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Cucumber is the most delicious and favorite vegetable among Russians. It is grown on every household plot in all regions of Russia. In areas with an unstable climate, it is difficult to grow cucumbers. But then hybrids come to the rescue. One of the highest yielding and early ripening cucumbers is Connie F1. It is a self-pollinating early-maturing hybrid. Its pleasant crunch, great taste and aroma will appeal to both adults and children.
Breeding history of the variety
The Connie variety appeared in the 90s, thanks to the crossing of cucumber varieties with different dominant traits. The hybrid was developed by Soviet scientists of the Union of Seed Producers "Association Biotechnics" in St. Petersburg. After a short research in 1999, Connie's cucumber variety was entered into the State Register. Thanks to this, Connie became available for cultivation throughout Russia.
Description of the Connie cucumber variety
An early ripe variety of cucumbers forms a powerful, medium-growing bush with unlimited growth. Medium leafy plant, female flowering type. Due to the absence of male flowers, the plant forms a large number of greens, which are arranged in bunches of 5-9 pcs. in the node.
The leaves are small, wrinkled, with a light fleecy coating, painted in a dark emerald color.
Description of fruits
The fruits of cucumbers are of the gherkin type, reaching 7–9 cm in length. The proportional, cylindrical-oval shape is small-tuberous with a pronounced snow-white pubescence. Fruit weight varies from 60 to 80 g. Fruit taste is good. The pulp is firm and juicy, with a characteristic crunch, without bitterness. The skin is thin, dark olive green. According to gardeners, Connie's cucumbers ripen together and do not outgrow.
Characteristics of the variety
According to the description and reviews of summer residents, all characteristics of the Connie cucumber have positive indicators.
Productivity and fruiting
The variety is high-yielding and early maturing. The first gherkins appear 2 months after sowing, the yield is 9 kg per plant. Secondary harvest - 12-16 kg per sq. m.
To grow a good harvest of cucumbers, you need to follow the rules of care, grow cucumbers in compliance with the temperature and humidity regime, and collect green leaves in a timely manner.
Application area
Thanks to the thin skin and juicy, dense pulp without voids, the fruits are suitable for all kinds of preservation. Fresh crunchy cucumbers will be indispensable in summer salads.
Disease and pest resistance
The hybrid variety is immune to powdery mildew and root rot. It also tolerates sharp temperature changes and unfavorable climatic conditions. But in order not to face problems, it is necessary to carry out preventive measures in a timely manner.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Connie's cucumber variety can be grown outdoors and under film cover. But before you buy seeds, you need to familiarize yourself with the pros and cons of the variety.
The advantages include:
- High yield and early maturity.
- Resistance to disease and temperature extremes.
- Amicable return of fruits within 4–5 weeks.
- Absence of barren flowers.
- Good taste without bitterness.
- Feminine type of flowering.
- Bundle formation of ovaries.
- Lack of voids in the pulp during conservation.
Like any variety, Connie has flaws. Some gardeners do not like the small tubercles and white pubescence, as well as the small size of the fruit. Since the bush is tall and produces long whips, the variety needs support or a garter.
Planting and care rules
Connie cucumbers are grown in a seedling and non-seedling way. When growing cucumbers through seedlings, the bushes are resistant to a drop in temperature, and the crop ripens much earlier.
Planting seedlings
Sow seeds of cucumbers for seedlings in April, 2 months before planting in open ground. To do this, prepare a nutrient soil with weak or neutral acidity and start planting. To get healthy and high-quality seedlings, you must adhere to simple rules:
- cucumber seeds are kept in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 10 minutes, rinsed in water and processed in a growth stimulator;
- the prepared material is planted to a depth equal to the length of 2 seeds;
- for better germination, a microstep is made so that the temperature is maintained at +24 degrees;
- after germination of seeds, the film is removed;
- at the stage of 2-3 true leaves, the seedlings dive and fertilize;
- if necessary, the seedlings are illuminated.
Healthy and high-quality seedlings are 3-4 brightly colored leaves and a powerful, unstretched stem.
Young cucumber seedlings are planted in open and closed ground after the spring frosts have ended. Planting is carried out in soil warmed up to + 15 degrees. The best predecessors are: legumes, pumpkin crops, tomatoes, cabbage, radish or potatoes.
