Cucumber "Spring": description and cultivation

Among the many varieties of cucumber varieties there is one hybrid that has been massively cultivated by domestic gardeners for decades. This is about "Rodniche", characteristics of which seemed very attractive to many summer residents. Let us and we will find out why the fruits of the variety are so fond of and how to achieve the highest quality crop when it is grown on your own plot.

Description of the variety

Cucumbers "Spring" refers to medium ripening group, pollination which occurs with the help of bees. These are rather tall plants, distinguished by not too strong branching and female type of flower formation. Ripe fruits have excellent taste and are suitable for both fresh use and for all kinds of conservation. On average, cucumbers are ready to harvest within 52 days after the first leaves appear, but you don’t have to harvest the entire crop at once.

Fruits ripen at the same time, so you have time to fully enjoy them. They are characterized by a light green color and a weight of about 90-110 g each, with a length of 9-12 cm. On the skin there are well visible side white stripes, and rare black spikes are placed on the entire surface. When cut, the fruit is very fragrant, crunchy, not bitter and does not have voids.

For this variety, beam formation of ovaries is characteristic, about 2-3 per node, and up to five shoots can appear on a single plant. On average, with greenhouse cultivation using a trellis, you can harvest up to 17-25 kg of crop from 1 m², while when placed in open soil, these figures are somewhat more modest and amount to 5-7 kg. In addition to abundant harvests, "Spring" boasts excellent product characteristics of delicious cucumbers.

The advantages and disadvantages of the variety

It is not difficult to judge about some of the advantages of the hybrid Springwell F1, based on the above description, but this is not all The advantages of the specified cucumber. They should add the following:

• good external and taste data;
• ease of growing and caring for plants;
• good resistance to various diseases (for example, anthracnose, olive spot, bacteriosis);
• the possibility of growing in open ground and in greenhouse conditions;
• high yield, which is not particularly dependent on care;
• possibility of transportation for subsequent sale.

Despite the considerable list of benefits, we can not exclude the presence certain shortcomings of the variety. So, undemanding care does not mean that you can neglect dressing, irrigation and other agrotechnical measures, because the lack of fluid in the soil often leads to deterioration of the taste of "Spring", the fruits begin to taste bitter and can only be used for conservation. In addition, do not forget about the rules of storage of the crop, because the cucumbers left in a warm room will lose elasticity in a few days and will begin to fade.

Features and differences from other varieties

In many ways, the fruits of the described varieties are similar to many other cucumbers, but there is one characteristic difference - in this case they are all have about the same length and shape, that from the aesthetic side looks very attractive. All the "springs" are almost as on selection, which is also an excellent proof of the relevance of growing these cucumbers for commercial purposes.

Landing

Planting the seeds of cucumber variety "Spring" provides for several sequential actions, and depending on the landing site (greenhouse or garden under the open sky) they will have some differences. However, we will first understand the nuances of the preparation of planting material.

Seed preparation

In this type of cucumber, almost all the seeds are female-type, which means that standard long-term heating is not necessary in this case. Nevertheless, they are still slightly warmed up before direct planting (the procedure helps to destroy possible pathogens), and then they are soaked in water for germination or swelling.

Outdoor cultivation

Preparations for planting cucumbers "Spring" F1 in an open area begins in the autumn, when all the remnants of garbage and tops are burned, and the soil is dug up. After that, you need to prepare a three-percent solution of bleach and apply it to all glass, wood and metal surfaces located in this area. The soil is not only being dug up, but chicken dung or rotted cow manure is also being brought into it, although if there is no organic matter in the farm, you can use ready-made mineral compounds (cucumbers respond well to potassium), only with the note "for cucumbers".

Plant cucumbers better in rows, that allows you to easily take care of them, and in the future it will be easier to harvest. Between neighboring plants always leave a distance of 25-30 cm, but the distance between the rows is a little longer and can be 70 cm. When planting, "Spring" seeds are deepened into the ground by two centimeters, well watered and covered with film or agrofibre, which will protect them from possible return frost.Cucumbers of this variety sprout quickly enough, and you can see the first seedlings already on the 3-4th day after sowing the seeds. With a significant increase in temperature outside and high solar activity, temporary shelters are removed so that young plants can breathe a little. Also Do not forget to monitor the soil moisture: it should not be crusted.

