Mid-season, bee-pollinated cucumber “Rodnichok” from Moldavian breeders
The hybrid Rodnichok was bred more than 40 years ago, but is still one of the most popular crops on the domestic market. Breeders annually create dozens of new varieties and hybrids, but Rodnichok is in no way inferior to them in terms of characteristics and properties.
Description of the hybrid
The Rodnichok cucumber was registered in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 1979, although the application was submitted several years earlier. This hybrid has strong immunity to powdery mildew and other dangerous diseases of the pumpkin family.
For reference. The hybrid is successfully grown in open ground, greenhouses and under film cover throughout Russia.
Distinctive features
The main stem of the bush reaches a length of 3 m. At the same time, the lateral shoots are poorly developed. Over the entire growing season, 4-5 vines are formed. Each node produces 2-3 flowers (mostly of the female type), from which fruits are formed. The fontanelle, like most cucumbers, has a weak root system.
Composition, properties, benefits, calorie content
Nutritional value per 100 g is:
- 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 contains natural organic acids and has amazing properties:
- removes salts from the body and joints;
- flushes out free radicals;
- removes cholesterol plaques from blood vessels;
- dissolves sand and kidney stones;
- improves blood properties.
Cucumbers are a refreshing, nutritious and versatile addition to any diet.
Characteristics
The fontanelle produces beautiful fruits of light green color with white stripes on the sides and rare black thorns. The length of cylindrical greens is 9-12 cm, weight 90-100 g. The smooth fruits have an excellent presentation, which allows farmers to successfully sell these vegetables.
Bitterness There is no taste, the flesh is juicy and crispy. The seeds in vegetables are small, almost invisible, the shell is thin but durable. The fruits are stored for a long time and tolerate transportation well without loss of external and taste characteristics.
Fruiting is extended, vegetables ripen 50-55 days after germination. In the south of the country, the first cucumbers are harvested at the end of June, in other regions - at the beginning of July.
If you follow agrotechnical rules, the plants will give a rich harvest. When growing Rodnichok cucumbers in open ground from 1 sq. m, vegetable growers harvest 5-7 kg of crop, and when the crop grows in greenhouse conditions - up to 17 kg.
Important! The Rodnichok cucumber belongs to a hybrid type of plant, but pollination of the crop occurs with the help of insects.
How to grow your own
The time for sowing seeds in the ground or for seedlings depends on the method of cultivation (in open or closed ground conditions), the climate of the area, and the weather..
In central Russia, seed or seedlings are planted in an open garden bed in early June. Cucumber seedlings are planted in the greenhouse two weeks earlier.
Sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out two months before these dates (approximately at the beginning of May).The soil temperature for planting should be at least +16...+18 °C in protected or closed ground.
In the southern regions, seeds are sown directly into the ground in early to mid-April. For this, the soil must warm up to at least +14 °C.
Important! Seeds are not planted before the onset of warm weather - the grains will simply die without sprouting.
If the weather is changeable, the seeds are planted at several times, but no later than mid-summer. Fruiting will be extended.
Planting by seedlings
To obtain an earlier harvest, cucumbers are grown in seedlings, but some vegetable growers plant the seeds directly in the beds.
Cucumber seedlings need fertile and neutral soil. Farmers purchase soil mixture at a gardening store or prepare it themselves by mixing humus, turf and manure in a ratio of 7:1:2.
Before planting, seed material is disinfected in a 1% solution of potassium permanganate (if the grains have not been treated by the manufacturer), then washed under running water.
Next, the seeds are germinated in damp cotton cloth until grain-sized sprouts appear. The gauze is periodically moistened, but the seeds are not allowed to float in the water. This procedure is carried out to ensure the germination of seeds and to obtain early shoots.
When the grains hatch, they are planted in individual containers of 1-2 seeds to a depth of 1.5-2 cm. After some time, the weak sprout is removed. A container for growing seedlings should be at least 0.4-0.5 liters in volume. It will grow in it until planting. Picking is not recommended.
The container with the crops is placed in a warm place with an air temperature of +20...+25 °C and covered with film or transparent glass to create greenhouse conditions.When shoots appear, the container is moved to a cooler place with an air temperature of +20...+22 °C during the day, and at night +15...+16 °C. Water the seedlings in the morning with water at room temperature.
After 20-25 days, the plants are planted in a permanent place. Overgrown seedlings will take root less well in a new location. A week before planting, the plants are hardened off. To do this, the bushes are taken out onto the balcony or placed near an open window, but so that there is no draft.
Direct sowing into the ground
Choose a place for growing cucumbers that is sunny and windless. The site should be free of stagnant water in rainy weather, as this causes fungal diseases, which significantly reduces yield.
In hot southern regions, planting is allowed in partial shade. To cultivate cucumbers, follow the rules of crop rotation. Zelentsy are not grown repeatedly in the same place or after melons. Good predecessors are tomatoes, peas, potatoes and corn.
The soil for cucumbers should be light and nutritious.. The soil is prepared in the fall or two weeks before planting. To do this, organic matter is added to it (turf, peat, compost, manure, humus). Wood ash and mineral fertilizers, such as Superphosphate, are also added to the soil.
On a note. To be sure, many vegetable growers disinfect the soil with a solution of copper sulfate (1 teaspoon per 10 liters of water).
