Content
Summer residents choose varieties of cucumbers for planting very carefully. Good recommendations from vegetable growers received a hybrid of the Dutch selection "Director f1". The variety was bred by the scientists of the Nunhems B.V. agricultural firm. Combines the best qualities of parental lines - cucumbers "Hector" and "Merenga". During the development of a new hybrid, breeders took into account all the requests of farmers. The article concentrates important moments for summer residents - a description of the Director cucumber variety, reviews of those who grew a hybrid, a photo of a plant and fruit.
Main characteristics
What you need to know about the Director cucumber in order to properly plan the care of your plants? Of course, the main parameters are:
- Ripening period... According to the description of the variety, cucumbers "Director f1" are mid-season. Rather, to medium early varieties, if we take into account the time of the first harvest. Cucumbers can be consumed within 40-45 days after the first shoots. Some growers are happy to grow the hybrid twice a season.
- Plant type... Parthenocarpic semi-determinate. This information is very much needed. Summer residents immediately know that the Director f1 cucumber does not need bee pollination, and the plant's stem length is average. Therefore, it can be safely grown in a greenhouse without fear of thickening and lack of ovaries. In addition, the number of cucumbers set does not depend on temperature fluctuations.
- Bush... Medium-growing with well-developed lateral shoots. Many ovaries are also formed on them. The ovaries are bundle, in one leaf sinus there are 2-3 female-type flowers.
- Leaves medium-sized ones are dark green in color, although they can grow to large sizes.
- Fruit... Small in size (up to 10-12 cm), weighing up to 80 g, cylindrical in shape. Cucumbers with fragrant juicy pulp, very tasty, without bitterness with small seeds inside. There are no voids in the fruits. They are covered with a smooth dark green skin, which fully corresponds to the description of the Director cucumber variety (see photo).
- Yield... The indicator is considered the maximum expected when cultivating hybrids. According to farmers, from one bush you can get from 20 to 25 kg of delicious cucumbers of the "Director f1" variety.
- Disease resistance... The variety resists crop diseases well, therefore it is successfully grown in the fields without enhanced chemical treatments.
- Transportability and storage capacity very high. Cucumbers are stored in a cool room for up to 7 days without loss of marketability and taste.
- Application... Universal. It is used fresh for salads, canning, pickling and pickling. In any form, the taste and quality of cucumbers is excellent.
In their reviews, many vegetable growers note the high yield of the Director cucumber and post photos of the results obtained as proof.
Briefly about the characteristics of the variety in the video:
Advantages and disadvantages
What you need to know before planting a cucumber with the name "Director" on the site. Of course, its pros and cons. All of them are indicated by the manufacturer in the description of the cucumber variety "Director". The second important source is the reviews of gardeners who have grown the cucumber "Director f1". Among the advantages of the hybrid, they note:
- the power and height of the bushes, which are easy to care for;
- taste and market characteristics of cucumbers;
- the duration of fruiting and the ability to grow in the second turn;
- disease resistance of cucumbers;
- shade tolerance, which expands the possibilities of placing ridges;
- growing in any type of soil with the same yield;
- regenerative ability - fast recovery of plants after damage.
Among the shortcomings, gardeners call a large number of stepchildren, who have to be removed in time. This procedure takes time, but it saves the root system from overloading, and the owners of the beds from reducing the cucumber yield.
Growing features
The cultivation of the variety does not differ significantly from the cultivation of other types of cucumbers. But gardeners should know all the intricacies of growing the Director hybrid and its care requirements.
According to the description of the variety, the cucumber "Director f1" is grown in two ways:
- seedling;
- reckless.
The variety grows well with direct sowing in the ground. With this method, you need to prepare the bed in advance:
- in the fall, remove all plant residues, apply fertilizers and dig deeply;
- in the spring, spill it with a hot solution of potassium permanganate and dig it up again, now shallowly;
- to level the ground and form ridges with aisles for the convenience of caring for cucumbers.
Sowing in the ground
Sow the director f1 cucumber variety into the ground with dry or soaked seeds. If the seeds are soaked, then you need to wait for pecking. This is how suitable planting material is selected. The minimum value of the soil temperature indicator, at which the sowing of the director cucumber is allowed, is considered to be + 14 ° С.
