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Summer residents choose varieties of cucumbers for planting very carefully. Good recommendations from vegetable growers received a hybrid of the Dutch selection “Director f1”. The variety was bred by scientists of the Nunhems BV agricultural company. It combines the best qualities of parental lines – Hector and Meringue cucumbers. During the development of a new hybrid, breeders took into account all the requests of farmers. The article concentrates important points for summer residents – a description of the “Director” cucumber variety, reviews of those who grew the hybrid, photos of the plant and fruits.
Main characteristics
What should you know about the “Director” cucumber in order to properly plan plant care? Of course, the main parameters are:
- Maturation period. According to the description of the variety, cucumbers “Director f1” are mid-ripening. Rather, to mid-early varieties, given the time of harvesting the first harvest. Cucumbers can be consumed already 40-45 days after the first shoots. Some vegetable growers are happy to grow a hybrid twice a season.
- Type of plant. Parthenocarpic semi-indeterminate. Such information is very necessary. Summer residents immediately know that the “Director f1” cucumber does not need to be pollinated by bees, and the plant has an average stem length. Therefore, it can be safely grown in a greenhouse, without fear of thickening and lack of ovaries. In addition, the number of set cucumbers does not depend on temperature fluctuations.
- Bush. Medium climbing with well developed lateral shoots. They also form a lot of ovaries. The ovaries are bundled, in one leaf sinus there are 2-3 flowers of the female type.
- Leaves the medium ones are dark green in color, although they can grow to large sizes.
- Fruit. Small in size (up to 10-12 cm), weighing up to 80 g, cylindrical in shape. Cucumbers with fragrant juicy pulp, very tasty, without bitterness with small seeds inside. There are no voids in the fruits. They are covered with a smooth dark green peel, which is fully consistent with the description of the variety of cucumbers “Director” (see photo).
- Productivity. The indicator is considered the maximum expected when cultivating hybrids. According to farmers, from one bush you can get from 20 to 25 kg of delicious cucumbers of the Director f1 variety.
- Resistance to diseases. The variety is well resistant to crop diseases, therefore it is successfully grown in the fields without enhanced chemical treatments.
- Transportability and storage capacity very high. Cucumbers are stored in a cool room for up to 7 days without loss of commercial and taste qualities.
- Application. Universal. It is used fresh for salads, in canning, pickling and pickling. In any form, the taste and quality of cucumbers are excellent.
In their reviews, many vegetable growers note the high yield of the Director cucumber and post photos of the results as proof.
Briefly about the characteristics of the variety in the video:
Advantages and disadvantages
What you should be aware of before planting a cucumber with the name “Director” on the site. Of course, its pros and cons. All of them are indicated by the manufacturer in the description of the “Director” cucumber variety. The second important source is the reviews of gardeners who have grown the Director f1 cucumber. Among the advantages of a hybrid, they note:
- the power and height of the bushes, which are easy to care for;
- taste and commodity characteristics of cucumbers;
- duration of fruiting and the ability to grow in the second turn;
- resistance to diseases of cucumbers;
- shade tolerance, which expands the possibilities of placing ridges;
- growing in any type of soil with the same yield;
- regenerative ability – the rapid recovery of plants after damage.
Among the shortcomings, gardeners call a large number of stepsons that have to be removed on time. This procedure takes time, but it saves the root system from excessive load, and the owners of the beds from reducing the cucumber yield.
Peculiarities of growing
The agrotechnics of the variety does not differ significantly from the cultivation of other types of cucumbers. But gardeners should know all the intricacies of growing the “Director” hybrid and its care requirements.
According to the description of the variety, the Director f1 cucumber is grown in two ways:
- seedlings;
- reckless.
The variety grows well with direct sowing in the ground. With this method, you need to prepare the bed in advance:
- in the fall, remove all plant debris, fertilize and dig deep;
- in the spring, shed with a hot solution of potassium permanganate and dig again, now shallow;
- level the soil and form ridges with row spacing for ease of caring for cucumbers.
