The scientists of the Manul agricultural company once again tried their best and created the miracle sprinter cucumber Ant f1 to the delight of vegetable growers. The hybrid very quickly gained recognition in the gardening community and continues to gain popularity.
Seeds of excellent quality have almost one hundred percent germination. The cucumbers grow tasty, neat, gherkin-type. The surface is dotted with large tubercles with spikes. Due to their size, they are perfect for pickling.
Growing
The description of the Ant f1 variety from the manufacturer is quite promising. Breeders have included valuable qualities for gardeners in one hybrid:
- high taste qualities;
- limited branching of the bush;
- reduced demands on weather conditions;
- parthenocarpicity;
- resistance to standard cucumber diseases;
- precocity;
- small size and neat appearance of the fruit;
- Suitable for open and protected ground.
Seedling
Seedlings are sown in nutritious loose soil mixture at the end of April. Ant cucumber seeds are pre-soaked. After 3-4 true leaves appear, the sprouts can be planted in open ground, covering the beds with film or in a greenhouse. Calculation of the number of roots, approximately 3-5 per 1 sq.m in open ground and 2-3 in a greenhouse.
You can plant the seeds directly into the ground, but you need to wait for the soil to warm up well and cover the seedlings with film. Like any other cucumbers marked “f1” in the name, they are not suitable for collecting seeds for the next season. The characteristics of hybrids are preserved only in the first generation.
Bush formation
When planting, the seedling is buried a little to form a more powerful root system. The hybrid has the property of not growing. The bush branches little and the side shoots do not stretch out. The central stem grows well and requires staking. Cucumbers of this hybrid are demanding on lighting; if the vines are not tied, the plant will not produce ovaries in shaded areas. For the full development of the root system, mulching is preferable.
Watering
Water the cucumbers only with warm water, at least 24-25℃, and at least 1-2 times a day. Cold water does not allow the plant to develop normally, overcooling the root system. Early ripening Ant cucumbers love constantly moist soil and prefer drip watering. This is not difficult to organize using plastic bottles.Mulching the soil with sawdust, peat or straw helps to avoid rapid drying out of the top layer and creates a good environment for earthworms to live.
Top dressing
Early ripening hybrids are demanding on nutrition. Ant f1 must be fed at least 3 times per season. If you don’t want to fertilize with complex mineral fertilizers, you can replace them with organic infusions of nettle, mullein, and bird droppings.
Diseases and pests
Breeders included enviable resistance to the main diseases of this plant species in the Ant f1 cucumber variety. I don't care about the tough guy cucumber mosaic virus, olive spot and powdery mildew do not take it. In addition, Ant cucumber is tolerant of downy mildew. Such characteristics are valued by vegetable growers, and the hybrid is always popular.
Harvest
The cucumber hybrid Ant f1 is a pronounced parthenocarpic, therefore it produces an ovary uniformly, regardless of the presence of pollinating insects and weather conditions. The ovary is formed in nodes at once in a bunch of 3-7 pieces along the entire length of the bush. The harvest ripens very quickly, within 4-6 weeks.
After only 37-38 days, the hybrid is able to fill up even with slight cold snaps. This property was introduced by breeders. Some vegetable growers, in order to enjoy cucumbers before the beginning of autumn, plant Ant f1 in 2-3 stages with a slight time difference.
Conclusion
The description of Ant f1 cucumbers turned out to be promising. Those who doubted the choice of variety can safely recommend this strong sprinter. According to reviews from vegetable growers, Ant’s cucumbers are tasty and strong. Bitterness is absent through the work of breeders at the genetic level. The appearance of cucumbers will satisfy any housewife, both for canning and for the summer table.
In a nutritious soil mixture, this hybrid can be grown and harvested even on the balcony.
