The variety of cucumbers Masha F1 did not just get high reviews from experienced gardeners and gardeners. And this is understandable, since this variety has all the qualities of an ideal variety: it ripens quickly, does not get sick and has an amazing taste. This early hybrid variety of self-pollinating gherkins certainly deserves attention, because it is most often grown for sale.
Characteristic of the variety
The hybrid variety of cucumbers Masha has determinant bushes of medium climbing. Their medium-sized leaves are slightly wrinkled. Predominantly female flowering avoids the formation of empty flowers. This has a positive effect on productivity. In this regard, cucumber Masha is one of the champions. Up to 7 ovaries can form in its nodes, and the yield of one square meter will be more than 10 kg of cucumbers. At the same time, even a month and a half will not pass before the gardener can harvest the first crop from plants of this hybrid variety. The last harvest of cucumbers can be harvested in early October.
Masha cucumbers are shaped like a cylinder. They have brightly defined tubercles with a light white fluff. On the peel of a dark green color, you can see light stripes and slight spotting. This hybrid variety of cucumbers would not be grown for sale if it did not have excellent commercial characteristics. Each Masha cucumber will weigh no more than 100 g and have a length of up to 11 cm. Their average diameter will be 3,5 cm. The flesh of fresh cucumbers is crispy and juicy. It makes this hybrid variety ideal for canning and pickling.
Distinctive features of this hybrid variety are not only the early formation of cucumbers and productivity, but also the resistance of the plant itself to diseases such as:
- powdery mildew;
- cucumber mosaic virus.
Recommendations for growing
This hybrid variety of cucumbers is perfect for growing both in the greenhouse and in the garden. To get a big harvest, you need to carefully consider the composition of the soil. It should be fertile and light. The acidity level should not be high. Neutral is ideal. To increase soil fertility, it is recommended to fertilize the cucumber bed in the fall with any available organic matter.
If Masha F1 cucumbers are grown in a greenhouse, it is recommended to decontaminate the soil before planting. For this, drugs such as:
- bleaching powder;
- copper sulfate;
- fungicide TMTD;
- phytosporin;
- trichodermin;
- and others.
You should not grow cucumbers of the Masha variety where representatives of the pumpkin family grew before them. This will greatly reduce their productivity.
Cucumber Masha can be grown in two ways:
- Through seedlings, which begin to prepare in April. In addition, each cucumber seed is best planted in a separate container. The optimum temperature for growing seedlings will be 25 degrees. But it must be reduced to 20 degrees a week before landing in a new place. If this is not done, cucumber seedlings may die from too sudden changes in temperature. Ready seedlings are planted in a greenhouse or on a garden bed in May, only after 4 true leaves appear.
- Planting seeds at the end of May. At the same time, the seeds of cucumbers of the Masha F1 variety should not be buried in the soil by more than 3 cm. It is recommended to cover the seeds after planting with a film.
Both seeds and seedlings of cucumbers Masha should be planted according to the scheme 50×30 cm, that is, no more than 4 plants per square meter.
The subsequent care of the plants of this hybrid is quite simple:
- Watering – the harvest directly depends on its regularity. Cucumbers should usually be watered no more than twice a week. But when dry weather sets in, watering should be done every day.
- Weeding – given the shallow root system of these plants, weeding should be done very carefully.
- Hilling – no more than twice per season.
- Fertilization – it must be carried out throughout the season. The first time, you need to fertilize young plants with the first two leaves. The second time and subsequent times – every two weeks. Good results are shown by a mixture of a liter of manure and 10 liters of water. When ash is added to this mixture, cucumbers will go into active growth.
In addition, to stimulate the formation of lateral shoots of this hybrid variety, it is recommended to pinch the shoots above the fifth leaf. You also need to ensure that the number of cucumbers on a branch is not more than 15. If there are extra ones, then they must be removed without sparing.
If cucumbers are grown in a greenhouse or in a greenhouse, then ventilation must be done.