Sowing in the ground
Cucumber variety Director f1 is sown in the ground with dry or soaked seeds. If the seeds are soaked, then you need to wait for spitting. This is how suitable planting material is selected. The minimum value of the soil temperature indicator, at which the sowing of the “Director” cucumber is allowed, is considered to be + 14 ° С.
Hybrid “Director” grows well after legumes (except beans), cabbage species, potatoes, onions.
Planting scheme in open ground – 50×50 cm. For parthenocarpic and tall cucumbers, it is important not to violate the recommended distance. This will allow the plants to develop properly and give a high yield. For 1 sq. m area you need to place no more than 3 bushes of cucumbers. The seeds are deepened by 2 cm. 2 cucumber seeds are placed in one hole, and in the phase of this leaflet, a weaker specimen is pinched off.
Seeding on seedlings
The seedling method allows you to get a crop of cucumbers much earlier than when sowing in the ground. In order for the seedlings of the “Director” hybrid to grow strong and healthy, it is necessary to adhere to certain requirements.
- Seed preparation. According to summer residents, cucumbers of the “Director” variety have excellent germination (see photo).
But some still soak them in a growth stimulant or disinfectant solution of potassium permanganate. If the planting material is purchased in a licensed package, then the necessary preparation has already been carried out by the manufacturer.
- Soil preparation. Cucumbers “Director” are well suited for ready-made soil mixture for seedlings, which you can buy. The second option is to prepare the soil yourself. You will need turf land and humus in equal amounts. Then ash (0,5 cups), potassium sulfate (5 g) and superphosphate (10 g) are added to a bucket of the mixture. After mixing, the soil is shed with a solution of potassium permanganate and calcined to disinfect.
- Preparation of containers. Cucumber seedlings do not tolerate transplants, so summer residents try to do without picking. Separate plastic cassettes or containers, peat tablets or cups are prepared for seedlings. The plastic container is washed with a disinfectant solution and dried. Suitable drug “Extrasol-55”.
- Sowing. Containers are filled with soil mixture, leaving 1 cm to the upper side. The soil is slightly compacted and moistened. Holes are made 2 cm deep and the seeds of the Director cucumber are laid out.
The optimum temperature for the germination of cucumbers of the “Director” variety is + 22 ° С … + 26 ° С. Also, seedlings need to provide good lighting.
As soon as the first true leaf appears on the seedlings, cucumbers are fed with complex fertilizer, for example, Kemira-Lux or Radipharm. When forming 3-4 leaves, the seedlings of the “Director” can be transplanted to a permanent place. Before planting, seedlings are treated on a sheet with “Epin” or “Zircon”.
Landing in the ground and rules of care
For open ground, the recommended planting pattern for “Director” cucumbers is 30 cm between plants and 1 m between rows. Plants are placed in a checkerboard pattern to withstand the optimal number of cucumbers per 1 sq. m area.
The most necessary measures for the care of the Director f1 cucumber according to the description and reviews of experienced gardeners:
- Smart watering. The soil should not be allowed to dry out. Cucumbers should be watered carefully under the root with warm settled water. In the greenhouse, they monitor the condition of the soil and water it when the top layer dries up. In open ground, you can practice daily watering, but in the evening.
- Regular feeding. Cucumbers are recommended to be fed once every 2 weeks. “Director” responds well to organics – an infusion of bird droppings or cow dung. If these components are not available on the site, then urea, superphosphate, ammonium nitrate are used. In addition to root top dressing, foliar irrigation with complex fertilizers for vegetables is important for the crop. Mineral fertilizers are applied taking into account the growing season of the cucumber.
- Bush formation. In order to form on the plant, pinch the main lash. This is done after 8-9 sheets. The second necessary action is the removal of stepchildren on cucumbers. According to the description of the variety of cucumbers “Director” and the reviews of summer residents, this procedure should be done at least once a week (see photo).
In the greenhouse, cucumbers are formed on trellises.
- Prevention of diseases and pests. The main condition is the careful fulfillment of agrotechnical requirements. Cucumber “Director” does not require regular treatments with fungicides. At the breeding stage, the variety received sufficient protection against diseases.
Reviews
A careful study of the description of the “Director f1” cucumber, reviews of the variety and photos will help you grow a high yield at minimal cost.
Video confirmation:
