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Cucumber Ant f1 - The newly created parthenocarpic vegetable has already found its fans among gardeners, housewives and gardeners on the balcony. The variety is good because it is able to grow not only in the open field. It bears fruit even on windowsills. Beautiful even fruits will adorn any table. Especially if you grow f1 ant cucumbers in such a way that for the New Year the family will be provided with its own fresh fruits.
Breeding history of the variety
The cultivation of the hybrid variety of cucumbers Ant f1 was carried out by the Manul agricultural company, one of the leading originating firms in Russia. In addition to Ant, the company has developed such well-known varieties as Amur, Zozulya, Amursky and others.
The Ant hybrid was introduced and entered into the register of breeding achievements in 2003. As is the custom in the production of any other hybrids of the variety, the firm keeps the founders a secret. Seeds of cucumber varieties Ant must be purchased from the manufacturer. It is impossible to breed a hybrid at home.
Ant f1 is recommended for growing in regions north of the Caucasus:
- North Caucasian;
- Volgo-Vyatsky;
- Central black earth;
- Central;
- Northwest;
- North.
The variety is not suitable for industrial cultivation by large agricultural holdings. It is recommended for small farms and private households. Optimal growing conditions for Ant f1 - greenhouses. But the cucumber also grows well outdoors.
Description of the variety of cucumbers Ant
Cucumber variety Ant is a medium-sized plant with short lateral shoots. The bush is indeterminate. The main growth is in the length of the main stem. The Ant branches little and reluctantly. Due to the peculiarities of growth, it requires a mandatory garter. The plant is parthenocarpic, that is, it does not require pollination by bees. This allows the cucumber to feel good in the greenhouse and on the windowsill in the apartment.
A healthy bush has slightly wrinkled, dark green leaves. The edge of the leaf is slightly wavy. The size is average.
The flowers are female. They grow in bunches of 3-7 flowers each. The ovaries form 38 days after the first true leaves appear in the seedlings.
Description of fruits
Cucumbers in marketable form have a regular cylindrical shape. Fruits are smooth, slightly ribbed. Length 5-11 cm. Diameter 3-3.4 cm. Weight of one cucumber 100-110 g. The fruit is densely covered with large tubercles. Spines on tubercles are white. The skin of the cucumber is green, with white stripes that extend to the middle of the fruit.
The pulp is dense, crispy, juicy. There are no voids inside. This variety is genetically devoid of bitterness.
Characteristics of the variety
Ant f1 belongs to ultra-early maturing varieties that begin to form ovaries 38 days after the appearance of the first true leaves. The f1 ant begins to bear fruit 1-2 weeks earlier than other varieties of cucumbers. But the yield of a variety largely depends on compliance with the rules for its cultivation. With improper cultivation, not only the yield falls, but also the quality characteristics deteriorate.
Productivity and fruiting
Cucumbers ripen after 1-1.5 months after the formation of ovaries. When grown outdoors, the f1 Ant is able to fill up even with slight cold snaps. The yield of the variety is 10-12 kg / m².
If there is not enough sun for the flowers, ovaries will not form.This is the main reason for the yield of the hybrid Ant f1. With enough sunlight and nutrients, cucumber invariably yields high yields.
Application area
Ant f1 is a versatile variety, suitable both for fresh use and for homemade preparations. Due to its small size and regular shape, cucumber is popular among housewives as a vegetable for preservation. The taste of the variety is high both fresh and canned.
Disease and pest resistance
At the genetic level, Ant f1 hybrid has resistance to the main diseases of cucumbers:
- powdery mildew;
- olive spot;
- ordinary cucumber mosaic;
- brown spot;
- downy mildew.
For these qualities, the variety is highly prized by small farmers who cannot afford large crop losses due to disease and are looking to cut costs. The ability not to spend money on chemicals for diseases is a significant competitive advantage.
So far, they have managed to protect against omnivorous insects and mollusks only for potatoes and then at the level of genetic engineering. Therefore, the f1 ant is susceptible to pests in the same way as any other variety.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
According to gardeners, the Ant cucumber variety has only one serious drawback: you cannot get seeds from it for self-cultivation. Even if it is possible to pollinate the flowers, the second generation of cucumbers will lose their commercial and taste characteristics.
