Content
Cucumbers are, without any doubt, the most common and favorite vegetable crop among gardeners. Unfortunately, the climatic and natural conditions of Russia do not allow for their cultivation in open ground to achieve results and yields comparable to those obtained in closed soils of greenhouses or greenhouses. In most of the Russian regions, the yield of cucumbers when grown in open ground leaves much to be desired. The Krasnodar region is one of the few exceptions to this rule. It, like Kuban as a whole (the concept of “Kuban” as a region includes most of the Krasnodar and part of the Stavropol Territory, the south of the Rostov Region, as well as the Republic of Adygea and Karachay-Cherkessia), being a southern region, is better suited than others for growing cucumbers in open ground. That is why cucumber is one of the main vegetable crops in the Krasnodar region.
Before describing the varieties and hybrids of cucumbers that are most common in the Krasnodar region, it is necessary to describe the features of this vegetable crop and the region in question.
Description and features
Cucumbers have become widespread in most regions of Russia, even where their cultivation is fraught with many difficulties. It is obvious that in the southern regions, such as the Krasnodar Territory, it is generally one of the leading vegetable crops.
Due to its commonality and everyday occurrence, almost no one thinks about the benefits and value of the plant. Meanwhile, cucumber has extraordinary taste and medicinal qualities.
Cucumber fruits contain useful minerals and vitamins, and also have antipyretic properties and can be used in the treatment of kidney and lung diseases. In addition, cucumbers are an integral and integral part of therapeutic diets for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and diabetes.
The advantages of such a familiar plant as a cucumber can be listed for quite a long time. Moreover, until now the taste of cucumber has practically not been affected. Although it is quite difficult to imagine a holiday table in Russia where cucumbers would be absent in one form or another.
Climatic and natural features of the Krasnodar Territory
When describing the climatic and natural properties and characteristics of the Krasnodar Territory, it is necessary to note several points that directly affect the cultivation of cucumbers. It should be taken into account that the Krasnodar Territory is a fairly large region, the conditions within which can also vary greatly. Next, the most characteristic and generalizing trends and properties will be considered.
High heat supply
As noted above, the Krasnodar region is one of the southernmost and, which quite logically follows from this, the warmest Russian regions. Cucumber is an extremely heat-loving plant, so this characteristic of the region is ideal for growing the plant.
Practice and many years of experience also show that the heat supply in the Krasnodar Territory, as well as in Kuban as a whole, is quite sufficient for the full ripening of cucumbers. In addition, the traditionally early onset of consistently high (+14-18 degrees) positive temperatures allows you to start planting cucumbers much earlier than in other regions. In Kuban, sowing cucumber seeds in open ground often begins on May 5-10, that is, almost 20-30 days earlier than in central Russia. The fruiting period of cucumbers increases by approximately the same amount. Thus, cucumbers grow and bear fruit in the Krasnodar Territory for almost two months longer than in central Russia.
Insufficient moisture supply
In addition to heat, the cucumber also places increased demands on the moisture of the soil in which it grows. According to this indicator, the conditions of the Krasnodar Territory, as well as almost all other regions of Russia, cannot fully ensure the normal development of the plant.
Therefore, when growing cucumbers in the Krasnodar region, special attention should be paid to proper and regular watering of the plant. In addition, when growing cucumbers, it is necessary to use various agrotechnical techniques to reduce the relevance of insufficient moisture supply in the region.
One of these agricultural practices that improves the conditions for the growth and development of cucumbers is the use of mulching material.It allows you to achieve the following goals:
- protecting the soil from drying out and cracking in dry weather, and from silting in rainy weather;
- maintaining soil moisture;
- stabilization of temperature in the soil;
- growth suppression weed;
- counteracting soil erosion and leaching of nutrients.
Both polyethylene film and special non-woven material can be used as mulching material.
Most of the other methods and techniques used for growing cucumbers in the Krasnodar Territory are practically no different from those used everywhere in other regions of Russia. The main difference between the southern region under consideration is that, thanks to the above-mentioned climate and weather features, the fruiting time and, as a consequence, the yield in the Krasnodar Territory is significantly higher than in almost any other Russian region.
Popular varieties and hybrids for the Krasnodar region
There are quite a large number of varieties of cucumbers that can be used in open ground and are zoned specifically for the Krasnodar Territory.
