Review of the best bunched varieties of cucumbers for open ground
Bundle cucumbers are the merit of European and Russian breeders. New hybrids and varieties were appreciated by summer residents and large farmers, because with relatively low labor costs, from 10 to 40 kg of selected fruits can be harvested from 1 m². Cucumbers are easy to care for, ripen early, and are immune to major diseases.
In this article we will talk about the features and advantages of bunch crops and give examples of popular varieties and hybrids for unprotected soil.
Features of bunch cucumbers
Such crops are characterized by a bouquet form of flowering. 3–9 fruit ovaries are formed in one node. This is the main difference between bunched vegetables and cucumbers with single or paired ovaries.
The yield of such varieties depends on the degree of branching: the higher it is, the more productive the plants. For example, about 35 fruits with a total weight of 9-10 kg are collected from one highly branched bush. If agricultural practices are followed, up to 500 cucumbers are harvested from one plant per season.
The photo shows bunched cucumbers.
The advantages of such crops:
- high productivity;
- the inflorescences open alternately, ensuring a stable harvest;
- the fruits do not outgrow;
- trellis growing saves space on the site;
- cucumbers ripen at the height of the season;
- gherkin type fruits;
- plants are resistant to cucumber diseases (cucumber mosaic virus, cladosporiosis, root rot, olive spot, powdery mildew, downy mildew) and changes in air temperature;
- Most hybrids are parthenocarpic (do not require pollination).
Seeds from such fruits are not collected for reuse - this is the main disadvantage of the crop.
Reference. The largest bouquet ovaries are formed under the trellis and on the most illuminated side shoots.
Bundle cucumbers are light-loving: the more sunlight hits the plants, the higher the yield. Bushes react poorly to drafts. When cultivating outdoors, canopy crops (corn, sunflower) are planted nearby to protect from gusty winds.
When caring for bushes, it is important to maintain an optimal level of soil moisture (do not overwater or leave the soil dry).
During the fruiting period, the need for minerals increases sharply. Therefore, the bushes are fed at least once every 7–10 days with small portions of complex fertilizers (10 g/m²) containing potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen (“Master”, “Solution”).
Experienced farmers advise harvesting cucumbers frequently, every 1-2 days, to maintain fruiting at a high level.
Superbeam
Superbunching cucumbers are hybrid plants capable of producing 8–12 fruit ovaries. Vegetables no larger than 6-8 cm in size - pickles and gherkins - are collected from the bushes. They are ideal for canning.
The stem of bouquet shoots is short and almost invisible. In the axil of the leaf, only a super-bunch with a large number of female flowers is visible.
The photo shows what super bunched cucumbers look like.
Review of bunch varieties and hybrids
When choosing seeds of bunched cucumbers, pay attention to the type of pubescence, the shape and length of the fruit, taste, features of agricultural technology, sowing time, type of plant branching. The result of cultivation depends on this.
Bushes with weak branching require minimal labor for care and pinching. The crops are characterized by early ripening and favorable yield of fruits in the first months of harvest.
Vigorous plants with powerful branching require regular shaping, but they are more resistant to bad weather and diseases, and bear fruit until frost.
The table below summarizes the main characteristics of bunch varieties and hybrids of cucumbers for open ground. All of them have a parthenocarpic type of pollination, except for the Alligator - it is bee-pollinated.
| Name | Characteristics | Fruit |
| Hummingbird f1
|
Early hybrid (40–45 days). The bushes are weak-growing with weak branching, forming 4-5 ovaries per node. Productivity per 1 m² is 11–13 kg. | Fusiform green. The skin has frequent tubercles and white pubescence. Length – 6–8 cm, weight – 60–80 g. |
| Tom Thumb f1 | Ultra-early hybrid (37–39 days). The bushes are powerful, highly branched. The number of ovaries is 3–6. Productivity per 1 m² is 10–13 kg. | Cylindrical, green in color. The mounds are large, white-spiked. Length – 6–10 cm, weight – 50–65 g. |
| Prestige f1 | Mid-early hybrid (43–45 days). Branching type: medium. There are 3-4 ovaries in one node. Productivity per 1 m² is 24-25 kg. | Cylindrical, green, with large tubercles and white spines. The pulp is dense, without bitterness. Length – 6–8 cm, weight – 70–90 g. |
| Robin Hood f1 | Early hybrid (41–43 days). The bushes are medium-sized with a weak type of branching. 4-5 ovaries are formed in one node. Productivity per 1 m² is 6-7 kg. | Cylindrical, length - 4-5 cm, weight - 45-55 g.The skin is green with white stripes and small bumps, black-spiked. |
| Bun charm f1 | Early hybrid (40–45 days), medium-branched bushes. There are 3–7 ovaries in the nodes. Productivity per 1 m² is 38–44 kg. | Cylindrical light green with small tubercles. Length - 8-9 cm. Weight - 80-90 g. |
