Cucumbers are a garden crop, very popular among summer residents, despite the fact that growing them is a rather complicated and troublesome business. Especially when it comes to greenhouses. In order to get a good crop indoors, you should take into account a lot of different factors - the timing of planting, the frequency of watering and fertilizing, the methods of forming bushes, the frequency of ventilation, etc. And, of course, first of all, you need to choose the right variety. Otherwise, all efforts can simply be in vain. We will talk about which varieties of cucumbers for polycarbonate greenhouses are most suitable in this article.
Basic selection rules
In most cases, in our time, hybrids are grown indoors. Summer residents call them “varieties” only out of habit. We also will not deviate from tradition. However, the reader should understand that if the name of the "variety" contains the English letter F and the number 1, then this is a hybrid of the first generation. And it will not be possible to get high-quality seeds from it. Next yearplanting material will have to be bought again.
So what are the best cucumber varieties for greenhouses? In order not to make a mistake with the choice of seeds for greenhouses, when buying, you should definitely pay attention to factors such as:
- seasonal variety;
- branch type;
- variety variety (regular, self-pollinated);
- appointment of fruits;
- degree of shade tolerance of plants;
- fruit ripening dates.
Taking into account all these indicators, you can choose the best varieties of cucumbers in this particular case. Many varieties of this crop are suitable for a polycarbonate greenhouse. But do not forget the most important selection factor - the variety must be zoned, that is, bred specifically for the area where the site is located.
Seasonality
All currently existing varieties of cucumbers intended for greenhouses are divided into three large groups:
- winter-spring;
- spring-summer;
- summer-autumn.
The first variety is distinguished by undemanding light intensity and very good yield. However, the fruiting period of such cucumbers is not too long. Since the varieties of this group are not too resistant to various kinds of diseases that are widespread in the warm season, it is not recommended to choose them for planting in late spring or summer. In this case, it will not be possible to get a good harvest.
Spring-summer cucumbers are unpretentious andgood yield. Such plants are usually resistant to diseases and low temperatures. Although there are varieties on sale that are undemanding to lighting, for the most part, cucumbers of the spring-summer group do not have a very high degree of shade resistance.
The main advantage of autumn varieties is long fruiting. Cucumbers of this group are quite productive and unpretentious in terms of lighting.
The best varieties of the winter-spring group
Having planted the seeds in a heated greenhouse in mid-February, by May you can already get quite mature greens. In this case, as you already understood, you should choose "winter" cucumbers for the greenhouse. Varieties (reviews about many of them from summer residents are very good) of this group will not be difficult to acquire. Buy, for example, cucumbers available in almost every specialized store:
- Blagovest 1. This indeterminate (with unlimited stem growth) hybrid is resistant to cucumber mosaic and powdery mildew. Its fruits are cylindrical in shape and covered with medium-sized tubercles. The mass of one greens can reach 80-85 g. Blagovest 1 belongs to parthenocarpic (self-pollinating) varieties. The fruits of this cucumber can be used both for salads and for canning.
- Moscow greenhouse F1. An early maturing parthenocarpic hybrid with long (up to 40 cm) finger-shaped greens.
- Relay F1 - high-yielding mid-season hybrid, pollinated by insects. It is usually grown in spring.(with the appearance of insects by the time the buds open). The fruits of Relay 1 covered with large rare tubercles can reach a weight of 140-200 g. They are usually used for making salads. But pickling is also allowed.
- Manual F1. Also a bee-pollinated hybrid intended for spring cultivation. Its advantages include, first of all, resistance to cucumber mosaic. If planted too early, it may be affected by necrosis. The fruits are mainly used for salads.
Spring-summer group
Next, let's see which varieties of greenhouse cucumbers are best suited for growing in the warm season. These include:
- Zozulu F1. A hybrid of the female type of flowering, characterized by friendly fruiting. Greens of medium length can reach a mass of 150-200 grams.