During the period of active growth of leaves and shoots, cucumbers are fed with nitrogen-containing compounds, while for the flowering period phosphoric mixtures are more suitable, and when forming ovaries, it will be useful to add potassium and nitrogen to the soil.

Growing seedlings

Many gardeners believe that the cultivation of cucumbers in the greenhouse or at home requires much less time and effort than their cultivation in the conditions of open ground, but this is not quite so. The fact is that in this case all phytosanitary standards, microclimatic conditions must be observed, and in addition to this, the requirements for the care of seedlings cannot be ignored.

Often, seedling cultivation begins with seed treatment to stimulate the simultaneous growth of seeds, for which the Epin, Etamon, Zircon or Narcissus preparations are ideal. As a substrate for the filling of pre-prepared pots or drawers are perfect special prepared mixtures for the cultivation of vegetable crops, although if you want to save, then you can prepare such a substrate yourself. In the latter case, the constituent parts of the most suitable soil will be fertile soil from the bed, peat and humus, taken in equal proportions. However, before filling this mixture in pots, it is useful to treat it with special compositions for disinfection (for example, the preparations "Gamar", "Fitosporin" and "Planriz").

For sowing seeds of cucumber "Spring" pots with a volume of 50-55 ml with a planting depth of 1.5 cm are well suited. in the daytime and 10 ° C at night. Pick up of plants is carried out in separate containers measuring 4.5 x 4.5 cm and a volume of about 80 ml.

Care

For all cucumbers, it is very important to fulfill the following growing requirements: planting should be done only in well-drained nutrient substrates, with further care it is necessary to remember frequent watering only with warm water and regular dressings (approximately once every 1-2 weeks depending on the variety). Also important components of plant well-being will be wet and fairly warm content, good lighting. Let's talk about all these requirements in the case of growing "Spring".

Watering

As in the case of other cucumbers, watering of the described hybrids is performed daily in the evening and using only warm and soft water. It is not necessary to flood plants "with a reserve", because puddles stagnating near the roots may cause them to rot. Usually such phenomena are observed on soils with poor drainage system or in open areas in prolonged rainy weather.

In greenhouse conditions, watering should be moderate with the use of 4-5 liters of water per square before the buds appear on the plants.In this case, it is necessary to limit the active growth of leaf mass and “force” cucumbers to concentrate all their forces on the formation of a large number of ovaries. As soon as buds appear on the plants (especially if they have already started blooming), watering is done once every 2-3 days, using 9-10 liters of water per m² for this procedure. At the end of the flowering process, the amount of watering is reduced to 1 time in several days.

If the summer was very hot, then in addition to the regular introduction of liquid into the soil, you can spray the glass in the greenhouse with a solution of chalk, and sprinkle the leaves with warm water from a spray bottle.

Top dressing

Almost all cucumbers respond well to manure application in the soil, and the described hybrid variety is no exception. However, this dressing can be used only in the form of an infusion, for the preparation of which in a bucket of water dilute 1 liter of fresh manure and leave it to infuse for 10-14 days. The finished composition before direct use is additionally diluted in water in a ratio of 1:10. Nevertheless, the following fertilizer will be more useful for the first fertilizer "Spring": for 10 liters of water you need to take 10-15 g of ammonium nitrate,15-20 g of potassium sulfate, 20-25 g of superphosphate, and after mixing all the ingredients, pour the prepared infusion of planting per 1 bucket of the mixture per 10-15 plants.

Second time fertilize planting cucumbers should after about 14 days when they begin to bloom and ovaries appear on them. During this period, organic compounds are best suited for the role of nutritional compounds: the above-mentioned manure and chicken manure. In addition, 10 liters of such liquid fertilizer will not prevent you from adding 5-10 g of nitrophos, 1 cup of wood ash, 0.5 g of boric acid, 0.3 g of manganese sulphate. In this case, for 1 m² of plantings, 3 liters of fertilizer solution are used, which is poured into the furrows prepared in advance under the bushes.

