types of cucumbers. Cucumbers: classification and description of the best varieties. Dutch cucumber seeds

So simple and everything famous plant like cucumber, it turns out, has several varieties. Knowing the types of cucumbers will help you plan plantings better and reap a rich harvest.

In descriptions of cucumber seeds, one can often find words such as "parthenocarpic" (gynoecious), "Beit Alpha", PROCESSING, etc. When choosing suitable variety it is important to know and understand the symbols that are present on the label, since the yield and successful cultivation one or another variety of cucumbers.

It is not always possible to get good harvest in the first year of growing new varieties. Sometimes it takes several years to figure out which types are best for your site and climate.

What are the main types of cucumbers

Types of cucumbers are delimited according to one main criterion - they are able to bear fruit with or without pollination. Varieties that do not require pollination are called parthenocarpic. They are suitable for growing in a greenhouse or in areas where bees and other pollinating insects are scarce. Sometimes there is a greenhouse icon on the packaging with such varieties.

The fruits of parthenocarpic cucumbers do not have seeds.

A variety of parthenocarpic varieties are species gynoecious. Only female flowers are formed on them (from which fruits are then obtained). Ordinary cucumbers are dioecious and have male and female flowers. The ratio is usually this - 10-20 male flowers per 1 female. Therefore, sometimes they say that cucumbers bloom empty flower- with the overwhelming number of male flowers, the growth and pollination of female flowers does not occur and, as a result, the harvest is meager.

Distinguish between parthenocarpic and self-pollinated cucumber varieties. Self-pollinating varieties have both a pistil and a stamen in the same flower, so they pollinate themselves. The fruits of such varieties, unlike parthenocarpic ones, always have well-developed seeds.

Bushes of bee-pollinated varieties of cucumbers are compact, so they are planted more densely than the rest.

A fairly common option is bee-pollinated varieties of cucumbers. This is a classic species, which implies that pollination is carried out only by bees or bumblebees. Without them, ovaries and, as a result, fruits will not appear. Both hybrids and regular varieties of cucumbers can be bee-pollinated.

By the way, oh hybrids. The so-called plants obtained by crossing two varieties with a certain set useful characteristics. At the time of buying hybrid seeds cucumbers are easily distinguished by the F1 marking applied to the bag. The plants obtained from them are distinguished by increased vitality, resistance to diseases and pests, and high yields.

Types of cucumbers depending on the destination

Other types of cucumbers are also quite common and serve specific purposes. associated, for example, with blanks or other processing.

• pickled cucumbers ideal for marinating, canning or salting. Their sizes, as a rule, do not exceed 10-15 cm. For use in fresh they are also suitable, as they have a thin peel and juicy pulp.

For pickling, pick cucumbers of about the same size.

• Gherkins. Small cucumbers 5-8 cm in size, with a pleasant taste and crispy texture. Due to their size and thin skin, they have earned the nickname "snack cucumbers". Gherkins usually have an elongated cylindrical shape, they are often grown in a greenhouse.

For discovering the secret of canning gherkins, a French chef received 12,000 francs from the government

• salad cucumbers. Cucumbers of this type cannot be confused with any others. They are elongated and long, with a dense smooth skin. Salad cucumbers are consumed fresh or added to salads. But they are not suitable for canning or salting - the dense skin does not absorb the brine well. It is these cucumbers that are most often sold on the market, since they are stored longer than their "brothers".

The peel of cucumbers contains a large amount of fiber, but it also actively absorbs harmful substances.

Cucumbers can also differ in the color of the thorns:

• white-thorned- only suitable for salads;
• black-thorn- eaten fresh, used for pickling and pickling.

Types of cucumbers depending on the region

Since the cucumber is one of the most common plants in the world, there are a great many types of it. Often they are named after the region in which they were grown.

• Dutch. Narrow and elongated cucumbers, almost 30 cm long, are usually grown in a greenhouse. Thin-skinned fruits get the most nutrients but quickly lose moisture. Therefore, for long-term storage they are packed in moisture-proof plastic bags.
• Beit Alpha. This species was bred specifically for hot climates and high temperatures. They are smaller in size than Dutch ones, reach a length of 10-15 cm. And the taste and crispy structure of these cucumbers will not leave anyone indifferent. They need enhanced protection against dehydration and pests.
• Asian cucumbers. The most exotic of the types of cucumbers we have considered. Usually the fruits of this species are thin and prickly with a specific taste.

Asian cucumbers are distinguished by an unusual appearance

In which shirt was your cucumber "born"?

Cucumbers differ not only in their purpose, type of pollination and other parameters, but also in the "pattern" of the peel.

We are talking about the number and size of tubercles and spines, which make it possible to attribute the cucumber to one or another type. Several basic "shirts" or patterns are known.

