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Every gardener, planting cucumber seeds in the ground, hopes to get a good harvest. However, this vegetable is very thermophilic and produces less fruit outdoors than in a greenhouse. And, nevertheless, there are many bee-pollinated varieties adapted for such conditions. With good care, they will provide the owner with a sufficient amount of harvest, the more every summer resident knows that a cucumber grown under the sun is tastier than a greenhouse one.
What is the secret of dark and light thorns
Considering different varieties of cucumbers, the fruits of which are ripe in open and closed ground, you can notice a different color of thorns. Some are white, while others are black. Some consider dark thorns to indicate that the cucumber is old and bitter. In fact, this is not the case.
The light thorns of the fruit symbolize the delicate rind and juicy flesh of most salad varieties. The presentation of such cucumbers is preserved for a long time, and they are fresh for consumption.
Cucumbers with dark thorns have a rough skin and less juicy flesh. However, some varieties may surpass the white-thorned vegetable in fruit aroma. Cucumbers with black spines are ideal for preservation and long-term storage. These qualities are inherent in most bee-pollinated varieties intended for open ground. The only drawback of such cucumbers is that if they are not harvested on time, they quickly turn yellow. It is precisely the yellowness that speaks of the old age of the fetus.
Types and advantages of popular bee-pollinated varieties
Thanks to the work of breeders, many varieties of cucumbers have appeared with different types of weaving, low and high, with small and large fruits, even in different colors. Bees, pollinating the flowers of cucumbers, help to harvest, but the seed material can be harvested from ordinary varieties. If the bee-pollinated plant is a hybrid, the seeds from it will be bad for the next year.
Bush cucumbers
Many are accustomed to seeing the fruits of cucumbers hanging on long sticks. It is beneficial to plant them in a limited area, for example, in a greenhouse. And on the open ground, if the size of the garden also allows, it is easier to grow bee-pollinated bush varieties. The plant does not spread on the ground, and does without the construction of large trellises.
Growing bush cucumbers outdoors has its advantages:
- having a maximum length of lashes of 80 cm, the plant forms a neat bush;
- such varieties of cucumbers bear fruit well even in a lean year;
- bush varieties are resistant to common diseases;
- the fruits of bush cucumbers are usually small in size, optimally suited for conservation;
- to get an early harvest of cucumbers, seeds are planted immediately in open ground.
In general, everything is clear with the merits. The main thing is proper care of the plant, and the bees will do their job in the formation of the crop.
Gherkins
The varieties of cucumbers that form small fruits 5–10 cm long are called gherkins. They should not be confused with unripe greens, torn down by gardeners ahead of time for conservation.
Gherkins are valued for their taste, which is one step higher than ordinary cucumbers. The plant on the lashes forms bundle ovaries, which turn into a full-fledged vegetable on the third day.
Growing and caring for gherkins is almost identical to ordinary cucumbers, although there are some peculiarities. This type of cucumber is very thermophilic and planting seedlings on the beds after harvesting early greenery is acceptable for open ground. If it is decided to plant gherkin seeds in the open field, it is better to do this in early June, when the ground is completely warmed up.
Gherkins are demanding on the soil. It should be loose with an acidity index of 6-7 pH. Balanced nutrition is important for the plant. As a top dressing, nitrogen, magnesium, potassium, calcium and phosphorus are required. Once every five years, the area for gherkins is fertilized with manure at the rate of 10 kg / 1 m2.
Hybrids
Bee-pollinated hybrids have proven themselves well outdoors. They are distinguished by a bundle ovary, resistance to many diseases and cold.
The simplicity of growing cucumber hybrids lies in the absence of the need to pinch the shoots to form a bush.
This type of cucumber, thanks to the work of breeders, took all the best that ordinary varieties have. Hybrids bear fruit for a long time, but it is impossible to get seed material from them at home. Of course, a cucumber has a small seed, only it does not retain the original qualities of the original variety. A grown plant will give a meager harvest of cucumbers or, in general, will refuse to bear fruit.
Review of the best early ripening varieties
After a short introduction to the varieties of cucumbers, it's time to review the best bee-pollinated varieties that bear fruit well in the open field. And it would probably be more correct to start with the early varieties.
"Altai early"
The bee-pollinated variety is resistant to fungal diseases.
Grown seedlings of cucumbers from seeds planted in April are planted on an open bed at the end of May. After about 40 days, the first adult fruits will appear ready for consumption. The vegetable is not suitable for preservation, but it is very tasty in salads.
"Competitor"
The cucumber variety, resistant to many diseases, takes root well in the open field. An adult plant begins to bear fruit 42 days after planting in the ground.
The vegetable is well suited for pickling, however, there is a significant disadvantage. With poor watering, the cucumber tends to accumulate bitterness. The plant is planted with seedlings on the street no later than the first week of June. Fruits are small in size and very juicy with sufficient moisture.
