Cucumber “Tom Thumb” for greenhouses, open ground and home cultivation

The wonderful cucumber hybrid Little Thumb lives up to its name: the small, richly colored fruits have an attractive presentation. The hybrid was developed relatively recently, but is already popular among advanced gardeners. Universal: suitable for growing in open ground, in greenhouses and at home.

Description of cucumbers

Boy with a Thumb - parthenocarpic hybrid early ripening, bred by the Russian breeding and seed company Manul.

Reference! In parthenocarpic cucumbers, fruit development occurs without the participation of male germ cells, that is, without pollination. A distinctive feature of such cucumbers is the underdevelopment or absence of seeds.

Distinctive features

Features of cucumbers Tom Thumb:

• this is a first generation hybrid (there is an F1 sign on the seed packet);
• high seed germination (95-100%);
• precocity;
• long fruiting - more than 2 months;
• relative drought resistance;
• resistance to diseases and pests.

Composition, properties, benefits, calorie content

Cucumber is 95% structured water - Eating fruits helps flush the kidneys and cleanse the body of toxins., salts of heavy metals and slags.

Regular and moderate consumption of cucumbers has a beneficial effect on intestinal motility, the condition of the thyroid gland, reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, and reduces bad cholesterol.

Calorie content of cucumber: 15 kcal per 100 g of product.

Characteristics

Characteristics of cucumbers Tom Thumb:

• high yield - from 1 m² you can collect from 7 to 14 kg of fruit;
• bushes are tall, medium-climbing, indeterminate (the growth of the main stem is not limited by the flower cluster), female type of flowering;
• the leaves are green, slightly wrinkled, medium in size, the edge of the leaf has a slight wavy;
• from 3 to 5 ovaries are formed in one node;
• gherkin-type fruits, 8-11 cm in length;
• the skin of the fruit is green, thin, with faint short white stripes, pubescence is frequent, the surface is pimply, the spines are white, non-prickly;
• the taste of the fruit is excellent - the flesh is aromatic, crispy, without bitterness;
• the seeds are small, barely noticeable.

How to grow your own

The hybrid is easy to care for and suitable for growing in any region, on different types of soil.

Planting by seeds and seedlings

Cucumbers are grown by seedlings and seeds in open ground or in a greenhouse.

It is recommended to plant cucumbers in a permanent place after the soil has warmed to 15 °C.

Before planting seeds for seedlings or in the ground, they are soaked for some time in a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Prepared seeds are planted in open ground when warm weather sets in and the threat of night frosts has completely passed. The soil is pre-prepared: mineral fertilizers are applied, loosened, and all stones and dried roots are removed.

Furrows are made in the garden bed using a stretched cord. The distance between them should be at least 60 cm. Sow the seeds in holes filled with water and fertilized with manure to a depth of 2-3 cm. The distance between holes is 20-30 cm.

Seed germination is high, so it is enough to place 1-2 seeds in each hole.

Seeds for seedlings planted in soil enriched with nutrients, to a depth of 1 cm. Place the seed vertically in the ground.

Important! In order for the seeds to germinate quickly, they need to create comfortable conditions. To do this, cover the ground with damp paper or a napkin, creating a microgreenhouse. After the first shoots appear, the napkin or paper is removed.

The optimal air temperature is 20-25 °C.

Caring for seedlings is easy: sufficient lighting, timely watering and maintaining air humidity.

As soon as the spring frosts have ended and the earth has warmed up, seedlings can be planted in a permanent place. The best time for central Russia is the last days of May.

Attention! For planting in the ground, seedlings that have grown to 20 cm and have at least 4-5 leaves are suitable.

The plant is carefully removed from the seedling container so as not to damage the small roots and fragile shoots. The distance between young cucumbers should be about 30 cm for free growth.

Greenhouse conditions are created for the planted seedlings: water and cover with a special covering material or an ordinary plastic bottle. This way the root system quickly adapts to new conditions.

After a week, the protective material can be removed and the cucumbers can be watered with nitrogenous fertilizers.

It can be useful:

What to do with empty flowers on cucumbers in a greenhouse

How and what to feed cucumbers for their record yield

The best varieties of shade-tolerant cucumbers for the greenhouse

In greenhouses and apartments

The procedure for planting in a greenhouse is the same as in open ground.. The soil is disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate (summer) or copper sulfate (autumn). There are no more than 3 plants per 1 m².The air humidity in the greenhouse should be about 80%.

