At the beginning of the sowing season, gardeners are faced with the pressing question of what planting material to choose this year. Increasingly, our summer residents are choosing Dutch varieties of cucumbers, which were bred by breeders for cultivation in different climatic conditions.
The choice of seeds on the market is varied - some are resistant to temperature changes, others have high yields, and others receive positive reviews due to their unique taste.
How do Dutch seeds differ from domestic ones?
As a rule, the Dutch produce cucumber hybrids labeled f1 - they cross two varieties into one to produce high-quality seeds that are disease-resistant and have excellent taste. But, unfortunately, the hybrid is not capable of producing a harvest the next year, so the seeds will have to be purchased again.
Most of the planting material is self-pollinating, which makes it possible to grow cucumbers of Dutch selection not only in the open ground, but also in greenhouses. There are also pollinated varieties - they have a richer cucumber taste and smell, and are crispier when pickled.
The choice of seeds depends not on the advice of a neighbor, but on the conditions for growing vegetables in a personal plot. To do this, you need to consider the following parameters.
Where will the seeds be planted - in a greenhouse or an open bed.
- Groundwater level.
- The quality of the soil in the garden.
- Weather conditions in the region.
- Desired taste preferences.
- Winter storage method.
Taking these factors into account, Dutch cucumber seeds are chosen that are suitable for every gardener.
Choosing the right variety of Dutch cucumbers
Let's analyze the most popular seeds among the Russian population, planted in Russian weather conditions.
Self-pollinating varieties
Such seeds are excellent for sowing in greenhouses; the flowers do not require pollination by bees, so they will give an excellent harvest both in the greenhouse and in the garden. The soil is fertilized before planting with mineral and organic fertilizers.
- Angelina f1 is an early ripening Dutch hybrid, used for planting in greenhouses and open beds. From seed germination to the receipt of the first cucumber lasts 45 days. The fruit is lumpy, light green in color, the weight of a mature vegetable is 90 grams.Cucumbers are used for all types of picklings.
- Hector f1 is an ultra-early ripening hybrid; when seeds are planted in a heated greenhouse in March, the first harvest will already ripen in May. The ripening period for vegetables is only 32 days. The plant is adapted to low temperatures, resistant to short-term temperature fluctuations up to +10 degrees. Weighing 100 grams, the length of the fruit reaches 12 centimeters. Has positive taste characteristics, no bitterness.
- Prestige f1 is a highly productive cucumber, up to 20 kilograms can be harvested from 1 square meter. It takes 45 days from seed germination to harvest; vegetables are harvested until October. The weakly spiked fruit reaches a size of 90 grams and a length of 12 centimeters. Vegetables are suitable for all types of preservation.
- Herman f1 - 38 days pass from germination to harvest, therefore, it is early ripening, reaches 12 centimeters in adulthood with a weight of 100 grams, and is resistant to diseases popular in our region. Excellent taste, without bitterness.
Self-pollinating hybrids rarely produce seeds for seedlings the following year. The flower contains female pistils and male stamens, which self-pollinate without the help of bees. They are excellent for growing indoors where bees cannot fly. But it also grows well in open ground.
Bee-pollinated cucumber varieties
Among the Dutch varieties of cucumbers, there are also those pollinated by bees and other insects; when planting on a site, it is necessary to ensure access of insects to the flowers. Cucumbers for open ground are discussed below. In a closed greenhouse, such cucumbers will not produce the expected harvest.
- Ajax f1 is a pollinated early hybrid. About 50 days pass from the moment of ovary to fruit ripening.A green cucumber with many thorns. Small vegetables grow up to a maximum of 12 centimeters and weigh up to 108 grams. Suitable for fresh food and canning.
- Pioneer f1 is a medium-ripening vegetable of dark light green color with many thorns. The fruit is small in size, grows up to 10 centimeters and weighs up to 98 grams. Cucumber with a pleasant sweetish taste without bitterness. The plant is adapted for cultivation in the northern zone and is immune to diseases. Universal purpose.
