Bee-pollinated cucumbers were originally intended for cultivation in open ground and, according to their primary characteristics, corresponded to the conditions of regions with a temperate climate. All types of bee-pollinated varieties of cucumbers negatively tolerate sudden temperature changes and require careful care, especially in greenhouse conditions, where insects cannot easily reach them.
What types of bee-pollinated cucumbers are there?
The choice of cucumber variety must correspond to the expected growing conditions and the purpose of the harvest. It is advisable to place several sections of open beds or small greenhouses on the site, where several types of bee-pollinated cucumbers will grow simultaneously, as well as 1-2 varieties of parthenocarpic species - this way you can protect the crop from significant losses if the seedling material suffers from diseases or unstable temperatures.
Bush type of cucumbers
Of all the varieties of bee-pollinated cucumbers, bush varieties feel best in open ground. Plants require placement in large areas of the garden, since they do not need to be tied to trellises and are formed in the form of a fairly large bush with a maximum length of vines of 0.8 m.
An obvious advantage of bush growing is planting cucumber seeds directly into the ground, at a permanent growing site. Thus, it is possible to achieve an early harvest of fruits, which, due to the resistance of the species to diseases, is plentiful even during the period of general crop failure of cucumbers.
Gherkins
A special feature of gherkin varieties of cucumbers are small fruits about 7 cm long, which ripen already on the 3rd day from the formation of the green ovary. An early harvest of gherkins can only be grown in a greenhouse, since the plant does not tolerate coolness and is ready for planting in open beds only by mid-June.
The preparation of soil for cucumber seedlings also requires special conditions. It should be loose soil saturated with magnesium, nitrogen and calcium with an average acidity value of 6 pH.
Hybrids
This is the only type of cucumber that, thanks to the efforts of breeders, has good data for early planting in open ground.Growing hybrid varieties is less troublesome, but their seeds are not suitable for propagation, so you will have to purchase fresh material for each new season. Planting cucumber seedlings can also be done in greenhouses, and on hybrids, the method of manual pollination of cucumbers brings better results than on pure varietal plants.
Growing in greenhouse conditions
Planting seeds of all types of bee-pollinated varieties of cucumbers in seedling boxes is carried out on February 1-6 (for greenhouse cultivation) or March 1-5 (for open ground). Planting in a permanent place is carried out by the formation of the fifth true leaf on the seedlings.
Depending on the area provided for planting, plants can be planted in one or two rows, maintaining a distance of 40 cm between cucumber bushes, with a similar distance between the rows. For branchy ones bush varieties of cucumbers, calculation of plants per 1m2, standard – 4 seedlings per square. For varieties that require trellis fixation, the scheme provides for 3 plants per meter.
Plants are planted in soil heated to 19 0C, into well-drained holes with warm water, deepening the cucumber seedlings to the cotyledon leaves.
How to pollinate cucumbers with bees
Pollination of cucumber seedlings in a greenhouse is carried out in two directions:
- manually;
- bees and other pollen-carrying insects.
Unlike the first option, which involves personal effort, the method of natural pollination of cucumbers is quite simple. In good weather, the doors and transoms of the greenhouse are opened and insects are allowed to freely enter inside. This method has a drawback - bees prefer open spaces and within a few hours not a single insect may appear above the greenhouse plants.
How to attract bees? Gardeners use many methods, from hanging honey baits in the corners of the room to planting strips of petunias in front of a row of cucumbers, the smell of which attracts insects. An important step before inviting bees for pollination is neutralizing excess odors from the greenhouse. If pest control was sprayed shortly before pollination, the room must first be ventilated.
Artificial pollination
Before starting the procedure, you need to decide which flowers on the plant are female and which are male.. Male flowers are collected together in groups in the axils of the lower leaves, while female flowers are scattered at a distance from each other and are clearly visible by the tiny green ovary formation at the bottom of the flower.
The manual procedure is carried out by a pollinator - a cosmetic or drawing brush, the tip of which carefully removes pollen from the central part of the male plant and transfers it to the pistil of the female plant. Is it possible to make a mistake with the timing of the procedure? Yes, because the inflorescence is only activated for pollination for 24 hours, and during this period both types of flowers must be formed. If this does not happen, then the color subsequently falls to waste and the plant does not bear fruit.
