Contents
Cucumbers, without any doubt, are the most common and favorite vegetable crop among gardeners. Unfortunately, the climatic and natural conditions of Our Country do not allow, when growing them in open ground, to achieve results and yields comparable to those obtained in greenhouses or greenhouses. In most of the regions, the yield of cucumbers when grown in open ground leaves much to be desired. The Krasnodar Territory is one of the few exceptions to this rule. He, like the Kuban as a whole (the concept of “Kuban” as a region includes most of the Krasnodar and part of the Stavropol Territory, the south of the Rostov Region, as well as the Republic of Adygea and Karachay-Cherkessia), being the southern region, is better than others for growing cucumbers in open ground. That is why cucumber is one of the main vegetable crops in the Krasnodar Territory.
Before describing the varieties and hybrids of cucumbers, the most common in the Krasnodar Territory, it is necessary to describe the features of this vegetable crop and the region under consideration.
Description and features
Cucumbers have become widespread in most regions of Our Country, even where their cultivation is fraught with many difficulties. It is obvious that in the southern regions, such as the Krasnodar Territory, it is, in general, one of the leading vegetable crops.
Almost no one thinks about the benefits and value of the plant, due to its commonness and everyday life. Meanwhile, the cucumber has outstanding taste and medicinal qualities.
Cucumber fruits contain useful minerals and vitamins, and also have antipyretic properties, can be used in the treatment of diseases of the kidneys and lungs. In addition, cucumbers are an integral and integral part of therapeutic diets for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and diabetes.
The advantages of such a familiar plant as a cucumber can be listed for a long time. And so far, the taste of cucumber has not been practically affected. Although it is quite difficult to imagine a festive table in Our Country, on which cucumbers would be absent in one form or another.
Climatic and natural features of the Krasnodar Territory
When describing the climatic and natural properties and characteristics of the Krasnodar Territory, it is necessary to note several points that directly affect the cultivation of cucumbers. At the same time, it should be taken into account that the Krasnodar Territory is a fairly large region, the conditions within which can also vary greatly. Further, the most characteristic and generalizing tendencies and properties will be considered.
High heat supply
As noted above, the Krasnodar Territory is one of the most southern and, quite logically, the warmest regions. Cucumber is an extremely heat-loving plant, so this characteristic of the region is the best way to grow the plant.
Practice and many years of experience also show that the heat supply of the Krasnodar Territory, as well as the Kuban as a whole, is quite sufficient for the full ripening of cucumbers. In addition, the traditionally early onset of consistently high (+14-18 degrees) positive temperatures makes it possible to start planting cucumbers much earlier than in other regions. In the Kuban, sowing cucumber seeds in open ground often begins on May 5-10, that is, almost 20-30 days earlier than in central Our Country. The fruiting period of cucumbers also increases by about the same amount. Thus, cucumbers grow and bear fruit in the Krasnodar Territory almost two months longer than in central Our Country.
Insufficient moisture supply
In addition to warmth, cucumber also makes high demands on the moisture content of the soil in which it grows. According to this indicator, the conditions of the Krasnodar Territory, however, as well as almost all other regions of Our Country, cannot fully ensure the normal development of the plant.
Therefore, when growing cucumbers in the Krasnodar Territory, special attention should be paid to the correct and regular watering of the plant. In addition, it is necessary to apply various agricultural practices when growing cucumbers, which will reduce the relevance of insufficient moisture supply in the region.
One of these agricultural practices that improve the conditions for the growth and development of cucumbers is the use of mulching material. It achieves the following goals:
- protection of the soil from drying out and cracking in dry weather, and from silting in rainy weather;
- retaining moisture in the soil;
- stabilization of temperature in the soil;
- suppression of weed growth;
- counteracting soil erosion and leaching of nutrients.
Both a polyethylene film and a special non-woven material can be used as a mulching material.
Most of the other methods and techniques used for growing cucumbers in the Krasnodar Territory practically do not differ from those used everywhere in other regions of Our Country. The main difference of the southern region under consideration is that, due to the climate and weather features listed above, the fruiting time and, as a result, the yield in the Krasnodar Territory is much higher than in almost any other region.
Popular varieties and hybrids for the Krasnodar Territory
There are a fairly large number of varieties of cucumbers that can be used on open ground and are zoned specifically for the Krasnodar Territory.
