Varieties of cucumbers for the Urals in the open field

Cultivation of cucumbers has long become a truly popular occupation in Our Country. Although most of the domestic territories are not ideal for growing plants, which is not at all surprising, especially given the conditions of the country – the birthplace of cucumbers – India. Nevertheless, in most regions, cucumbers are successfully grown and almost everywhere even in open ground. The vast Ural region is no exception. But in order to understand what properties the varieties should have, the cultivation of which in the open field in the Urals will bring the greatest effect, you must first understand the main qualities of the crop itself and the climatic features of the region.

The main properties of cucumbers

In our conditions, cucumbers are an annual plant, a grass that has a stem that creeps along the ground or branching. The height of cucumbers rarely exceeds 2 meters. The type of the root system of the plant is superficial, located no deeper than 1 meter, and the main part is within 15-25 cm. Considering the origin, it is not surprising that the cucumber has several properties at once, which are extremely problematic to ensure in domestic conditions.

1. Thermophilicity of a vegetable is one of the main reasons that its cultivation in greenhouses and hotbeds has become so widespread. So, it is easier to provide the optimum temperature for the cucumber. Nevertheless, with the proper use of agricultural practices, it is quite possible to achieve good yields in the open ground of central Our Country, which includes most of the Urals. In addition, even in Soviet times, varieties and hybrids were bred with increased resistance to cold temperatures. In recent years, this work has not stopped, as a result, the number of varieties of cucumbers that are most suitable for growing in open ground in domestic conditions has become quite large.
2. Moisture-loving – another property of cucumbers, predetermined by the climate of the place of its origin. It is not surprising that the amount of precipitation, even in regions with their maximum level, is clearly not enough for the normal growth and fruiting of the plant. Therefore, it is always necessary to organize regular and fairly plentiful watering of cucumbers, which even the most unpretentious varieties require. Naturally, there are situations when excessive moisture occurs, but they are so rare and only happen to very inexperienced gardeners.

   

3. Even in the most favorable conditions of the Kuban, top dressing is necessary to obtain a good harvest of cucumbers. various nutritious organic or mineral substances. If we are talking about the middle lane, where the soils, especially in open ground, are much lower quality, the importance of proper and timely feeding increases even more. Therefore, it is so necessary to strictly follow the recommendations of experts on this topic.
4. Photoperiod plants – this is the amount of daylight hours necessary for normal growth and development. With all the thermophilicity of cucumbers, their physiology requires only 10-12 hours of photoperiod for full ripening and fruiting. This greatly facilitates the task of domestic gardeners, since for most of the country this is a completely feasible condition, moreover, in some areas certain varieties of cucumbers take root perfectly even in shady and poorly lit areas of gardens and orchards.

Climatic and natural features of the Urals

After the main requirements for cucumbers as a vegetable crop have been determined, it is necessary to analyze which of them satisfy the conditions of the Ural region.

At the same time, it should be taken into account that the Urals is a vast territory, the natural and climatic conditions within which are also quite different from each other. However, some general conclusions can be drawn.

Like most areas of central Our Country, the Urals belongs to the zone of risky farming. This means that the cultivation of crops such as cucumbers is associated with a significant risk of crop failures caused by completely natural causes. The main ones are the rather early onset of cold weather and the possibility of frosts, as well as an extremely short period of consistently warm weather.

These and many other features of agriculture in the Urals are caused by an even harsher continental climate, even in comparison with the central zone of the European part of Our Country. In order to minimize the climate factor, several rules should be followed:

• always use several different varieties or hybrids of cucumbers (3 to 7). The meaning of such an event is that out of so many varieties of cucumbers, a few are most suitable for the specific conditions of the season and will give a decent harvest, even if the rest do not grow;
• pay special attention to such qualities and properties of varieties and hybrids of cucumbers as cold resistance, disease resistance and ripening speed (preferably no more than 45 days). Late plant varieties are not very suitable for use in the Urals;
• Another property that is important specifically for the region under consideration is the use of self-pollinating or parthencarpic varieties of cucumbers. They are recommended for use in greenhouses and greenhouses, but their use is simply necessary for the open ground of the Urals. This is due to the fact that the number of sunny and warm days is extremely small, and it is in such weather that the bees are as active as possible. In cloudy and relatively cold weather, their activity decreases sharply, which leads to problems with fruiting in bee-pollinated varieties of cucumbers. It should also be borne in mind that the complete exclusion of bee-pollinated plant varieties is impractical, since their presence in the garden has a positive effect on other varieties of cucumbers and increases productivity;
• in the event of a cold temperature, and such days are not uncommon in the Urals, experts recommend covering the beds with cucumbers for their additional protection with ordinary plastic wrap or covering materials similar in properties on a non-woven basis. It is allowed to install arched supporting structures, light and removable.