• german shirt. Cucumbers of this type have small tubercles that are located close to each other. Spines dot not only tubercles, but also the space between them, so greens seem fluffy and even "prickly". Fruits no more than 12 cm long, have short longitudinal stripes. This type is considered ideal for pickling - through the micro-holes, the brine penetrates the fruit quickly and evenly.

Cucumbers in a "German shirt" are best for pickling

Most popular varieties cucumbers in a "German" shirt: Lukhovitsky F1 , Harmonist F1 , Gerasim F1 , Little Anyutka F1 , Uncle Fedor F1 , Mademoiselle F1 , Zest F1 , Libella F1 .

• dutch shirt. Fruits "born in a Dutch shirt" cylindrical shape and larger than the "German". The tubercles on them are rounded and slightly smaller than in the previous species. Spines are located only on tubercles. Also, the "Dutch" are distinguished by bouquet fruiting (up to 10 ovaries or more are formed in the axil of the leaf). Such cucumbers are great for pickling, especially if they are collected small, 5-7 cm long.

A lot of fruits are harvested from one Dutch bush

The most popular varieties of cucumbers in the "Dutch" shirt: Lilliput F1 , Shchedryk F1 , red mullet F1 , beaver F1 .

• Russian (Slavic , eastern) shirt. Zelentsy are small, with large and rare tubercles, dense pulp and small black or brown spikes located only on the tubercles. Their length is 9-13 cm. Slavic cucumbers are ideal for pickling, canning, pickling, as well as for salads. The brine slowly penetrates the fruit, so the cucumbers are crispy and tasty.

Cucumbers in the "Russian shirt" usually grow in greenhouses and greenhouses

The most popular varieties of cucumbers in the "Russian" shirt: Goosebump F1 , staff F1 , Khutorok F1 , cellar F1 , Elegant F1 , Competitor F1 , Alyonushka F1, Princess F1, Gene F1, Polina F1 .

• . Smooth, elongated cucumbers that lack tubercles and thorns. Fruit color - dark green, length 11-15 cm. Cucumbers of this type are consumed fresh and added to salads. They are very delicate in taste, but sometimes they can be bitter.

Asian shirt - a very popular variety of cucumbers in Europe

Popular varieties: Glare F1 , Fruity F1 .

• Sometimes cucumbers are isolated in "Korean-Japanese"shirt. The fruits are pale green in color with rare tubercles. Their length does not exceed 20 cm. Zelentsy are crispy and juicy, suitable for fresh consumption and salads. They are also resistant to fungal and bacterial diseases.

Fruits of Korean-Japanese cucumbers are strong and healthy

Variety examples: Bride F1 and Blond F1

Are the designations on the seed bags a sign of a new variety?

Often on bags indicate Additional information that the seeds have undergone some type of treatment. This does not mean that as a result of "modification" it turned out new variety. It’s just that manufacturers subjected such seeds to special treatment, due to which their germination capacity increased significantly. Usually there are such inscriptions:

• PROCESSING. Cucumber seeds may have an uncharacteristic color for them: blue, green, etc. This is a sign that they are treated with a protectant. Under the abbreviation for "processed" should be the name of the substance that was used.

Treated seeds should not be soaked before sowing.

• WARMING UP. Heat treatment, or exposing seeds to high temperatures, is needed in order to destroy the infection that often remains on their shell. "Heated" seeds do not need disinfection, but any pre-sowing treatment can be performed on them: soaking, stratification, etc.

What types of cucumbers are suitable for open and closed ground?

Before you start sowing, carefully study the tables below. They indicate which types of cucumbers can be grown in a greenhouse, which are suitable for open ground, and which are for temporary shelters.

Depending on the type of use, cucumbers can also be planted in open ground, in a greenhouse or under temporary film cover.

Now you know all about the types of cucumbers and it will not be difficult for you to choose a variety that meets certain requirements (for example, a self-pollinating variety for pickling).

Such a simple and well-known plant as a cucumber, it turns out, has several varieties. Knowing the types of cucumbers will help you plan plantings better and reap a rich harvest.

When choosing the right variety, it is important to know and understand the designations that are on the label, since the yield and successful cultivation of a particular variety of cucumbers will depend on this.

It is not always possible to get a good harvest in the first year of growing new varieties. Sometimes it takes several years to figure out which types are best for your site and climate. What are the main types of cucumbers

Types of cucumbers are delimited according to one main criterion - they are able to bear fruit with or without pollination. Varieties that do not require pollination are called parthenocarpic. They are suitable for growing in a greenhouse or in areas where bees and other pollinating insects are scarce. Sometimes there is a greenhouse icon on the packaging with such varieties. The fruits of parthenocarpic cucumbers do not have seeds.

A variety of parthenocarpic varieties are gynoecious species. Only female flowers are formed on them (from which fruits are then obtained). Ordinary cucumbers are dioecious and have male and female flowers. The ratio is usually this - 10-20 male flowers per 1 female. Therefore, it is sometimes said that cucumbers bloom with an empty flower - with an overwhelming number of male flowers, female flowers do not grow and pollinate, and, as a result, the harvest is meager.

