How to grow Ekol cucumbers on your plot and get an excellent harvest for universal use

The Ecole cucumber is a universal crop related to hybrids. Due to the early ripening of the fruit, it is popular with farmers and gardeners. Gherkins are great for canning and making salads.

Ecole f1 is grown outdoors and in greenhouse conditions. In closed structures, farmers get a double harvest if desired.

Description of Ekol cucumbers

The Ekol f1 cucumber was developed by the Dutch company "Syngenta Seeds"... The first tests took place in 2001, in 2007 it was entered into the State Register. It grows up to 2.5 m, in greenhouse conditions it reaches 3 m. The shoots do not grow to the sides, but weave vertically. It blooms as a female and forms 3 to 5 fruits at each node.

Distinctive features

The cucumber is parthenocarpic, that is, self-pollinated. It can be grown in stationary greenhouses and under film. However, these cucumbers also ripen well in the open field in the North Caucasus region and other southern regions.

In other regions of Russia, cucumber is grown in open beds under film.

Benefits and calories

Cucumbers Ekol f1 belong to early maturing crops of this type, which allows you to start harvesting within 45-50 days after planting. You can use the cucumber for salads and other dishes as gherkins or pickles.

However, according to the majority of summer residents, hybrid is best suited for early salting... Cucumbers of this type have almost the same compact shape, retain their characteristic taste and elastic flesh for a long time.

Specifications

Hybrid Ekol is resistant to many diseases of the pumpkin family... It is unlikely that the plantings will be affected by powdery mildew, cucumber mosaic virus or cladosporiosis.

During a period of lack of moisture, the ovaries will not fall off the lashes, as is the case with many other varieties of cucumbers. The hybrid has no preference for lighting: it will successfully bear fruit both in the shade and in a brightly lit garden.

Bush

Differs in the following qualities:

• relatively tall, with proper care, it can grow up to 3 m, therefore, under the film, it requires an appropriate overlap and props;
• differs in medium climbing;
• green leaves, small size;
• flowering beam type;
• ovaries are usually formed quickly, 4-5 pieces in one lobe.

The hybrid belongs to indeterminate, that is, it is able to grow in height quickly, forming a strong central stem.

Fruit

Hybrid cucumbers Ekol f1 have the following characteristics:

• by type they can be attributed to pickles, gherkins;
• cylindrical shape;
• length reaches 10 cm, but on average - 7-8;
• the average weight of a cucumber is about 70 g, but sometimes it reaches 95–100;
• the skin is dense, green, has tubercles and characteristic thorns;
• cucumber pulp is juicy and dense;
• there are no voids;
• the seed chamber is small;
• taste is characterized by freshness.

Yield

If you collect fruits in the form of pickles, that is, small cucumbers, 7-8 kg can be removed from the bush... When grown to the size of full-fledged fruits, it is possible to get 19-20 kg.

How to grow

It is not difficult to grow Ekol cucumbers... A medium loamy soil with a pronounced looseness is best suited for them.

Planting by seed and seedling method

Cucumbers of this hybrid can be planted outdoors using seeds or seedlings. It is recommended to make beds in the places of last year's growth certain antecedent cultures:

• potatoes - provided that no chemicals were used to grow this crop last season;
• pepper - we mean sweet varieties;
• cabbage;
• onion is the most suitable option.

The place should be well-lit, but free of drafts.

Planting in open ground in warm regions is carried out in the following stages:

• start at the end of spring, when the average air temperature reaches +15 ° С;
• initially, the seeds are soaked overnight in a nutrient solution of nitrophoska with ash;
• in the garden, holes are made in advance with an interval in a row of slightly more than 10 cm;
• the distance between the rows is determined at 60 cm;
• wells are watered with heated water;
• seeds are laid to a depth of 2-3 cm and covered with earth;
• it is recommended to lay several seeds in one hole in order to dive later with a choice of the strongest plants;
• the crops are covered with foil until shoots appear.

Seedling method accelerates harvesting by 10-15 days... It is preferable to plant the Ekol hybrid immediately in separate cups with a capacity of 0.3–0.5 liters, since early planting the seedlings do not tolerate picking well.

The first step is to prepare the soil. It is recommended to bake a mixture of peat, deciduous humus, sawdust and soil in the oven for 40-60 minutes - this will destroy pests and fungal spores. You can buy ready-made potting mix at a specialty store.