Alternatively, mineral fertilizers can be used for the second feeding, but in this case potassium should be much more nitrogen.

The third time the Rodnichka dressing is carried out another 14 days after the previous one, and this time heavily diluted manure is used: for 10 liters you need only 2.5 tablespoons of mullein.The same feed is suitable for the fourth fertilizer (in another two weeks).

Spraying

Spraying of spring-type cucumbers can be carried out completely for different purposes: for foliar feeding, for protection against diseases and pests or for watering, for additional moistening of plants. In the first case, the following working solution is prepared for foliar treatment: 1 g of orthoboric acid, 30 g of potassium nitrate, 0.1 g of zinc sulfuric acid, 60 g of superphosphate, 150 g of urea and 0.4 g are added to a bucket of water (10 l). manganese sulfate. For protective purposes, often use drugs "Topaz" and "Confidor", applying them according to the instructions. As for irrigation, spraying is done by sprinkling.

Diseases and pests

Unfortunately, despite the resistance of the variety to common "cucumber diseases", it is impossible to completely exclude the possibility of the development of a particular ailment. Therefore, we consider the most frequent diseases and options to combat them when growing "Spring".

• Mealy dew. Characterized by the formation of small bright spots on the outer part of the leaf plate of cucumbers. Over time, they "crawl" all over the plant, because of which the whips turn brown and soon completely fall off.The reason for the emergence and development of the disease is usually excessively watering and spreading on the site with weed cucumbers, and to cope with the disease and save most of the crop, all damaged leaves and lashes need to be collected and burned. The remaining bushes are treated with ground sulfur powder using 25-30 g of the substance per 10 m².

• Perinosporosis. Already in the initial stages of the disease, leaves are clearly visible specks of greenish-yellow color with a faint greenish tinge. Over time, they increase in size, and on the bottom of the sheet also appears a raid, but already purple. In the case of this ailment, it is easier to prevent it than to try to treat it, which means that before planting the seeds should be processed in a solution of potassium permanganate, and when watering the plants only warm water should be used. In the active phase of the disease, the plants are treated with Bordeaux mixture.

• Anthracnose appears yellow-brown spot on the leaves, after which a pink bloom appears on the bushes. As in the previous version, diseased plants are recommended to be treated with Bordeaux mixture, performing the procedure at least 4-5 days before the intended harvest.

• White rot. As the name implies, the disease manifests itself in the form of a white slimy mucous, entangling cucumber leaves and stalks. To cope with it, all parts affected by rot are cut and burned, and then greenhouses or beds are disinfected, and the plants are fed with a special mixture: you need to take 2 g of copper sulfate and 10 g of urea into a bucket of water. One liter of this tool is enough for 10 m².

• Root rot In this case, the object of the disease is the root system of cucumbers, and most often the reason for its development is the use of low-quality seed material, sowing seeds in too cold soil, cold watering or a depleted substrate. To fight the disease, you must dig up the roots, sprinkle them with sand, fresh sawdust or chalk, before removing the damaged parts.The cut areas are sprinkled with ash, and the soil around the roots is powdered with dry bleach per 200 g per 10 m².

• Cladosporiosis - Another common ailment of cucumbers. Manifested by a large number of watery angular spots on the fruit, which eventually grow and harden. For prophylactic purposes, cucumbers are treated with a 15% solution of Bordeaux mixture, and the same Bordeaux mixture and copper chlorine are used to combat the disease.

From the pests to your plantings can melt melon aphid, ants, spider mite, whitefly and slugs. With them gardeners are fighting using chemical and folk methods: for example, planting tobacco on a plot (the whitefly does not like it), treating the earth with ashes or lime (it will help against slugs and ants) or sprinkling with onion and garlic infusions (sponge-mite well), etc.

With proper farming practices and timely prevention, you will not have any problems with Rodnichok cucumbers, and all of these diseases, like possible pests, will never appear on plants, especially since the description of this hybrid variety mentions its resistance to them.With very little effort, soon your labors will be rewarded with tasty and crunchy cucumbers.