Cucumber "Kolibri" surprising with its yield for pickles and fresh consumption

Thanks to the selection of new crops, it is now possible to grow vegetables not only in the beds and in greenhouses, but also on balconies and window sills. These "households" include a cucumber hybrid of the Hummingbird with excellent taste, suitable for harvesting for future use and fresh consumption.

Description of the hybrid

In the state registry, the culture is described as an indeterminate hybrid with weak growth, bred to obtain gherkins and pickles. Does not require a daily harvest, as the fruits do not tend to overgrow. It is recommended to pick vegetables every other day so as not to interfere with the setting of new fruits and the ripening of existing ones.

Distinctive features

The most important indicators of the hybrid:

• the first crop is harvested after 40 days;
• suitable for planting both in open ground and in greenhouses;
• it is resistant to pests, diseases and adverse weather conditions.

See the shape of the fruit in the photo below.

Composition, properties, benefits, calories

The vegetable is known for its beneficial qualities for the body due to the content of vitamins of group B, C, folic acid and trace elements: iron, potassium, iodine, silver, calcium and many others.

Despite the fact that their number is only 2-5%, cucumber has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system, lowers blood pressure, inhibits the formation of kidney stones, and helps cleanse the body of toxins. It is famous for its anti-aging, skin-improving properties.

Reference. The peel contains a lot of fiber, so cucumber is considered the main vegetable for those who want to lose weight. The nutritional value is only 14 kcal per 100 g of product.

Specifications

Cucumber Hummingbird is a parthenocarpic, highly productive plant... It is characterized by a highly developed root system of a tap-type with numerous lateral layering. The creeping, curly stem of a spreading shape is distinguished by bundle weaving, rapidly developing lateral processes and shoots. Each knot is capable of forming up to eight ovaries. The tendrils that form help the plant to cling to the support on its own. The leaves are small, heart-shaped, bright green.

The fruits are characterized by pimples, light green stripes on the peel. The shape is short, like that of gherkins, cylindrical, narrowed towards the peduncle. Fruit length - 5-8 cm, in diameter - 3-3.5 cm. The mass reaches 60-80 g. The pulp is crunchy and dense without voids and bitterness. Seeds are usually small or absent.

Has increased fruit formation - a cucumber garden with an area of ​​1 sq. m is capable of producing 9-11 kg of vegetables. To get gherkins, picking is carried out every other day, pickles are harvested daily.

How to grow yourself

The hummingbird is adapted to any soil, the main thing is that it is saturated with humus, well aerated. The good thing about the hybrid is that it can grow not only in vegetable gardens, greenhouses, but also suitable for balconies and pots.

Even a beginner can grow a vegetable on his own, you just need to choose the most acceptable sowing method and observe the growing conditions.

Planting by seed and seedling method

The area where it is planned to grow cucumbers is being prepared in the fall. To do this, it is dug up, fertilized with phosphorus-potassium and organic fertilizers.If the garden bed had to be prepared in the spring, when digging, they add compost, humus, complex mineral fertilizers, according to the instructions. Cucumber is a heat-loving vegetable, so the place is sunny and protected from adverse weather conditions.

For planting seeds in open ground, the optimal time is chosen - from the end of April to the second half of May, depending on the region. If sown earlier, the shoots will not get enough light, which will stretch and weaken the plant.

Sowing later can lead to a shorter growing season and reduce yields by several times. In an open area, 4-5 holes are made per 1 sq. m. In protected ground, place 2-3 plants on the same volume.

Experienced gardeners recommend growing cucumbers using a seedling method in order to achieve an earlier appearance of fruits.

To grow seedlings, do the following:

1. Seeds are prepared in advance by calibrating them, keeping them at a low temperature, processing in a solution of potassium permanganate.
2. A solution is prepared from ash and nitroammofoska and water, seeds placed in a cloth bag are immersed in it.
3. A day later, the seeds are removed, washed under running water, placed on a damp cloth for two days.
4. After swelling, they are planted in separate containers.

Before the seedlings are planted in a permanent place, they are watered, fertilized, and when the earth warms up, they are planted in the ground.

The beds are placed at a distance of 65-70 cm from each other, holes are made in them at a distance of 20 cm, they are poured with water, they wait for it to be absorbed into the ground, then start planting seeds or seedlings.

Growing and care

After the appearance of 6-7 leaves, the main stem is pinched - this increases the yield. As the bush grows, it is tied to a support, the beds are kept clean, and weeds are removed if necessary. In order to accelerate the growth of fruits, the leaves are thinned out, those that shade the fruits are removed.

