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No one will argue that cucumber is the most common vegetable crop, which is grown both in large enterprises and in small summer cottages. This vegetable is good for the body, contains vitamins and minerals. Cucumbers are well suited for fresh consumption, for salads, as well as for preservation. They grow and mature quickly. Therefore, many gardeners prefer to grow cucumbers on their site.
Cucumber came to us from tropical countries, so it loves sunny weather, and grows well in warm regions of the country. One of the worthy representatives of cucumbers is the “Competitor” variety. It was bred in 1980 in the Crimea for cultivation in the southern part of Russia. Over time, it took root in less warm regions.
So, let's consider what is special about the “Competitor” cucumber variety. And also we will learn how to grow it, and properly care for it. We will learn how to protect the cucumber crop from pests and diseases.
Description of the variety of cucumbers "Competitor"
"Competitor" refers to early maturing cucumber varieties. It takes only 45-50 days from planting seeds in the ground to the beginning of fruit ripening. Sowing of seeds begins in the last days of May or the first weeks of June. You should not rush to plant it, because a cucumber is a thermophilic plant. The growth of the root system of cucumbers exceeds the growth of the ground part by 3 times. But after fifty days of growth, the roots and shoots are comparable in size. Further, it is the ground part that grows more actively, and the root system grows to the required size and stops growth. The stem of cucumbers grows rapidly, and forms tendrils, with which it can easily cling to any support. Cucumbers "Competitor" have heart-shaped leaves.
The cucumber begins to bloom a short time after germination. The reproductive organs are divided into male and female. The male organs are incapable of forming ovaries. The corolla is yellow in color. In the southern regions, flowers open very early, at about 4 o'clock in the morning, and in the north, only from 6 o'clock. The pollen is only viable for a couple of hours after opening. Pollination of cucumbers is done by bees. After 12-13 days, the inflorescences will fall off and cucumbers will begin to form. With proper care and suitable weather conditions, the first cucumber fruits will ripen within 45 days after germination.
Cucumber of the "Competitor" variety has a fairly high yield. You can collect from 3 to 4 kilograms of fruit per 1 m2... These indicators depend on the duration of the fruiting period. Cucumbers can bear fruit for about ninety days. It all depends on weather conditions and sudden temperature fluctuations. Due to such moments, the yield and the timing of the formation of fruits fall.
Fruit characteristics
Cucumbers are pumpkin crops. This means they are a false berry. Inside the fetus there are compartments with seeds (chambers). Cucumbers are cylindrical, oval. "Competitor" is dark green. The fruit is large, its surface is completely covered with tubercles with soft thorns. A fully ripe cucumber can be up to 13 centimeters long. The weight of one fruit will be about 130 g. The fruit leg of the "Competitor" is long, so it is very convenient to pick cucumbers.
Cucumbers of the "Competitor" variety have excellent taste. Fresh fruits do not taste bitter, so they are great for summer salads. The pulp of cucumbers is juicy and has a sweetish taste. Suitable for preservation on their own and in combination with other vegetables. The fruits keep well in a cool place. Reviews of the "Competitor" cucumbers are only positive.Gardeners are satisfied with the harvest and taste of this variety.
Planting and growing cucumbers "Competitor"
As always, planting begins with seed preparation. They need to be calibrated, or, in other words, to separate small and non-viable seeds. To do this, they are dipped in a salt solution. To prepare it, you need to mix:
- 30 grams of salt;
- 1 liter of water.
Stir until the salt crystals are completely dissolved. We lower the cucumber seeds in a container with a solution for ten minutes, and wait until the seeds separate themselves. Unsuitable seeds should float to the surface, which must be carefully collected with a spoon. The seeds that remain at the bottom are great for planting in the ground. Now they need to be washed and disinfected. This is done using a weak solution of potassium permanganate or boric acid. The seeds are dipped in a solution and kept for about 24 hours.
The longer the cucumber seeds stand, the more flowers with female reproductive organs will be on the plants. Up to 6 years of storage, cucumber seeds retain their properties perfectly and are suitable for growing.
Basically, the seeds are already ready for planting. If you are not going to additionally germinate the seeds, then after this stage you can dry them and start planting. But you can grow seeds before planting, and then the germination of cucumbers will be one hundred percent, because you can plant only those seeds that will germinate in the ground. Calibration is considered an effective method of selecting seeds, but it can not always determine the quality of seeds with the highest accuracy.
Cucumbers "Competitor" can be grown both in the open field and in greenhouses. It all depends on the weather conditions in your region. For the middle lane, it is advised to plant cucumber seeds under temporary film shelters. Cucumbers germinate well at temperatures from +20 ° C to 25 ° C. Moderate soil moisture is also important for them. The soil should not be too wet or too dry. Under these conditions, the first shoots will appear within 4–5 days. You do not need to warm up the seedlings. Too high a temperature can reduce the growth rate of cucumbers, and prolonged heat will completely destroy the sprouts. Therefore, if the air temperature reaches more than +35 ° C, then the cucumbers should be shaded.
It is advised to plant seeds at a distance of forty centimeters from each other, and forty centimeters between the rows of cucumbers. It is best to grow cucumbers in the beds where tomatoes, potatoes and onions were previously grown.
Care for "Competitor" cucumbers
The variety is unpretentious, and also has a high disease resistance. It is not affected by bacterial spot and powdery mildew. Thanks to this, a high yield is guaranteed.
Although the plant can grow and bear fruit on the ground, it would be better to install special poles or build other structures so that the cucumber branches can grow evenly without getting confused with each other. Recently, vertical supports, to which the stems are tied, have become very popular.
In short, “Competitor” cucumbers need such care:
- Regular soil moisture.
- Removal from the garden weeds.
- Top dressing with mineral or organic fertilizers.
- Loosening the soil.
An insufficient amount of moisture in the soil can greatly slow down the growth of the plant, and as a result, reduce the yield. And since cucumbers do not independently extract moisture from the ground, they should be watered regularly, especially in hot weather. Due to the lack of liquid, cucumbers can develop a bitter cucumber aftertaste, especially near the stalk. The same happens when the air temperature is too high.
Oxygen is also very important for the “Competitor” variety.For its full flow, it is necessary to loosen the top ball of soil from time to time so that a crust does not form. For feeding cucumbers, ordinary manure is perfect. This organic fertilizer helps the plant convert carbon dioxide into oxygen.
No more than 10-15 cucumbers can be placed on the stem, all the rest must be plucked. So, the fruits will grow better. Make sure to pick the cucumbers from the branches in time, otherwise they will turn yellow, and the seeds will begin to ripen and become hard.
Pests and diseases
To prevent possible fungal and viral diseases, cucumbers are treated with special preparations that contain copper. For example, Bordeaux liquid or copper oxychloride. This procedure must be carried out as soon as 2-3 leaves appear on the cucumber sprouts. These drugs are also used for manifestations of cucumber diseases.
Conclusion
As we have seen, the “Competitor” variety is not in vain so popular among gardeners. It belongs to unpretentious and disease-resistant plants. Planting and caring for this variety of cucumbers will not be difficult even for inexperienced gardeners. You were able to see a photo of the “Competitor” cucumber, and appreciate its appearance, for which this variety is valued. The cucumbers grow small and even. They are very convenient to use for conservation. And in order to appreciate the taste of the “Competitor” variety, you should try to grow it in your garden.
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