Content
Previously, long-fruited cucumbers appeared on store shelves only in mid-spring. It was believed that these fruits were seasonal, and they were suitable for making salads, as an alternative to the usual varieties that bear fruit in early or mid-summer.
Today, breeders offer gardeners a wide selection of planting material for long-fruited cucumbers that have long growing seasons and grow both in greenhouses and greenhouses, as well as in open ground. Hybrids of long-fruited cucumbers are used for fresh consumption, as well as for preservation and pickling. In addition, planting and growing these varieties allows you to get early and abundant harvests.
Types and features of care
Seeds of hybrids of long-fruited cucumbers are planted in planting containers in early or mid-March, and already in April, the emerged seedlings can be transferred to greenhouse soil. Selected varieties are resistant to temperature changes, viral and bacterial diseases characteristic of seedlings grown in greenhouses.
Hybrid varieties are divided into groups according to the method of cultivation:
- For protected soil (greenhouses and greenhouses);
- For open ground (insect-pollinated);
- Asian varieties planted both in open garden plots and in greenhouses.
Hybrids of long-fruited cucumbers respond well to fertilizing and organic fertilizers, but require good black soil, regular watering and care. The main types of work during cultivation are loosening the soil, which is important for obtaining a good, abundant harvest. If you follow all the rules for caring for long-fruited cucumbers, you will be able to pick fresh fruits until mid-autumn.
Parthenocarpic
These varieties of cucumbers are grown only in greenhouses and film greenhouses, well protected from bad weather and low temperatures.
Baby F1
The hybrid resists viral diseases such as powdery mildew, cucumber mosaic, and cladospora.
The main advantages of growing a hybrid are high yields and a long growing season. Ripening dates are early with average growth rates. The fruits are long and smooth, with proper care reaching sizes of 16-18 cm. Baby F1 tolerates transportation well, maintaining its commercial qualities during long-term storage in warehouses.
Emily F1
Designed for planting and growing in glass and film greenhouses and greenhouses. It has medium vigor, high yield and resistance to temperature changes. Feels great in dimly lit places.
Beit Alpha cucumber varieties. The length of some fruits at full ripening can reach 20-22cm.The fruits have a smooth cylindrical shape and an even skin structure. The color of the fruit is dark green.
Formula F1
The hybrid is adapted for growing in greenhouses with low light or greenhouses built in the shaded part of the site. In addition, this variety has proven to be the best in its group during long-term storage and transportation.
An early hybrid of the Beit Alpha type. It has an average growth capacity and a long growing season. As you can see in the photo, the skin color is dark green, the fruits have a dense structure and reach sizes of up to 24 cm. Resistant to infection by powdery mildew, cladospora blight, and cucumber mosaic.
Paladin F1
It is distinguished by abundant early fruiting. It is grown in greenhouses, mainly on stakes. The fruits have a dense, even skin; during ripening they reach a length of 18 to 22 cm.
Paladinka F1 differs from other hybrids of the Beit Alpha group in its high degree of growth; one ovary can produce 3-4 fruits. The variety is resistant to diseases such as cladosporiosis, anthracnose, and powdery mildew.
Superstar F1
During the ripening period they can reach a length of 30 cm. This variety is one of the most popular in greenhouse farming due to its good marketability and unsurpassed taste.
A spring-summer variety of long-fruited cucumbers, which has proven itself as a powerful plant capable of high strength and regeneration speed. As you can see in the photo, the fruits are somewhat ribbed, with a dense juicy structure. In addition, Superstar F1 has a long growing season and exhibits increased resistance to fungal and viral diseases.
Minisprint F1
Designed for both glass greenhouses and film greenhouses.The fruits are not long - during the growing season they reach sizes of 15-16 cm.
The variety is characterized by a high rate of fruit ripening and belongs to the earliest hybrids of the Beit Alpha group. The fruits are juicy and dense, the surface is smooth and dark green in color. The seedlings are transferred to the greenhouse in early - mid-March and grown on stakes.
Vista F1
It is planted mainly in well-equipped permanent greenhouses, and during the ripening period it can produce fruits up to 40 cm in length.
Another parthenocarpic hybrid with high growth capacity. A distinctive feature of growth is year-round vegetation. Vista F1 is resistant to temperature changes, low light, and does not require regular watering. The skin is dense, smooth, colored light green.
F1 Tribute
An early type of hybrid, the advantage of which is large and stable yields. The length of the fruit is from 30 to 35 cm.
Resistant to fungal and viral diseases, tolerates low light. Thanks to its dense structure and durable skin, it has a fairly long fresh shelf life.
Bee-pollinated for protected and open ground
These varieties of hybrids can be grown both in greenhouses and greenhouses, and in open areas of a summer cottage. Since all hybrids are insect-pollinated, the greenhouse must have a structure with an openable roof.
Cheer F1
The hybrid is resistant to diseases of downy mildew and lesions associated with damage to the stem by insects, therefore it is widely used when growing early cucumbers in open ground.
The variety was bred by US breeders. The main advantages of cultivation are rapid ripening and high yield.The fruits have a dark green shiny color (see photo), are dense and smooth to the touch. The average size is 20-22cm, but when feeding plants with organic fertilizers they can reach 25-30cm.
Lily F1
The plant is highly resistant to temperature changes and is not susceptible to viral diseases, which are typical for early vegetable crops in open ground. During the ripening period, the fruits reach a length of 25-27 cm and have a delicate dark green skin. Lily F1 is an early and high-yielding variety, so it is recommended to plant seedlings in open ground in early April.
Amanda F1
One of the varieties recognized by gardeners as the best for growing in film greenhouses.
Early high-yielding hybrid. Fruits with strong growth and disease resistance. Cylindrical dark green fruits reach sizes of 28-30cm. The skin is dense and smooth. The hybrid exhibits resistance to viral diseases - powdery mildew, downy mildew, cucumber mosaic.
Awning F1
One of the earliest hybrids of long-fruited cucumbers for growing in open ground.
The plant has powerful and rapid growth, a long growing season, and is resistant to cold temperatures and low shaded lighting. As you can see in the photo, the length of the fruit is small - 20-22cm. The skin is dark green, smooth and shiny.
Insect-pollinated hybrids of Asian type
Chinese greenhouse hybrids appeared on domestic agricultural markets not so long ago, and immediately gained popularity due to the low cost of seeds, stable yields, and high disease resistance.
Vanguard F1
A hybrid with a female type of flowering, strong powerful growth and a long growing season. Designed for growing long-fruited cucumbers in open ground and in film greenhouses. The cylindrical fruits are dark green in color. The skin is dense, tuberous with small white pimples.
Alligator
Vegetable growers who grew Alligator in their beds claim that some specimens of this variety, with proper care and regular feeding, can reach a length of 70-80 cm.
An exotic type of Asian hybrid with fruits whose appearance resembles large zucchini. The plant is resistant to almost all fungal and viral diseases, cold-resistant, has early ripening and produces a rich harvest.
Recently, Asian varieties of cucumbers have been replenished with new types of long-fruited hybrids - such as Chinese white, Chinese snakes, White delicacy, Chinese long-fruited, Chinese miracle. All of them require certain care and watering, so when choosing Chinese hybrids for your greenhouse, carefully read the instructions.
Conclusion
If you are planting long-fruited cucumbers for the first time, carefully choose a variety and study the possibility of their further use. Some hybrids have excellent taste and are suitable not only for salads, but also for canning.
