Early maturing cucumber hybrid “Connie f1”, resistant to weather conditions and diseases

The Connie f1 cucumber appeared on the market in the late 90s of the twentieth century, and since then it has remained one of the most popular hybrids of domestic selection. The culture is not inferior to its Dutch “brothers” either in productivity or taste. With relatively low labor costs, you can get a rich harvest when grown in open and closed ground.

Gherkin fruits are equally good fresh or canned. Like other parthenocarpics, the plant does not require pollination by bees due to the female type of flowering. In this article we will talk about the advantages and disadvantages of the hybrid, the nuances of cultivation and methods of protection against diseases and pests.

Description of the hybrid

The first generation hybrid Connie is a product of the selective work of domestic biologists. It was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 1999. The crop is suitable for growing in a greenhouse and garden in spring-summer rotation.

The originator is the St. Petersburg regional public organization “Union of Seed Producers “Biotechnics Association”.

The bushes are indeterminate, vigorous, medium climbing, medium leafy. The type of ovary formation is fascicular. The fruits are of the same size, do not tend to overgrow, do not turn yellow, and retain their presentation for a long time.

Pictured are Connie's cucumbers.

Distinctive features are presented in the table.

Composition, calorie content and beneficial properties

The calorie content of cucumbers is only 14 kcal per 100 g.

Chemical composition of the product:

• vitamins A, B1, B2, B4, B5, B6, B9, C, E, H, K, PP and beta-carotene;
• minerals: potassium, calcium, silicon, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, iron, iodine, copper, selenium, fluorine, zinc.

Regular consumption of cucumbers has a positive effect on the body:

• normalizes water-salt balance;
• speeds up metabolism;
• dilates blood vessels;
• normalizes blood pressure;
• breaks down cholesterol plaques;
• dissolves stones and sand in the kidneys;
• normalizes the functioning of the pancreas;
• improves blood counts.

Hybrid agricultural technology

Growing Connie's cucumber does not require any special knowledge or skills. The main thing is to correctly determine the timing of planting or sowing seeds, timely water, loosen and weed the beds, feed with organic matter and mineral complexes.

To obtain maximum yield and prolong fruiting, bushes are molded.

Planting by seed

The seed material is subjected to additional processing before sowing into the ground. The seeds are soaked in warm melt water with the addition of potassium permanganate for 30 minutes, then washed with water and laid on a damp cotton cloth. After 2-3 days, the seeds will germinate at an air temperature of +25 °C.

Reference. To stimulate growth, the material is soaked in Zircon or Epin preparations.

Direct sowing into the ground is carried out in the 1st-2nd decade of June, depending on the growing region. The air temperature should not be lower than +22 °C, the ground temperature +16 °C. The soil is prepared in the fall: they dig it up, add 10 liters of humus per 1 m², loosen it in the spring and fertilize it with chicken droppings mixed with ash.

The seeds are planted with the pointed part down, to a depth of 2-3 cm, at a distance of 20 cm. The beds are watered with warm, settled water and covered with agrofibre to protect against night frosts.

Planting by seedlings

The prepared grains are sown in 500 ml peat pots filled with a moist substrate. They prepare it themselves using two parts of peat and humus, one part of sawdust or river sand. To enrich with minerals, add 25 g of superphosphate and a glass of ash to a bucket of the mixture.

The containers are covered with plastic film to create a greenhouse effect and placed in a dark place. After the sprouts appear, the pots are taken out to a sunny place without drafts. If there is a shortage of light, seedlings are illuminated with phytolamps.

At the stage of the first leaves, the seedlings are fed with the drug “Speedfola Amino Start”. For irrigation use warm, clean water. Watering frequency – once every 7-10 days.

The appearance of four true leaves and the healthy appearance of the seedlings indicate that you can begin planting in a permanent place. Seedlings are planted in the greenhouse at the end of May, in open ground - in the first ten days of June.

Form holes 15-20 cm deep in the area. Spill each with a hot solution of potassium permanganate and add 1 tbsp. l. superphosphate. Planting pattern – 50x70 cm, three bushes per 1 m².

Care

Rules for caring for a hybrid:

1. The first time of planting, they are covered with agrofibre to protect against a sharp drop in temperature at night.
2. For irrigation use warm rain or settled water. After planting, moderate watering is provided - once a week; during flowering and fruiting, the frequency is increased to three times a week. Watering is carried out in the evening strictly under the bush. Installing a drip irrigation system will help simplify the task.
3. The beds are regularly loosened and weeded. Weeds are removed from the roots. The top layer of soil is mulched with straw, hay or sawdust to retain moisture, prevent the growth of weeds, and provide additional nutrition.
4. Before flowering begins, root feeding is carried out - once every 14 days with ready-made mineral or organic compounds (Yara Mila complex, Ovary, Bud, Fertility).
5. From the moment the flowers appear until the end of the harvest, foliar feeding is carried out with Plantafol, Agricolo, and Fertika.