It is necessary to distinguish between parthenocarpic and self-pollinated varieties of cucumbers. Self-pollinating varieties have both a pistil and a stamen in the same flower, so they pollinate themselves. The fruits of such varieties, unlike parthenocarpic ones, always have well-developed seeds.

A fairly common option is bee-pollinated varieties of cucumbers. This is a classic species, which implies that pollination is carried out only by bees or bumblebees. Without them, ovaries and, as a result, fruits will not appear. Both hybrids and regular varieties of cucumbers can be bee-pollinated.

By the way, about hybrids. This is the name of plants obtained by crossing two varieties with a certain set of useful characteristics. When buying, hybrid cucumber seeds are easy to distinguish by the F1 marking applied to the bag. The plants obtained from them are distinguished by increased vitality, resistance to diseases and pests, and high yields.

Types of cucumbers depending on the purpose

Other types of cucumbers are also quite common and serve specific purposes. associated, for example, with blanks or other processing.

- pickled cucumbers ideal for marinating, canning or salting. Their sizes, as a rule, do not exceed 10-15 cm. They are also suitable for fresh consumption, as they have a thin peel and juicy pulp.

- Gherkins. Small cucumbers 5-8 cm in size, with a pleasant taste and crispy texture. Due to their size and thin skin, they have earned the nickname "snack cucumbers". Gherkins usually have an elongated cylindrical shape, they are often grown in a greenhouse.

- Salad cucumbers. Cucumbers of this type cannot be confused with any others. They are elongated and long, with a dense smooth skin. Salad cucumbers are consumed fresh or added to salads. But they are not suitable for canning or salting - the dense skin does not absorb the brine well. It is these cucumbers that are most often sold on the market, since they are stored longer than their "brothers".

Cucumbers can also differ in the color of the thorns:

White-thorned - suitable only for salads;

Chernoshipnye - consumed fresh, used for pickling and pickling.

Types of cucumbers depending on the region:

Since the cucumber is one of the most common plants in the world, there are a great many types of it. Often they are named after the region in which they were grown.

Dutch. Narrow and elongated cucumbers, almost 30 cm long, are usually grown in a greenhouse. Thin-skinned fruits receive maximum nutrients, but quickly lose moisture. Therefore, for long-term storage, they are packed in moisture-proof plastic bags.

Beth Alpha. This species was bred specifically for hot climates and high temperatures. They are smaller in size than Dutch ones, reach a length of 10-15 cm. And the taste and crispy structure of these cucumbers will not leave anyone indifferent. They need enhanced protection against dehydration and pests.

Asian cucumbers. The most exotic of the types of cucumbers we have considered. Usually the fruits of this species are thin and prickly with a specific taste.

What kind of shirts do cucumbers have?

Cucumbers differ not only in their purpose, type of pollination and other parameters, but also in the "pattern" of the peel.

We are talking about the number and size of tubercles and spines, which make it possible to attribute the cucumber to one or another type. Several basic "shirts" or patterns are known.

- German shirt. Cucumbers of this type have small tubercles that are located close to each other. Spines dot not only tubercles, but also the space between them, so greens seem fluffy and even "prickly". Fruits no more than 12 cm long, have short longitudinal stripes. This type is considered ideal for pickling - through the micro-holes, the brine penetrates the fruit quickly and evenly.

- Dutch shirt. Fruits "born in a Dutch shirt" are cylindrical and larger than "German" ones. The tubercles on them are rounded and slightly smaller than in the previous species. Spines are located only on tubercles. Also, the "Dutch" are distinguished by bouquet fruiting (up to 10 ovaries or more are formed in the axil of the leaf). Such cucumbers are great for pickling, especially if they are collected small, 5-7 cm long.

- Russian (Slavic, Oriental) shirt. Zelentsy are small, with large and rare tubercles, dense pulp and small black or brown spikes located only on the tubercles. Their length is 9-13 cm. Slavic cucumbers are ideal for pickling, canning, pickling, and also for salads. The brine slowly penetrates the fruit, so the cucumbers are crispy and tasty.

- Asian shirt. Smooth, elongated cucumbers that lack tubercles and thorns. Fruit color - dark green, length 11-15 cm. Cucumbers of this type are consumed fresh and added to salads. They are very delicate in taste, but sometimes they can be bitter.

- Sometimes cucumbers are isolated in a "Korean-Japanese" shirt. Cucumbers 15–20 cm long have an unusual pale green or white color, sparse tubercles or no tubercles at all. Zelentsy are crispy and juicy, suitable for fresh consumption and salads. They are also resistant to fungal and bacterial diseases.

Now you know all about the types of cucumbers and it will not be difficult for you to choose a variety that meets certain requirements (for example, a self-pollinating variety for pickling).

There are many varieties of cucumbers today. This garden culture- one of the most popular and loved by many vegetables. And it is no coincidence, because cucumbers are a source of valuable alkali salts, which help slow down aging, prevent the formation of kidney and liver stones. These green fruits are preserved, salted, consumed raw. But the method of use depends on the variety of culture. Knowing everything about cucumbers is also necessary in order to get the desired crop on your site. Fruits with evenly colored skin of dark green or light green color are considered good. The fruit should be firm and heavy in weight, free from blemishes, lethargy and damage. And it is better if it pleases with aroma and taste.

This garden crop is one of the most popular and beloved vegetables by many.

Preparing for spring sowing, it can be easy to get confused by the sight of bags of seeds that are in abundance on store shelves. How to choose what is most suitable for a particular gardener?

There is a clear classification of cucumbers, which are divided into varieties and types according to the following factors:

1. Depending on the purpose, they are divided into salad and intended for salting. The former have white spikes on the soft skin, the seeds are thin and small. The second, when they stop growing, begin to coarsen, lose their taste. Salad cucumbers are Chinese varieties and hybrids with white spikes. They are worth buying if you want to get tender soft fruits with a thin skin. They will not go for salting, unless, as an option, cook them lightly salted.
2. Depending on the method of pollination, cucumbers are divided into self-pollinated and pollinated by insects.
3. The ripening rate can also be different depending on whether the variety is early or late. The first ripen quickly, but also develop their resources earlier. The latter are more disease resistant.
4. Choose a way to grow cucumbers depending on how they like more light or shadow.
5. Plants are divided according to the nature of branching: with weak branching, with limited, with active, with self-regulation of branching.

Gallery: the best varieties of cucumbers (25 photos + video)

Suitable for pickling

Varieties Pickling, Aquarius, hybrids Nightingale f1, Real Colonel f1, Lilliput f1 should be chosen if vegetables for cold pickling are required.

Russian varieties, or hybrids, have black thorns. They do not soften, retain taste qualities.

Dutch cucumber hybrids - Ecole f1, Temp f1, German f1, etc. What is their peculiarity? These are small cucumbers with more frequent spines and small tubercles. They bloom in bunches, one bunch can have about 10 ovaries. Usually they are pickled with the addition of various seasonings. But they must be collected while they are small (5-7 cm), otherwise they will overripe and lose their taste.

German varieties and hybrids include fruits whose skin is covered with tubercles with spikes resembling fluff. If you wash these gherkins before salting, then the spikes disappear, but the tubules remain, allowing the marinade to pass freely. They can not only be pickled (no need to trim the ends), but also added to salads. This type includes cucumbers Adam f1, Othello f1, Graceful, etc.

A versatile hybrid that can be successfully planted both in the garden and in protected greenhouses - Adam cucumbers. plant with female type flowering bears fruit throughout the vegetative period. The fruits are cylindrical with small tubercles, while ripening, do not grow in length, remain one-dimensional, becoming thicker. Adam cucumbers are ideal for pickling and pickling.

Quality hybrids and their types

Hybrids were bred by breeders, crossing varieties to obtain a fruit with best qualities. Therefore, usually summer residents and gardeners like to choose hybrid varieties cucumbers.

Features of hybrids:

• easy to grow;
• have good taste;
• unpretentious to the soil and withstand the vagaries of the weather;
• resistant to diseases and attacks of pests;
• have high yield.

Breeding hybrids is not so easy (the work can take several months), so the price is higher.

To avoid empty flowers, the central stem of the plant must be pinched. Hybrids are no exception. This procedure stimulates the formation of new ovaries.

What does the marking f1 mean? When buying cucumber hybrids on bags, you can see these signs next to the name. They say that when crossing, seeds of the first generation were used.

You don't have to cross the seeds yourself. The resulting hybrids are unlikely to please the harvest. This is only possible for experienced breeders. Moreover, a large number of hybrids of the most different colors, shapes and taste. In order not to make a mistake in choosing, you need to make sure that this variety has been tested and is in state register. Usually on the packaging they write advice on growing vegetables in a particular region. The main condition for obtaining excellent harvest- quality seeds.

Knowing everything about cucumbers is also necessary in order to get the desired crop on your site.

Hybrids are divided into:

• according to the method of pollination;
• according to the method of cultivation;
• by the rate of maturation.

Depending on the method of pollination, they are divided into types:

• self-pollinated;
• parthenocarpic;
• insect pollinated.

The first and second species can be grown as in open ground, as well as in greenhouses. In self-pollinating plants, the flower has stamens and a pistil, so they pollinate themselves.

Parthenocarpic hybrids are convenient because they do not need insects for pollination. Only inside the fruit there will be no seeds. Varieties that need pollination need to be grown on plots in the garden so that insects have access to them.

