Cucumber Competitor: characteristics and description of the variety, planting, care and cultivation with a photo

Cucumber "Competitor" is a fairly old variety, known for its bee pollination and early maturity. This culture appeared in 1980 thanks to the Crimean breeders, especially to be grown in the southern parts of the country.

This variety has been on the seed market for the fourth decade already. According to many years of experience in varietal cultivation, the variety is developing well in the non-chernozem regions of Russia.

Characterizing the “Competitor”

Description of a variety is initiated from its basic trait - precocity. If you plant the seeds in the spring, in the last days of May, then about 50 days or a little less will pass between the emergence of seedlings and the ripening of cucumbers, and if already in the summer in June - about a month.

Planting vegetables quickly is not recommended: cucumbers love warmth. It is interesting that at first the growth of the roots exceeds the growth of the ground part of the cucumbers by 3 times, but after 50 days they become close in size, then the outer part of the plant goes into active growth, and the roots develop to the desired size and no longer grow.

The stem part of the culture develops rapidly, forms tendrils, with which you can cling to any support. As for the leaves, the “Competitor” has a heart-shaped structure. After a short period of time after germination, flowers appear.

The grown vegetable has both male and female reproductive organs. The latter are capable of forming ovaries. The color of the corolla is yellow. As for the flower opening, in the southern regions it starts already at 4 am, and in the north - two hours later. Pollen viability lasts only a couple of hours after flower opening. Bees pollinate vegetables, and after 12 days the plant finishes flowering, starting fruiting.And by the fiftieth day after seed sowing, the first fruits ripen.

An important characteristic of the “Competitor” cucumbers is a fairly high yield. For every square meter there are 3-4 kilograms of fruit. Such data are connected with the duration of fruiting time - on average, a variety involves harvesting fruits for about three months. Again, much is at the mercy of the weather and temperature changes, due to which the period of fruit formation and the yield itself are reduced.

About the features of the fruits of the described cucumbers

Vegetables will be given the following description:

• The shape is oval-cylindrical, with large tubercles and black spikes.
• In color - intense dark green with light stripes.
• The pulp is juicy and sweetish.
• In size - from 9 to 15 cm.
• By weight - 100-125 grams.
• The yield is 3-4 kilograms per square meter.

Speaking of yield, it is obvious that it is related to climatic characteristics, variations in weather and type of cultivation. Growing on a trellis, for example, gives gardeners more fruitful returns than traditional plant development in conventional garden beds.

Features of seed crop planting

Planting and caring for a crop begins with preparatory actions with seeds. First of all, they need calibration - the separation of useless and small seeds. They are dipped into s alt water with proportions of 30 grams of s alt per liter of water. This liquid assumes the complete dissolution of s alt crystals, and then the cucumber seed is lowered into the water for ten minutes, until the seeds themselves begin to separate. Floating seeds are not suitable for planting, so they should be removed with a spoon.And those that remained at the bottom are optimal for growing in open ground.

Next, it is necessary to carry out seed washing followed by disinfection. A weak solution of potassium permanganate or boric acid will help in this. Seeds are placed in the solution for about a day. If cucumber seeds last longer, then there will be more flowers with female cells.

In general, seeds do not lose their properties and are suitable for cultivation for six years.

And now, we can say that the sowing can take place. If there is no intention to further germinate the seeds, they should simply be dried and planted. You can also grow seeds before planting, then there will be complete confidence in the result: everything that germinates will end up in the ground. And the calibration process, although effective, will not give a 100% guarantee for determining the quality of seeds.

Growing "Competitor" correctly

It is possible to grow cucumber culture "Competitor" both in soil and in greenhouse conditions. For the Russian central strip, these cucumbers are recommended to be planted under film covers. The optimum temperature for cucumber seedlings is 20°-25°C.

Let's also not forget about moderate soil moisture: the soil should not be very wet, but not dry, then the sprouts can be expected already for 4-5 days. Warming up seedlings is not required: a high temperature level can slow down its development, and long-term heat can lead to death, therefore, at temperatures above +35 ° C, vegetables should be provided with a shadow.

It is preferable to plant seeds at a distance of forty centimeters from each other, and at the same distance between cucumber rows. It is recommended to place cucumbers in beds where onions, potatoes and tomatoes were the predecessors. Fruiting is better on trellises, and corn crops are well suited as a support.

Features of care

In order for the “Competitor” cucumbers to grow well and bear fruit, you must follow the rules for caring for them: regularly weed the beds, water them abundantly and in a timely manner, slightly loosen the soil around the cucumbers and fertilizers. According to the description of the “Competitor” cucumbers, caring for them does not cause difficulties, it is only important to be aware of certain biological characteristics of plants:

1. The beds should be organized using light, medium and sandy loam, not forgetting the abundance of minerals and organic matter.
2. The beds are prepared immediately after the crop of precursor vegetables has been harvested.
3. Requires deep bed digging and parallel application of organic type fertilizers, among the favorites are manure and biohumus in combination with potassium and phosphorus components.
4. With the development of an active kind of vegetation, top dressing is carried out when flowers appear and the budding process.
5. As for the irrigation system, a modern drip irrigation system for cucumber crops is applied.

If growing cucumbers you find the slightest signs of insects or diseases on vegetables, then immediately take preventive measures, where in each case, choose one or another chemical preparation. So, to prevent fungi and viruses, products are being processed that contain copper, for example, its oxychloride or Bordeaux liquid.

A procedure is performed when cucumber diseases occur and when a pair of leaves appear on the sprouts. This treatment is performed in the morning or in the evening to avoid burns on the leaves.

On the virtues of culture

The description of the variety "Competitor" shows an example of a cucumber crop, almost devoid of flaws. And the advantages, on the contrary, are a large number, which include:

• Decent harvests;
• Gorgeous appearance and excellent taste;
• Good pollination;
• High seed germination, as well as almost maximum seedling survival rate;
• Crop resistance to powdery mildew;
• Long-term fruiting;
• According to the climate and weather, from each square meter of planting, you can get 3.3-3.8 kilograms.

Some reviews of gardeners note such negative manifestations of the variety as the yellowness of the fruit if the crop is not harvested on time. Overgrown cucumbers have thick, cracked skin that lacks the classic flavor. And if you don’t water it enough, then the pulp of cucumbers can taste bitter.

The described variety is rightfully popular among gardeners. He, according to the majority, is unpretentious and disease-resistant.Even novice gardeners will be able to plant, grow and give the necessary care to these cucumbers. The fruits are even, neat appearance, they are good for making pickles. And for a better assessment of the taste of “Competitor” cucumbers, there is only one thing left - to make them the culture of your garden.

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