Why do many summer residents love the Cupid cucumber hybrid so much: an overview of the characteristics, advantages and disadvantages

Cucumber Cupid f1 is distinguished by an early ripening period, a friendly return of the harvest in the first month and extended fruiting in the future. The fruits have an even fusiform shape, crisp flesh without bitterness and a dense rind with a lot of sharp thorns.

Strong immunity to major crop diseases and the ability to regulate branching greatly simplify farming. When growing, it is important to regularly feed the bushes, water the plants on time and maintain the optimum air temperature.

Description of the hybrid

The ultra early ripe hybrid Cupid was bred specifically for cultivation in the spring-summer turnover under film shelters. The culture is also grown outdoors in regions with warm and long summers. The originator is the Manul selection and seed company.

Distinctive features

Bushes are indeterminate, vigorous, weakly braided, with female flowers. The culture has the ability to self-regulate branching. The rhizome is powerful.

Photo - cucumbers Cupid f1.

The characteristics and main indicators of the hybrid are presented in the table.

Chemical composition, calorie content and beneficial properties

Nutritional value of cucumbers (per 100 g):

• calorie content - 14 kcal;
• proteins - 0.8 g;
• fats - 0.1 g;
• carbohydrates - 2.5 g;
• water - 95 g;
• fiber - 1 g.

Vitamin and mineral composition table

The benefits of cucumbers for the body:

• restore water balance;
• speed up metabolism;
• cleanse blood vessels;
• normalize blood pressure;
• reduce the level of "bad" cholesterol;
• juice whitens the skin and moisturizes;
• correct the work of the pancreas.

Agrotechnics of cucumbers

The culture is grown in seedlings and by direct sowing into the ground. Planting maintenance involves frequent loosening, weeding, watering and feeding with organic and mineral fertilizers. The hybrid is resistant to the main diseases of the culture.

Seed planting

Cucumbers are cultivated on fertile, loamy and breathable soils... The main rule of successful crop cultivation is crop rotation and saturation of the soil with useful substances. It is easier to comply with these conditions in open areas, but much more difficult in a greenhouse. More often than not, cultures simply change places from year to year. This leads to a rapid depletion of the soil and the accumulation of pathogenic microorganisms. Gardeners are forced to either replace the topsoil with a new one, or sow green manures. The second method is less labor intensive.

Restore soil fertility in the greenhouse white mustard, radish oilseed, beans, peas, soy. Oats increases the level of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, inhibits the development of fungi and bacteria.

Siderata are sown in autumn, and after 30-35 days they are mowed and embedded in the ground. To accelerate the decay, it is watered with microbiological preparations "Vostok-EM" or "Baikal-EM".

Reference. In the open field, green manure is sown in early spring. Use lupine, oats, clover, legumes. Decayed plants improve soil structure and act as mulch.

The Amur f1 hybrid is suitable for seedless cultivation due to its early maturity. When carrying out sowing work, experts recommend:

1. Pre-dress the seeds in a 1% solution of potassium permanganate (1 g / 100 ml of water) and soak them in “Epin” or “Zircon” growth stimulators.
2. The timing of sowing is determined depending on the climatic zone: in the southern regions - in early May, in the regions of the middle zone - in the third decade of May or early June.
3. Pre-loosen the soil and fertilize with chicken droppings (10 liters per 1 m²).
4. Form the beds with a bayonet shovel and level them with a rake. The width of the beds is 70 cm, the depth is 20 cm. In the middle, form a furrow of 1-2 cm and fill it with a hot concentrated solution of potassium permanganate.
5. Lay the seeds to a depth of 1-2 cm and sprinkle with moist peat.
6. Cover the beds with agrofibre to protect against night frosts, preserve moisture and friendly shoots.
7. After the sprouts appear, remove the film and thin out by pinching weak seedlings.

Seedling planting

Sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out 3-4 weeks before the planting date, following the standard technology:

1. Prepare a soil mixture of two parts of peat and humus, one part of sawdust or river sand. Disinfect in an oven at a temperature of +110 ° C or fill with Fitosporin M solution.
2. Pre-pickle seeds in potassium permanganate and germinate on a damp cotton cloth. Use the hatched seeds for sowing.
3. Fill peat glasses with a volume of 0.5 l with moist soil and close up two grains to a depth of 1-2 cm. Pull the film on top and place in a warm place.
4. After the sprouts appear, remove the film, put the containers on the windowsill from the south side.
5. Inspect the seedlings and leave only strong shoots, cut the weak ones with scissors at ground level.
6. Sprinkle with plenty of warm clean water once a week.
7. Dive seedlings to a permanent place at the stage of 4 true leaves, after warming up the soil to at least +17 ° С, air - up to +22 ° С.
8. Planting scheme - 20x70 cm, 4-5 bushes per 1 m².
9. Spud the roots, lightly tamp the earth and pour abundantly with warm water.