When buying seeds, you need to consider where they will be planted. Depending on this, you should purchase the desired varieties - winter, cold-resistant, light-loving.

To winter look include those varieties that can be grown year-round in greenhouse conditions. These green fruits grow up to 35 cm, have large tubercles. They go well with salads. Among this species, Ladoga f1, Courage f1 are especially popular.

Cold-resistant species are more often chosen, since by sowing such varieties, you can get cucumbers from mid-July to autumn. The best varieties are Farmer, Masha.

Ovaries in the form of bundles in light-loving varieties Arina, Hit of the season. A month after germination, early-ripening gherkin varieties - German, Alphabet - delight with the first harvest.

Harvest varieties (video)

For an early harvest

Growing vegetables, I want to get fresh fragrant cucumbers as soon as possible. Therefore, if there are conditions for gardening, it is better to buy early-ripening varieties. For example, early maturing high-yielding universal hybrids include cucumber Marinda f1. Well-defined parthenocarpy allows you to grow this variety in the greenhouse and in the beds. Cucumbers reach 12 cm and weigh 110-120 g, have white spikes. They are pleasant to grow because of the juiciness and aroma of fruits that can be used in salads, processed - in salting they retain their appearance and taste. Marinda f1 cucumbers withstand cold, are disease resistant.

Claudius cucumbers can be obtained 45-50 days after germination. The hybrid does not require pollination, it grows cylindrical in shape up to 10 cm. Its cultivation method is universal. Good for canning.

It is required to plant seedlings or seeds (planting depth up to 2 cm). In the beds where cucumbers will grow, sawdust and leaves are added for aeration. When grown in greenhouses, Claudia f1 cucumber yields more than 20 kg per square meter.

Suitable for growing in any conditions universal cucumber Prestige. These hybrids ripen quickly, have a long fruiting period. They do not have large side shoots. Zelentsy retain a fresh look for a long time. The fruits are firm and juicy. This variety is characterized by the presence of immunity to various diseases. And, importantly, these cucumbers can be salted, pickled and eaten raw.

Suitable for growing in any conditions universal cucumber Prestige

Early ripe cucumbers Murashka and Amur

Parthenocarpic cucumbers include early ripe Murashka cucumbers. The fruit is small, neat, dark in color, with large tubercles and thorns. Attracts pleasant aroma. Each leaf has 4-6 ovaries. One plant can give up to 7 kg juicy fruits who are able to keep up in 1.5 months. Has disease resistance. It is best to sow seeds that are 3-4 years old. Before sowing, they are disinfected, give them time to germinate. For this, 3 days are heated in the heat to 50 degrees. Then for 30 minutes it is necessary to put in a solution of potassium permanganate (5 mm of the substance per 0.5 l of water). Then rinse and leave to soak for 7-8 hours.

When choosing a cucumber variety, you should focus on several important indicators: the type of pollination, the method of growing the crop, and the purpose of the finished fruit. The classification of cucumber varieties is quite extensive and it makes sense to dwell on it in more detail.

We will provide a description of the main groups of this crop so that each farm owner can decide which type of cucumber is best to grow.

Cucumbers by type of pollination

As you know, for the formation of ovaries and fruits, crops require pollination by bees or other insects. However, thanks to the efforts of modern breeders, it was possible to develop varieties of cucumbers that do not require the participation of insects for successful fruiting.

In general, according to the type of pollination, cucumbers are:

• Parthenocarpic- varieties and hybrids that absolutely do not require pollination for the formation of fruits. Feature- lack of seeds in mature cucumbers. Such varieties are suitable for growing in a greenhouse and cold climates.

Parthenocarpic cucumbers are often confused with self-pollinated, but this is not correct. In fact, parthenocarpic varieties do not need pollination at all. These hybrids have been selected specifically for indoor greenhouses and areas where bees do not fly. All the flowers on the parthenocarpic bush are female, there are no male inflorescences here at all. female flower is considered as if initially pollinated (fertilized), he himself can produce a cucumber.

This structure of parthenocarpic varieties reduces plant care, the gardener does not have to monitor the balance of male and female inflorescences, attract bees to the site and worry about too cloudy weather in which bees do not fly.

All parthenocarpic cucumbers are hybrids., moreover, the fruits of these varieties do not contain seeds, there are simply no seeds inside the cucumber. Therefore, in order to plant the same variety on next year, you will have to re-acquire seeds, they cannot be collected with your own hands from your own crop (which is quite possible for bee-pollinated cucumbers).

