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Hybrid-type cucumbers are famous for their beautiful, uniform fruit shape, early ripeness, friendly ripening, resistance to diseases. The cucumber hybrid Claudia f1, bred almost 20 years ago by breeders of AF Poisk from the Moscow region, meets generally accepted standards. Over the years, many farmers have taken it to their plots and purchase new seeds every year to provide themselves with a guaranteed harvest.
Characterization
The mid-season variety of Claudia cucumbers, according to the description, belongs to the parthenocarpic type. In cucumbers, functionally female flowers are created, which all produce ovaries. There are no empty male flowers on such plants. Therefore, cucumbers are intended for the greenhouse, where the possibility of pollination by insects is significantly reduced. The hybrid Claudia f1 is grown indoors, the plant has also proved to be an excellent variety for vegetable gardens.
The first fruits on Claudius cucumbers, as gardeners write in reviews, ripen together 50 days after germination. Garden plants bring 10 kg per 1 sq. m, greenhouse cucumbers are twice as productive: 20 kg. Fulfilling all the requirements of agricultural technology, which include regular proper watering, timely top dressing and temperature control, they get from 1 sq. m 25 kg Zelentsov hybrid Claudius. Universal cucumbers: delicious in salads, suitable for pickling and marinades. The elongated shape of the fruit guarantees a beautiful appearance in preparations, and the quality of the pulp – a pleasant taste in pickles.
According to the characteristics of Claudia cucumbers, attractive identical fruits are successfully sold, so the hybrid is grown on an industrial scale by large and small agricultural enterprises. Low susceptibility to diseases – less than 30%, which cucumbers suffer from in unfavorable weather, determines the high yield of the hybrid. The grade is noted by a keeping quality, well maintains long-distance transportations.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Claudia cucumber variety is distinguished by its longevity in the beds, and this is evidence that the hybrid has many advantages.
- stable yield;
- Excellent taste properties;
- Suitability of hybrid fruits for pickling;
- Beam type of fruiting cucumbers;
- High commercial performance of the variety;
- Cultivation of the hybrid in open and closed ground;
- Unpretentiousness of the plant;
- Resistance to pathogens characteristic of cucumbers.
Among the shortcomings of Claudius cucumbers, the following stand out:
- The hybrid form of the cucumber does not allow gardeners themselves to collect seeds;
- Susceptibility to cucumber mosaic and powdery mildew, which is inherent in most varieties of cucumbers.
Description
Self-pollinating cucumber plants of the Claudia variety, as seen in the photo, with long lashes that easily climb the support. The hybrid is convenient to grow on a trellis and must be tied up in greenhouses. The leaves are deep green, wrinkled. Inflorescences of the female type are formed in bunches that hang from the lashes. The hybrid has no empty flowers. Each flower produces a cucumber.
The fruits of the Claudia cucumber variety are slightly elongated, greens grow up to 9-12 cm, their diameter is 3-3,5 cm, they weigh from 80 g. Uniform green, without stripes, the surface of the cucumbers is slightly ribbed and pubescent, rough, with pronounced small numerous tubercles. The skin is tender, thin, with a characteristic cucumber taste and aroma. The pulp is dense, juicy, not watery, crispy, without voids. The taste is pleasant, bitterness is not felt. Seeds are small, do not interfere with taste perception.
Cultivation
The characteristics and description of the Claudia cucumber variety emphasize that the hybrid can be grown in a greenhouse and in garden beds. Cucumber seeds are sown directly into the ground, as well as in pots for growing seedlings of cucumbers.
Sowing for seedlings
When determining the timing of planting hybrid seeds for seedlings, it must be remembered that after germination, the Claudia cucumber bears fruit on the 50th day. Seedlings of the hybrid are ready for transplanting to a permanent place in 25-30 days. Usually the seeds of the Claudia variety are sown in April. At the beginning or at the end of the month – it depends on the weather conditions of the region and on the place where cucumbers are planted, in a greenhouse or in a garden.
- For the substrate, it is better to purchase ready-made soil in gardening stores or prepare it from humus, peat and sawdust in a ratio of 2: 2: 1;
- A homemade substrate can be fertilized with some complex preparation that is convenient to use. For example, “Kemira”, “Universal”;
- Seeds of the Claudia hybrid in stores are usually sold already processed. They are buried in the soil by 1,5-2 cm and the pots are covered, creating a mini-greenhouse;
- Shoots in a warm place appear in 4-6 days. Shelter is removed and containers with young sprouts are kept for three to four days in a cool place – up to 19 degrees during the day and 16 degrees at night, so that cucumber plants do not stretch upwards;
- Water seedlings of cucumbers as the soil dries up every other day or less;
- The optimum temperature for grown seedlings: 23 degrees during the day and 17 at night;
- When the seedlings of cucumbers of the Claudia variety get stronger and form three leaves, they are fed with a solution of 1 teaspoon of nitrophoska per 1 liter of warm water;
- Seedlings with 4-5 leaves, up to 20 cm high, are planted in late May or early June, when the earth warms up to 15 degrees.
In the garden, seedlings of Claudius cucumbers are placed 4 per 1 sq. m, less often in a greenhouse: 3 plants each.
Sowing on beds
Seeds of the cucumber variety Claudia f1 are sown in the ground when its temperature rises to 15 degrees, and the air warms up to 20-23 degrees. Between the rows of cucumbers of this variety, which will not have support, and the lashes will spread on the ground, the optimal distance is 90 cm, between the holes – 30-35 cm;
- In the garden, the seeds of Claudius cucumbers are sown to a depth of 3 cm;
- 2-3 seeds are placed in the hole if they doubt 100% germination.
Watering and loosening
The high yield of the Claudia cucumber variety, as stated in its description, is possible with diligent plant care. In the garden, cucumbers are watered in the evening with warm water. It is best to do this with a watering can: the water spreads evenly under the spreading lash, without washing away the soil near the roots. Water carefully so as not to splatter the leaves and not contribute to the appearance of diseases. Each cucumber plant needs at least 3 liters of water. In the morning, the soil is loosened and weeds are removed. The greenhouse is regularly ventilated, the humidity is kept at 75-80% and the temperature is from 18 to 25 degrees.
Whip formation
Claudius cucumber plants are tied up and shaped. The main lash is pinched when it grows up to 1 m in the beds and up to 1,2 m in the greenhouse. Lateral lashes are not allowed to grow more than 50 cm, and their shoots should not exceed 15 cm.
Feeding
Before harvesting, the plants are fertilized twice every 10 days. Dissolve 5 g of carbamide, potassium sulfate and superphosphate in 10 liters of water. Around the root of each plant pour 2 liters of top dressing, trying not to wet the root. A good result is the feeding of cucumbers with the “Breadwinner”: 50 g per 10 liters of water.
The fruiting of the Claudia cucumber variety is also increased during the collection of greens. Plants are fertilized three times at the same interval:
- 1 liter of mullein and 25 g of nitrophoska are diluted in a bucket of water. Consumption: 1,5 liters under the root;
- 5 g of urea, 100 g of wood ash and 5 g of sodium humate per 10 liters of water. Consumption: 2 l;
- 25 g of azophoska per 10 liters of water. Consumption: 2 l.
Plant protection
Claudia cucumbers are resistant to many diseases. Against those pathogens to which the plants are susceptible, it is necessary to use preventive measures. In the seedling phase, the Previkur fungicide is used. On the beds use the drug “Thanos”. In greenhouses, Actellik will help get rid of aphids and whiteflies.
An unpretentious plant requires a little attention. The results of labor are fresh greens and tasty preparations for the winter.
