The “Competitor” cucumber is a fairly old variety, known for its bee pollination and early ripening. This crop appeared in 1980 thanks to Crimean breeders, specifically to be grown in the southern parts of the country.
This variety has been represented on the seed market for four decades now. According to many years of experience in varietal cultivation, the variety is developing well in non-chernozem regions of Russia.
Characterizing the “Competitor”
The description of the variety begins with its basic feature - early ripening.If you plant the seeds in the spring, in the last days of May, then about 50 days or a little less will pass between the emergence of seedlings and the ripening of the cucumbers, and if it is already in the summer in June - about a month.
It is not recommended to plant vegetables quickly: cucumbers love warmth. It is interesting that at first the growth of the roots exceeds the growth of the above-ground part of the cucumbers by 3 times, but after 50 days they become close in size, then the outer part of the plant begins to actively grow, and the roots develop to the required size and no longer grow.
The stem part of the crop develops rapidly, forms tendrils with which you can cling to any support. As for the leaves, “Competitor” has a heart-shaped structure. After a short period of time after germination, flowers appear.
The grown vegetable has male and female genital organs. The latter are capable of forming ovaries. The color of the corolla is yellow. As for flower opening, in the southern regions it begins as early as 4 a.m., and in the north - two hours later. The viability of pollen lasts only a couple of hours after the flower opens. Bees pollinate the vegetables, and after 12 days the plant finishes blooming and begins bearing fruit. And already by the fiftieth day after seed sowing, the first fruits ripen.
An important characteristic of “Competitor” cucumbers is their fairly high yield. For every square meter there are 3-4 kilograms of fruit. Such data are associated with the length of fruiting time - on average, the variety involves harvesting fruits for about three months. Again, much is at the mercy of the weather and temperature changes, due to which the period of fruit formation and the yield itself decrease.
About the characteristics of the fruits of the described cucumbers
We give the following description of vegetables:
- The shape is oval-cylindrical, with large tubercles and the presence of black spines.
- Color: intense dark green with light stripes.
- The pulp is juicy and sweetish.
- In size - from 9 to 15 cm.
- By weight – 100-125 grams.
- The yield is 3-4 kilograms per square meter.
Speaking about yield, its connection with climatic characteristics, variations in weather and type of cultivation is obvious. Growing on trellises, for example, gives gardeners greater fruit yield than the traditional development of plants in familiar beds.
Features of seed planting
Planting and caring for a crop begins with preparatory actions with seeds. First of all, they require calibration - separation of useless and small seeds. They are immersed in salt water with the proportions of 30 grams of salt per liter of water. This liquid involves complete dissolution of the salt crystals, and then the cucumber seed is immersed in water for about ten minutes until the seeds themselves begin to separate. Floated seeds are not suitable for planting, so they should be removed with a spoon. And those that remain at the bottom are optimal for growing in open ground.
Next, it is necessary to carry out seed washing followed by disinfection. A weak solution of potassium permanganate or boric acid will help with this. The seeds are placed in the solution for about a day. If cucumber seeds last longer, then there will be more flowers with female cells.
In general, the seeds do not lose their properties and are suitable for cultivation for six years.
And now, we can say that sowing can take place. If there are no intentions to further germinate the seeds, they should simply be dried and started to be planted.You can grow the seeds before planting, then you will be completely confident in the result: everything that germinates will end up in the soil. And the calibration process, although effective, will not provide a 100% guarantee for determining the quality of seeds.
Growing the “Competitor” correctly
It is possible to grow the cucumber crop “Competitor” both in soil and in greenhouse conditions. For the Russian central zone, these cucumbers are recommended to be planted under film coverings. The optimal temperature for cucumber seedlings is 20°-25°C.
Let’s also not forget about moderate soil moisture: the soil should not be very wet, but not dry either, then sprouts can be expected within 4-5 days. Warming up the seedlings is not required: high temperature levels can slow down their development, and long-term heat can lead to death, so at temperatures above +35 °C, vegetables should be provided with shade.
It is preferable to plant the seeds at a distance of forty centimeters from each other, and at the same distance between the cucumber rows. It is recommended to place cucumbers in beds where the predecessors were onions, potatoes and tomatoes. Fruiting is better on trellises, and corn is a good support crop.
Features of care
In order for “Competitor” cucumbers to grow and bear fruit well, it is necessary to follow the rules of caring for them: regularly weed the beds, water abundantly and in a timely manner, lightly loosen the soil around the cucumbers and fertilizers. According to the description of the “Competitor” cucumbers, caring for them does not cause any difficulties; it is only important to be aware of certain biological characteristics of the plants:
- The beds should be organized using light, medium and sandy loam, not forgetting about the abundance of minerals and organic matter.
- The beds are prepared immediately after the precursor vegetables are harvested.
- Deep digging of the beds and parallel application of organic fertilizers are required, among the favorites are manure and vermicompost in combination with potassium and phosphorus components.
- With the development of active vegetation, fertilizing is carried out during the appearance of flowers and the budding process.
- As for the irrigation system, a modern drip irrigation system for cucumber crops is used.
If, while growing cucumbers, you find the slightest signs of insects or diseases on the vegetables, then immediately carry out preventive measures, where, in each specific case, select certain chemicals. So, to prevent fungi and viruses, they are treated with products that contain copper, for example, its oxychloride or Bordeaux mixture.
The procedure is carried out when cucumber diseases occur and when a pair of leaves appear on the sprouts. This treatment is carried out in the morning or in the evening to avoid burns on the leaves.
On the virtues of culture
The description of the “Competitor” variety shows an example of a cucumber crop that is practically devoid of disadvantages. On the contrary, there are a large number of advantages, which include:
- Decent harvests;
- Magnificent appearance and excellent taste;
- Good pollination;
- High seed germination, as well as almost maximum seedling survival rate;
- Resistance of the crop to powdery mildew;
- Long-term fruiting;
- According to climate and weather, from each square meter of planting you can get 3.3-3.8 kilograms.
Some reviews from gardeners note such negative manifestations of the variety as yellowing of the fruits if the harvest is not harvested on time. Overgrown cucumbers have thick, cracked skin that lacks the classic flavor. And if you don’t water it enough, the cucumber pulp may taste bitter.
The described variety is rightfully popular among gardeners. According to most reviews, it is unpretentious and disease-resistant. Even novice gardeners will be able to plant, grow and give the necessary care to these cucumbers. The fruits are smooth, neat in appearance, and are good for making pickles. And to better evaluate the taste of “Competitor” cucumbers, there is only one thing left to do – make them a crop in your garden.
