Hybrid cucumber “Emerald Stream” for the most delicious salads
Among other cucumber crops, the Emerald Stream hybrid stands out noticeably due to its shape. At your summer cottage, you will quickly notice this thin and long cucumber, covered with pubescent spines.
Three bushes with long, juicy fruits will be enough to feed the whole family - this hybrid is distinguished by its impressive size and rich yield.
Description of cucumbers
The cucumber hybrid Emerald Flow F1 was bred by Russian breeders of the SeDeK agricultural company in the Moscow region. Emerald Stream is resistant to difficult weather conditions, droughts and cold - it is successfully grown in all regions of Russia. The hybrid is classified as a variety of Chinese long-fruited cucumbers.
The originator notes the early ripeness of the variety: fruiting begins 44-48 days after the emergence of shoots.
Distinctive features
The hybrid Emerald Stream is parthenocarpic. That is, flowers do not need pollinating insects to form an ovary.
One of the most important qualities of the Emerald Stream hybrid is its long and continuous fruiting process, as well as excellent commercial qualities.
Reference: Cucumber fruiting lasts until autumn frosts.
Composition, properties, benefits and calorie content
Thanks to their beneficial composition, cucumbers are suitable for the daily diet. Most of the fruit is water, which has a special structure: 95 g per 100 g of pulp.In addition to it, the composition includes potassium (141 mg), iodine, calcium (23 mg), magnesium (14 mg), B vitamins, sodium, zinc, copper and other useful elements necessary for the smooth functioning of the heart.
Fiber improves digestion and intestinal motility, removes toxins. It is also a popular dietary product; 100 g of product contains only 14 kcal.
Characteristics
Plants grow strong and strong, weakly form lashes, but are able to bear up to five large fruits. The leaves of the plant are rich green.
Emerald flow is characterized by a female type of flowering. The fruits grow large and long. The average length of such a cucumber reaches 25 cm, weight – 200 g. The peel is delicate and thin. It is covered with medium white pubescence and spines.
The flesh is dense, crispy and juicy. There is no bitterness at all. The seeds inside the fruit are almost invisible. The yield is on average 6 kg per square meter. m in open ground. In greenhouse conditions and subject to agrotechnical requirements, you will harvest 2-4 kg more.
Important: When planning to grow Emerald Flow on a windowsill, remember that the fruits grow large, in some cases up to 50 cm, and therefore the plant needs abundant, regular watering and feeding.
How to grow your own
The hybrid Emerald Stream is universal in cultivation and is suitable for planting in open ground, under film covers, in greenhouses and even at home. Let's consider two main methods of planting: seed and seedlings.
Planting by seeds and seedlings
Vegetable growers recommend growing the Emerald Stream hybrid using seedlings. But no matter which method you choose, the soil on the site must be loosened and saturated with nutrients.For better development of cucumbers, add potash, nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers.
Attention: Fertilizers are applied to the land plot for future cucumbers in the fall. Clear the soil well of weeds and residues of other plants, apply any organic fertilizer. Then dig again. If it was not possible to feed the soil in the fall, do it in the spring.
Seeds are planted in open ground after night frosts have passed, so that the soil has time to warm up to +15-18°C. Planting seeds in open ground is considered the most relevant method for the southern regions of Russia.
Seed planting process:
- Loosen the soil before planting seeds.
- Plant no more than four plants per square meter.
- Make holes in the ground 3 cm deep and put seeds in them, 2-3 pieces will be enough. If all the seedlings sprout, they are thinned out.
The seedling method is suitable for those who want to get a tasty harvest at the beginning of summer. Seeds for seedlings are sown in early March.
- Plant the seeds in peat or individual plastic cups filled with ready-made soil.
- Lightly sprinkle soil on top and then water.
- Before the first sprouts appear, the cups are covered with film and placed in a warm place.
- When the soil warms up to +12°C and the average daily air temperature reaches +15°C, young plants are planted in open ground. By this time, they have 3-4 true leaves.
