uncomfortable for a cucumber to grow in such a place.
However, this does not mean that the shaded areas will be empty. For such conditions, there are specially bred varieties of cucumbers.
The video shows varieties for the middle zone:
"Muromsky 36"
The variety has the peculiarity of overripening fruits. To prevent the cucumber from turning yellow, it is necessary to harvest it on time.
Cucumbers of this variety are used as pickling cucumbers. The plant withstands short-term cold snaps and thrives under the shade of trees. Small fruits up to 8 cm long ripen in 45 days, however, under good conditions, the first ovary may appear on the 35th day after germination.
"The secret of the F1 company"
These cucumbers are parthenocarpic hybrids. The first ovaries appear on the 38th day after germination. A plant with an average type of branching is covered with female type flowers. The medium-sized fruit weighs a maximum of 115 g. Convexities in the form of ribs are faintly visible on the peel. The vegetable is considered to be of universal use. The advantage of the variety is resistance to diseases.
"Moscow evenings F1"
The hybrid is resistant to viral diseases. The advantage of the variety is its universal fruits with excellent taste, suitable for pickling and fresh consumption.
The vegetable belongs to the parthenocarpic species. The first cucumbers appear 45 days after planting in the ground. The plant has strong, intensively growing vines with female-type flowers. A dark green vegetable with pimples covered with white spines. With a maximum weight of 110 g, the length of the cucumber reaches 14 cm.
Overview of varieties by ripening time
Having considered the best, according to gardeners, cucumbers intended for planting in open beds in the middle zone, it is time to get acquainted with other varieties.For convenience, we will divide them into groups according to ripening time.
Early ripe cucumbers
"Alekseich F1"
High yields, coupled with good immunity to diseases, have made the cucumber popular among summer residents.
The first ovary after germination appears after 43 days. A medium-sized plant can be grown in the garden and under film in a greenhouse. Small, without bitterness, the fruits are 8 cm long, weigh about 75 g, and are also considered universal in purpose.
"Altai early 166"
The plant is resistant to temperature changes and fungal diseases. The fruits are used to make fresh salads.
Cucumbers ripen on the 37th day after germination. Light green fruits do not turn yellow. The mass of a cucumber 9 cm long is 80 g.
"Altai F1"
Cucumber ripening occurs 35 days after germination. The oval-shaped fruit is covered with large pimples. With a length of 13 cm, the cucumber weighs 150 g. The bee-pollinated plant has good yields. The purpose of the fruit is universal.
"Vyaznikovsky 37"
The variety is resistant to low temperatures and lack of moisture. Fruiting occurs 40 days after germination. A crisp cucumber with a maximum length of 11 cm weighs 140 g. The plant grows well in the garden and under film.
"Herman F1"
Purpose – universal, for pickling and fresh salads.
The self-pollinating hybrid bears the first fruits 35 days after germination. Dark green cucumbers are covered with large pimples. The length of the fruit is 11 cm, weight - 90 g. The mature vegetable does not have the property of being bitter.
"Holopristansky"
A peculiarity of the variety is the yellowness of cucumbers when harvested late.
The plant bears fruit on the 42nd day after germination. The green fruit is covered with longitudinal light stripes. A dense vegetable with crispy pulp, it is suitable for pickles and fresh dishes.
"Dasha F1"
The high-yielding plant is disease-resistant and grows well in open ground and under film.
The bee-pollinated cucumber variety bears its first fruits 48 days after germination. The large fruit, 12 cm long, weighs about 110 g, and is covered with light thorns on top. Cucumber has a universal purpose.
Medium-ripening cucumber varieties
Mid-ripening cucumbers are excellent for pickles, canning, and salads, which creates a demand for them among summer residents.
"Stork 639"
Overripe fruits do not turn yellow for a long time. Suitable for canning and fresh consumption.
Fruit maturity occurs 49 days after planting. The cucumber is dark green in color and covered with light, fuzzy stripes. The peel is rarely strewn with large pimples with black spines. The maximum length of a cucumber is 14 cm, weight – 105 g.
"Alliance F1"
Most often, cucumber is consumed fresh.
The first ovary on the plant appears 51 days after germination. The cucumber is dark green in color and covered with light stripes. The mature fruit weighs 140 g with a maximum length of 15 cm.
"Runner F1"
A dark green cucumber 22 cm long weighs 125 g. The fruit is characterized by light stripes with large pimples. The shade-tolerant plant is resistant to many diseases. The purpose of the vegetable is universal.
"White Angel F1"
Exotic lovers will love the white fruit with small pimples. Ripening occurs approximately 50 days after germination. A cucumber is considered ripe when its color changes to a greenish color. The 8 cm long fruits are universal in use.
Varieties of late cucumbers
Late-ripening varieties of cucumbers are best suited for canning and pickling. Let's look at the best of this group.
"Gift of Altai"
The variety has proven itself well in open beds and under film.The dark green cucumber is covered with faint light stripes with black spines. The crispy fruit weighs 120 g and is not prone to yellowing. The purpose is universal.
"Donskoy 175"
The advantage of the variety is its resistance to heat and lack of moisture.
The appearance of the first ovary is observed 51 days after planting in the ground. Dark green fruits weighing 150 g are distinguished by their elongated shape, are not prone to yellowing, and are intended for canning and salads.
"Nezhinsky local"
Cucumbers of this variety are resistant to viral diseases. Fruiting occurs 50 days after germination. Dark green fruits 12 cm long weigh 140 g. The purpose of the fruit is universal.
"Nezhinsky 12"
Having increased immunity to major diseases, the cucumber variety has a universal purpose.
The bright green fruit with a maximum length of 11 cm weighs 110 g. Fruiting occurs 47 days after germination. The firm flesh with a characteristic crunch has excellent taste.
The video shows the varieties from which you can collect seeds:
Conclusion
This, of course, is an incomplete list of varieties suitable for growing in the middle zone on open ground, but among the large variety of cucumbers, these can be considered the most suitable for beginning gardeners.