- April F1. The fruits of this hybrid have very good taste qualities and can reach a weight of 160-300 g.
Both of these varieties are disease resistant and have good yields.
Summer-autumn hybrids
Those who want to grow cucumbers in greenhouses in July - November should consider purchasing varieties such as:
- Maryina Roshcha F1. An early maturing parthenocarpic hybrid, undemanding to growing conditions. Zelentsy with large tubercles are great for pickling.
- Anyuta F1. Also a self-pollinating gherkin-type hybrid. Differs in light-loving and good branching. The lumpy fruits are commonly used for pickling.
These are the most unpretentious and fruitful varieties of cucumbers. For the greenhouse, you can choose other "autumn" hybrids: Courage F1, Caricature F1, Jumping F1, etc.
Type of variety branching
Cucumbers intended for indoor cultivation differ, including the degree of branching. When choosing seeds, this must also be taken into account. Lush varieties of cucumbers for a polycarbonate greenhouse are usually chosen by residents of central Russia. In temperate climates, branched plants give very good yields. For growing in Siberia under the conditions of short summers and frequent spring and autumn frosts, cucumbers with long lashes with practically no shoots are more suitable.
From the branchy varieties for greenhouses, you should choose:
- Buyan F1. Self-pollinating, early-maturing, disease-resistant hybrid. Short greens can be used for both pickling and salads.
- Clean Ponds F1. Self-pollinating hybrid, shade-tolerant, with crunchy fruits. Zelentsy are tuberculate and store very well.
These are high-yielding varieties of cucumbers for greenhouses, which are very popular with gardeners in central Russia. In addition, they are not too whimsical.
From weakly branched varieties, very popular among Siberian summer residents can be distinguished:
- Cupid F1, characterized by resistance to high temperatures and diseases. Greens of this variety have a thin skin and are very good for salads.
- Ant F1. Parthenocarpic very early maturing variety of gherkin type. Already starting to bear fruitone and a half months after planting. Zelentsy 10 cm long are great for pickling.
Pollination type
Common varieties of insect pollinated cucumbers are planted mainly only in professional greenhouses equipped with sliding ceiling panels. For an amateur closed structure, it is still worth choosing the planting material of the parthenocarpic group.
The best self-pollinated cucumber varieties for greenhouses are:
- Zozulya F1.
- Heroic strength F1.
- Courage F1.
- F1 Tournament.
- Sultan F1.
There are many other parthenocarpic varieties. Almost all planting material sold today in specialized stores, intended for greenhouses, belongs to this group. These are actually the best cucumber varieties for greenhouses. Zelentsy grow on them without the need to perform any additional actions on the part of the gardener. There are also partially parthenocarpic varieties. Their cultivation has some peculiarities.
Self-pollinated greenhouse cucumber varieties are thus best suited. But sometimes summer residents still choose traditional varieties of this culture for greenhouses. Bee-pollinated varieties do not lose their popularity, mainly because many gardeners consider their fruits to be more tasty. Growing such cucumbers in an ordinary greenhouse is really very difficult, but not impossible. To get a good harvest in this case, the gardener will have toartificially attract insects. To this end, experienced gardeners are advised to install containers with dandelions or some other flowers at the open doors and windows of the greenhouse. For fidelity, they can be sprinkled with sweet water. It is not worth laying out lumps of sugar around the greenhouse, putting jam, etc. Otherwise, insects will fly up only to this delicacy, and will completely lose interest in cucumber flowers.
The most popular bee pollinated varieties suitable for polycarbonate greenhouses include:
- Fannula F1. Mid-season variety with smooth cylindrical greens.
- Libella F1. Mid-season hybrid with medium length fruits.
Choice of variety by purpose
When buying seeds, you should also decide what exactly it is planned to grow cucumbers in a greenhouse for. Varieties of this culture are divided into two large groups: salad and intended for canning. The fruits of the first variety are usually distinguished by a thin smooth skin, sweetish tender flesh and low rare tubercles. In addition, salad cucumbers most often have a fairly large mass or length.
