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No matter what super-early varieties are planted in the ground, they still will not be able to get ahead of greenhouse cucumbers. It is in greenhouses that the earliest vegetables grow, and the very first of them are cucumbers. You can learn about the main stages and rules for planting cucumber seeds in a greenhouse from this article.
Growing plants indoors has its own characteristics, in order to get a good harvest, you need to do a lot of work.
Varieties of greenhouses
First of all, you need to build the greenhouse itself. Its dimensions and design depend on the scale of cultivation: a film greenhouse will be enough for their own needs for vegetables, and those who sell early vegetables cannot do without a capital heated greenhouse.
So, the most common types of greenhouses:
- large polycarbonate greenhouses;
- film greenhouses;
- covering temporary films, which are needed only before germination, then they are removed.
Variety selection by type of pollination
Varieties of cucumbers are divided into many subspecies and types. To choose the best and most suitable variety, you need to understand these subspecies.
So, the first thing to determine is whether the plant will have the opportunity to pollinate. If a retractable roof is arranged in the greenhouse, there is the possibility of ventilation, and bees live close to the site, gardeners are advised to choose one of bee-pollinated cucumbers. Numerous reviews indicate that these are the most delicious cucumbers.
For those who really want to eat bee-pollinated cucumbers, but there is no way to attract insects, the manual method of pollination remains – they do it with a small brush or by bringing a male flower to a female one.
Parthenocarpic varieties are more convenient in this regard – they do not need pollination at all, since all the flowers on the plant are female. The disadvantage of such cucumbers is the lack of seeds inside the vegetable, and it is the seeds that give the cucumber a unique taste and aroma.
Compromise is a self-pollinating variety containing both male and female inflorescences, which are self-pollinated. These cucumbers retain the vitamin-beneficial seeds and do not require additional worries related to the transfer of pollen.
What is a cucumber for?
Before buying seeds, the gardener should know the answer to the question of what he intends to do with the greenhouse crop:
- sell;
- eat fresh;
- salt and marinate for the winter.
In the first case, productive varieties are needed, because the number of cucumbers taken from one bush is very important here. The most productive varieties of greenhouse cucumbers are mainly hybrids. Such as:
- “Cupid F1”;
- “Hector F1”;
- “Ant”;
- “Bidretta F1”.
Used for fresh consumption lettuce varieties. Such cucumbers are distinguished by soft skin and juicy pulp; inside the cut salad vegetable there are many large seeds.
In appearance, salad cucumbers are also easy to distinguish: most often they have a smooth skin with small pimples (or without them at all), a long, tapering shape and a dark green hue.
The best lettuce species suitable for growing indoors are:
- “Cuckoo F1”;
- “Tamerlan F1”.
In addition to excellent taste, these hybrids are characterized by high yields and large fruits.
For conservation you need cucumbers of small size and the correct cylindrical shape, because the fruits must be placed in tight jars with brine. The peel of pickled cucumbers is thick, with tubercles and thorns, and the flesh is denser than that of a salad vegetable. The main property of such cucumbers is their ability to retain crispness after heat treatment.
Numerous reviews of hostesses suggest that it is better to choose for conservation:
- “Grasshopper F1”;
- “Competitor”;
- “Annushka”;
- “Bouquet F1”.
In addition to those listed, there are universal varieties. These cucumbers combine the best qualities of pickling and salad species, are distinguished by high yields and disease resistance (for example: Corporal, Severyanin, Blagodatny).
Attention! An equally important point is what ripening time the variety has. Indeed, to obtain the very first cucumbers, one of the ultra-early types is needed, and medium and late cucumbers are more suitable for conservation for the winter.
What characteristics should a greenhouse variety have
Summing up the above, we can say that not all varieties are suitable for growing indoors. The greenhouse atmosphere has its own characteristics, which not every plant can withstand..
Greenhouse cucumbers should:
- It is well tolerated by the shade and the lack of direct sunlight.
- Be resistant to high humidity.
- Do not rot in conditions of poor ventilation.
- Have non-spreading bushes and lashes without many side shoots (bush).
- Be high yielding.
- Resistant to most diseases (in greenhouse soil, the plant has a very high risk of infection).
- Possibility of pollination.
Winter-spring varieties
What cucumbers appear the very first? Of course, those that gardeners bothered to plant before the rest. This category includes winter-spring varieties, the seeds of these cucumbers are sown in greenhouses in winter. The first harvest appears in late February-early March.
The main requirement for early cucumbers is that they must be able to withstand low light, because the winter sun is not enough for normal plant growth.
«Blagovest F1»
This hybrid belongs to plants with unlimited stem growth, therefore it provides very high yields. “Blagovest F1” is a parthenocarpic variety, so it can be planted in a closed heated greenhouse, it does not need bees.
The fruits of this hybrid are small – up to 85 grams, covered with rare tubercles. Cucumber has a well-pronounced taste and aroma, medium-thick peel and dense pulp. All this allows you to use it with equal success for salads and for conservation.
Growing a hybrid does not require complex care – the seeds are treated from the most common diseases.
“Relay F1”
This is the option when it is better to wait for the first spring warmth. If you want to get the fruits of this variety early (plant seeds in winter), you will have to do manual pollination.
Cucumbers grow large, their weight reaches 200 grams. The peel is thin and smooth with a small amount of pimples. Variety “Relay F1” – a bright representative of salad varieties, completely unsuitable for conservation.
Cucumber buds should open just in time for the appearance of bees, because the variety is bee-pollinated.
Spring-summer varieties
In warm spring, you can also plant cucumbers in a greenhouse. Not all regions are provided with temperatures that are high enough for this heat-loving vegetable. Besides, the yield in the greenhouse is still higher than in the open field. In late spring, disease-resistant varieties are planted, it is during this period that cucumbers are most susceptible to infection. Another important indicator is resistance to low temperatures (for ventilated and unheated greenhouses).
“Tumi”
The variety is one of the most persistent. He is not afraid of any disease or fluctuations in air temperature.
Greens of this variety are small, have a thin, delicate peel. Most of all vegetables are suitable for fresh consumption.
The main advantage of the Tumi cucumber is its productivity – about 12 kg of vegetable can be obtained from one square meter of greenhouse soil.
“Courage”
“Courage” refers to varieties suitable for sale. Buyers also love beautiful, even cucumbers for their excellent taste.
The plant is endowed with resistance to most greenhouse diseases. Differs in a large number of flowers that do not turn into empty flowers. With proper care, you can grow a cucumber from each flower – the yield of the variety reaches 25 kg.
Summer-autumn varieties
Late varieties are characterized by long fruiting. For planting in greenhouses, they are used by those who sell cucumbers for preservation or provide festive New Year’s tables with fresh vegetables.
Maryina Roshcha F1
The hybrid belongs to parthenocarpic and does not need pollination. Great for planting in a greenhouse and does not require complex care.
Cucumbers with a thick skin and large pimples are great for canning and marinade.
“Anyuta F1”
This hybrid belongs to the gherkins – greens grow small (5-7 cm). The variety also does not need bees, it belongs to the group of self-pollinated.
You need to plant a hybrid in well-lit areas – the plant is photophilous. Cucumbers with tubercles and thorns, usually used for canning.
What is the best cucumber
It is impossible to say unequivocally which varieties are more suitable for greenhouses. All modern hybrids and varieties of cucumbers have their strengths: some have high yields, others have excellent adaptation to any conditions, and others have taste.
Probably every experienced gardener has his favorite greenhouse variety. Do not just forget that the seeds must be purchased from a trusted manufacturer.