Description of the Amur cucumber variety, its cultivation and care
In early 2000, a new Dutch cucumber hybrid Amur f1 from Bejo Zaden appeared on the seed market. Cucumber Amur f1 quickly became one of the best among amateur and professional vegetable growers.
Description of cucumber variety Amur f1
Breeders have tried and laid down a universal set of characteristics:
- parthenocarpic;
- ultra early;
- high-yielding;
- medium-sized and beautiful cylindrical shape;
- resistant to major diseases;
- strong stem with little branching;
- high taste;
- suitable for fresh food and preservation;
- well stored and suitable for transportation.
Cucumbers grow medium-sized, neat, with small pimples and thorns, rich green color with a light sheen. The skin is firm and firm enough to use the crop for canning and transport, but not tough. Juicy pulp without voids with a delicate cucumber taste will not leave indifferent any vegetable lover.
Parthenocarpic properties of cucumbers
Sometimes in the description of cucumbers "Cupid f1" you can find the definition "self-pollinated". This is fundamentally wrong and raises doubts about the author's education.
Cucumbers are of two types: bee-pollinated and parthenocarpic, and these definitions are not mutually exclusive. Breeders have introduced into the hybrid the property of setting the ovary without pollination. Such cucumbers will be seedless. But flowers have the ability to pollinate if insects have access.
Important! Parthenocarpic and self-pollinated are not the same thing. Self-pollinated cucumbers do not exist.
This quality is important for hybrids grown in closed greenhouses, where insect access is limited. In the open field, parthenocarpic properties are not particularly significant and should not be a priority for the grower when choosing seeds. Cucumber variety "Amur f1" is a pronounced parthenocarpic, which allows it to be grown both in greenhouses and on the balcony, and in the open ground.
Growing and care
Growers very quickly appreciated the amazingly high yield and early maturity of the Dutch hybrid. The description of the Amur variety by the manufacturer says that already 38-45 days after planting, the first cucumbers will begin to ripen in unison.
This is really possible, but only if all the necessary conditions are met:
- temperature regime;
- sufficiently balanced soil composition;
- timely feeding;
- bush formation;
- water regime.
Temperature regime
The main condition for the rapid germination of seeds and the development of bushes is the temperature of the soil and air above 24 ℃. This is especially true when planting seeds directly into open ground.In spring, the air temperature during the day is much higher than at night. And the soil does not have time to warm up even on rather warm sunny days.
Having planted Amur cucumber seeds in soil with a temperature below 20 ℃, it makes no sense to wait for quick shoots and crazy growth of bushes. If you really want early cucumbers, it is better to germinate the seeds first and sow seedlings.
Soil and fertilizing
The high yield and early maturity laid in the Amur hybrid cause a large load on the soil, very quickly depleting it. Already at the stage of growing seedlings, it is important to bring the soil composition closer to the ideal one for cucumbers. For the formation of a soil mixture, humus, peat, forest soil and sand, mixed in equal parts, are suitable. For 10 liters of such a composition, it is useful to add a tablespoon of nitroammophoska and 3-4 tablespoons of ash.
This mixture will cover the needs of the demanding Cupid in the first 2-3 weeks. After the appearance of 3-4 leaves, watering with liquid top dressings begins, alternating potash and nitrogen every 10-14 days. The soil for a permanent place for growing cucumbers of the Amur f1 variety is prepared in the fall. The soil is dug up and superphosphate is added. In the spring, before planting seedlings, wood ash and rotted manure are poured into the soil. Cucumbers respond well to mulching after planting with chopped peat and sawdust.
Top dressing
Without timely feeding, such a demanding variety as Cupid f1 will not give those amazing results, reviews of which can often be heard from vegetable growers.
Three stages of development can be distinguished, requiring several feeding regimes:
- rapid development and growth of the bush: nitrogen and potash fertilizers;
- flowering and ovary: phosphorus and potash fertilizing;
- fruiting: complex fertilizers, including potassium and nitrogen.
Bush formation
The manufacturer indicates that the Amur cucumber hybrid has a small branching of the bush. But this does not mean that one should forget about the formation of the plant. When planting seedlings in open ground, sprinkle almost the entire sprout with earth. This will help form a powerful root system. It is important not to disturb the earthen root ball during transplanting seedlings. One of the best options would be to plant it in peat cups.
If the cucumbers are sown immediately to a permanent place, after the appearance of the fourth leaf, high hilling should be carried out. Important! A bountiful harvest is possible only on a strong plant with a well-developed root system, therefore Amur f1 variety requires the formation of a bush. To get a high yield, you need to allow a strong bush to develop. The first inflorescences will have to be removed until the bush grows to 5-6 leaves. Cupid f1 requires a garter to a strong base, since a lot of cucumbers are tied, 4-8 in each inflorescence, the stem is not able to withstand such a load.
Watering and harvesting
Cucumbers are a moisture-loving culture. And the Amur f1 hybrid with the characteristics of high yield and early maturity artificially incorporated into it consumes water in huge quantities. Watering is carried out twice a day with water heated to 24-25 ℃.
Cold water will cool the ground every time and stop the development of the bush. Even such a disease-tolerant variety runs the risk of root decay. Timely watering will allow young cucumbers to quickly pour without bitterness. You should try to harvest this variety every 3-4 days. The zelentsi, who were waiting for the collection, will slow down the filling of the next cucumbers.
Conclusion
In general, the characteristics of the Amur f1 variety turned out to be quite optimistic. The reviews of vegetable growers about him are the most positive. With the right agronomy, you can get more than 20 kg of delicious crispy cucumbers from 1 m² and enjoy them all season.
This summer I grew this variety, excellent cucumbers, large and the skin is not bitter, but for better growth I used the product BioGrow, really faster the plant develops and blooms, a cool thing.