Content
All gardeners know that cucumbers are divided into several types according to the method of pollination. Bee-pollinated varieties grow well in temperate climates in open ground. Sudden cold snaps, which cause insects to disappear for a while, are dangerous for them. But more and more questions are associated with growing these varieties in greenhouses. It is known that insects are difficult to lure into greenhouse. Is it possible to grow a rich harvest of such varieties indoors? Let's talk about this in more detail.
Methods for pollinating cucumbers
To understand how the pollination process occurs, it is enough to recall a few paragraphs of a botany textbook. Cucumber flowers are divided into two types:
- women's;
- men's
They participate in pollination, without which it is impossible to obtain a rich harvest. The ovary is formed when male plant cells come into contact with female ones, and this plant cycle is extremely important. Breeders propose to achieve pollination in a different way, without the participation of male flowers. Thus, according to the method of pollination, today we can divide all cucumbers into three types:
- pollinated by insects (mainly bees);
- self-pollinated;
- parthenocarpic.
Can also be classified as parthenocarpic self-pollinating varieties, the meaning will not change. Such hybrids will either have predominantly female flowers, or the flower will have both a pistil and a stamen at the same time.
Bee-pollinated cucumbers can only be pollinated naturally, which limits their cultivation in greenhouses. Yes, this is possible, but it will require a little more effort and time from the gardener. But such varieties have a number of advantages.
Benefits of bee-pollinated cucumbers
Today, the choice of seeds is based on:
- taste qualities;
- method of pollination;
- speed of maturation;
- variety yield.
And if, during the formation of the ovary, parthenocarpic hybrids are very capricious with temperature changes, then for bee-pollinated plants this factor does not play a role. One “but”: temporary cold weather can scare away insects. If the pollination process goes smoothly, then insect-pollinated plants will produce a large harvest.
Growing in a greenhouse
Let's consider the possibility of growing bee-pollinated varieties of cucumbers in a greenhouse. Not everyone knows that this process is quite possible, although it may be associated with a number of problems. However, our gardener is not afraid of difficulties!
Considering all the phases of the process from planting seeds to harvesting, it should be noted that the most important stage will be the pollination process.
Pollination process in a greenhouse
Experienced gardeners know what to achieve pollination in a greenhouse can be done in two ways (if, of course, non-self-pollinating varieties are planted):
- With the help of insects.
- Using artificial pollination.
If the weather is warm and sunny, opening the greenhouse doors to attract bees is the first method. And if it is very doubtful, then the second is preferable.It is difficult to attract insects to a greenhouse. They are reluctant to fly even through wide open doors. Moreover, even if a few bees get inside, no one can guarantee that they will do their job perfectly. Therefore, they often resort to the second method. Cucumbers will give a rich harvest if everything is done correctly.
A little theory
So, as mentioned earlier, flowers are divided into male and female. In order to carry out artificial pollination, you will need to take a paint brush and spend a sufficient amount of time.
Learn in advance to distinguish two inflorescences from each other. It's very easy to do. The photo below shows two flowers, and it’s immediately obvious what the difference between them is.
- Male flowers are usually located in the leaf axils at the bottom of the plant and grow in groups;
- The female flowers grow separately, under each of them you can see a small ovary, similar to a small cucumber.
For clarity, we suggest watching a short video. It will help you finally understand how to distinguish one species from another.
Detailed job description
The essence of the pollination process in a greenhouse comes down to the transfer of pollen from a male flower to a female flower to produce an ovary. This is done using a simple paint brush. You can use a soft toothbrush or a cotton swab - whichever is more convenient for you, however, working with a brush is simple and reliable.
You can also pick the male flower and carefully remove the corolla (petals), leaving the stamen open.Then, with simple movements, pollen from the stamens is transferred to the stigmas of the pistils of female flowers. Under no circumstances should female flowers be removed, since they are the ones that produce bee-pollinated cucumbers.
The video shows the process of such work in sufficient detail.
Possible problems
Things may not always go smoothly. Remember that bee-pollinated cucumbers, regardless of variety, require both male and female flowers. Sometimes it happens that the male ones have already grown up, but the female ones have not had time to take shape. There is a real problem called barren flower.
We can and should fight this problem! Cucumber flowers open for only a day, and pollination must be done as soon as possible. The cause of barren flowers can be:
- poor quality of purchased seeds;
- improper cultivation (cucumbers love moisture, sun and warmth);
- lack of feeding;
- refusal to pinch;
- incorrect selection of varietal seeds independently.
If you buy seeds in a store, give preference to trusted manufacturers. If you select seeds yourself, remember:
- It will not be possible to obtain a new high-quality harvest from hybrids;
- It is necessary to be able to distinguish male cucumbers from female ones.
A female cucumber of any variety has four seed chambers, while a male cucumber has three. In order for the harvest to be of high quality, the seeds must sit for at least 2-3 years before planting.
If you create the correct climatic conditions for the seedlings, pinching and fertilizing them in time, you will not be in danger of being barren.
Topping
Regardless of whether you grow bee-pollinated cucumbers in open ground or in a greenhouse, it is necessary to stimulate the growth of side shoots.This rule applies to both early and late varieties. The procedure differs slightly:
- for early varieties, pinch the main shoot after 8-10 leaves;
- for late varieties it is necessary to do this after 6-8 leaves.
Additionally, you will remove dense growths and allow the plant to give all its strength to its offspring, and this is also a big plus.
Bee-pollinated varieties for greenhouses
Among the bee-pollinated varieties, there are those that are very loved by gardeners. Try planting these cucumbers in the greenhouse and go through the entire process from beginning to end. Let's look at several varieties that are considered bestsellers:
- early ripening variety “Competitor” (you can get offspring from it yourself);
- early ripening hybrid “Murashka”;
- hybrid "Spring";
- ultra-early hybrid "Ajax".
We have included them in a small comparative table for detailed information. Check it out.
Variety/hybrid | Purpose | Description of the fruit | Fruiting period | Productivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Competitor | fresh, salted and for canning | Zelenets is 10-12 centimeters in length and weighs up to 130 grams | early variety, no more than 50 days | about 4 kilograms per sq. meters (subject to the planting scheme) |
Murashka | fresh, salted and for canning | greens 10-15 centimeters in length with a weight of no more than 100 grams | early variety, 43-45 days | one plant gives 6-7 kilograms |
fontanel | fresh, salted and for canning | greenery weighs on average 100 grams, has a length of 10-12 centimeters | mid-season variety, fruiting after 52 days | up to 23 kilograms per sq. meters (subject to the planting scheme) |
Ajax | fresh, salted and for canning | weight no more than 100 grams, length 6-12 centimeters | Fruiting occurs after 40 days, rarely - after 50 | up to 10 kilograms per sq. meters (subject to the planting scheme) |
Conclusion
Growing bee-pollinated cucumbers yourself in a greenhouse is a lot of work, which will definitely be rewarded with a rich harvest. Cucumbers have always been the number one vegetable in Russia, and their popularity is only growing every year. Of course, it will be a little easier with parthenocarpic varieties, but what to choose in the end is up to you to decide.