Since the Connie variety is vigorous, per sq. m planted no more than 2 bushes.
Before planting the grown seedlings, prepare the beds:
- The earth is dug up, weeds are removed and abundantly shed.
- After 2 days, prepare the landing holes in a checkerboard pattern. Chalk, wood ash or dry manure are poured onto the bottom and spilled abundantly.
- Seedlings are planted in prepared holes and left without watering for several days. This is necessary for adaptation and fast rooting.
- If the seedlings are elongated, they are planted deeper or the elongated stem is sprinkled with peat or sawdust.
- For the first time, you need to make a shelter.
Growing Connie f1 cucumbers using a seedless method
Seeds are sown in a permanent place after the ground warms up to +15 degrees. Since cucumber is a thermophilic culture, they choose a sunny place, without drafts. To obtain a generous harvest, the soil must be well fertilized.
When sowing cucumbers in a seedless way, before planting, soak the seed for 20-30 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, rinse with water and dry. The dried seeds are powdered with Trichodermin powder.
2 days before planting, I dig up the ground and fertilize. The holes are made in a checkerboard pattern, humus or compost is placed on the bottom and spilled abundantly. Prepared seeds are planted to a depth of 2 cm, 2-3 pcs. If the cucumbers are grown outdoors, cover the beds with foil for 3-4 days. After emergence, the strongest seedlings are left. The film is removed, and the plant is carefully sprinkled, sprinkling a part of the stem.
Follow-up care for cucumbers
Growing Connie F1 cucumbers is easy, even a novice gardener can handle it. But in order to get a rich harvest, you need to make a little effort and care, as well as follow simple rules of care.
When growing cucumbers outdoors:
- Watering only as the soil dries out, in the morning or in the evening. During the formation of fruits, irrigation is abundant and regular.
- After watering, the soil is loosened and mulched.
- If the soil is well fertilized, no fertilizing is needed. If the soil is depleted, then at the stage of plant growth, the soil is fertilized with nitrogenous fertilizers, during the flowering period - with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, during the period of fruit formation - with complex mineral fertilizers.
- Since the bush of the Connie variety is sprawling, and the whips are long, support is needed. It will make it easier to pick fruit and protect the plant from drafts.
For greenhouse cucumbers, other rules of care:
Temperature Control - Cucumber does not grow well when the temperature is too high. To regulate the temperature regime, ventilation is necessary.
But if the greenhouse is in the open sun, and the open doors do not lower the temperature, then experienced gardeners spray the walls with a weak solution of chalk. The chalk solution will create diffused light.
- Air humidity - Connie cucumbers grow well when the air humidity is at least 90%. To maintain air humidity, plants are periodically sprayed.
- Watering - cucumbers are irrigated with warm, settled water 2-3 times a week. During the fruiting period, watering is increased.
- Loosening and mulching - so that water and air can penetrate to the root system. The first loosening is carried out a month after planting, then after each watering. Mulching will save you from frequent watering, from weeds and will become an additional top dressing.
- Prevention of diseases and insect pests - regular inspection of the bush. When the first signs of the disease appear, timely treatment is necessary. In order to prevent the appearance of diseases, it is necessary to regularly ventilate, remove weeds and yellowed leaves, and observe the temperature and humidity regime.
You can increase the yield in the greenhouse for Connie cucumbers thanks to carbon dioxide. To do this, a barrel with manure and water in the fermentation stage is installed in the greenhouse.
Bush formation
Since the Connie cucumber variety is indeterminate (unlimited in growth), it is necessary to form a bush.
Connie variety pinching rules:
- blinding is done in the axils of 4–5 leaves, all flowers and leaves are removed;
- over the sixth leaf, side shoots are left no more than 25 cm long;
- the next 2-3 shoots are left 40 cm long;
- further, all shoots should be 50 cm long;
- if the tip has reached its maximum length, it is pinched or twisted through the upper trellis and lowered.
Photo of nipping Connie's cucumbers in the greenhouse:
Formation and garter of cucumbers, video:
Conclusion
Connie F1's cucumber is a godsend for the gardener. It is unpretentious in maintenance, resistant to fungal diseases and is suitable for growing both in the greenhouse and in the open field. Cucumber fruits are juicy, crispy and fragrant, do not fade for a long time and are well transported. The Connie variety can be grown both for individual consumption and on an industrial scale.