Hybrid Crane F1
A hybrid specially bred for open ground in the southern regions at an experimental station in Crimea. It has excellent productivity, having almost 4-5 cucumbers on each node. The hybrid refers to bee-pollinated and early-ripening cucumbers. Cucumbers have the correct ellipse shape, are quite large (length approximately 11-12 cm, weight - 90-110 g), large-tubercular.
Gardeners who grow this hybrid especially note the high taste qualities when consumed both fresh and canned, that is, it is universal.Cucumbers can be harvested until the first days of September, which indicates long and continuous fruiting. When breeding, breeders paid special attention to giving the hybrid disease resistance, which they succeeded in doing: the hybrid is practically not susceptible to downy mildew and has increased resistance to bacteriosis and powdery mildew, as well as average resistance to downy mildew. No bitterness.
Hybrid Nightingale F1
The hybrid was also bred and zoned for the southern regions at the experimental station of Crimea. Suitable for growing in open ground, but it is quite possible to use it in greenhouses or greenhouses. It belongs to the early ripening and bee-pollinated varieties of cucumbers. It begins to bear fruit after 45-50 days.
The hybrid has an elegant and attractive externally oval-cylindrical shape of the fruit, which at the same time has a bright green color. Ripe cucumbers are neat and relatively small in size - from 8 to 11 cm. They are long and weigh only 70-95 g. Large tubercles are clearly visible on the surface of the fruit. Connoisseurs consider it a universal variety, as it has excellent taste in fresh, salted, and canned form. It is highly resistant to both types of powdery mildew, and is also practically free from tobacco mosaic virus and angular spot virus. No bitterness.
Hybrid Rodnichok F1
A hybrid bred by the Pridnestrovian Research Institute of Agriculture for cultivation in open ground and early cultivation in spring film greenhouses. It belongs to the bee-pollinated and mid-season varieties of cucumbers. The hybrid has a stable yield, without setting records for this indicator, but even in years with unfavorable climatic conditions, without falling below its fairly high level.The first cucumbers ripen after 50 days. Cucumbers have a classic cylindrical shape and standard sizes: length 9-10 cm, weight 80-100 g.
It has high taste, but is most suitable for pickling. Able to resist anthracnose, olive spot and bacteriosis.
Variety Phoenix-640
The variety was obtained and zoned for the southern regions of Crimea at an experimental station located there. It is bred specifically for use in open ground. Refers to bee-pollinated and mid-season varieties of cucumbers. Has maximum resistance to downy mildew. It bears fruit in cucumbers 10 cm long. Their growth and ripening occurs very quickly, they quickly acquire a barrel-shaped “pot-bellied” shape, which, however, does not in any way affect their excellent taste properties. Has consistently high productivity. It is a universal variety, since cucumbers can be consumed both fresh and salted.
Variety Competitor
The variety was bred by breeders of the Crimean Experimental Station specifically for cultivation in open ground. The variety belongs to the early ripening and bee-pollinated varieties of cucumbers. Harvesting begins after 45-50 days. It has fairly large (10-14 cm long) fruits with a very long (5-7 cm) stalk. Just like the previous variety, it is practically not susceptible to downy mildew.
Variety Drop
A variety of cucumbers for open ground. Refers to early-ripening and bee-pollinated varieties of cucumbers. The plant is medium-sized, mainly of the female type. Zelentsy have the shape of a slightly elongated oval, large-tubercular and black-spiked. Fruit weight – 60-70 g. The variety is universal and suitable for canning, pickling and fresh consumption.Mandatory daily collection of gherkins is recommended.
Hybrid Adam F1
A hybrid of German selection, related to gherkin fruits in size. It differs in that the entire surface of the cucumber is dotted with small tubercles with spikes at the end. Their arrangement is so frequent and close that it gives the impression that the fruit is fluffy. Cucumbers have a classic dark green color.
When washed during processing, the spikes are destroyed. As a result, thin channels are formed through which the marinade instantly and evenly gets inside. This, firstly, improves the taste of the resulting product, and secondly, it allows you to reduce the amount of seasonings consumed. In addition, the hybrid has an excellent taste when used fresh in salads.
Despite the fact that the selection of the hybrid did not take place in Russia, it was zoned to domestic conditions by local specialists.
Conclusion
The natural and climatic conditions of the Krasnodar Territory make growing cucumbers in open ground quite an attractive and highly effective activity. With proper and competent management, a gardener can get an excellent harvest of his favorite, tasty and healthy vegetable.
I want to buy seeds of the phoenix competitor cucumber variety, a drop of 05 kg. Where can I buy it from?