Cucumber Gunnar F1: characteristics, cultivation technology

Just a few years ago, a magnificent variety of cucumbers, bred by Dutch breeders, appeared and immediately became popular. Numerous positive reviews and description characterize the Gunnar F1 cucumber as an early ripe variety with excellent taste.

Tall, indeterminate hybrid cucumber bushes with short side shoots are excellent for growing in greenhouses, but they also grow well in open beds.

Characteristic of the variety

Early ripening and high yields make the Gunnar F1 cucumber attractive for industrial plantings. The first crop of cucumbers can be harvested as early as 6-7 weeks after germination. Bushes with large green leaves form from 2 to 4 ovaries in each sinus. Gunnar F1 cucumbers are characterized by:

• saturated green;
• small sizes – the length of the cucumber is not more than 12-15 cm;
• cylindrical, rounded at the ends, shape;
• bumpy, slightly pubescent, skin;
• dense tasty pulp without the slightest bitterness;
• excellent presentation – even overgrown cucumbers of the Gunnar variety do not lose their attractive appearance and taste;
• excellent keeping quality without loss of taste;
• versatility in application;
• excellent transportability;
• the possibility of growing cucumbers under the film and in open ground;

  

• high yield when planting in an open area – more than 20 kg per 1 sq. m, and in unheated greenhouses – up to 9 kg per 1 sq. m;
• undemanding to the salt composition of the soil;
• resistance to small frosts;
• resistance to cladosporiosis.

Despite the excellent characteristics of the Gunnar cucumber variety, some of its shortcomings should be noted:

• high cost of seed material;
• insufficient resistance of cucumber Gunnar F1 to common diseases;
• demands for agricultural practices.

  

Seed sowing

Gunnar cucumbers will give a decent harvest subject to the rules of cultivation. Before sowing, it is advisable to soak cucumber seeds in phytosporin, many gardeners advise keeping them in aloe or potassium permanganate juice. Such preventive treatment will provide them with high antibacterial resistance.

Sowing boxes equipped with good drainage should be filled with loose soil. The friability of the soil mixture will ensure the addition of humus and peat to the garden soil. A small amount of ash would be a good addition. Gunnar cucumber seeds, as the reviews advise, are placed evenly over the surface and sprinkled with a layer of soil up to 1,5-2 cm thick. To speed up the germination of cucumber seeds, cover the boxes with a transparent film or glass and put them in a room with a temperature of up to 26-27 degrees.

As soon as the cucumber shoots Gunnar F1 hatch, the temperature is reduced to 19-20 degrees. Watering cucumber sprouts is carried out by spraying. The soil should not be allowed to dry out, but it should not remain too wet.

The technology of growing cucumber Gunnar recommends transplanting seedlings to a permanent place after the appearance of 4 true leaves. If Gunnar cucumbers are grown in film greenhouses, transplantation occurs around mid-May. Overdosing cucumber seedlings is not worth it, as its ability to adapt decreases, a large number of sick and weak plants appear, which will affect the crop.

Many gardeners prefer to sow cucumber seeds in separate containers, which subsequently makes it easier to transplant seedlings into beds.

Transplanting seedlings in open ground

Cucumber Gunnar F1 loves open sunny places, protected from the wind. Therefore, the site for landing should be chosen taking into account these characteristics. The best option would be to arrange beds with Gunnar cucumbers from north to south.

Cucumber roots need to provide good aeration, but it should be noted that the main part of the root system is located horizontally, just a few centimeters from the surface. Therefore, the usual loosening of cucumber bushes leads to damage to the roots, after which the plants have to recover for a long time. Adequate access to air can be ensured by mulching and organic top dressing, as well as the right precursors of Gunnar cucumbers. These include different types of cabbage, peas and other green manure.

Care for cucumbers

Cucumber shoots are formed into one stem, and:

• shoots and ovaries are removed from the first five sinuses, in cloudy weather – the ovaries are removed in 8 sinuses;
• from the fifth to the ninth leaf, one fetus is left in the bosom;
• in the following sinuses, all shoots are removed without touching the ovaries;
• behind the fifth leaf, the description of the cucumber variety Gunnar recommends pinching the growing point;
• yellowed lower leaves are systematically removed – the operation should be carried out in the morning or evening;
• at a height of more than 2 m, a horizontal trellis is strengthened, around which a cucumber stem is wrapped;
• during the first two weeks, the greens of the Gunnar F1 cucumber variety are harvested without waiting for their full ripening;
• in the future, the crop is removed every other day;
• with active fruiting, cucumbers of the Gunnar variety are harvested every day.

Organization watering

The superficial cucumber root system requires a constant moisture regime. With a lack of moisture, plants get stressed, their foliage becomes dark and fragile. Mulching will help keep moisture in the soil. However, excess moisture is also harmful, it leads to:

• to reduce the content of oxygen in the soil;
• inhibition of the growth of cucumber shoots and the formation of fruits;
• foliage color change.

The characteristic of cucumbers Gunnar warns of the appearance of bitterness in greens with sharp fluctuations in humidity and temperature. The best way to water cucumbers is a drip system. If it is not there, you can defend the water in barrels, its temperature when watering cucumbers should not be lower than +18 degrees, and the best indicator of humidity is 80%.

Feed for cucumbers

Variety Gunnar is characterized by active fruiting and requires regular top dressing:

• for the first time, plants are fed with ammophos immediately after transplanting into a greenhouse or open beds;
• after rooting in a new place in about two weeks, a complex fertilizer containing all the necessary minerals is applied under the cucumbers;
• after a week, you can feed the cucumber bushes of the Gunnar F1 variety with rotted manure;

  

• before flowering, the plants are watered under the root with mineral fertilizer diluted with water;
• after watering, cucumber beds are sprinkled with ash;
• after fruit set, nitrogenous dressings are reduced – at this time, cucumbers require potassium and magnesium to ripen and form taste.

Many summer residents use folk remedies as dressings for cucumbers, which are an excellent alternative to mineral supplements – bread yeast, onion peel, stale bread.

Root top dressing for Gunnar cucumbers should be applied after watering or rain, preferably in the evening or cloudy weather. They are more effective in warm seasons. If the summer turned out to be cool, it is easier for plants to absorb foliar top dressing. The spraying procedure for Gunnar cucumbers, as can be seen from the description and photo, is carried out in the evening, the solution is sprayed in small drops and as evenly as possible.

Diseases and pests

Subject to the rules of agricultural technology in greenhouses, cucumbers of the Gunnar variety are not afraid of diseases and pests, but plants can be affected by fungal diseases in the open field:

• powdery mildew, which can reduce the yield of Gunnar cucumbers by almost half;
• downy mildew, which can practically destroy all plantings.

The best way to combat diseases of Gunnar F1 cucumbers is to maintain the optimum temperature and humidity, as well as preventive treatments with special preparations.

Of the pests, the appearance of melon aphids or spider mites on cucumber bushes is possible, against which treatments with solutions of tobacco, garlic and other drugs are effective.

Reviews of vegetable growers

The cucumber variety Gunnar F1 is highly appreciated not only by summer residents, but also by farmers who grow it in a greenhouse on an industrial scale.