Further care of plants
Growing cucumber requires compliance with agrotechnical rules. Vegetable growers carry out regular watering, apply fertilizers, remove weeds, take preventive measures against diseases and pests. When the first symptoms are detected, folk or traditional remedies are used.
In open ground, grooves are dug near the beds. Humidification is carried out with warm water in prepared trenches. The soil is moistened as it dries. Plants indoors are watered regularly. To do this, for 1 sq. m use 4-5 liters of water at room temperature. The soil is kept moist so that air permeability is not impaired.
When buds appear, the crop is watered once every 2-3 days. The amount of water per square meter is increased by 5 liters. After flowering, ovaries are formed. During this period, plants are moistened every other day. After watering, the soil around the bushes is loosened and weeds are removed at the same time.
On a note. In hot weather, the glass of the greenhouse is watered with a chalk solution so that the crop does not get burned and does not wither.
When the bushes have 3-4 leaves, the plants are fertilized with organic matter. Next are cucumbers feed every 15 days with complex fertilizers. For this purpose, special drugs are used, for example, “Good Power”. Fontana f1 responds well to nettle or yeast infusion. During the formation of ovaries, fertilizers with potassium and phosphorus are added.
When the crop begins to bear fruit, the plants are fed with an infusion of green grass or mineral fertilizers.
Features of cultivation and possible difficulties
fontanel form only when grown on a trellis. The main shoot is pinched when it reaches the top row, and the side branches are pinched above the third node. Otherwise, growing this hybrid is no different from cultivating other cucumbers.
Typical diseases and pests
The hybrid has strong immunity to diseases and pests. The appearance of many diseases and hostile insects is most often associated with errors in care.
Low temperature, high humidity and stuffiness in the greenhouse, watering the crop with cold water, temperature changes, disruption of crop rotation - all this negatively affects the growth and development of cucumbers and leads to the appearance of pathogenic fungi and bacteria. To prevent such troubles, Vegetable growers must take the following preventive measures:
- Before planting, seeds are disinfected.
- Follow the rules of crop rotation.
- When growing cucumber crops in greenhouse conditions, the soil is disinfected once a year and the top layer of soil is changed every two years.
- In the fall, after harvesting, they get rid of plant residues and weeds.
- The greenhouse structure and equipment are disinfected.
- Make sure that the soil contains microorganisms that suppress the development of pathogens. To do this, add organic fertilizers in the form of humus, compost, and also spray the soil with a useful infusion of nettles.
- Water the plants with settled or rainwater at room temperature, avoiding stagnation of water.
- Be sure to tie up the cucumber shoots.
When the first signs of diseases or insect pests appear, the bushes are treated. Bordeaux mixture is used against most fungal diseases. Pests are destroyed using folk remedies. To do this, use garlic or tobacco infusion, sprinkle the plants and the soil around them with wood ash. Marigolds, calendula or mint are also planted next to cucumbers. The pungent odor repels insects.
Harvesting and application
Fruiting of cucumber crop is extended. It begins after about 50 days. Harvesting is carried out every 2 days.
Made from cucumbers delicious summer salads, winter preservation And salting.
Advantages and disadvantages
Cucumber Rodnichok f1 is liked by summer residents for its many positive qualities. The advantages of this hybrid include:
- strong immunity to diseases and pests;
- planting and care do not require much effort;
- long fruiting;
- the crop grows well both in a greenhouse and in open ground, even in small shades;
- high productivity;
- versatility of using vegetables;
- excellent taste;
- attractive presentation;
- transportability and long-term storage without loss of external and taste characteristics.
The hybrid has very few disadvantages. These include:
- decrease in yield indicators in open ground;
- the need for pollination;
- the impossibility of using seeds from your own harvest, since this is a hybrid, not a variety.
Rodnichok has more positive qualities than disadvantages, which is why many vegetable growers prefer this particular hybrid.
Reviews
Experienced summer residents evaluate Rodnichok positively. Cucumbers are actively grown in the vast majority of regions of the country.
Svetlana, Saratov: “I have been involved in vegetable growing for a long time. I always grow new varieties and hybrids. Last year I tried to plant a cucumber called Rodnichok. The fruits grow beautiful, as in the photo of the package with seeds, long and weighty, and most importantly, tasty. I fed the crop, as they say, “from the heart”; in the end there was so much harvest that I didn’t know what to do with it. She treated relatives and neighbors with vegetables. This hybrid is probably just right for implementation.”
Vasily, Cheboksary: “I have been growing hybrid cucumbers for 7 years now. Most of all I liked Rodnichok f1. To obtain a bountiful harvest, I took care of the plants daily.The main thing is to ensure that the plants have enough moisture. Otherwise, vegetables may develop bitterness. I grow the crop in greenhouse conditions. The fontanelle practically does not get sick. The fruits are very tasty. Overall, I like the hybrid and will continue to grow it.”
Conclusion
The fontanel has gained great popularity among vegetable growers. The culture has strong immunity to most diseases, which greatly simplifies the cultivation of these vegetables. The hybrid is cultivated both indoors and outdoors. The fruits have excellent taste and presentation, which makes it possible to use cucumbers for sale. The fontanelle does not require special attention to care - even a novice gardener can cope with its cultivation.
You will learn more about the hybrid Rodnichok from the following video: