Content
Many buyers who carefully read all the information on the packaging of cucumber seeds have noticed that now not just early varieties, but ultra-early varieties are becoming increasingly popular. The main question that worries gardeners is why late varieties are needed, because no one likes to wait long. In this question lies the secret that we will talk about.
Categories of varieties
According to the degree of ripening, all cucumber seeds are divided into four categories:
- early (no more than 42 days of ripening);
- early ripening (ripening in 43-45 days);
- mid-season (46-50 days);
- late varieties (over 50 days).
Sometimes the manufacturer simply indicates the category without bothering to indicate the number of days of ripening. This description will help beginners easily determine how long the fruits of a particular variety ripen.
The difference between early and late varieties
To understand what is the difference between some varieties of cucumbers and others, you need to understand how this plant grows. After the first shoots appear from the seed, the cucumber grows not only up, but also down, that is, the root system is formed and develops well. The plant devotes a huge amount of energy to this development.
During the flowering period the situation changes. The growth of the rhizome slows down, and a new life cycle of cucumbers begins.As soon as the ovaries appear, all the energy will be spent on their growth, but the growth of the rhizome will stop. Thus, early varieties can bear fruit accordingly:
- or in large quantities, but for a very short period;
- or in small quantities.
The reason is simple: plants of this type have too little strength to develop. Late varieties have more time to develop, and they can be successfully grown not only in open ground, but also in greenhouses.
In Russia, cucumber is considered a particularly favorite crop. Without them, it is impossible to imagine fresh summer salads and winter pickles. That is why growing cucumbers is very popular and interests a huge number of summer residents. This vegetable can often be found on window sills and glassed-in balconies in apartments, let alone greenhouses! Additional benefits of late varieties:
- disease resistance;
- ability to tolerate lower temperatures;
- high viability.
Growing conditions for late varieties
To grow cucumbers, regardless of whether they are early or late, general conditions must be observed. Cucumber is a special plant, it is quite capricious, you cannot call it unpretentious. So, you need:
- observe the temperature regime (over 12 degrees Celsius);
- the air should be sufficiently humid;
- Cucumbers require a lot of sun.
Most importantly: they don't like the cold. If the soil does not warm up, the seeds may die. Late varieties, especially hybrids, are bred with the expectation that they can easily tolerate small temperature fluctuations.
Seed selection
Considering the positive qualities of late varieties of cucumbers, you need to be able to plant them in greenhouses. First, you have to choose the right seeds in the store. What should you pay attention to?
- It must be a hybrid, not a variety.
- Cucumbers must be self-pollinating, since insects are reluctant to fly into the greenhouse, and in the fall they may not be there at all.
Below we will describe some popular late hybrids of cucumbers for planting in greenhouses.
Planting seeds in a greenhouse
On the eve of planting, you can harden the seeds in a simple way. This will allow them to germinate in supposedly worse conditions than those described on the package. To do this, they are placed in wet gauze and stored on the refrigerator door for two to three days. The temperature should not be too low.
Then the seeds are kept in a solution enriched with microelements. They are sold in the same place where the seeds are sold.
Pay attention to the planting diagram indicated on the packaging. If cucumbers are planted in the summer, it is better to foresee a reduction in daylight hours and place the bushes more widely.
Late varieties can be planted both at the end of spring and at the end of summer in a greenhouse. This is done both in special cups with subsequent replanting, and directly into beds, although not everyone finds it convenient to form bushes in this way.
Care
Cucumbers will need to be constantly watered and fed. For these two processes you need to know a few secrets. They are as follows:
- plants do not require special care, subject to temperature conditions and plenty of sun (for example, in the southern regions);
- if the temperature drops and autumn comes, watering can only be done with warm water;
- It is better to water the bushes at dawn; when the temperature inside the greenhouse drops, this should be done once every few days;
- when ovaries appear, watering is usually significantly increased (at least twice), but this is only possible in a warm greenhouse;
- control watering and temperature (if the temperature drops, reduce watering, as this can destroy the plants);
- when the temperature drops, weekly fertilizing with a solution of nettle and dandelion is indicated (can be replaced by adding complex fertilizer).
This will preserve the plants and get a rich harvest. Late autumn cucumbers are very tasty. They can be used both raw and pickled. Please note that the purpose of the cucumber is also often indicated on the packaging. Some varieties are not suitable for canning, which the gardener may simply not know about.
If in your region it is already quite cold in September, and the greenhouse is not heated, you can add mulch to the soil in the form of a layer of humus (10 centimeters is enough). Remember that dew is dangerous for plants of late varieties of cucumbers and greenhouse. Cold drops falling on leaves and stems provoke hypothermia and the development of diseases. It can lead, for example, to the development of fungal diseases in all varieties without exception. If the temperature is low, after watering it is better to cover the cucumbers with non-woven material until the sun warms the air.
If brown spots begin to form on the leaves, the plants are sprayed with an aqueous solution with a mixture of milk (natural milk in an amount of 50% of the volume of water).
In case you are just planning to grow some varieties of cucumbers in the greenhouse, take this fact into account during the construction stage.
Do not forget that today a huge number of different preparations for caring for cucumber seedlings are sold, which allows you to effectively fight both pests and diseases. Late varieties of cucumbers can suffer from them only in unfavorable environmental conditions, more often with abundant watering during the cold period.
A video with tips for planting late varieties of cucumber will also be useful.
Some late varieties
Let us describe popular varieties of late cucumbers that can be grown in a greenhouse. All of them belong to the type of hybrids and pollinate independently without the participation of insects.
Name | Greens length | Productivity | Sowing depth | Fruiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Alyonushka | up to 11 centimeters | 15 kilograms per 1 m2 | 3-4 centimeters | in 60-65 days |
Ob | on average 8-9 centimeters | up to 485 centners per hectare | 3-4 centimeters | in 55 days |
Rais | up to 18 centimeters | 28 kilograms per 1 m2 | 2-3 centimeters | in 58-61 days |
Salad | 10-16 centimeters | 12 kilograms per 1 m2 | 3-4 centimeters | after 47 days |
Sapphire | 36 centimeters | about 24 kilograms per 1 m2 | 3-4 centimeters | in 70-76 days |
Seryozha | up to 18 centimeters | no more than 22 kilograms per 1 m2 | 3-4 centimeters | in 70-74 days |
Forward | on average 20-21 centimeters | no more than 14 kilograms per 1 m2 | 3-4 centimeters | in 60-65 days |
Conclusion
Due to the fact that early varieties are gaining enormous popularity, later ones are losing ground. There are fewer and fewer of them on the market. Some of them are intended for planting in open ground. Of course, pollination of a bee-pollinated variety in a greenhouse is also possible, but this process is complex and few people would like to waste their time on this tedious task.
When planting cucumbers in heated greenhouses, the problem of cold weather is eliminated, but in this case it is important not to destroy the plants due to dry air. This is the most common problem with such greenhouses. Cucumber is a rather capricious plant, regardless of the variety; not everyone is able to grow a rich harvest in the first season, but experience is important for any business, and it does not come immediately.