Hybrid Crane F1
A hybrid specially bred for the open ground of the southern regions at an experimental station in the Crimea. It has an excellent yield, having almost 4-5 cucumbers on each node. The hybrid belongs to bee-pollinated and early-ripening cucumbers. Cucumbers have the correct shape of an ellipse, rather large (length about 11-12 cm, weight – 90-110 g), large tubercles.
Gardeners who grow this hybrid especially note the high taste qualities when used both fresh and canned, that is, it is universal. Cucumbers can be harvested until the first days of September, which indicates long and prolonged fruiting. When breeding, breeders paid special attention to giving the hybrid resistance to diseases, which they succeeded quite well: the hybrid is practically not susceptible to downy mildew and has increased resistance to bacteriosis and powdery mildew, as well as medium resistance to downy mildew. No bitterness.
Hybrid Nightingale F1
The hybrid was also bred and zoned for the southern regions at the experimental station of the Crimea. Suitable for outdoor cultivation, but it is quite possible to use it in greenhouses or greenhouses. It belongs to the early ripe and bee-pollinated varieties of cucumbers. Begins to bear fruit in 45-50 days.
The hybrid has an elegant and attractive outwardly oval-cylindrical fruit shape, which at the same time has a bright green color. Ripe cucumbers are neat and relatively small in size – from 8 to 11 cm. They are long and weigh only 70-95 g. Large tubercles are very noticeable on the surface of the fruit. Connoisseurs consider it a universal variety, as it has excellent taste qualities both fresh, salted, and canned. It is highly resistant to both types of powdery mildew, and also practically does not get sick with tobacco mosaic virus and angular blotch. No bitterness.
Hybrid Rodnichok F1
A hybrid bred by the Pridnestrovian Research Institute of Agriculture for cultivation in open ground and early – in spring film greenhouses. It belongs to bee-pollinated and mid-season varieties of cucumbers. The hybrid has a stable yield, not setting records for this indicator, but even in climatically unfavorable years, without falling below its fairly high level. The first cucumbers ripen after 50 days. Cucumbers have a classic cylindrical shape and standard sizes: length 9-10 cm, weight – 80-100 g.
It has high taste qualities, but is most suitable for salting. Able to resist anthracnose, olive blotch and bacteriosis.
Variety Phoenix-640
The variety was obtained and zoned for the southern regions in the Crimea at the experimental station located there. It is bred specifically for outdoor use. Refers to bee-pollinated and mid-season varieties of cucumbers. It has maximum resistance to downy mildew. It bears fruit with cucumbers 10 cm long. Their growth and ripening occurs very quickly, they rapidly acquire a barrel-shaped “pot-bellied” shape, which, however, does not affect their excellent taste properties. It has a consistently high yield. It is a universal variety, as cucumbers can be consumed both fresh and salted.
Variety Competitor
The variety was bred by breeders of the Crimean Experimental Station specifically for growing in open ground. The variety belongs to the early ripe and bee-pollinated varieties of cucumbers. Harvesting begins in 45-50 days. It has rather large (10-14 cm long) fruits with a very long (5-7 cm) stalk. As well as the previous variety, it is practically not susceptible to downy mildew.
Variety Droplet
Variety of cucumbers for open ground. Refers to early ripe and bee-pollinated varieties of cucumbers. The plant is medium-sized, mostly female type of flowering. Zelentsy have the shape of a slightly elongated oval, large-tuberous and black-spiked. Fruit weight – 60-70 g. The variety is universal and suitable for canning, salting and fresh consumption. A mandatory daily picking of gherkins is recommended.
Hybrid Adam F1
A hybrid of German selection, related to gherkins in terms of fruit size. It differs in that the entire surface of the cucumber is dotted with small tubercles with spikes at the end. Their arrangement is so frequent and close that it seems that the fruit is fluffy. Cucumbers have a classic dark green color.
When washing during their processing, the spikes are destroyed. As a result, thin channels are formed through which the marinade instantly and evenly gets inside. This, firstly, improves the taste of the resulting product, and secondly, it allows to reduce the amount of seasonings consumed. In addition, the hybrid has an excellent taste when used fresh in salads.
Despite the fact that the selection of the hybrid did not take place in Our Country, it was regionalized to domestic conditions by local specialists.
Conclusion
The natural and climatic conditions of the Krasnodar Territory make the cultivation of cucumbers in the open field quite attractive and highly effective. With proper and competent management, the gardener can get an excellent harvest of his beloved, tasty and healthy vegetable.