- Sonata f1 is an early-ripening pollinated hybrid, resistant to powdery mildew and other diseases. The fruits are medium in size, one fruit reaches a length of 10 centimeters and weighs up to 110 grams. The cucumber has a dark light green surface with tubercles and a cylindrical shape. Increased productivity: up to 11 kilograms of vegetables are harvested from one meter.
- Athena f1 is an early hybrid pollinated by bees with an excellent cucumber taste and aroma. Used for preparing fresh salads, preserves and picklings. Small vegetables weigh up to 110 grams. Seeds are afraid of temperature changes, so they should be planted in beds when warm weather arrives. The average yield is up to 10 kilograms of crop per square meter.
- Cucumber Madita f1 is an early-ripening hybrid vegetable that is resistant to popular diseases. It has high taste and commercial qualities. Length 10-12 centimeters, weight 90-110 grams. It has a highly tuberous surface and a green color. There is no bitterness.
All these varieties of cucumbers for open ground They are also used for planting in greenhouses; bees must be given access to the premises for pollination. Otherwise, the cucumbers will not set.
Parthenocarpic - cucumber varieties that do not require pollination
This type of cucumber does not require pollination; all the flowers on the plant are female. These plants are planted both in a greenhouse and in an open ridge. Most Dutch cucumbers are parthenocarpic.
- Cucumber Monolith - produced by Dutch cucumbers for planting in open areas, used for raw consumption - salad. The mass of greens reaches 104 grams. Color ranges from green to dark green with small tubercles.
- Karina is an early-ripening dark green herb with excellent taste characteristics, does not taste bitter, fruiting is highly productive, the size of the cucumber reaches 10 centimeters and weighs up to 105 grams. Resistant to major types of diseases.
- Magdalena f1 is an excellent early-ripening vegetable, suitable for production in greenhouses and open beds. Grown for picking pickles and gherkins. Pickles weigh about 10 grams and are 3 centimeters long. Gherkins 5-8 centimeters. The growing season is 36 days. The color is dark green with bright stripes along the fruit.
- Baby mini cucumber is a mid-early parthenocarpic Dutch cucumber. The growing season lasts 51 days. They are 8-10 centimeters long and weigh up to 160 grams; as a rule, they do not outgrow. They have a sweet, juicy taste and cucumber aroma, making them great for making salads. The variety is resistant to diseases.
- Cucumber Platinum f1 is a large-tubercular dark green gherkin of early ripeness. Due to its characteristics it has high productivity. Bred for growing in plots. The growing season of Dutch cucumbers varies from 45 to 48 days. Used for pickling and preparing canned food.
- Profi f1 is an early ripening variety that, thanks to its resistance to stress and powerful root system, bears fruit even with temperature changes.Resistant to diseases such as powdery mildew and downy mildew. When marinated, it retains its taste, remains firm and crispy.
- Crispina f1 is an ultra-early ripening cucumber that does not require pollination. Developed for planting in greenhouses and open areas. It grows to 10-12 centimeters in length and weighs about 80-110 grams. The shape is oval, light green with yellow longitudinal stripes. Slightly tuberculate, has increased taste. Grown for fresh use and processing.
- Levina f1 is early ripening, the fruits ripen within 35-45 days. Gherkins are used for pickling. The cucumber grows up to 10 centimeters in length and weighs up to 70 grams. The color is bright green to dark green, very lumpy. Resistant to temperature changes and common diseases.
Pasamonte f1, Santana f1, Bettina f1, Mirabella f1, Dolomite f1 - all these are also Dutch parthenocarpic varieties of cucumbers, the description of which is similar to the cucumber variety Monolith f1.
As you can see, Dutch selection cucumbers are of excellent quality; they produce small, neat cucumbers, beautiful color and convenient size.
They are used for preparing dishes from raw vegetables and rolling them into jars, preparing canned salads and pickling. They store well and have a sweet, non-bitter taste and a rich cucumber aroma. Therefore, our gardeners often use Dutch seeds to produce cucumbers in our climatic latitudes.