The Director hybrid grows well after legumes (except for beans), cabbage species, potatoes, and onions.
Planting scheme in open ground - 50x50 cm. For parthenocarpic and tall cucumbers, it is important not to violate the recommended distance. This will allow the plants to develop properly and produce high yields. For 1 sq. m of area, you need to place no more than 3 cucumber bushes. The seeds are deepened by 2 cm. 2 cucumber seeds are placed in one hole, and in the phase of a real leaf, the weaker specimen is pinched off.
Sowing seedlings
The seedling method allows you to get a harvest of cucumbers much earlier than when sowing in the ground. In order for the seedlings of the “Director” hybrid to grow strong and healthy, it is necessary to adhere to certain requirements.
- Seed preparation. According to the reviews of summer residents, cucumbers of the "Director" variety have excellent germination (see photo).
But some still soak them in a growth stimulant or potassium permanganate disinfectant solution. If the planting material was purchased in a licensed package, then the necessary preparation has already been carried out by the manufacturer. - Soil preparation. For cucumbers "Director" ready-made soil mixture for seedlings, which can be bought, is well suited. The second option is to prepare the soil yourself. You will need sod land and humus in equal amounts. Then ash (0.5 cups), potassium sulfate (5 g) and superphosphate (10 g) are added to the bucket of the mixture. After mixing, the soil is spilled with a solution of potassium permanganate and ignited to disinfect.
- Preparation of containers. Seedlings of cucumbers does not tolerate transplants, so summer residents try to do without picking. Separate plastic cassettes or containers, peat tablets or cups are prepared for seedlings. The plastic container is washed with a disinfectant solution and dried. The preparation "Extrasol-55" is suitable.
- Sowing. The soil mixture is filled into containers, leaving 1 cm to the upper side. The soil is slightly compacted and moistened. Make holes with a depth of 2 cm and lay out the seeds of the "Director" cucumber.
The optimum temperature for germination of cucumbers of the "Director" variety is + 22 ° C ... + 26 ° C. Also, the seedlings need to provide good lighting.
As soon as the first true leaf appears on the seedlings, the cucumbers are fed with a complex fertilizer, for example, "Kemira-Lux" or "Radifarm". When 3-4 leaves are formed, the seedlings of the "Director" can be transplanted to a permanent place. Before planting, the seedlings are processed on a sheet with "Epin" or "Zircon".
Landing and care rules
For open ground, the recommended planting pattern for Director cucumbers is 30 cm between plants and 1 m between rows. Plants are staggered to maintain the optimal amount of cucumbers per 1 sq. m area.
The most necessary activities for the care of the cucumber "Director f1" according to the description and reviews of experienced gardeners:
- Competent watering. Do not allow the soil to dry out. Water the cucumbers carefully under the root with warm, settled water. In the greenhouse, the condition of the soil is monitored and watered when the top layer dries. In the open field, you can practice daily watering, but in the evening.
- Regular feeding. It is recommended to feed cucumbers once every 2 weeks. The "Director" responds well to organic matter - an infusion of bird droppings or cow dung. If these components are not on the site, then urea, superphosphate, ammonium nitrate are used. In addition to root dressing, leaf irrigation with complex fertilizers for vegetables is important for the crop. Mineral fertilizers are applied taking into account the growing season of the cucumber.
- Bush formation. In order to form on the plant, pinch the main lash. This is done after 8-9 leaves. The second necessary action is to remove the stepchildren on the cucumbers. According to the description of the "Director" variety of cucumbers and reviews of summer residents, this procedure should be done at least once a week (see photo).
In the greenhouse, cucumbers are formed on trellises. - Prevention of diseases and pest infestations. The main condition is the careful implementation of agrotechnical requirements. Cucumber "Director" does not require regular treatments with fungicides. At the stage of breeding, the variety received sufficient protection against diseases.
Testimonials
Careful study of the description of the cucumber "Director f1", reviews of the variety and photos, will help to grow a high yield with minimal costs.
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