Stores selling cucumber seeds offer too wide an assortment, where novice summer residents begin to get lost in choosing the right variety of cucumbers. Among the numerous hybrids, it is recommended to pay attention to Mirabella cucumbers.
Description of the variety and characteristics
It is not for nothing that this variety of cucumbers is in great demand among gardeners.
It has a number of advantages over other varieties.
Mirabella f1 description and main characteristics:
- The variety has a short growing season: about 40 days.
- Plants grow powerful, with a developed and strong root system.
- Cucumbers are small in size: length does not exceed 10 cm, weight - about 100 grams.
- Ideal for home canning.
- While one node should usually produce 1-2 cucumbers, the Mirabella variety can produce 7 fruits at once, which is why it has such a high yield.
- Cucumbers have a pleasant taste, without bitterness. The seeds are small in size.
Positive and negative aspects of the variety
Anyone planning to purchase Mirabella seeds should familiarize themselves with the pros and cons.
The positive aspects of the variety include:
- rapid ripening of the crop, as this is an ultra-early variety;
- almost 100% germination rate;
- absence of barren flowers;
- good fruit set;
- the versatility of using cucumbers for both fresh consumption and canning;
- development and fruiting both in open ground and in greenhouse conditions;
- cucumbers stay fresh for a long time during storage and transportation;
- ease of plant care: it is a self-pollinating hybrid;
- rarity of incidence of common diseases of cucumbers and melons;
- high yield - up to 24 kg per square meter.
Another characteristic is that the plant is not capricious, suitable for cultivation in many regions, only in the north it is recommended to grow it in greenhouses.
The negative aspects of the variety include:
- poor development and growth at temperatures below 15 ° C, the plant dies in light frosts;
- no immunity to rust.
Having analyzed the positive aspects of the variety, you should not pay attention to the small disadvantages; many of them can be eliminated.
Features of cultivation and care
To grow, you will need soil heated to 15 °C. This time falls on the second ten days of May.It is recommended to first prepare the beds, dig them well with the addition of complex mineral additives and humus. You should also water the bed with a solution of potassium permanganate.
The place for cucumbers should be open, well warmed by the sun, but protected from the winds. Cucumbers can be planted in grooves at a distance of 20–25 cm: one plant from another, row spacing of at least 40 cm.
It is also recommended to plant in holes at least one shovel apart. The seeds are deepened into the ground by 1.5–2 cm.
When planted in open ground, not all seeds may germinate well, so some gardeners like the seedling method of growing. It is recommended to use separate cups for these purposes; they can be plastic or peat. They are convenient because the roots are not damaged during transplantation. Just in case, it is recommended to sow 1 or 2 seeds in each.
After one true leaf appears, it is recommended to transplant the seedlings to a permanent place of growth. She is kept at home, on well-lit windowsills for about 1 month.
After planting in open ground, the plants must be covered with caps for the first time so that they take root better and the moisture does not evaporate. And at night the plants will be protected from low temperatures. As soon as they take root, the caps are removed completely. They can be five-liter plastic containers, cut in half.
The Mirabella cucumber requires proper care, and for this:
- The soil should not be moistened too much: the moisture should not stagnate.
- In hot weather, daily watering in the morning or evening is recommended; it is advisable that the water is not too cold.
- It is recommended to pick cucumbers every day. If this is not done, the yield may decrease.
- It is important that the temperature during the day is above 25 °C and at night does not fall below 18 °C. Only under such conditions can one expect a good harvest, since cucumbers are heat-loving plants.
- Apply fertilizing daily to increase yield, weed weeds and loosen the soil until the plants grow.
Opinions about the Mirabella variety
Everyone who has grown the Mirabella variety leaves positive reviews: they are satisfied with the Dutch hybrid and are ready to plant again in the new season. Unpretentious in care and cultivation. The seeds are processed and have an emerald color, with excellent germination.
Cucumbers are good to eat fresh, but also for pickling and pickling. They turn out crispy, tasty and without bitterness. They are small in size and have a rough surface.
Cucumber variety Mirabella F1 is an excellent hybrid for growing both in open ground and in greenhouses. It is easy to care for, even a novice gardener can handle it.