Parthenocarpic varieties are an easier way to get about the same yield. Bushes have only female inflorescences, they do not need bees, hybrids are characterized by increased resistance to diseases and temperature fluctuations. Why they love parthenocarpic cucumbers:

1. Lightweight care.
2. Versatility- you can plant cucumbers in the ground, and in a closed greenhouse, and on a balcony.
3. Less "capriciousness" of varieties in relation to the shadow. Parthenocarpic cucumbers do not need to be thinned out too much, they are less susceptible to disease and rot due to poor ventilation and low light.
4. No need for bees.
5. No need to plant seeds of male plants. All seeds are only female, they are completely self-sufficient.
6. Equivalent to bee-pollinated varieties yield, there are many hybrids that give up to 20-21 kg per square meter.
7. Good taste characteristics and no bitterness. Selection allows you to eliminate the substance that gives cucumbers a bitter aftertaste. Parthenocarpic varieties can be eaten fresh and canned.

The versatility of parthenocarpic varieties puts them on a par with bee-pollinated ones. When growing this crop, do not forget that unpollinated cucumbers do not have seeds. The owner will not be able to independently breed new varieties and save on seeds.

• Self pollinating able to form ovaries without insects. One flower contains both stamens and pistils, so pollination occurs without the participation of external factors.

Parthenocarpic and self-pollinating varieties - what's the difference?

In fact, there are quite significant differences between parthenocarpics and self-pollinated cucumbers. Here are the main ones:

• parthenocarpic (self-fertile) varieties bear fruit without pollination. The price for such "independence" is the absence of seeds in the fruits;
• self-pollinating cucumbers contain both pistil and stamens in one flower. In this case, pollination occurs independently within one plant and the fruits are obtained with seeds.

Both parthenocarp and self-pollinated cucumber varieties are ideal for growing in a greenhouse. In addition, they have a clear similarity in agricultural technology, which misleads gardeners. Nevertheless, today we will talk about self-pollinated varieties, including the most high-yielding ones, and learn about the features of caring for them.

• bee pollinated- the most capricious varieties and hybrids. Pollination by bees is required to produce a crop. If there are no insects, ovaries and, accordingly, fruits are not formed.

It would seem that if everything is so good with parthenocarpic hybrids, why do we need bee-pollinated cucumbers at all, who continues to select and grow them. But there are some nuances here - these varieties have unique properties that are not inherent in unpollinated hybrids. Among them:

1. Unique taste qualities. Almost any bee-pollinated variety is tasty both fresh and salted, pickled, pickled. it great quality for home growing when the owner will use the same cucumbers for different needs.
2. High yield. With sufficient pollination and proper care, bee-pollinated hybrid varieties give the highest yields.
3. Environmental friendliness. The same bees will help to check the level of environmental friendliness of a particular variety - the insect will not pollinate bushes treated with dangerous pesticides.
4. Availability of seeds. First, seeds are free seed for the following seasons. And, secondly, (which is most important), it is in the seeds that the most useful vitamins and trace elements, which are so rich in cucumbers.
5. bee-pollinated varieties - best material for selection. It was from these cucumbers that the best hybrids appeared.

Important! Bee-pollinated varieties are also great for film greenhouses. These greenhouses are temporary, when flowers appear on the bushes, the film has already been removed, nothing will prevent the bees from doing their job.

To date, there are a lot of bee-pollinated cucumbers, their demand almost did not decrease after the appearance of parthenocarpic species.

Classification by ripening time

Majority vegetable crops, including cucumbers, are usually divided into types according to the rate of fruit formation. For example, early ones form the first ovaries and fruits already after 30-40 days after planting in the ground. However, it should be borne in mind that in such hybrids, fruiting does not differ in high duration.

Harvest the first crop mid-season varieties will succeed in 40-50 days after sowing, but, unlike early varieties, these species are characterized by a fairly long fruiting.

Late-ripening varieties do not germinate for a long time and increase green mass, so the first fruits will appear no earlier than 50 days after planting. At the same time, the duration of fruiting is very high, and the cultures themselves are resistant to diseases.

Classification according to fruit characteristics

Perhaps this is the most extensive classification, since it covers all the main characteristics of cucumbers: their size, color and purpose.

For example, according to their intended use, cucumbers are:

• Salad- differ in juicy and tasty pulp therefore perfectly are suitable for the fresh use or preparation of salads. At the same time, such cucumbers have a thick skin that practically does not absorb brine, so these varieties are not suitable for canning and pickling.

• pickled cucumbers were specially bred for canning. They have a thin skin, and all fruits are about the same size. However, these varieties have one significant drawback - unlike salad varieties, they are poorly stored, quickly wither and turn yellow.

• Universal varieties are suitable for both fresh consumption and pickling. As a rule, these are hybrid mid-season varieties.

You can determine the type of fetus by its appearance.For example, lettuce varieties have white thorns, while pickled and universal cucumbers have black ones.

There is also a certain classification of cucumbers by size. Lettuce-type fruits can reach 25 cm in length, while gherkins are very small, and rarely exceed 8 cm. In addition, there is a separate type of miniature cucumber - pickles. In fact, these are fruits harvested immediately after formation, so their length does not exceed a few centimeters. As a rule, large salad cucumbers are early, and they are grown in greenhouses for fresh sale.