Here are examples of root dressings for cucumbers that you prepare yourself:

• a three-day infusion of nettle or tops, diluted with water in a ratio of 1:5;
• infusion of bird or quail droppings, diluted with water 1:20;
• 200 g of ash / 10 liters of water, shake and pour;
• Pour 50 g of fresh yeast into 3 liters of warm water, add 50 g of sugar, leave in a warm place for 5-6 hours;
• 30 g nitroammophoska/10 l of water.

Reference. The consumption rate of fertilizers for young plants is 0.5 ml, for adults – 1-2 liters. A week after adding ash, the cucumbers are fed with nitrogen or chicken droppings.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

When cultivating the Connie hybrid in a greenhouse, it is important to control the temperature and humidity. In hot weather, keep the windows and doors constantly open or spray the outer walls with a weak chalk solution to shade the room. The drips will create diffused light, reducing illumination.

Air humidity in the greenhouse should be at 85-90%. To maintain it, regular watering and spraying of plantings is carried out.

When growing Connie in a greenhouse, you can influence the speed of plant development by increasing the concentration of carbon dioxide in the air. To do this, place a barrel with a manure solution in the room - during its fermentation, carbon dioxide is released.

In open ground, special nets are used to protect from the scorching sun, or at the same time as planting cucumbers, curtain plants (sunflower, corn) are sown. They create shade and protect from drafts.

Parthenocarpic Connie needs proper shaping and tying to the trellis:

1. Shoots, flowers and ovaries are removed in the axils of the first five leaves. They inhibit the growth of the main stem.
2. The main lash is tied to the trellis as it grows.
3. Stepchildren are pinched over the second leaf to a whip height of 0.5 m, over the third – up to 1 m, over the fourth – up to 1.5 m, over the fifth – up to 2 m.
4. The lash is pinched at the level of the extreme point of the trellis or thrown over the crossbar and pinched 1 m from the ground.

Diseases and pests

Connie's cucumber is resistant to powdery mildew and root rot. The plant suffers from anthracnose, sclerotinia, bacteriosis and is susceptible to insect attacks (aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, cucumber bugs). A detailed analysis of the signs of infection and treatment methods is in the table.

Disease prevention:

• treatment of greenhouses with sulfur bombs;
• soil disinfection with copper sulfate;
• pre-sowing treatment of seeds in “Fitosporin” or potassium permanganate;
• frequent loosening and weeding of beds;
• removal of plant residues.

Harvesting and application

The first fruits are harvested approximately 45 days after planting. If you plant seedlings at the end of April, the first cucumbers will appear in the second decade of June.

The culture is characterized by an extended fruiting period, which allows you to enjoy the excellent taste of cucumbers before the onset of cold weather. Fruits can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than five days. To preserve the harvest longer, it is recommended not to wash off the natural coating and not to tear off the stalk.In this form, greens are stored in the cellar for about a month.

Cucumbers are used for preparing fresh vegetable salads, slicing, pickling and pickling for the winter.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

• early ripeness;
• short fruitfulness;
• resistance to powdery mildew and rot;
• long fruiting period;
• excellent taste without bitterness and dense pulp;
• transportability.

Disadvantages - the need to shape the bush, susceptibility to bacteriosis and anthracnose.

Reviews

Reviews about the Connie hybrid are positive. Gardeners note a high percentage of seed germination, productivity and excellent taste.

Irina, Tyumen: “I’ve been growing Connie’s cucumbers for a long time, it’s easy to care for the bushes, the main thing is to form them correctly and feed them on time. The cucumbers are all smooth, as if chosen, sweet, crispy without bitterness. We roll it up for the winter in marinade and brine.”

Nikolay, Yaroslavl: “Planting and caring for the Connie hybrid is not difficult even for beginners. I prefer to soak the seeds in Epin before sowing seedlings. Zelentsy are dark green, with small, non-prickly pimples. The taste is excellent, without bitterness. Cucumbers in jars don’t get soggy.”

Vera, Moscow: “Among many hybrids and varieties of cucumbers, I chose Connie five years ago on the recommendation of a store salesperson and did not regret it. The cucumbers are small, like gherkins, and do not outgrow. The skin is thin, pimply. The bushes are powerful, tall, and very rarely get sick with proper care.”

Conclusion

Hybrid Connie is an excellent option for those who value high productivity and ease of care. The crop is not demanding on the composition of the soil and growing conditions; it gives the same result when grown in a greenhouse and in a garden.Cucumbers are the same size, do not overgrow, and no voids form inside the fruit. The pulp is juicy, slightly sweet, without bitterness.

Tall bushes are formed according to the rules corresponding to a parthenocarpic culture, with a garter to supports. In hot weather, shade the plant from the scorching sun and increase the frequency of watering. Organic and mineral compounds are used for feeding.