- Seedling planting pattern – 50x30 cm.
Attention: To make the seeds grow and develop faster, before planting, treat them with a solution of potassium permanganate, and then dry thoroughly.
Growing in stages and care
Emerald cucumbers need regular and plentiful flow watering settled, warm water.
Important: It is recommended to water cucumbers in the morning or evening.
Plants need feeding throughout the entire growing season. Experts recommend using slurry, humus mixtures, urea solution and superphosphates as fertilizers.
Don’t forget to take care: regularly weed the beds, get rid of weeds and clean the area - cucumbers love cleanliness more than other vegetable crops.
Features of cultivation and possible difficulties
The emerald stream is tied to vertical trellises and plants are formed. The central stem of the cucumber is pinched as soon as it reaches the top of the trellis.
Diseases and pests
Emerald Stream is highly resistant to cladosporiosis and downy mildew. The hybrid is occasionally attacked by aphids or spider mites. They are fought with folk remedies (onion or garlic tinctures) or with the help of special insecticides according to the instructions.
Emerald is then susceptible to a disease such as root rot. To avoid infection, follow watering recommendations and avoid over-wetting the soil.
Harvesting and application
Harvest when the cucumbers reach a length of 18-25 cm. Overgrown fruits, more than 45 cm long, become coarse and yellow, which leads to a deterioration in taste. Harvesting takes place every day or every other day. The harvest is stored in a cool, ventilated room. The temperature in the room for storing greenhouse cucumbers should not exceed +14°C, for cucumbers from open ground +9°C.
Important: Do not tear, but carefully cut off ripe fruits so as not to damage the ovary.
Reviews indicate that the taste characteristics of the hybrid are at a high level.First of all, the Emerald Stream hybrid was created as a salad cucumber, so it is best to use it fresh. Due to size for whole fruit canning fruits are not suitable.
Advantages and disadvantages
Among the advantages of this hybrid, gardeners note:
- unpretentiousness;
- resistance to fungal diseases;
- endurance in shade and cold conditions;
- relative resistance to drought;
- landing by all means;
- long period of crop storage;
- less often than other cucumbers, it is affected by pests.
The disadvantage of the Emerald Stream hybrid is its susceptibility to root rot. In addition, the relatively large size of the fruits makes them unsuitable for whole canning.
Reviews
Numerous reviews report that the Emerald Stream cucumber, even in unfavorable conditions, is able to produce a harvest longer and more consistently than other varieties and hybrids.
Svetlana, 46 years old, Saransk: “For a long time now, I have been planting only Chinese cucumbers for salads, because they are so long and sweet. In recent years, I began to pay attention to the Emerald Stream hybrid and eventually decided to plant it on my site. I can say that quite unpretentious and powerful plants grow in the garden bed. I plant cucumber seedlings in open ground and stretch a net for them to form them in the future. 2-3 bushes are enough for our whole family to eat cucumbers all summer. One cucumber can be used to cut a large plate of vegetable salad. They are so juicy that they perfectly quench your thirst in hot weather.”
Yulia, 64 years old, Tosno: “I recommend Emerald Stream to everyone.We have never had such fruitful and sweet cucumbers in our garden! This variety is suitable for those who like to simply crunch fresh cucumbers and prepare a vegetable salad. They are tasty, tender and aromatic. The skin is very thin, the seeds are very small and do not taste bitter. But you shouldn’t preserve, pickle, or salt them for the winter. They grow in our greenhouse and bear fruit for a long time and continuously, despite the rather harsh conditions of the Leningrad region. We collect cucumbers every day, not allowing them to overgrow. New ovaries appear very soon. There are almost no barren flowers. Planting and care are easy.”
Conclusion
Hybrid cucumbers Emerald Stream will provide your home with a rich and tasty harvest until the first frost. The culture is not capricious and resistant to cold and drought. Follow the above rules and recommendations and grow a quality product!