For more than 10 years, Kurazh cucumbers have been successfully grown by summer residents and small farmers. Breeders from the Gavrish company worked on its creation: S. F. Gavrish, A. V. Shamshina, A. E. Portyankin. The hybrid has been included in the state register since 2002 and is approved for cultivation under temporary shelters and in greenhouses in all regions of the Russian Federation.
Description
Cucumbers of the Kurazh variety were bred for cultivation in closed ground, but, as many years of practice have shown, their cultivation in open ground also gives good results in terms of yield and disease resistance. Both characteristics are important for an amateur vegetable grower.
The yield of greenhouse cucumbers grown in an unheated greenhouse can reach up to 16 kg of cucumbers per square meter. The description of the variety is ideal for greenhouses, since the Courage F1 cucumber is part of the group of parthenocarpic plants; it does not need pollination, since the flowers are female.
Courage cucumber bushes are indeterminate; they do not stop their growth; the central vine can grow up to 3.5 meters. It is recommended in the summer to grow cucumber bushes in a greenhouse in 1 stem according to a 50*50 cm pattern. Due to this, all parts of the plant receive full lighting, which contributes to a high yield.
Courage cucumber bushes are covered with medium-sized green, irregularly serrated leaves. The ability to form new shoots is moderate, close to average. Type flowering cucumber bunched. With high-quality agricultural technology, Kurazh F1 cucumbers are capable of forming bunches of ovaries from 2 to 4 pieces at the stem nodes.
Fruit
The fruits of the Kurazh cucumber are intended for all types of canning; they are good when salted and fresh. Cucumbers of the Kurazh variety have a classic cylindrical shape, covered with frequent medium-sized tubercles with white pubescence.
Against the background of the main green color, you can see light longitudinal stripes extending up to a third of the length of the fruit. The average length of the fruit varies within small limits, from 11 to 14 cm. The diameter of the fruit is about 4 cm. The weight of cucumbers is small, 100-120 g.
Recommendations for the formation of cucumber bushes
Bushes of cucumber varieties such as Courage F1 have some features that must be taken into account. To obtain the yield stated in the description, the bushes must be constantly shaped. It is recommended to plant the plant in one stem, while adhering to a fairly dense planting pattern - 40 cm in a row between bushes, maintaining at least 60-70 cm between lines.
The formation of the Kurazh cucumber bush begins after the first leaves appear. First, all sinuses are blinded to a height of 50 cm, this is approximately 4 to 6 lower sinuses. It is recommended to blind all bushes of hybrids with a bunch type of flowering. Thanks to simple manipulation, the summer resident has:
- well-ventilated ridge;
- bushes with a powerful root system;
- due to good ventilation below, plants are less likely to suffer from fungal diseases.
As the central stem grows, the formation of the bush continues. Up to a height of 1.8-2 m, flowers and ovaries are left in the axils, and the stepsons and whiskers are plucked out. When the central lash of the bush reaches the top of the trellis, it is thrown over the top and directed downwards. Flowers, ovaries and 2 leaves are left on the stem hanging down at 4-5 nodes. Pinch the crown at a height of 70 cm from the ground.
Timing of planting and ripening of cucumbers
The hybrid from the Gavrish company is considered early. In a greenhouse or in a greenhouse, after 35 days the first cucumber is removed from the bushes. Peak fruiting occurs approximately on the 50th day from germination. The yield of the harvest is uniform, which is convenient for small farmers and summer residents who sell surplus crops at the city market.
The timing of planting depends on the propagation method (seeds, seedlings) and the growing location (greenhouse, soil, greenhouse).If there is a greenhouse at your dacha, then already at the beginning of April or in the last days of March you can start sowing the seeds of Kurazh cucumbers for seedlings. Growing seedlings in a greenhouse allows you to harvest early harvests in early June.
Preparing cucumber seeds
Seeds do not need to be processed if this is stated in the instructions printed on the bag. All other seed requires processing. It is carried out in several stages:
- At the first stage, empty seeds are discarded. Simplify the process using salt water. The concentration of the solution is a liter of water, a tablespoon of salt. The seeds are poured with lightly salted water, those that float to the surface are immediately discarded, those that settle to the bottom are washed in warm water and used for sowing.
- The second stage is disease prevention. The solution is no longer salty, but pink. To obtain it, add several crystals of potassium permanganate to water at room temperature. To destroy pathogens, the seeds are kept in rose water for 30 minutes.
- The third stage stimulates seed germination. To stimulate growth, they resort to soaking. The seeds are wrapped in a damp cloth and placed in a saucer or plastic container. Keep until sprouts appear, unless you plan to carry out the fourth stage (hardening).
- Stage four – 2 days in the refrigerator. Seeds in a damp cloth are on the bottom shelf. Hardening helps build immunity and increase stress resistance.
Planting cucumber seeds treated with the above methods is doomed to success and allows you to grow healthy seedlings.
About cucumber seedlings
Grow cucumber seedlings are easier to grow without picking. Sow the seeds not in large general containers, but in separate 0.5 liter containers. It is convenient to plant seeds in plastic bags from milk drinks.
First, fold the bag more than halfway, then fill it with soil. Place the seeds on well-moistened soil and sprinkle with a 20 cm layer of soil. As the shoot grows, add soil little by little. By the beginning of week 4, the cucumber seedlings will be ready for transplanting.
About transplanting seedlings and summer care
The soil temperature for cucumbers, whether in a greenhouse or a garden bed, should be above 12 °C. The parameter is measured not on the surface of the earth, but at a depth of 10-15 cm, where the roots of the cucumber seedlings will sit. In a greenhouse this could be the end of April, in the soil under arches - the end of May, on an ordinary ridge without shelter - the first week of June.
In summer, watering is the main care. Cucumbers love moisture and moist, draft-free air. Water consumption per plant is 5 liters. When the cucumbers are actively growing on the bushes, watering in the greenhouse is carried out every 2-3 days, and the street beds are watered according to the weather.
Feeding cucumbers is an essential part of courtship. It is ideal to feed cucumber bushes every 2 weeks. If this is difficult, then feed the cucumbers 3 times during the season:
- mullein infusion at the age of 1 month;
- herbal infusion during flowering;
- infusion of ash and herbs during the period of active pouring of cucumbers.
Reviews
Ilya, Kirov
I first planted Courage at my dacha 10 years ago. Since then I have not changed this hybrid. Cucumbers are very reliable, even in extreme seasons they showed good results. The taste of cucumbers suits me, although some criticize hybrids for their dense pulp. In the summer I am not lazy, I feed the bushes every 10 days. I infuse nettles with chicken manure in a barrel. If we talk about the disadvantages of these cucumbers, it is powdery mildew. Sometimes it happens on my Courage bushes, and I have to fight.
Evgeniy, Penza
I have three favorite hybrids cucumbers: Mother-in-law, Son-in-law, Courage. I plant all the cucumbers under film in the spring.The harvest is given away together. The fruits are smooth, small, and in July I collect them every 2-3 days.