"Universal"
The name of the cucumber indicates that the fruit is suitable for winter preservation and fresh salads.
This variety for open ground, similarly requires the participation of bees for pollination. The plant with long strings is a high-yielding plant. With proper care from 10 m2 can bring up to 0.6 centners of a crop. The cucumber begins to bear fruit on the 50th day after germination.
Review of the best medium and late varieties
Traditionally, early vegetables are always followed by mid- and late-ripening cucumbers. There are a lot of such bee-pollinated varieties. We will try to choose the best ones.
"Barrel salting"
A very prolific variety of cucumbers, resistant to many diseases, especially atracnose.
Fruiting occurs on day 57. The vegetable tastes good raw and pickled. It is very suitable for salting, as it always retains its firm flesh. During storage, the cucumber does not fade for a long time, it tolerates transportation well.
"Far East 27"
The plant pollinated by bees firmly tolerates heat, many diseases and yields about 6 kg per 1 m2... Fruiting occurs 50 days after germination.A medium-sized cucumber weighs about 135 g.
Ideal for pickling in a barrel and on a salad.
Phoenix Plus
The bee-pollinated plant is a relative of the Phoenix family. A late variety of cucumbers begins to bear fruit 2 months after planting in the garden. Differs in good immunity to viral diseases, abundant and long-term fruiting. From 1 hectare can bring 625 centners of the crop.
"Nezhinsky"
Favorite variety of summer residents of the post-Soviet space. Small fruits of cucumbers up to 13 cm long are delicious fresh and pickled.
The size and shape of the fruit is ideal for canning. The plant is drought-resistant, bears fruit 50 days after germination.
Bee-pollinated hybrids
It would be wrong to ignore bee-pollinated cucumber hybrids. They also take root well in an open garden, bringing good yields.
"Swallow F1"
The hybrid is early ripening. Medium-sized fruits weigh up to 105 g. At the beginning of May it is sown for seedlings, and by the end of the month it is planted on an open bed. After about 45 days, the first crop of cucumbers appears. The fragrant fruit is suitable for pickling and preparing salads.
"Alphabet F1"
A high-yielding hybrid, pollinated by bees, belongs to the gherkins. The plant tolerates many diseases. Small fruits of bright green cucumbers are covered with pimples with black thorns. Due to the absence of bitterness, they have an excellent taste.
"Loyal friends of F1"
An early ripening hybrid also belongs to gherkins. Differs in fertility, resistance to cold and disease. The green fruit of the cucumber is decorated with light stripes. The peel is covered with pimples with black thorns. A big plus - the vegetable does not accumulate bitterness.
"Compass F1"
A medium-ripening, high-yielding hybrid belongs to the gherkins. The plant is resistant to viral diseases and root rot. Light green fruits with large tubercles are covered with black thorns. The fruit has a sweetish taste.
"Farmer F1"
Medium ripening hybrid is undemanding to care for. The plant is resistant to cold weather and disease, which allows it to bring abundant harvests for a long time. Bright green fruits with good taste are covered with large pimples with white thorns.
"F1 Lord"
The plant with a predominance of the female type of flowers belongs to mid-season hybrids. Grown in open and closed beds. Pollination requires the participation of bees. The main lash of the plant grows rapidly with an intense appearance of lateral shoots. The cold-resistant hybrid is immune to common diseases, which allows it to bear fruit until September. The knots on the lashes are formed by 2 ovaries. Bright green fruits up to 12 cm long are covered with large pimples with white thorns. The vegetable is ideal for conservation and barrel pickling.
"F1 Teremok"
The gherkin type hybrid has high yields, suitable for open and closed beds. The plant with medium lashes is covered with female-type flowers. Bright green fruits 8–12 cm long with small pimples and black thorns. Each node of a plant can form from 3 to 9 ovaries. Initially, the gherkin was bred for barrel pickling, however, it goes well in conservation.
"F1 Acorn"
The hybrid acquired its name because of the dense pulp with a characteristic crunch. The plant belongs to a bee-pollinated species with a predominance of female-type flowers. The branching is weak, the length of the lateral shoots is short. A knot can form 2 to 12 ovaries. The slow growth of the fruit prevents them from overgrowing. Zelentsy 11 cm long with large pimples are suitable for conservation.
"F1 Captain"
This hybrid with female flowers is suitable for growing outdoors and under plastic. Plant weakly branching in knots forms from 2 to 10 ovaries. Gherkins with large pimples and white thorns are suitable for conservation and barrel pickling. Due to the slow growth of fruits, the greens do not outgrow.
This video presents bee-pollinated hybrids for open ground:
Conclusion
In addition to the varieties considered, there are many other varieties. The main thing is that when choosing cucumbers for open beds, one must take into account the climate of the region and the size of the land allotted for planting seedlings.
