When it comes time to plant cucumbers, many do not know which variety is better to choose. In our article we will tell you what seeds of cucumbers are suitable for planting, and list the best varieties for open ground.
Hybrid or variety?
Before you figure out what is best, you need to define each concept.
Important! Cucumbers are heat-loving plants, so their planting should be carried out only if the soil is fully heated.
Sort usually represented by a group of plants that have their own characteristics. In addition to the external similarity, plants have a different genotype. This suggests that they are able to preserve the characteristics of the parents, that is, they can multiply annually with their own seeds.
Hybrid derived by crossing different varieties. It is necessary to obtain plants with certain characteristics. Hybrids remove, if it is necessary to increase the keeping quality of vegetables, immunity to ailments. Such plants have the same genotype, and their seeds are not suitable for reproduction. Everyone knows which hybrids have advantages. They have the ideal size and shape of the fruit, have excellent transportability, bear fruit well, and are resistant to diseases. However, a hybrid is able to show all its positive qualities only with proper care and the creation of appropriate conditions for cultivation: fertile land, necessary air temperature, irrigation and fertilizer should be provided, and no weeds. Since hybrid plants are bred artificially, it is difficult for them to adapt to changes in the external environment.
Did you know? The biggest cucumber was grown in Israel by a gardener Izak Yadzapan - the length of the vegetable was 118 cm.
Good varieties of cucumbers for open ground do not have such exaggerated requirements, are less picky and independent of agrotechnical measures: one missed watering or additional feeding will not affect the yield.
A huge advantage of varieties is the high content of nutrients, vitamins and trace elements, since these plants are much closer to wild than artificially derived hybrids. The advantages of varieties include:
- more pleasant taste;
- the ability to multiply with your own seeds;
- unpretentious care;
- the ability to adapt and adapt to changes in the external environment and climate;
- high content of vitamins and other useful substances.
- bee-dusting, which causes certain inconveniences;
- less fertility than hybrids.
Read also about varieties and hybrids of cucumbers: "Masha f1", "German", "Competitor", "Real Colonel", "Courage", "Taganay", "Emerald Earrings", "Merenga", "Palchik", "Libellet" .
Each gardener must choose what is more convenient for him - to buy seed, fertilizer annually, or to choose seeds from the garden and not pay too much attention to their care. However, it is always worth remembering that if there are plans for planting cucumbers for yourself and loved ones, it is better to give preference to high-quality vegetables.
The best varieties for open ground (in terms of ripening)
We offer to get acquainted with the best varieties of cucumbers for open ground, depending on the timing of their ripening.
Early maturing
Those plants whose fruiting occurs 32-44 days after you notice the first sprouts are usually attributed to this category.
Important! When buying seed, pay attention to the prefix to the name "F1" - it is a kind of marking of hybrids.
- "Elegant". Treats bee-pollinated, the first cucumbers can be collected after 44 days. They have small tubercles, the length reaches about 13 cm, weight - 140 g. It differs in good frost resistance and is immune to olive spots. Both fresh and salted vegetables are delicious.
- "Delicious". Long scourge, oblong fruit, they are small bumps, painted in a dark emerald green color. Length - 12 cm. Characterized by high sugar content and dense flesh. Thanks to the small seeds are better suited for the preparation of pickles.
- "Spring". Refers to the bee-pollinating, there is no bitterness in the fruit. The mass of one - 120 g.
- "Pickled". Harvest can be in 41-46 days. Refers to the bee-pollinated. Cucumbers have a long shape, resembling a cylinder, with a large pimple, thin light stripes on a green background. Fruit length - 10-11 cm, weight - 115 g.
Early maturity
This category includes varieties, the ripening of fruit which occurs fairly quickly.
Did you know? Vegetable has its own holiday: July 27 is International Cucumber Day.
- "Murom 36". Fruits ripen within 35 days. Cucumbers are more often used for salting. Possess a smooth surface, small bumps. The length is about 8 cm, they are painted in a pale green color, egg-shaped.
- "Zozulya". The growing season lasts 45 days. Cucumbers are painted in a dark greenish color, resemble a cylinder in shape, a small number of hillocks are present. Not bitter. Have a strong immunity to various diseases. They have a pleasant taste, both fresh and pickled.
- "Kustovoy". The vegetation period is approximately 45 days. Cucumbers are green, length - 10 cm. Small tuberosity is inherent. Vegetable tastes good, resistant to many ailments. It has a good yield.
Familiarize yourself with the methods of growing cucumbers: in buckets, in bags, in a barrel, on a net, in hydroponics, on a balcony, on a windowsill.
Mid-season
The most popular among mid-season:
- "Erofey". One of the most popular bee pollinated varieties. It is used both in fresh form and as pickles. The plant is branched, the fruits are small - their length is only 6-7 cm. The shape of the cucumber is ovate, slightly elongated and hilly. There is immunity to powdery mildew.
Important! Early varieties are more often exposed to diseases, so you should pay attention to their processing and feeding.
- "Nezhinsky 12". Easy to care, resistant to bacteriosis. Cucumbers are green, with large tubercles, pleasant to taste. Their length is 11 cm, the weight of one fruit is 80-110 g.
- "Far East 27". It tolerates drought. Fruits with white stripes, large pimples and excellent taste. The length of cucumber is 11-15 cm, diameter is 4-5 cm, weight is 150 g.
- "New Phoenix". Resistant to cold and dew. Not bad transfers any climatic conditions. Dark cucumbers, on them there are short blurry stripes.
Late-ripening
Consider the popular late ripening cucumber varieties.
- "Chinese miracle". Maturation occurs in 70 days. Fruits resemble cylinders, thin-skinned, practically have no knolls. Length - 5-9 cm.
- "Phoenix". A variety with good yield, the growing season is 64 days. Fruiting continues until the arrival of cold weather. The fruits are crispy, length is about 16 cm, weight - 220 g, do not contain bitterness.
- "Winner". Able to tolerate drought, coolness and fungal diseases. Cucumbers resemble cylinders in shape, they have large mounds of yellow color. Often used for salting.
- "Chinese climbing". Fruits in 55-70 days. The length of the fruit - 12 cm, weight - 130 g. It is immune to low temperatures, the fruits look beautiful.
Other selection criteria
There are many other criteria by which the selection of seed material.
Did you know? In their homeland - at the foot of the Himalayan mountains - cucumbers grow independently, like a wild plant.
Some growers choose self-pollinated varieties - plants have paired organs, so the pollination process can occur independently. We list the most popular self-pollinated cucumber varieties for open ground:
- "Gerda";
- "Friendly family";
- "Spring";
- "White angel";
- "Zadavaka".
- "Crisp";
- "Murashka";
- "Pickles";
- "Paris gherkin";
- "Pickling".
If you plan pickle cucumbers, pay attention to:
- "Pet";
- "Solar";
- "Moscow dude";
- "Adam";
- "Voyage".
- "Kid";
- "Kustovoy";
- "Shorty";
- "Hector";
- "Baby".
The most productive varieties of cucumbers for open ground:
- "Summer resident";
- "Dasha";
- "Burly";
- "Noble";
- "Pinocchio".
The huge variety of varieties presented on the shelves of specialty stores allows every summer resident to choose cucumbers that will satisfy all tastes and allow you to collect the desired harvest.