Fruits of varieties and hybrids intended for canning are usually compact and covered with high tubercles. Their flesh is dense, crispy.
From salad cucumbers the most popular are:
- Zozulya F1. Parthenocarpic hybrid, very responsive to mineral fertilizers. Zelentsy have a cylindrical shape and are distinguished by pronounced ribbing.
- Tamerlane F1. Mid-early hybrid, self-pollinating, with smooth dark greenfruits.
The best varieties for canning are:
- Grasshopper F1. Self-pollinating early ripe hybrid with oval-cylindrical fruits.
- Bouquet F1. Early ripe parthenocarpic variety. Zelentsy have a length of 10-15 cm and are covered with high tubercles.
Shade resistant varieties
In the event that there is a lack of light in the greenhouse, it is best to use special varieties. There are also many seeds of cucumbers for a greenhouse of a shade-resistant group on sale. Very popular, for example, are varieties:
- Marvinsky. Bee pollinated lettuce variety with high yield. Long greens are light green in color.
- F1 Regatta. Salad hybrid with cylindrical greens up to 20 cm long.
- Din 30-CH. Chinese mid-early variety with large (up to 500 g) fruits, suitable for both salads and canning.
Dutch cucumbers
Not only domestic varieties are distinguished by good yields. Imported seeds are also quite popular in our country. For example, our summer residents really like Dutch varieties of cucumbers. They are good for greenhouses. The main advantages of such varieties include resistance to diseases and the complete absence of bitterness. In terms of productivity, Dutch cucumbers are in no way inferior to domestic ones. The most popular varieties bred in this country are:
- Cupid F1. Early ripe shade-resistant variety with glossy greens of dark green color. The fruits are suitable for salads and canning.
- Hector F1. Early ripe hybrid with small and very tasty fruits.
Early varieties of cucumbers for the greenhouse
Many summer residents choose planting material for greenhouses, focusing, among other things, on the timing of fruit ripening. Those varieties from which you can get an early harvest enjoy well-deserved popularity. One of their distinguishing features is resistance to low temperatures. There are also many such varieties bred specifically for greenhouses. Most often, summer residents grow:
- Cucumbers Cartoon. This high-yielding hybrid is good first of all because its elongated cylindrical fruits are never bitter.
- Matrix. A salad hybrid, self-pollinating, disease resistant, with cylindrical fruit.
Of course, there are other early varieties of cucumbers. For the greenhouse, the plants of this group are actually just perfect. Many summer residents manage to get two harvests of such varieties per season, even in an unheated closed structure.
The most popular cucumbers among gardeners
All the varieties described above have their supporters among summer residents and are grown in greenhouses very often. They are quite unpretentious and give good yields. However, some varieties of cucumbers for a polycarbonate greenhouse are just perfect, and therefore are especially popular with most gardeners. These include:
- Ant. Hybridearly maturing with short shoots and small knobby greens.
- Bidretta F1. Unpretentious high-yielding hybrid bee-pollinated, gherkin.
Helpful advice
In a greenhouse, there are usually very favorable conditions for the development of various kinds of harmful microorganisms. And growing even the best variety can end in complete failure just because the owners did not take appropriate measures to prevent plant infection.
In order for cucumbers to remain he althy throughout the growing season, it is imperative to disinfect the soil before planting them in the greenhouse. To destroy harmful microorganisms, chlorine or copper sulfate is usually used. In the first case, the powder is simply scattered on the ground in an amount of 150 g/m2 and covered with a rake. Copper sulfate is diluted in water in a ratio of 10 tablespoons per bucket of water and the soil is spilled with the resulting solution (1.5-2 m2).
By choosing the most suitable variety for the greenhouse, you can get a very good crop of cucumbers. There are many groups and varieties of this garden culture. And all of them have very good characteristics: high productivity, endurance, unpretentiousness. However, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of this particular greenhouse and growing conditions when buying seeds.