Other Dutchmen for your site:

The time-tested and favorite cucumber "Othello"

Hybrid "Connie f1", resistant to weather conditions and diseases

Why is Pasalimo f1 hybrid good and why is it worth growing

Further algorithm:

1. Fill the cups with soil mixture, plant the seeds to a depth of about 3 cm.
2. Moisten the soil with warm water and place containers in a place well-lit by the sun, covering with foil.
3. After the appearance of the first leaves, the film is removed. The soil continues to be watered regularly, avoiding waterlogging.
4. If there is a lack of daylight, it is necessary to arrange additional lighting. Two weeks before planting in open ground, the seedlings are hardened, taking them out for a short time to the balcony or yard.
5. When 3-4 true leaves appear, which will acquire a distinctly bright green color, they begin to plant. Otherwise, the sprouts will stretch out and take root poorly. At the time of planting in open ground, the seedlings should reach a height of about 30 cm.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

Water the plants every 3-4 days warm water in the early hours or in the evenings.

Important! All cucumber hybrids love moisture. If it is not enough, the yield decreases markedly.

For 1 sq. m is consumed 25-30 liters of water.

Watering depends a lot on the weather... In a hot sultry period, the intensity of this procedure is increased, and in a rainy period - vice versa.

It is also recommended to observe the following rules:

• watering is better by sprinkling or along the grooves;
• you can not let a powerful stream of water on the bush - a strong pressure will damage the root system, which in this hybrid is located close to the surface;
• avoid getting water on the leaves, especially in hot weather;
• loosening is desirable after each watering.

Seedlings are regularly fed with mullein, bird droppings or ash... You can also use special mineral fertilizers.

Tying a bush to a support is mandatory, as it tends to stretch for several meters. If the stem falls to the ground, then the fruits, in contact with it, will be infected with diseases or deformed.

When the seventh stem is formed, it is recommended to pinch the main one.Then select and keep one or two strong stems. On the lower internodes, the ovaries should be removed - it is believed that such a technique will increase the fruiting of the bush.

During the growing season, you need to know features of growing cucumbers, which will help to avoid difficulties:

1. If the soil is not loose enough, the development of the root system will slow down, you will have to carry out the procedure every day, including after every rain.
2. The growth of a bush can suddenly slow down. This happens after too vigorous removal of unnecessary stems: feed the plant with organic matter.
3. Each mineral fertilizer is first applied in small doses, otherwise the effect of feeding may be the opposite: all plants respond to the procedure individually.

Disease and pest resistance

Although hybrids of this type are characterized by increased immunity, there are diseases that are dangerous for them:

• powdery mildew usually affects cucumbers in cloudy weather, it can be seen by a white bloom on the leaves;
• peronosporosis also occurs in conditions of high humidity, characterized by brown spots on the leaves;
• white and gray rot manifested by a corresponding bloom.

At the primary stage of disease it is enough to treat the plants with a solution of potassium permanganate and sprinkle the leaves with ash. At a later time, fungicides are used, completely affected leaves are removed and burned.

Pests and pests bother the hybrid:

• aphids suck juices out of the leaves, they are scared off by "Karbofos" (use a small amount of the product);
• the spider mite is destroyed by the drug "Vertimek" or by infusion of potato tops;
• to remove whitefly, it is recommended to gently rinse the leaves with soap and water.

The main preventive measure against these pests and diseases - regular loosening and timely watering with inspection of seedlings.

Harvesting and application of the crop

Cucumbers are best removed unripe, moreover, do it in the morning and evening.

The collected fruits can be stored for several days, but it is better to use them immediately for food or marinate... They are especially good when pickled, as they are almost never hollow.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The obvious advantages of the variety include the following qualities:

• high productivity;
• long fruiting period;
• resistance to many diseases;
• lack of bitterness even with rare watering;
• self-pollination.

There are also disadvantages:

• overripe fruits have a hard skin;
• since this is a hybrid, not a variety, seeds will have to be bought every time;
• they have characteristic thorns.

Reviews

Dutch developments have always enjoyed well-deserved popularity among gardeners.... Ecole f1 is no exception. The hybrid conquered with productivity, beautiful appearance and taste of gherkins.

Irina, Odintsovo: “Usually I don’t like hybrids, but Ecole liked it. Especially because these cucumbers are great for pickling and pickling. Hard, crunchy, excellent taste ".

Semyon, Novorossiysk: “I have not always succeeded with seedlings of other hybrids. Either the seedlings stretched out, then, on the contrary, they wither. I dared to try Ekol f1 - it worked! He turned out to be unpretentious, pleased with a large harvest and miniature cucumbers ".

Elena, Omsk: “I am pleased with the high yield of the Ekol hybrid. At the same time, the bushes can be planted relatively compactly, because they do not grow very wide in width. Well, the fruits - small cucumbers look very neat in a jar, delicious and crispy. I advise everyone to grow this hybrid. "

Conclusion

Each new hybrid of any garden crop is the result of the painstaking work of many breeders. Recent advances in this area are becoming more interesting and effective. The Ecole f1 hybrid is a clear confirmation of this.

These cucumbers are unpretentious in care and, observing the above recommendations, you can provide yourself and your loved ones with a good harvest of small, neat fruits of excellent quality.They will taste both fresh and canned.