How to properly grow an “Artist” cucumber: care rules for getting a bountiful harvest

Cucumber Artist F1 is a popular ultra-early hybrid, so even the most impatient summer residents are satisfied with it. The culture belongs to the parthenocarpic type, that is, fruits are set without pollination by insects.

The technology for cultivating such cucumbers is no different from the agricultural technology of other varieties that require pollination by bees. The hybrid grows successfully both in greenhouses and in open ground.

Description

Artist f1 was bred by Dutch breeders. Scientists have combined early ripening and independent fruit set in vegetable crops, which is why gardeners love this hybrid. It appeared in the Russian State Register of Vegetable Crops in 2010.

Distinctive features

Cucumbers are distinguished by their peel covered with large, frequent pimples.

The hybrid is indeterminate, or unlimited in growth. Therefore, the bushes need to be tied up and shaped.

Composition, properties, benefits, calorie content

Nutritional value per 100 g:

• proteins – 0.9 g;
• carbohydrates – 2.7 g;
• fats – 0.1 g;
• fiber – 0.7 g;
• a small amount of vitamins C, PP, E and group B;
• 95-98% water, which quenches thirst and cleanses the body of toxic substances.

The total calorie content of fresh cucumbers per 100 g is only 16 kcal.

Cucumber juice has amazing properties. Thanks to the natural organic acid in its composition, it:

• removes salts from organs and joints;
• improves metabolism;
• flushes out free radicals;
• dilates capillaries and normalizes blood pressure;
• removes cholesterol plaques from blood vessels;
• dissolves sand and kidney stones;
• improves the properties and composition of blood.

Cucumbers are a refreshing, nutritious, vitamin-rich food and a versatile addition to any diet.

Characteristics

Artist is a tall plant with medium branching. Female type flowers. The leaves are large, dark green. The shape of the cucumber is cylindrical, small in size (12 cm). The weight of one fruit is about 100 g. The pulp is crispy and aromatic, without bitterness.

The fruits ripen in a short time. Zelentsy are harvested 35-40 days after planting. Subject to the rules of agricultural technology from 1 sq. m of planting, the crop produces up to 9 kg of tasty vegetables.

How to grow your own

The Artist is seated in two ways. At first in advance grow seedlings, and then transplant it into open ground. In the second, seed material is sown directly onto the garden bed. With the seedling method, the seeds are sown already in April. To do this, use peat cups or special cassettes.

Direct sowing of seeds into the ground

Sowing is done when the soil warms up to +15°C. The air temperature during the day should be at least +22°C. The seeds are planted into the soil with their nose down to a depth of 2-3 cm and at a distance of about 10 cm from each other, then watered abundantly.

The bed is covered with agrofibre or film so that the nighttime drop in temperature does not destroy the seedlings. The first shoots appear after 5-8 days.

Seedling method

Sowing of seeds for seedlings begins with the onset of April, in some regions - at the end of March. First of all, prepare the container and soil for the plants.

To prepare the soil mixture, use the following components:

• humus - 2 parts;
• peat – 2 parts;
• sawdust – 1 part.

All this is mixed and fertilizers are added at the rate of 40 g of wood ash and 30 g of “Nitrophoska” per 10 liters of the mixture.

The containers are filled with prepared soil and 1-2 seeds are planted in each to a depth of 1-2 cm. The optimal daytime temperature for seedlings is no more than +25°C, and the night temperature is no less than +15°C. The soil is watered as it dries. After a month, the seedlings will have 3-4 true leaves, which means they are ready to go into open ground or a greenhouse.

On a note. Growing the Artist hybrid in open ground is not at all difficult. The main thing is to follow basic agronomic rules. The seed material is not pre-treated or soaked. Carrying out the necessary activities is to prepare the soil and place for the culture.

The plant actively grows and bears fruit in light and fertile soil. Before planting, organic fertilizer is applied to open ground. An important role is played by the proximity of plants, which have a beneficial effect on the growth and development of cucumbers.

Useful neighbors for culture:

• garlic;
• dill;
• legumes;
• corn;
• onion;
• eggplant;
• beet;
• cabbage;
• salad.

Cucumbers are not planted next to tomatoes, radishes and radishes.

It is advisable not to grow the crop in the same place year after year. Experienced vegetable growers change the bed every time, and select a place for its location that is sunny and without drafts.

Step-by-step cultivation and care

Caring for Artist cucumbers is as follows:

1. After watering, the soil is loosened and weeds are removed at the same time. At the same time, make sure not to touch the root system of cucumbers, which is located close to the soil surface.
2. Since the hybrid is tall and branchy, it is tied up.This helps to ventilate the bushes and prevents tangling of branches and infection with fungal diseases.
3. Cucumbers are not afraid of short-term drought, but they are not watered with cold water. Plants are moistened directly at the roots, using settled warm water.
4. During the cultivation of cucumbers, approximately 5 additional feedings are carried out. When growing a crop at a permanent place of growth, the first fertilizer is applied with the appearance of full-fledged leaves. To do this, use the same composition as for seedlings. Next, organic and mineral fertilizers are alternated. The plant is also fed with ash or mullein. Complex products for these purposes: “Nitroammofoska”, “Plantafol”, “Azofoska”.
5. The plant is formed into one stem, while the side branches are pinched at a height of 0.5 m, and the main stem - at 2 m. In this way, the growth and fruit formation of the crop is controlled.

