Description of the Athlete cucumber and growing the hybrid

A popular cucumber among vegetable growers, the Athlete f1 variety is intended for greenhouse cultivation. This hybrid is included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of the Russian Federation. Cucumbers of this variety are distinguished by their flavor and high productivity, and are considered one of the most sought-after varieties of the crop.

Advantages of a hybrid

The bee-pollinated cucumber variety Athlete f1 was bred by Moscow agrobiologists. This hybrid has a medium fruiting period; the first fruits can be harvested 50-55 days after germination. This variety was developed by the company Gavrish and is intended for cultivation in protected ground.

This is an indeterminate, vigorous, generative plant. The leaves are large, green, smooth, and irregularly ribbed. The main stem reaches 3-3.5 m in length.

This variety is recommended for winter-spring cultivation. The hybrid is resistant to light deficiency and fluctuations.

The main advantage of Atlet cucumbers is their shade tolerance. Exposure to direct sunlight negatively affects the fruit's flavor, causing it to become bitter.

Flowers with a mixed flowering pattern. Several ovaries form at each node of the vine. Ripe cucumbers reach a length of 18-20 cm, while mature cucumbers reach up to 30 cm. The diameter of the fruit is 4-4.5 cm. Each cucumber weighs 180-200 g. The cucumbers are cylindrical, slightly thickened near the base, and have dense, crisp flesh.

The surface of the fruit is large, dark green, and has bumps, white spines, and light stripes extending up to one-third of the way down the fruit. The Atlet cucumber variety is prone to overripening, so to ensure uniform ripening, it is recommended to harvest the cucumbers promptly.

When grown in glass greenhouses on an industrial scale, the average hybrid yield is 32.7 kg per square meter; in farms and garden plots, yields reach 25-30 kg per unit area. The marketable yield is 88%.

In cooking, cucumbers are used fresh to make salads.

Among the main advantages of the variety:

• high commercial qualities;
• possibility of long-distance transportation;
• excellent taste.

This variety is resistant to powdery mildew. To prevent fungal diseases, fungicide treatment is recommended. When using fungicides, adhere to the recommended application rates and application timing.

Cucumber growing techniques

Reviews from vegetable growers cultivating this hybrid indicate that harvest yield depends on bush formation. To increase the variety's productivity when grown on a trellis, it is recommended to completely remove side shoots.

In the next 5 axils, the stems are pinched at intervals of every 1 ovary and 1 leaf. In the next 5 axils, the interval between ovaries on the lateral shoots is increased to 2 leaves. After this, all lateral shoots are pinched back to 3 leaves and 1 fruit, reaching the level of the horizontal trellis.

The main stem is wrapped twice around the trellis and lowered downward. All lateral shoots forming around the horizontal trellis are removed to stimulate the growth of the lateral stems. This training method stimulates root growth, which ensures abundant and long-lasting fruiting.

When cultivating this variety on an industrial scale, plants are trained into a single stem, which produces 9-15 nodes with female flowering. To ensure their maturation, the crop requires fertilization with mineral and organic fertilizers.

The hybrid's description indicates that it can be grown in small-volume hydroponics (artificial substrate). The planting density is 2.5-3 plants per square meter.

Recommendations for cultivation

There are two methods for growing the Athlete cucumber variety. When using seedlings, the seeds are sown in individual peat pots 30 days before the expected planting date.

Before planting, soak the seeds in a solution of potassium permanganate and peat hydrohumate for cucumbers. Plant the seeds at a depth of 1-2 cm in soil pre-moistened with warm water.

For normal plant development, maintaining an optimal air temperature of +21°C is required. Plants require regular watering with warm water.

Seeds can also be planted directly into the soil in a permanent location. Germinated seeds are sown in soil warmed to 12°C. Insufficient heat can cause the seedlings to freeze. The recommended seeding depth is no more than 2 cm.

For planting, choose a site on level ground. The soil should be loose and retain moisture and nutrients well. For fertilizing, it's recommended to dig a trench next to the bed and add organic fertilizer.

When planting cucumbers, it's important to consider crop rotation. The best predecessors for cucumbers are beans, tomatoes, onions, and celery. Cucumber care involves choosing a cultivation method. The trellis method requires the installation of supports.

To ensure normal cucumber growth, weeds must be removed and the soil loosened regularly. The crop requires high soil moisture levels. Therefore, drip irrigation is recommended when growing cucumbers in a greenhouse.