Otherwise, the hybrid has only advantages:
- only female flowers on the whip;
- no need for pollinating insects;
- unpretentiousness;
- short-term fertility;
- ultra-early formation of fruits;
- high productivity, little dependent on the weather (the effect of weather on greenhouse plants is always minimal);
- good taste;
- excellent presentation;
- resistance to pathogenic microorganisms.
Unpretentiousness and genetically high yield inherent do not cancel the rules for caring for a cucumber if the owner wants to get a lot of high-quality fruits.
Planting and care rules
Planting and care is carried out in the same way as with other indeterminate varieties of cucumbers. Planting rates for the Ant f1 variety: 3 bushes per 1 m² in the greenhouse and 3-5 per 1 m² in the open field. Having enough space when growing outdoors is not critical. It is enough to put a few props.
When cultivating a cucumber in a greenhouse, care must be taken that the internal volume of the structure is large. This variety needs lighting.
Planting seedlings
For seedlings, Ant begins to cook at the end of April. The seed nutrient mixture is either prepared independently or purchased at the store. Before planting, the seeds are soaked for several hours. Disinfection is not required, since Ant seeds are purchased and must already be disinfected or initially not carry infectious microorganisms.
Any plant does not tolerate open-root transplantation. The seeds of a cucumber are large and it will not be difficult to plant them one by one. For good survival of seedlings, take a small container, which is filled with soil and 1-2 cucumber seeds are planted in it.
Seedlings are planted in the ground after 3-4 true leaves appear, if the soil has warmed up to + 10-15 ° C.
Growing cucumbers using a seedling method
With direct planting in the ground, seeds are immediately planted so that there are no more than 5 adult plants per 1 m². The minimum rate is 3 bushes per 1 m², so even if some of the lashes die, there will be no crop losses. At first, the beds are covered with a film to protect them from night frosts and drying out of the soil.
With the direct planting of cucumbers in open ground, the formation of the crop will begin later than when planting seedlings, since the seeds can be planted no earlier than the soil warms up.At the same time, seedlings are planted, which are usually about 2 weeks old. Otherwise, the rules for planting seeds in open ground are similar to the rules for planting seeds for seedlings.
Follow-up care for cucumbers
A cucumber is a vine capable of giving roots from a stem. When planting seedlings in a permanent place, the stem is slightly deepened so that the plant gives additional roots. After planting seedlings, care is normal. In order to get rid of weeds and to avoid the appearance of an earthen crust near cucumber bushes, you can mulch the soil.
The earth is periodically loosened. Cucumbers are fed with fertilizers.
When growing an Ant in a greenhouse, 2 options are possible:
- greenhouse - a building above the land plot;
- the greenhouse is separated from the ground and the cucumbers are grown in a special substrate.
In the first case, although the Ant cucumber variety is resistant to diseases, there may be insect larvae in the soil. With a high concentration of pathogenic bacteria, they can even break through the Ant's immunity.
The second option is more often used in greenhouses when growing large volumes of vegetables for sale. The fertile substrate is placed in containers completely separated from the natural soil. Vegetables are grown in this substrate. The advantages of isolated cultivation are that there are no pests and pathogens in the substrate. When the substrate is depleted or pests appear in it, it is easy to replace the soil.
Bush formation
This variety of cucumbers has the ability to avoid long side shoots. But the main stem does not stop growing after the first bunch of flowers and continues to grow further. It is not required to pinch the Ant, but it is necessary to ensure the free growth of the main stem in length.
The ant will not form cucumber ovaries in the shaded areas of the lash. Therefore, the lash is carefully straightened with tying. A good option is to "put" a cucumber whip on the ceiling of the greenhouse.
Conclusion
Cucumber Ant f1 is suitable for growing in almost any conditions. An exception can only be too hot regions. Housewives who prefer homemade preparations to store purchases are also satisfied with this variety.
