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Gardeners purchase cucumber seeds in the fall. To prevent the vagaries of nature from affecting the harvest, self-pollinating varieties are chosen. They are suitable for cultivation in greenhouses and open ground. The best properties of first-generation hybrids with the letter “F1” cannot be duplicated using testes. Take care of the seeds in advance - there will be time to check germination.
Seed preparation
One packet from each batch of seeds will have to be sacrificed. Long before sowing seedlings, seeds are checked for germination. The first test is to put the planting material in salt water and shake it up. Those floating on top are dummies; if they sprout, they will not give a good harvest.
We sort the remaining seeds by size and soak each batch separately. Small ones are subject to rejection. Based on the results, we evaluate the quality of the seed material. Sometimes you have to increase purchases or change the seed supplier. Lost time for secondary cultivation of seedlings will result in the loss of early cucumbers. Late plantings bring smaller yields.
How long do seeds remain viable? Self-pollinating cucumbers are preferably planted in the first two years after receiving seeds. They remain viable for up to 5–8 years, but losses during germination increase every year.
Ultra-early ripening varieties of cucumbers
This group includes self-pollinating plants that are capable of producing ready-to-eat fruits 35–40 days after the appearance of the second leaf. Insect pollination is not required. Most famous "Parade", "Marinda", "Cupid", "Desdemona".
"Masha F1" for salad and canning
Extra-early varieties are intended primarily for greenhouse cultivation. It is not recommended to plant in open ground in the central and northern regions without covering with film. Productivity 11 kg/sq.m. m for greenhouse cultivation is not much. The early harvest of cucumbers is attractive. The first greens are removed already on the 36th day.
The plant's vines are limited in growth and do not exceed 2 m in length. There are few side shoots, this simplifies the formation of the bush. Up to 4 – 7 bouquet-type ovaries in a node ensure rapid growth of self-pollinating cucumbers instead of picked ones. Thick-skinned greens try to harvest earlier to stimulate growth.
- Fruit weight – 90–100 g;
- Length – 11–12 cm (harvest upon reaching 8 cm);
- Diameter 3–3.5 cm.
Delay in harvesting leads to loss of taste of overgrown fruits and inhibits the development of the bush. The bush mobilizes forces to supply seed cucumbers. Early ripening fruits of the “Masha F1” variety are distinguished by their keeping quality and can withstand transportation without consequences. When canned, they retain their density and do not form voids.
Planting of seedlings is carried out within a month from the first shoot. Overgrown plants are difficult to take root. Self-pollinating cucumbers of the Masha F1 variety are resistant to powdery mildew, olive spot, and cucumber mosaic. 1-2 preventive sprayings with complex products make the plants invulnerable.
Varieties of early ripening cucumbers
This category includes self-pollinating varieties, the fruits of which are ready for harvest on the 40th–45th day of the growing season. Seeds produced by Gavrish do not require pre-sowing treatment.
"Courage F1" is suitable for all regions
Self-pollinating cucumbers “Courage F1” with a growing season before fruiting of 38–44 days are recommended for cultivation in personal plots and in industrial quantities. During the spring-autumn period, 2 harvests of up to 25 kg/sq.m. are harvested in the southern regions. m. Scourges up to 3.5 m long on trellises bear up to 30 fruits. Up to 4–8 greens are formed in bunched ovaries. Planting density is 2–2.5 bushes per kV. m.
Regular harvesting of fruits is required. Zelentsy, up to 18 cm long and weighing up to 140 g, inhibit the growth of their young counterparts. The cucumbers on the main vine are larger, and the growth on the side shoots is more abundant. Early fruits of the "Courage F1" variety are universal in use: suitable for salads and canning.
Borderline variety of early cucumbers “Liliput F 1”
The first fruits of the self-pollinating variety “Lilliput F 1” can equally be classified as early and ultra-early cucumbers. The ripening period for greens is 38 – 42 days. Bundle formation of ovaries produces up to 10 fruits of pickles and gherkins in one axil.
The plant requires limited pinching of branches. The fruits are short, 7–9 cm, weighing 80–90 g. Productivity 12 kg/sq. m. Lovers of pickled cucumbers are admirers of this variety. Gherkins are removed every other day, pickles - daily.Delay in collection does not lead to overgrowth. Late harvests lead to thickening of the fruits, coarsening of the pulp and seeds does not occur, and yellowing does not threaten the greens. Summer residents visiting a remote site on weekends will not lose their harvest.
Self-pollinating gherkins are undemanding to agricultural technology and are resistant to traditional cucumber diseases. The early ripeness and consistent taste of the “Liliput F 1” variety entice new gardeners to germinate gherkin seeds.
Mid-early self-pollinating cucumbers. Later ripening of even early varieties brings a greater yield of cucumbers from the bush and is characterized by an increase in the quality of the fruit.
Cucumber variety "Claudia F1" grows in the shade
Hybrid seeds of the Claudia F1 variety are even purchased for harvesting on the balcony or in flower pots on the windowsill. Tolerates shade with ease. The growing season of the plant, from the first shoots to fruiting, is 45–52 days. The fruits are suitable for pickling and canning, as well as for making salads.
The ovary is laid in a bunch, an average of 3 fruits are formed in the axils of the leaves. Cucumbers are 10–12 cm long, 3–4 cm in diameter and weigh 60–90 g. The cucumber pulp is not bitter, soft, with a crunch. The seeds in the hybrid greens are small. Fruiting continues until frost. Productivity with proper care reaches 50 kg/sq.m. m.
The best yield is observed in the first half of summer. The variety is characterized by immunity to temperature changes, but a decrease in the average daily temperature leads to a decrease in fruiting up to a complete cessation of cucumber growth.
Self-pollinating cucumbers of the “Friendly Family F1” variety
The mid-early fruits of the hybrid variety “Friendly Family F1” reach technical ripeness in 43–48 days.Cultivated in greenhouses and open ground. The main vine continues to grow in length throughout the growing season. Number of side shoots without excess.
The ovaries in the nodes are fascicular. On the side branches there are 6–8 inflorescences in a bunch, on the main branch there are half as many, but the cucumbers are larger. The variety is characterized by stable, long-term fruiting until frost. Average yield 11 kg/sq.m. m. The decrease in yield in the second half of summer is insignificant.
Zelentsy are cylindrical, 10–12 cm long, up to 3 cm in diameter. Fruit weight is 80–100 cm. The pulp is dense and not bitter. For preservation, it is recommended to remove fruits up to 5 cm long at the pickle stage. No voids appear inside the greens. In addition to its primary use in pickles and marinades, the taste of the “Friendly Family F1” cucumber variety is good for salads.
The plant is not capricious, care does not require much time. But untimely harvesting leads to overgrowth of the fruits - they tend to become testes, and the seeds inside the fruit become coarse. This leads to loss of taste and growth inhibition. The variety is resistant to disease.
Varietal hybrids with a predominance of female flowers do not require pollination by insects. They resist common cucumber diseases well and produce a stable fruit harvest until frost.