There are a number of cases where bee-pollinated varieties of cucumbers produce ovaries even without human or insect intervention, but the process in which plants pollinate independently can only occur in open ground conditions. At the same time, weather conditions contribute to fruiting - winds or rains, which move pollen from flower to flower, provoking self-pollination.
Bush formation
The formation of bee-pollinated cucumbers is no different from a similar procedure with self-pollinating plants.In any case, you need to achieve as many fruit formations as possible, which means it is necessary to provoke the development of lateral lashes. There is a slight difference in how to shape early-ripening and late-ripening cucumbers:
- in the first case, pinching of the main shoot occurs through 9 leaves;
- in the second case – after 7.
At the same time, you can adjust the density of the bush to better provide nutrition to the main stem.
The best varieties of bee-pollinated cucumbers
Top seven best bee-pollinated cucumbers in greenhouses and open ground:
- "Zubrenok." An early-ripening hybrid that produces a large number of female flowers. Designed for greenhouse cultivation and open ground (when sowing from mid-May to June 7). The harvest time for this variety of cucumbers (from 12 to 14 kg per square meter) is 50 days from the day the sprouts appear. The fruits are medium-sized, without voids, without bitterness. The Zubrenok cucumber is suitable for canning and preparing fresh salads.
- "Twixie." Ultra-ripe gherkin, allowing you to harvest the first harvest on the 40th day from the appearance of sprouts. The desired planting geometry is 60 by 35 cm. The shape and characteristics of the fruit are standard for gherkin-type cucumbers - length 7 cm, medium tubercility, high fruit density. Cucumbers ripen on the bush simultaneously, with a one-time harvest of 4 kg or more. The “Twixie” cucumber is resistant to powdery mildew and tolerates long-term transportation.
- "Moscow delicacy" The plants are self-pollinating when there are female and male flowers on the bush, but the pollination process requires appropriate weather conditions - wind and rainfall.If necessary, you will have to attract insects to the site or perform mechanical pollination by hand. The early-ripening cucumber “Moscow Delicacy” grows to an average size of 12-15 cm, has a neat shape, small tubercles and is resistant to yellowing when the fruit is overripe. Cucumber seeds of this variety are suitable for planting directly in open ground at a soil temperature of at least 17 0WITH.
- "Nugget". A climbing cucumber of unlimited stem growth with one main shoot and poorly developed lateral shoots. Reviews from gardeners agree that cucumbers do not need to be pinched off the shoots and tops. It has flowers of both types and is tolerant of rotting of the stem and root system. Average yield per 1 m2 from 9 to 11 kg, the size of the ripened fruits is small, within 11 cm with a weight of 80-90 g. The “Nugget” cucumber is suitable for long-term transportation while maintaining its presentation and good taste.
- "Moringa F1". The bush is dominated by flowers of one, female type with a small inclusion or complete absence of male inflorescences. The hybrid is classified as a mid-early one, yielding a harvest on the 50-52nd day after sprouts hatch. Recommended for growing by seedlings in the central region of Russia and allowed for direct sowing in the southern zone. The yield is high, the fruits are small, about 7 cm, the taste is excellent. The Moringa F1 cucumber needs to be shaped by pinching the side shoots.
- "Hope F1". It belongs to ultra-ripe hybrids with a high degree of productivity and is included in the varieties of cucumbers mainly grown in Russia for open ground. The fruits are medium-sized, dense, without bitterness, and do not form voids during heat treatment.The variety is tolerant of many diseases, but is weakly resistant to root rot.
- "Erofey". The bush is tall, distinguished by branching, and produces flowers of both types. The variety is characterized by sparsely tuberculate ellipsoidal fruits. The yield is average - about 4 kg per square meter. meters. Recommended cultivation is by seedling method when planting seed material at a shallow depth of up to 1 cm. The variety is moderately resistant to diseases.
- "Rita F1". This variety of cucumbers is grown in order to simultaneously obtain large volumes of ultra-early fruits. Description of Rita F1 cucumbers: gherkins of standard length, weighing up to 50 g, the bush actively bears fruit for two months. From the moment the first shoots appear until the fruit ripens, 47-50 days pass. The variety is relatively cold-resistant, slightly susceptible to diseases, and is suitable for growing in seedlings.
Since cucumbers in open ground are defenseless against night frosts and summer heat, it is recommended to have mobile, quickly installed devices for collecting a film tunnel or canopy on the site.