| King of the bed f1 | Mid-season hybrid (45–45 days). Bushes of medium vigor with weak branching. There are 3–5 ovaries in the nodes. Productivity per 1 m² is 11-12 kg. | Cylindrical emerald with light stripes. Length - 9-11 cm, weight - 80-90 g. The tubercles are small, the pubescence is whitish. |
| Ginga f1 | Mid-season, mid-climbing hybrid. Harvesting begins 45–50 days after planting. Productivity per 1 m² is 4–7 kg. | Cylindrical, slightly ribbed, emerald color. Length – 9–12 cm, weight – 80–90 g. |
| Alligator f1 | Mid-early, medium-climbing hybrid (43–54 days). There are 1–3 ovaries in the nodes. Bee pollinated. Productivity per 1 m² is 9–12 kg. | Dark green, unusual elongated cylindrical shape. Length - up to 40 cm, weight - 300–310 g. The skin is finely tuberculate with prickly white spines. |
| Balcony f1 | Early ripening hybrid (39–42 days). Bushes with a medium type of branching. 3–6 ovaries are formed in the nodes. Productivity per 1 m² is 10-11 kg. | Cylindrical, green in color. The tubercles are small, white-spiked. Length - 8-9 cm, weight - 90-95 g. |
| Blizzard f1 | Ultra-early hybrid (40–43 days). The bushes are medium-sized with weak branching. There are 4-5 ovaries in the nodes. Productivity per 1 m² is 15-16 kg. | Cylindrical, dark green. The skin is dense, coarsely tuberous with white pubescence. The fruits are short, length – 6–8 cm, weight – 72–78 g. |
| Detinets f1 | Early hybrid (40–45 days). Bushes of medium height, medium branching. There are 4-5 ovaries in a node. Productivity per 1 m² is 14-15 kg. | Cylindrical, green in color with short stripes. Length - 10-11 cm, weight - 90-130 g. |
| f1 champion | Mid-season hybrid (50–55 days). The bushes are compact, medium branched. The number of ovaries is 2–4. Productivity per 1 m² is 23–25 kg. | Cylindrical, leveled, green with large tubercles and white spines. Length – 8–10 cm, weight – 80–90 g. |
| Avalanche f1 | Early hybrid (38–42 days). The bushes are medium-sized with an average type of branching. The number of ovaries is 4-5. Productivity per 1 m² is 15-16 kg. | Green in color, cylindrical, black-spiked. Length - 7-8 cm, weight - 60-70 g. |
| Lisette f1 | Early hybrid (38–42 days). The bushes are powerful, medium-sized, medium-climbing. There are 3–8 ovaries in the nodes. Productivity per 1 m² is 8–11 kg. | Cylindrical with white edges and frequent tubercles. Length – 6–8 cm, weight – 90–100 g. |
| Dwarf f1 | Early hybrid (40–45 days). The bushes are highly branched. 3-4 ovaries are formed in the sinus. Productivity per 1 m² is 9-10 kg. | Cylindrical, dark green, medium lumpy, with white edges. Length – 6–8 cm, weight – 80–90 g. |
| Chistye Prudy f1 | An early ripening hybrid (39–42 days) with average growth vigor and branching. The number of ovaries is 3–7. Productivity per 1 m² is 9–13 kg. | Oval, green, with short stripes. The tubercles are medium-sized, the pubescence is white. Length - 10-12 cm, weight -110-120 g. |
| Ant f1 | Early ripening hybrid (37-38 days). The bushes are medium-sized, weakly branched. The number of ovaries is 3–6. Productivity per 1 m² is 10–12 kg. | Oval, green in color, with stripes up to mid-length. The mounds are large, the edges are white. Length – 8–11 cm, weight – 100–110 g. |
| Swallowtail f1 | Early hybrid (38–40 days). The bushes are low-growing with weak branching. The number of ovaries in one node is 4-5. Productivity per 1 m² is 13-14 kg. | Fusiform, short, green. The tubercles are medium-sized, the edges are white. Length – 6–9 cm, weight – 60–110 g. |
Reviews
Beam and super-beam cucumbers are popular among summer residents due to their early ripening, excellent fruit taste and easy care.
Valentina, Voronezh: “I have been cultivating cucumbers for more than 10 years. I plant mainly parthenocarpics with bunch fruiting in open ground. One of the best hybrids for me is Thumb Boy. In the summer I live in the country and harvest every other day. There are always a lot of cucumbers, the size is the same. The fruits are aromatic, crispy, and not bitter. Easy care: drip watering, feeding mineral compositions, molding with a garter to the trellis.”
Vladislav, Orel: “I grow bunched cucumbers both in the greenhouse and in the garden. I come to the dacha on weekends. I harvest in buckets. My favorites are Blizzard and King of the Garden. Installed a drip irrigation system on the site. I fertilize with complex liquid mineral preparations.”
Conclusion
Bunch varieties and hybrids of cucumbers are a real godsend for those who do not have the opportunity to plant plantations on their plots. From 3 to 12 ovaries are formed in one node. Cucumbers ripen at the same time, most of the harvest is given in the first 2 months. Productivity depends on the branching of the plant. 30–35 fruits are collected from one bush.
Beam and superbeam cucumbers have a predominantly parthenocarpic type of pollination. The fruits do not become bitter, do not overgrow, remain fresh for a long time, and are suitable for fresh consumption and canning.