When choosing a variety of cucumbers, you should also focus on the location of the stems. Most varieties are climbing, so they are attached to vertical grids or left in the garden free space for escapes. However, there are also compact bush hybrids that form shoots no more than 50 cm long, and mature plant looks like a small shrub.

Common cucumber or sowing(lat. Cucumis sativus) - annual herbaceous plant gourd family ( Cucurbitaceae), a species of the genus Cucumber ( Cucumis)

Name

Fasmera, the name is borrowed from the Middle Greek. melon

Botanical description

Story

This culture was already known to the Greeks, from whom it passed to the Romans, and in the era of Charlemagne it was already spread throughout Central Europe.

The first mention of cucumbers in the Muscovite state was made the German ambassador Herberstein in 1528 in his notes on a trip to Muscovy.

Nowadays, the cucumber culture is ubiquitous and has many varieties and varieties. The fruits of wild cucumbers are small and inedible due to the content of bitter substances - cucurbitacins.

Chemical composition

Its fruits contain 95-97% water and a negligible amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. The remaining 3% includes carotene, vitamins PP, C and B, as well as macro- and microelements. Including cucumber contains a lot of potassium.

Dietary Properties

Cucumbers are rich in complex organic matter who play important role in metabolism. These substances promote the absorption of other foods and improve digestion. They whet the appetite. Fresh cucumber effectively increases the acidity of gastric juice, therefore it is contraindicated for those suffering from gastritis with high acidity and peptic ulcer.

Potassium contained in cucumbers improves the functioning of the heart and kidneys. In terms of salt content, cucumber is second only to black radish. These salts neutralize acidic compounds found in many food products and disrupt metabolic processes, lead to premature aging, to the deposition crystalline compounds(stones) in the liver and kidneys. Cucumbers, just like radishes, are called the orderly of our body for their ability to neutralize acidic compounds.

Cucumbers are a source of such iodine compounds, which are easily and painlessly absorbed by the human body. Studies have found that people who systematically consume fresh cucumbers are less prone to diseases of the thyroid gland and the vascular system.

In addition, cucumbers, like other vegetables, have a lot of fiber. Fiber is not absorbed by the human body, but it regulates the functioning of the intestines and removes excess cholesterol from the body. Excess cholesterol contributes to the development of atherosclerosis, diseases of the liver, kidneys and other organs.

Use in medicine and cosmetics

O healing properties There are mentions of cucumbers in Russian medical books - herbalists, as well as in the old 17th-century medical book “Cool Windfall”. Folk healers recommended drinking a decoction of cucumbers instead of water, and the pulp fresh cucumbers used as an effective diuretic, choleretic and laxative. Infusion and decoction autumn leaves(tops) in folk medicine recommended for bleeding various origins. They are used externally for burns, as well as cosmetic product for acne, rashes and some skin diseases. Fresh cucumbers are part of cosmetic face masks that whiten the skin and make it more elastic. Cosmetologists recommend wiping oily skin with alcohol cucumber tincture.

Salted and pickled cucumbers do not have medicinal properties. They are not recommended for people suffering from diseases of the kidneys, liver, of cardio-vascular system, gastrointestinal tract, hypertension, atherosclerosis, as well as during pregnancy.

Agricultural technology

In relation to the cucumber, as well as to any other vegetable, a double kind of culture is used - greenhouse and ridge.

Outdoor cultivation

Cucumbers are grown in almost every garden. Cucumbers are usually sown in a garden plot that was under cabbage, that is, in the second year after fertilization, since the cucumber loves nutritious soil, but not too greasy. Fresh manure or gold gives the cucumber a bitter taste and causes spotting, therefore, if it is necessary to fertilize the land, then manure is usually laid in autumn. The plot designated for cucumbers is plowed or dug with a bayonet, after which they make ridges up to a arshin wide, in low places they are quite high. The sowing time is not earlier than May, as the cucumber is very afraid of frost. Bed sowing is done with dry or germinated seed or, finally, seedlings; The latter method makes it possible to obtain early cucumbers. In our steppes, on melons, they usually sow dry seeds, but to the north, in wetter areas, it is more convenient to sow germinated seeds. When breeding seedlings, the seeds are sown in bowls or in special pots and, after allowing them to develop up to the 3rd leaf, they are transplanted into the ground on a warm day, with a distance of 3-4 inches from each other. When the 3rd leaf begins to appear on the cucumbers, then they advise to make a pinch (only not Murom cucumbers). The result of such an operation is two to four lateral shoots, which subsequently give rise to fruitful branches. Flowers and ovaries that appear from time to time at the base of these lashes must be plucked. From time to time it is useful to loosen the soil near the roots of the plant and cover the ground with fine manure or straw. Such a tire protects the soil from drying out and at the same time serves as a convenient bed for the fruits, protecting them from contact with damp ground, on which cucumbers get dirty, sometimes rot or become stained. Watering at the beginning of planting is quite frequent, after throwing out the 3rd leaf, it is done no more than 2-3 times a week, and always in the evenings.