Following the above rules will increase the yield of cucumbers even in the difficult conditions of the Ural region.

The best varieties of cucumbers for open ground in the Urals

When choosing a variety or hybrid of cucumbers, in addition to the above preferences, you should definitely pay attention to the fact that it is zoned specifically for local conditions.

Cucumber hybrid April F1

Hybrid April F1 is specially bred for outdoor cultivation. However, its properties make it possible to achieve excellent results both in greenhouses and even when grown in small spaces in balcony boxes. A universal hybrid is not only in the place of cultivation, but also in taste – it is excellent for fresh consumption, as well as for canning and salting. In addition, the April F1 hybrid is resistant to such common diseases and viruses as olive blotch and common mosaic.

The combination of outstanding qualities made the hybrid one of the most popular among those used in central Our Country.

Hybrid cucumbers have characteristic large tubercles, classic dark green skin and pleasant white flesh. The fruits are quite large overall dimensions, reach a mass of 200-250 grams, and quite often exceed 20 cm in length. Each hybrid node forms 8-12 cucumbers. The hybrid belongs to mid-season, guaranteeing the first harvest in 50 days.

Erofey cucumber variety

The Erofei variety was bred by breeders specifically for central Our Country. The properties and qualities of the variety allow its use in the difficult conditions of the Ural region. Despite the fact that the cucumber variety is bee-pollinated, due to its unpretentiousness and resistance to cold temperatures, it does not experience problems with fruiting in relatively cold and cloudy weather. Being a mid-season variety of cucumbers, it guarantees the first harvest in 50 days. The plant is very tall and branched, while the cucumbers are small in size (about 6-7 cm), referring to the gherkins. The variety is also quite resistant to diseases and viruses. In terms of taste, it belongs to the universal, perfectly manifesting itself both fresh, as well as in canning and salting.

Cucumber variety Competitor

Bred for outdoor use, the Competitor variety of cucumbers is often used without any problems when grown under a film cover. This is achieved by the versatility of its qualities, the main of which are excellent yield, resistance to most diseases, as well as excellent taste. All together, this led to great popularity and wide distribution of the plant variety.

Rather large tubercles are located over the entire surface of an elongated oval or elongated cylindrical cucumber. The variety is most suitable for salting, although it is also often used in fresh and pickled forms.

Cucumber hybrid Ant F1

Hybrid Ant F1 is perfect for the Urals due to several qualities at once. Firstly, it belongs to the parthenocarpic, that is, it bears fruit regardless of the activity of the bees. Secondly, the cucumber hybrid is ultra-early, guaranteeing the possibility of the first harvest in 35-39 days. Thirdly, it is highly resistant to several diseases at once, namely both types of powdery mildew (both true and false) and olive blotch. Cucumbers are cylindrical in shape and covered with large tubercles. The length of the hybrid fruit rarely exceeds 12 cm.

Cucumber hybrid Masha F1

It belongs to parthenocarpic and ultra-early types of cucumbers, which ideally meets the requirements of the difficult climatic conditions of the Urals. In addition, the hybrid has a long fruiting period, allowing you to get a high yield, making the most of the short Ural summer. The fruits are the size of gherkins and are genetically devoid of bitterness. Moreover, their excellent taste qualities, both fresh and canned, are noted by most experts. An additional plus is the resistance grafted to the hybrid to many diseases common in domestic conditions.

Cucumber variety Muromsky 36

Variety Muromsky 36 has a number of undoubted advantages that allow not only to grow it in the open ground of the Urals, but to achieve excellent results. It belongs to the early ripening, which makes it possible to harvest as early as 35-40 days. Possesses residual resistance to diseases. In addition, the fruits have excellent palatability, being medium to smaller than average in size (6-9 cm) and more related to gherkins. Like most of these crops, it is extremely demanding on frequent and timely collection, since cucumbers quickly lose color, acquiring yellowness. They are either small tubercles or smooth, shaped like an ellipse or an egg.

Conclusion

There are many varieties and hybrids of cucumbers that are perfect for growing in the open ground of the Urals. With their proper cultivation, the gardener will be able to fully feel all the charms and virtues of the most popular and beloved vegetable in Our Country.