April Cucumber: characteristics and description of the variety, cultivation with photo

Cucumber April f1 has been in the top of the best hybrids for several decades and is not going to lose ground. Vegetable growers began to get acquainted with this variety back in 1977. The April F1 was quickly tested not only in greenhouses and beds, but also on the balconies of our country. Thanks to a slightly branched bush and general unpretentiousness, cucumbers feel great in pots on loggias and window sills, delighting with a decent harvest.

At present, the seeds of the April f1 hybrid are grown and sold by most of the well-known agricultural companies in our country: Gavrish, Manul, Altai Seeds, Demetra-Siberia and others. Producers give this variety description:

• parthenocarpic (does not require pollination by bees);
• early (45-50 days);
• universal - suitable for open and protected ground, growing on a balcony;
• high yield;
• medium climbing bush;
• medium sized cucumbers (length 15-25cm, weight 200-250g);
• not overripe;
• tasty, juicy, no bitterness;
• disease resistant;
• friendly return of the harvest.

Growing

Cucumber variety April f1 was bred by breeders for growing in greenhouses. But over time, it was successfully tested in the open field and as a pot culture on the balcony. Reviews of vegetable growers about this variety of cucumbers are always the most positive. Parthenocarpic properties inherent in the hybrid allow plants to lay the ovary without the participation of insects.But it has been observed that with free access to bees, the yield of April f1 is significantly improved.

Seedlings

April f1 cucumber seedlings are sown about a month before the installation of stable heat above +16-17 ℃. During this time, the bushes will have time to form 4-5 true leaves and a fairly powerful root. This requires separate containers with a volume of at least 400 ml. It has been observed that growing April f1 cucumbers in smaller containers has a negative effect on the development of the root system and the plant as a whole.

The soil mixture is prepared from rotted manure, compost and peat mixed with wood ash.

To avoid many unwanted diseases, cucumber seeds are kept in a 1% manganese solution for half an hour. Then they are washed under running water and germinated for 1-2 days in warmth on a damp cloth.

April f1 hybrid seeds are buried 2-3 cm into the soil and watered with warm water. Before germination, it is better to cover the containers with a film and maintain a temperature of 24-25 ℃. Then the film is removed, and the temperature is reduced to 20-21 ℃.

Temperature conditions

Cucumbers came to us from tropical rain forests, so the care of this crop is aimed at bringing conditions closer to natural ones. The temperature there is almost constantly kept within 24-28 ℃. Therefore, cucumbers practically stop developing at +15℃, and die at temperatures below +10℃.

Planting seedlings in open ground should not be earlier than stable warm weather, and seedlings must be covered with foil.

April f1 hybrid has some tolerance for extreme weather conditions. Already at 20-22 ℃, it is able to develop and bear fruit, and for a short time endure drops to + 16-17 ℃. At lower temperatures, it is better to grow April f1 cucumbers in protected ground.

Soil and top dressing

The soil should always be moist, warm, light and as saturated as possible with humus. Overripe foliage, sawdust, humus, compost, crushed peat mixed with garden fertile layer and sand will create a familiar environment for cucumbers. Organics need to be supplemented with mineral additives: ash 200 g per 1 m², complex granular fertilizers according to the instructions. The depth of the spread of the roots of cucumbers is small, so 30 cm of such a soil mixture is enough.

Every 10-14 days the hybrid needs to be fed. April responds well to the alternation of organic (mullein infusion or bird droppings) and mineral fertilizers.

Shaping a bush

Hybrid April f1 can be grown without the formation of a bush, as the breeders have laid genetically weak branching. But to get the maximum possible yield of cucumbers, it is better to tie the plants to the trellises and form them in the form of an inverted Christmas tree.

The base of the hybrid bush should be low-leaved and without side shoots up to 5-6 leaves. This will ensure the planting of cucumbers with normal ventilation and protect against fungal diseases. The first inflorescences up to the sixth internode are removed, allowing the plant to take root and grow normally.

Further, pinch the side shoots, first after 2 leaves, following after 3-4. When the main branches of the April cucumbers reach the top of the trellises, they are fixed and the growing point is cut off. Thus, a powerful, unthickened bush should be obtained, capable of withstanding the difficult fruits of April.

It is better not to plant more than 3-4 plants per 1 m².

Irrigation

Cucumbers are sensitive to sudden changes in soil moisture, as the root system of plants is on the surface and dries out very quickly.

A thick layer of mulch helps to avoid rapid evaporation of water and creates the necessary microclimate and aeration of the top layer. Crushed straw, rotted sawdust, peat dust are suitable for this procedure.

Although cucumbers are a moisture-loving crop, watering is done depending on weather conditions. On cool, rainy days, overwatering can cause plants to rot.

Important!

It is especially important to prevent hypothermia of the root system of bushes and use only warm water 23-24 ℃. On hot days, watering cucumbers is increased up to 1-2 times a day, and it is even better to establish permanent drip irrigation.

Pests and diseases

A general characteristic from seed producers indicates that breeders have planted resistance to common diseases of this crop in the April f1 variety of cucumbers:

• cucumber mosaic virus;
• olive blotch;
• tolerant to root rot;
• peronosporosis.

You can prevent infection of cucumbers with other diseases and pests with the help of competent crop rotation and cleaning the site from weeds and plant residues.

Important!

Don't plant plants from the gourd family in the same place two years in a row.

Cucumbers April f1 feel great in the beds after cabbage, legumes, root crops, greens.

In greenhouses, with the annual cultivation of this crop, it will be necessary to replace the soil and treat the entire internal part of the structure with an antiseptic.

Harvest

After 45-50 days after germination, the April f1 will allow you to take the first sample of crispy cucumbers. The harvest ripens amicably, giving vegetable growers 7-12 kg per 1 m² in the first month. Even in hybrid bushes grown on a balcony, stable fruiting is observed throughout the season. Cucumbers April f1 do not overripe for a long time, patiently waiting in the wings.

Zelentsy grow slightly thorny, large tuberculate, saturated green with light stripes from the inflorescence. The pulp is tender, aromatic, without bitterness. The fruits of cucumbers April f1 are quite large, 15-20 cm, but even and fit well in a jar as a whole during preservation. In fresh salads, April cucumbers are also always on top.

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