At night, young shoots are covered with foil or other material in case the temperature drops.

Cucumber is a moisture-loving plant that requires regular watering and maintenance. Before the plant begins to bloom, add 5 liters of water per sq. m in dry weather and 2 liters after precipitation. During the fruiting period, the water rate is increased by 2-3 liters. It is better to water the plants in the morning, with warm water, so as not to overcool the roots. It is recommended to do this from a watering can, and not from a hose, the soil is moistened with water, but not the plant itself.

To prevent the formation of a crust on the soil surface after watering, which slows down the development of stems, the soil around the roots is loosened. This is done as carefully as possible, the root system of the cucumbers is located close to the surface of the soil and may suffer when loosening.

The crop is harvested as the fruit ripens, unpicked cucumbers prevent the formation of a new ovary.

Fertilizers are applied several times throughout the growth cycle. The first feeding is carried out two weeks after planting. To do this, use mixtures containing potassium, nitrogen, magnesium. As an organic feeding, an infusion on onion peels, diluted manure or chicken droppings, and fermented milk products are suitable. Fertilizers are applied at the root, at the rate of 1.5 liters per 1 sq. m beds. To saturate the soil with potassium, a solution of wood ash is used, bringing 0.5 liters under each bush.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

The peculiarity of caring for hummingbirds cucumbers is the need to form and tie up bushes, without this the plant goes to wild growth and becomes low-yielding.

The short ripening period of the fruit does not allow the use of heavy agrochemicals, otherwise vegetables will grow toxic.

Diseases and pests

When creating favorable conditions for growing, the plant rarely gets sick with cucumber mosaic and olive spot, since it has a stable immunity to diseases.

The most common diseases for Hummingbirds:

• anthracnose;
• bacteriosis;
• peronosporosis;
• white rot and sulfur.

To combat them, plants are sprayed with a solution of carbamide, copper oxychloride, as well as fungicides "Kurzat R", "Acrobat MC", "Ridomil MC".

As a preventive measure, the bushes are treated with a solution consisting of laundry soap, iodine, milk, fermented milk products, urea.

Of the typical pests, they note:

• thrips;
• ticks;
• aphids;
• bedbugs.

To combat them, use "Confidor", "Aktellik", "Karate", "Talstar" according to the instructions on the package.

In order to avoid damage to plants by pests, onions, garlic, and dill are planted between the bushes. To get rid of the larvae, the seeds are hardened before sowing, and the earth is dug up.

Harvesting and application of the crop

The first crop is harvested after about 40-42 days, then every two days. Suitable for collection in the morning or evening of a dry sunny day. Collect carefully so as not to damage the fruits, otherwise their shelf life is reduced.

Vegetables separated from the stalks with a sharp knife are placed in containers or baskets, then sent to storage in a cool dry place with a temperature of about + 5 ° C. Vegetables lie for about a month, subject to the storage rules. To keep healthy, tasty vegetables as long as possible, they are pickled and salted.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages of the Hummingbird hybrid:

• early maturity;
• high productivity;
• excellent transportability;
• long-term fruit formation;
• immunity to disease;
• excellent taste;
• undemanding care;
• not prone to outgrowth.

Among the shortcomings are noted:

• the need to form a bush and tie it up;
• the inability to collect seeds on their own.

Reviews

Reviews of gardeners confirm the excellent taste of the Hummingbird cucumber, the possibility of growing in beds and greenhouses, in pots and on balconies.

Artur, Saratov: “The hummingbird is quite interesting to look at and to grow. If climatic conditions permit, it can be grown all year round. Cucumbers are hybrid parthenocarpic, which means that the vegetable is self-pollinated, i.e. insects are not needed for pollination. And this is a huge plus, because if the weather does not work out, few insects fly, but this hybrid does not depend on them. The cucumber is also interesting in that it grows in a bunch and its yield from one bush is amazing. He claims that no one will be disappointed by deciding to grow this vegetable. "

Maria Ivanovna from the Moscow region recommends the Hummingbird to those who have not yet decided on its choice: “When I was buying seeds, I didn’t think that they would sprout so well. Planted in open ground. The ovary appeared quickly, the first cucumbers were tried already on the fortieth day. They turned out to be crispy, fragrant, pimply. Fruiting until late autumn, they almost did not have to be sprayed from pests. Enough not only for us, but also distributed to the neighbors. "

Conclusion

Hybrid Hummingbird is a competitive hybrid with excellent taste, strong immunity, good keeping quality. This makes it in demand for many gardeners and farms. Due to its unpretentiousness, it is able to give an excellent harvest.