Bee-pollinated cucumbers for greenhouses and open ground: growing the best varieties with photos

Bee-pollinated cucumbers were originally intended for outdoor cultivation 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 sharp temperature fluctuations and require careful care, especially in a greenhouse, where it is not easy for insects to get in.

What are the types of bee-pollinated cucumbers

The choice of cucumber variety should meet the intended growing conditions and the purpose of the harvested crop. 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 at the same time, 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.

Cucumber bush type

Of all varieties of bee-pollinated cucumbers, bush varieties feel best in open ground. Plants require placement in large areas of the garden, as they do not need a garter to the trellis and are formed in the form of a fairly large bush with a maximum whip length of 0.8 m.

An obvious plus of bush cultivation is the planting of cucumber seeds directly into the ground, at a permanent place of cultivation. diseases, abundant even during the period of a general crop failure of cucumbers.

Gherkins

A feature of gherkin varieties of cucumbers are small fruits about 7 cm long, ripening already on the 3rd day from the formation of a 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 the soil for seedlings of cucumbers also requires special conditions. It should be loose, saturated with magnesium, nitrogen and calcium earth with an average acidity 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 varieties of hybrids is less troublesome, but their seeds are not suitable for propagation, so you will have to purchase fresh material for each new season. Planting seedlings of cucumbers can also be carried out 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, observing a distance of 40 cm between cucumber bushes, with a similar distance between rows. For branchy bush varieties of cucumbers, calculation of plants per 1m^{2, standard - 4 seedlings per square. For varieties that require trellis fixation, the scheme calls for 3 plants per meter.}

Plants are planted in soil warmed up to 19 ^{C, in holes well spilled with warm water, deepening cucumber seedlings to 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 greenhouse doors and transoms are opened and insects are allowed to freely penetrate inside. This method has a drawback - bees prefer open spaces and in a few hours not a single insect may appear above greenhouse plants.

How to attract bees? Gardeners use many methods, ranging from hanging honey baits in the corners of a 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 the neutralization of excess odors from the greenhouse. If shortly before pollination spraying was carried out from pests, then the room is first ventilated.

Artificial pollination

Before proceeding with the procedure, it is necessary to determine which flowers on the plant are female and which are male typeThe male flowers are clustered together in the axils of the lower leaves, while the female flowers are scattered at a distance from each other and are clearly visible by the tiny formation of a green ovary below the flower.

Manual procedure is performed by a pollinator - a cosmetic or drawing brush, with the tip of which pollen is carefully removed from the central part of the male plant and transferred to the pistil of the female. Is it possible to make a mistake with the timing of the procedure? Yes, because the inflorescence is activated for pollination only for 24 hours, and during this period both types of flowers must be formed. If this does not happen, then later the color falls off in vain 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 are self-pollinated 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.

Shaping a bush

The formation of bee-pollinated cucumbers is no different from a similar procedure with self-pollinated plants. In any case, it is necessary to achieve as many fruit formations as possible, which means that it is necessary to provoke the development of lateral lashes. There is a slight difference in how to form early ripening and late ripening cucumbers:

• in the first case, the pinching of the main shoot occurs after 9 leaves;
• in the second case - through 7.

In parallel, you can adjust the thickening 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 outdoors:

• "Zubrenok". An early maturing hybrid that produces a large number of female flowers. Designed for greenhouse cultivation and open ground (when sown 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. Cucumber "Zubrenok" is suitable for preservation and preparation of fresh salads.

• "Twixie". An ultra-ripe gherkin that allows you to take 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 the gherkin type of cucumbers - length 7 cm, medium tuberity, high fruit density. The ripening of cucumbers on a bush occurs simultaneously, with a one-time collection of 4 kg. Cucumber "Tviksi" is resistant to powdery mildew, tolerates long-term transportation.

• "Moscow delicacy". Plants self-pollinate 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. Early ripe 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 ^C.

• "Nugget". Weaving cucumber of unlimited stem growth with one main shoot and underdeveloped side shoots. Reviews of gardeners agree that cucumbers do not need to pinch the shoots and tops.It has flowers of both types, is tolerant to rotting of the stem and root system. The average yield per 1 m^{2 is from 9 to 11 kg, the size of ripened fruits is small, within 11 cm with a weight of 80-90 g. Nugget cucumber is suitable for long-term transportation while maintaining its presentation and good taste.}

• "Moringa F1". The bush is dominated by flowers of a single, female species with a slight interspersing or with a complete absence of male inflorescences. The hybrid belongs to medium early, with a harvest on 50-52 days from spitting sprouts. It is recommended for seedling cultivation in the middle region of Russia and is allowed for direct sowing in the southern strip. The yield is high, the fruits are small, about 7 cm, the taste is excellent. Moringa F1 cucumber needs to be shaped by pinching the side lashes.

• "Hope F1". It belongs to the ultra-ripe hybrids of a high degree of productivity, it is included in the varieties of cucumbers mainly grown in Russia for open ground. The fruits are medium in size, dense, without bitterness, do not form voids during heat treatment. The variety is tolerant of many diseases, but weakly resistant to root rot.

• "Erofey". The bush is tall, different branching, forms flowers of both types. The variety is characterized by rare tuberculate ellipsoidal fruits. The average yield is about 4 kg per sq. meters. Recommended cultivation - seedlings when planting seed material to a shallow depth of up to 1 cm. The variety is moderately disease resistant.

• "Rita F1". This variety of cucumbers is grown in order to simultaneously obtain large volumes of ultra-early fruits.Description of cucumbers Rita F1: gherkins of standard length, weighing up to 50 g, the bush actively bears fruit for two months. From the moment the first sprouts appear to the fruit ripening, 47-50 days pass. The variety is relatively cold-resistant, slightly susceptible to diseases, suitable for growing seedlings.

Because cucumbers in the open field 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.

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