Growing and care

Crop care rules:

1. Maintain the air temperature in the greenhouse at + 22 ... + 25 ° С
2. To water bushes under the root with warm rain or settled water 3-4 times a week or install a drip irrigation system.
3. Loosening and weeding the beds regularly. Remove weeds from the rhizome.
4. Form the plant according to the rules adopted for parthenocarpics and tie it to the trellis.
5. Feed the cucumbers with organic and mineral fertilizers at least 5 times per season.

In the table - the scheme top dressing cucumbers.

Council. Alternate root and foliar applications. The former should be applied in sunny and dry weather, the latter - in cloudy.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

The parthenocarpic hybrid is formed according to the standard scheme, despite the ability of the culture to independently regulate branching:

1. In the first 5-6 leaf axils, all ovaries and shoots are removed.
2. The main stem is led to the trellis, removing the stepsons and leaving only the ovaries.
3. As soon as the stem reaches the bar, it is wrapped several times around it and pinched the top of the head, or thrown over the bar and the growth point is stopped a meter from the ground.
4. In the early morning, the lower yellow and dry leaves are removed.

Diseases and pests

The Amur hybrid is resistant to cucumber mosaic, cladosporium, powdery mildew, but tolerant to downy mildew (peronosporosis).

Signs of the disease:

• yellow and brown spots on the leaves;
• purple-gray bloom on the back;
• yellowing of green mass and wilting of bushes.

The early maturity of the hybrid complicates the fight against the fungus. The first fruits appear within a month after the appearance of the entrances, therefore, fungicide treatment is not carried out.

The best way to preserve crops is to prevent fungal growth and plant infestation:

• in the spring, disinfect the soil with copper sulfate (50 g per 10 liters of water) or "Fitosporin";
• regularly harvest weeds;
• immediately remove the affected bushes with rhizomes and burn;
• observe crop rotation;
• plant green manure;
• process bushes with whey (kefir) with iodine (10 drops per 1 liter);
• feed with vitamin preparations: "Energen Extra", "Novosil".

Reference. Preventive treatments are carried out from the beginning of flowering to the end of the season.

Planting of cucumbers is most often attacked by melon aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, slugs. For pest control, folk remedies are used.

Harvesting and application of the crop

The first cucumbers appear approximately 35 days after full germination. Fruiting of the culture is extended, it gives the bulk of the crop in the first month of fruiting.

Harvesting is carried out every 3-4 days. The fruits do not overgrow, do not barrel, and voids do not form inside. Cucumbers are suitable for fresh consumption and conservation.

The fruits do not turn yellow during long-term storage and are well tolerated for long-distance transportation. Stored for 2-3 weeks in a cool place.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

• high productivity;
• early maturity;
• evenness of fruits;
• unpretentious care;
• long-term fruiting;
• high level of transportability;
• keeping quality;
• great taste without bitterness;
• amicable maturation;
• resistance to major diseases.

Disadvantages:

• rough skin;
• the need to form plants and garters to the trellis.

Reviews

The Amur hybrid is highly valued for its ease of care, high yield and excellent taste.

Vladimir, Podolsk: «I grow cucumbers Cupid indoors. The plant produces crops almost simultaneously, the main part in the first month. I form it into one stem and tie it to a trellis. The fruits do not taste bitter, but if not picked in time, the skin will be harsh. "

Valentina, Ivangorod: “Excellent hybrid for greenhouse cultivation. I have been planting for several years and am always happy with the result. The cucumbers are even, with a large number of small sharp pimples. The pulp is sweet, not bitter. We eat cucumbers in salads and close them in jars for the winter.

Conclusion

The ultra early ripe hybrid Cupid is cultivated mainly in greenhouses. In open areas, they are grown in the southern regions. The culture is undemanding to the composition of the soil, pleases with extended fruiting and strong immunity to the main "cucumber" diseases. Cucumbers do not outgrow, are stored for a long time in a cool room, do not turn yellow and do not lose their presentation.

A plant with a female type of flowering does not need pollination by bees, therefore it is suitable for growing in greenhouses and greenhouses. Medium-branched bushes are formed into one stem and tied to a trellis for better ventilation and support for high productivity.