Advice! For further growth and formation of the plant, install supporting trellises.

Watering abundantly and frequently: 3-4 liters for each bush every other day.

Growing and care

For cucumbers install vertical trellises, pinching the main cucumber branch.

Water the plants with warm water. The most intensive watering is in hot weather, during flowering and fruit formation. Water in the morning or evening.

To maintain soil moisture, the roots are mulched mown grass or straw. Regular weeding and loosening of the soil are necessary.

In the first 2 weeks after germination in open ground or transplanting seedlings the plant is fed nitrogenous fertilizers. During the flowering period, cucumbers will need phosphorus-containing compounds. Foliar feeding is especially effective.

Fruits are collected regularly, at least 3 times a week.

Attention! If fruit formation is poor, the plant is fertilized with cow manure or humus.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

When growing a hybrid, a Boy the size of a finger commits errors that can lead to poor fruiting or lack of harvest:

• improper ventilation of beds;
• insufficient lighting;
• excess or lack of moisture;
• improper formation of the bush;
• untimely planting of seedlings in the ground or greenhouse;
• soil not enriched with mineral fertilizers;
• lack of fertilizing during the growing season;
• non-compliance with the planting scheme.

Important! You cannot plant cucumbers in the same places every year. This will significantly reduce the yield.

Diseases and pests

The good thing about a hybrid is that it is practically not susceptible to disease.. Resistant to powdery mildew, brown and olive spot, cucumber mosaic, cladosporiosis.

The only disease dangerous for a hybrid - downy mildew.

In order to prevent possible diseases and pest invasionsBefore planting, the seeds are treated with a manganese solution, the plant is regularly watered and fertilized, sprayed with fungicides, and weeds that can be carriers of infections are removed.

Harvesting and application

Fruiting begins 40 days after planting. The harvest is harvested from June to August. Harvesting must be regular. If you remove the fruits at least once every 2-3 days, fruiting will improve. Pick cucumbers carefully without damaging the stem. Fruits 7-11 cm in length are suitable for consumption.

Fresh cucumbers do not last long at room temperature. It is better to eat them immediately or use them for pickling and pickling.

So that cucumbers can be stored for a long time or withstand long-term transportation, create conditions: a dark and cool place, but in no case humid. Cucumbers will be stored well in a dry cellar.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantages of the hybrid:

• suitable for cultivation in all regions;
• does not require pollination;
• excellent taste;
• high yield and seed germination;
• early ripeness and long fruiting;
• bouquet type of ovary;
• immunity to disease;
• drought resistance;
• versatility of application.

The only drawback of the hybrid - susceptibility to downy mildew.

Reviews

Gardeners speak favorably of the hybrid Boy the size of a Thumb, characterize it as productive and trouble-free.

Arina, Rostov-on-Don: “I’ve been planting the ‘Boy Thumb’ cucumber for several years now. This hybrid is the best, I don’t even consider others. Cucumbers are fragrant and crispy. Great for pickling, appetizers and salads. They are not demanding in terms of care. I plant it immediately in open ground, the seeds germinate well. The photo of cucumbers on the packaging is true.".

Maria, Tula: “I usually read descriptions of vegetable varieties for the garden myself on the Internet, but my relatives recommended this hybrid to me. I bought Dutch seeds, which have a 100% germination rate. Grown in the country from May to September. Cucumbers love fertile soil and do not tolerate direct sunlight. For the first 2 weeks after planting I used covering material. We planted 8 bushes and collected at least 60 kg of fruit over the entire season. The cucumbers were consumed fresh, some were pickled.”.

Fedor, Novosibirsk: “The hybrid is excellent, gherkin. Perfectly preserved. And fresh cucumbers are good: the taste is pleasant, without bitterness. We are glad. The seeds sprouted in full, I didn’t even expect such a result.”.

Conclusion

The hybrid Boy with a Thumb combines high and early yields, resistance to diseases and adverse factors, and excellent taste. Easy care allows you to grow cucumbers not only in open ground or a greenhouse, but also on a windowsill.