Increasingly, summer residents choose late or mid-ripening cucumbers among seeds. The fact is that they are easier to grow, and they produce a harvest until late autumn. Late-ripening varieties are resistant to cold and all diseases that affect cucumbers; they are good for pickling and salting, as well as freezing. You don’t have to be afraid to plant them in open ground. It is interesting to study some varieties of such cucumbers in order to know why gardeners respect them and how to grow them correctly.
What are the differences between late varieties?
Cucumbers are the most common vegetable grown in dachas. It is delicious, perfectly quenches thirst, and is ideal in salads and preserves.But often gardeners do not know which variety to choose - late or early ripening. Of course, those that are among the first to ripen at the beginning of summer bring a lot of benefit and joy. After all, you can enjoy them already in July, make salads, and slices. They are sweeter, brighter. But they quickly wither and do not produce a bountiful harvest. Early varieties can be planted two or three bushes to pamper your family with them at the beginning of summer.
Late cucumbers are distinguished by their rich yield, endurance, and frost resistance. They have excellent immunity to various diseases, and they produce tasty fruits even in the fall. Their skin is denser, they can be grown for sale, and they tolerate transportation well.
Among them there are many hybrids that are completely unpretentious in care; they are even allowed to be planted in open ground. Among the well-known names are Regal, Droplet cucumber, Solnechny cucumber, Sister, Pobeditel, Phoenix, Nezhinsky, Domovenok F1 and others. It is best to plant up to three different species so you can compare later.
But it is worth remembering that even the most unpretentious and resistant varieties require careful care. The gardener’s caring attitude towards vegetable crops guarantees the quality of the harvest.
How to plant them correctly
Late varieties of cucumbers for greenhouses and open ground in the middle zone are planted in seedlings. Seedlings are grown on a windowsill indoors from seeds. Seeds must be pre-treated in manganese. Before planting, stop fertilizing and watering. The soil in the garden is prepared in advance. It is dug up, fertilized, watered.
In the garden, cucumbers are planted in one row, maintaining distance and the required distance. If the plants are tall, they need to be tied up.Immediately after planting, you should not touch the bushes; you need to give them time to adapt to the new place.
If cucumbers grow in open ground, they should be covered with film and sometimes opened for ventilation. For open spaces, varieties that are not afraid of cold weather and environmental influences are suitable: Cucumber Stepnoy, Nezhinsky, Regal, Dalnevostochny, Phoenix, Donskoy and others. Reviews about them can be found on gardening websites.
Gentle care
Depending on the characteristics of the varieties, you can develop rules for caring for the bushes so that they produce a lot of tasty fruits. For late sowing, it is better to take a self-pollinating hybrid so that it can withstand climate changes and lack of sunlight and heat.
Three things are the most important in caring for cucumbers: high-quality watering, fertilizing with the necessary fertilizers and working with the soil. It is best to feed and water in the evening. Watering is not done with cold water; it is advisable that it sits in barrels.
For quality care, it is also important to loosen the soil, remove weeds, pinch shoots, and spray against various diseases and insects.
If cucumbers grow in a greenhouse, then they need to ventilate it daily, but without creating drafts. Cucumbers love light, so if they grow in an open space, the film must be opened in good weather. It is always necessary to regulate the level of humidity in the air and soil for cucumber plants.
Variety of late varieties
If you can’t choose which of the late bushes to plant in your dacha, then you can choose 3 or 4 types that will differ in shape and properties. There are a huge number of cucumber varieties. Every year new names appear.Everyone can choose what is most suitable for their site and purpose.
Let's look at some well-known varieties of late cucumbers.
- Annika. The description of the Annika f1 cucumber should begin with the fact that this type is very good for fresh consumption. It is resistant to many diseases, like all hybrids. The taste of the fruit is juicy and sweet. Their length is up to 9 centimeters. The bush is tall, up to three meters. Very high yield.
- Cucumber Abundant f1. Pollinated by bees. Bears a lot of fruit. The bush is low, cucumbers up to one hundred grams. It is recommended to plant only after June frosts.
- Cucumber Cheerful Company f1. Not afraid of cold weather. Brings a large number of small cucumbers with pimples. They are used mainly for pickling and look great in jars.
- Regal. A universal hybrid, it can be consumed fresh, as well as for pickling and pickling. Delicious, sweet fruits. The variety is resistant to cold and disease. Can be grown in open ground. Gives a lot of fruit.
- Stella f1. It is characterized by high productivity and disease resistance. The shape is cylindrical, the fruits are smooth, even, sweet in taste. Length up to 25 centimeters, can weigh up to 300 grams. Loves warmth. Suitable for greenhouses, planted only after threat of frost.
- Cucumber Antoshka f1. A hybrid with high disease resistance and rich yield. The fruits weigh up to 90 grams and are about 10 centimeters long. Can be salted or eaten in salads.
- Rais. Excellent harvest, strong immunity. Tuberous surface. The length of the fruit is approximately 15 centimeters, weight – 120 grams. Perfect for preservation.
- Cucumber Stork. Bee pollinated. Not afraid of cold, can be grown in open ground. Good taste. Tasty when pickled or fresh.
- Nezhinsky. One of the high-yielding ones.Fruits until late autumn. Resistant to cold and disease. Self-pollinating. The fruits are well stored and can withstand transportation. Medium smooth cucumbers. Can be salted or eaten fresh.
- Phoenix. Good taste. Self-pollinating. Resistant to diseases. Medium in weight and length, dark green fruit, thick skin, pimply. They are stored for a long time and can be used for preservation.
Everyone chooses according to their taste which of the late varieties of cucumbers for open ground or greenhouses should be planted on the site. It is important to care for them properly, then they will delight the whole family with delicious crunchy fruits. Have a good harvest!