Growing in greenhouses

Greenhouse or greenhouse cucumber very tender, juicy, it has more pulp, fewer seeds, more suitable for salads and generally for fresh consumption, but not very durable in maturation (not all varieties); due to excessive wateriness, it is not harvested for future use. In a greenhouse culture, a cucumber needs a temperature of 18 to 20 ° R. Soddy land is taken, with early forcing it is lighter than in summer. Seeds are usually sown already germinated in wet sand, sawdust, etc. When the plant takes root and throws out 3 - 4 leaves, systematic pinching of the final buds begins to lay 4 - 8 main fruitful branches or lashes that could be evenly distributed over the surface of the earth in a greenhouse. After pinching, water 2-3 times a week. During the flowering period, if necessary warm weather, greenhouses are opened in order to achieve pollination by the movement of air carrying pollen; otherwise, it is produced artificially. To do this, pollen dust is transferred to the stigma with a drawing brush or collected male flowers and tearing off their petals, they put the anthers on the stigmas, where they remain until pollination occurs. Greenhouse culture gives early cucumbers sold to the capitals and big cities on high price: breeding them in in large numbers can give a very good income, but only in very large settlements.

Usually cucumbers are collected in a semi-ripe state, but in order to obtain seeds, they are left on the ridges until they are fully ripe, until their lashes wither and dry out, and the very green fruits turn orange-yellow. Ripe seed specimens are laid out in the sun or in a warm place where they become soft. Then they are cut, the seeds are squeezed into a bowl and the latter are washed in several waters. It is best to dry first in the sun, and then on a Russian stove, after which, pouring into bags, store in a cool, dry place. The ability to germinate is preserved in cucumber seeds up to 10 years, but 3-5 years old are considered the best.

Growing in greenhouses

Pests and diseases

In addition to dampness (in greenhouses) and frost, some insects harm young cucumbers, such as Heliothrips vesicle, sucking leaves; Tetrawychus telarius L.; a mite that causes leaf dryness; field slug caterpillar; scoops-gamma, etc., eating leaves and cotyledons. Appears on mature plants powdery mildew, in the form of small black-brown nodules (you need to sprinkle with sulfur); also brown dry spots and small black dots, sitting in spots differently depending on the type of fungus, Gloeosporium orbiculare and Phoma decorticans.

Varieties and hybrids

Varieties

There are many varieties and hybrids of cucumbers that differ in shape, size, color and other biological features. Early ripe varieties stand out, among them Murom cucumbers are considered the best, suitable for ridges and greenhouses, very prolific; they ripen earlier than others, but rather soon stop their fruiting (32-44 days pass from germination to the first harvest of fruits). Mid-season varieties ripen 45-50 days. The most famous of them is "Nezhinskiy". Late-ripening varieties ripen for more than 50 days, for example, "Pobedel".

Landgurke

Landgurke (German "village" or "peasant cucumber") - a giant cucumber, the variety was bred by breeders M. and A. Glebovich in eastern Germany, has a particularly delicate taste and hard seeds, similar to watermelon seeds, also has a lot of weight - from 5 to 10 kg. In the common people it is called "overgrown"

Nezhinsky cucumber

Nezhinsky cucumber gained fame during the reign of Empress Catherine II. The empress, who tasted the vegetable during one of her trips, ordered to provide the imperial court only with Nezhin cucumbers. This order was in effect in St. Petersburg until 1917. Taking advantage of royal favor, enterprising Nizhyn residents tried to promote not only the “key product”, but also tomatoes, eggplants, beans and zucchini to the capital market, after which pickles from northern Ukraine were in demand in another 70 countries. Currently, the variety is used very rarely, in particular because it has low resistance to downy mildew. But there is a variety resistant to this disease. Novonezhinsky, similar in taste to Nezhinsky.

Far Eastern

hybrids

Cucumber hybrids are widely used - they have a high yield. Among the hybrids, parthenocarpic ones are distinguished - hybrids (which are able to form fruits without pollination) and bee-pollinated ones.

Etymology

According to Vasmer's etymological dictionary, the name is borrowed from the Middle Greek. ἄγουρος (cucumber), which goes back to ἄωρος (unripe). This vegetable, eaten unripe, is deliberately opposed to the melon - πέπων, which is eaten ripe.

The name of this plant in Sanskrit is consonant with the name of the legendary Indian prince, who had sixty thousand children, and is associated with the multi-seeded fruit.

Notes

Literature

• Everything about medicinal plants on your beds / Ed. Radelova S. Yu .. - St. Petersburg: SZKEO LLC, 2010. - P. 49-53. - 224 p. -