Important! Plants are watered frequently, but with a small amount of water, since excessive soil moisture causes rotting of the root system.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

The agricultural technology for growing Artist cucumbers generally does not differ significantly from caring for other hybrids.

The plant grows well and produces a bountiful harvest when grown both in open ground and in greenhouse conditions. This allows the hybrid to be bred in all regions of Russia.

On a note. In some cities, monuments to cucumbers were erected (Lukhovitsy, Nizhyn). And every year on July 27, vegetable growers celebrate International Cucumber Day.

Diseases and pests

The bushes do not suffer from common mosaic virus and cladosporiosis. The crop is also resistant to powdery mildew.

But the plant is attacked by pests:

• spider mite;
• mole cricket;
• slugs;
• thrips;
• cucumber gnats;
• melon aphid.

Spider mites are identified by small webs on the back of leaves. This pest drinks sap from plants. If it is not destroyed in time, the culture will die. To combat mites, plants are sprayed with Fitoverm, and the area is populated with phytoseiulus - it eats mite eggs.

Mole crickets are large insects that gnaw on roots and stems. They are removed with the drugs “Vofatox” and “Medvetox”.

Slugs appear in damp and neglected areas. They are collected by hand or sprinkled with wood ash.

Thrips are able to survive the winter while living in the remains of vegetation. They suck juices from plants. In order to combat parasites in the fall, all the tops are carefully collected and burned, then the soil is dug up. After this, the soil is watered with Karbofos solution.

The melon aphid has an oval-shaped body up to 2 mm long. It settles down and lays eggs on the back of the leaves. During one growing season, up to 20 generations of aphids grow. The pest is capable of destroying plants in a short time. If the aphids have spread a little, the leaves and stems are sprayed with good pressure from a hose or washed with a soap solution (200 g of laundry soap per 10 liters of water).

When there are a lot of parasites, use the product “Actofit” (80 ml per 10 liters of water), add “Liposam” to the solution for stickiness and treat the back side of the leaves with it.

Also in April, especially in greenhouse conditions, cucumber mosquitoes attack plants. Females lay up to 3,000 eggs at a time. And when the larvae hatch, they crawl into the roots and stems. To combat mosquitoes, plantings are sprayed with the preparation “Iskra” (1 tablet dissolved in 10 liters of water). This composition is enough to process 1 hundred square meters of plantings.

Harvesting and application

For a hybrid, it is important that the fruits are harvested on time. If you do not follow this rule, the yield of the plant will decrease.

Cucumbers are harvested early in the morning, in cool weather - every other day, and when it is hot - every day, then the harvest will be larger. The collected vegetables are placed immediately in the refrigerator and are not placed in closed bags.

Greens are used to make salads. The fruits have an excellent taste both fresh and in conservation.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages of the hybrid Artist f1:

• good tolerance to lack of light;
• early fruit ripening (after 35-40 days);
• long fruiting;
• absence of yellow spots on ripe fruits;
• good seed germination;
• developed root;
• plant resistance to drought;
• excellent presentation;
• versatility of use;
• average susceptibility to disease;
• good transportability.

Disadvantages of the Artist:

• high demands on fertilizers;
• relatively low yield.

Read also:

The best recipes for pickled cucumbers with basil for the winter.

Why gray rot appears on cucumbers and how to deal with it.

Reviews

Experienced vegetable growers evaluate the Artist hybrid mainly on the positive side. Cucumbers are actively grown in the vast majority of regions of the country. The opinions of some gardeners are below.

Anastasia, Volgograd: «Neighbors at the dacha recommended Artist F1 cucumbers. The variety, of course, is not that new, but last year I decided to try to grow it. I really liked the fast fruiting. The harvest grew exactly as in the packaging photo. I recommend to all! The fruits are almost the same size, looking at them, you just want to put them in for pickling. The cucumbers taste sweet, without bitterness, although sometimes it was not possible to water them on time. The pulp is elastic and dense, salts well, remains crispy and without voids. True, the fruits are very prickly, I did the cleaning with gloves.”

Dmitry, Voronezh: «I mainly grow Dutch parthenocarpic cucumbers in a greenhouse for sale. I give preference to Merengue, Herman and Artist. To obtain a bountiful harvest, I form the bushes on the trellis into one stem, blind up to 4-5 leaves - I remove unopened buds and stepsons from the axils, this contributes to better formation of the root system, and the plant becomes strong and actively bears fruit. In the next 2-3 nodes I leave one ovary, and up to the 10th leaf - no more than 2 ovaries, I remove all shoots and tendrils.”

Ekaterina, Rostov: «My husband and I have been growing cucumbers for many years in a row. That year we bought Artist seeds for testing. Quite expensive, like most imported ones, but almost all of them sprouted. They were sown in open ground without preliminary preparation. The garden bed was not covered with anything (fortunately the weather allowed). The cucumbers were allowed to grow horizontally “in a spread”. A little more than a month has passed, and a full-fledged harvest has already ripened. The cucumbers are small and deliciously crunchy. Almost the entire harvest went to harvest. I salted a whole barrel and marinated about 20 liters. This turned out to be too much for our family; we treated all the neighbors. I really liked the artist, now I recommend him to everyone.”

Conclusion

The ultra-early hybrid Artist F1 allows you to collect delicious crispy fruits already 40 days after germination. They tolerate transportation well. Cucumbers are included fresh in the diet by those who want to lose weight. The Artist is no less good in the canned version.

The hybrid is resistant to drought and lack of light, bears fruit for a long time and ripens quickly. The artist has proven himself well among experienced vegetable growers.