Description of the Babushkin Sekret f1 cucumber and greenhouse cultivation guidelines

The Babushkin Sekret f1 cucumber was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 2015, and gardeners have come to appreciate the taste and benefits of these early-ripening cucumbers. This parthenocarpic variety is grown not only by private gardeners but also by industrial enterprises.

Description of the variety

The Babushkin Sekret f1 cucumber is grown in greenhouses, as pollination by bees is not necessary. The fruit develops naturally in greenhouses, at home on windowsills, and on balconies, and climate conditions do not affect this process. In the north of the country, cucumbers are grown only indoors.

If the weather is favorable, the seeds are planted in open areas of land.
Cucumber Babushkin Secret f1 has the following characteristics:

1. Gardeners can harvest their first fruits as early as 45-50 days after the growing season begins. Many gardeners note in their reviews that if the weather is favorable for cucumber development, they begin to bear fruit as early as 40 days after sowing.
2. The bushes grow to medium height and are characterized by medium weaving.
3. The plant belongs to the indeterminate class, which promotes continuous fruiting throughout the season.
4. The cucumber variety Babushkin Secret is a cluster variety, meaning that several ovaries form simultaneously in the leaf axil.
5. The fruits ripen small in size, only 10-12 cm in length.
6. The weight of one cucumber is 80-90 g.
7. The cucumbers are cylindrical in shape.
8. The surface of the fruit is covered with large tubercles with white spines.
9. The pulp inside the fruit is dense and not bitter.

The Babushkin Sekret f1 cucumber is picked from the bushes at the pickle stage, which by this time reaches 4-5 cm in size. These fruits are easy to preserve and use in various treats and salads.

Advantages of the variety:

1. The Babushkin Sekret f1 cucumber produces a high yield. A plot of 1 m² typically yields 6 to 8 kg of tasty and juicy fruits. Under greenhouse conditions and with proper care, the yield reaches 15-16 kg.
2. The bushes do not produce empty flowers.
3. The variety has excellent taste qualities.
4. Babushkin Secret cucumbers are versatile. They can be canned or eaten fresh.
5. The variety is resistant to many diseases that affect different types of cucumbers, and to temperature fluctuations.
6. They demonstrate excellent shelf life and can be transported over long distances.
7. If cucumber bushes were pollinated by bees, the fruits may taste slightly bitter and become deformed.

Planting and growing the variety

Gardeners' reviews indicate that it's very rare to harvest cucumber seeds, as they fail to form. If the bushes are planted outdoors, bees may pollinate the female flowers. In this case, the fruits will contain seeds, but they won't produce a high-quality harvest when sown.

The basic rules for planting and growing include:

1. The area where the seed will be planted should have turf mixed with humus and sand.
2. Cucumbers are not planted in places where tomatoes and cabbage were previously grown.
3. The air temperature in the greenhouse and in the open ground should not be below +15ºС.
4. Cultivation is carried out using seedlings or seeds, which demonstrate a high germination rate after sowing. The main thing is to plant the seeds 1.5-2 cm deep in the soil.
5. The soil for planting should be moist, loose and contain a lot of oxygen.

For growing in greenhouses, it is necessary to follow these recommendations:

1. Prepare seedlings.
2. Transplant into greenhouse soil when 4-5 true leaves have formed.
3. For a heated greenhouse, transplanting into the ground is carried out already in February.
4. When transplanting, the distance between the holes should be 30 to 50 cm, and between the rows, 120 cm. The frequency of planting depends on whether gardeners leave side shoots on the bushes or not. If they do, the bushes can be planted closer together.

Lateral ovaries are left in if cool weather prevails in the growing region. This allows for a larger harvest, although the fruiting period is extended. For gardeners who want to get cucumbers earlier, it is recommended to form a central stem, removing all side shoots.

For watering, use warm water, at least 25°C. Water the roots 2-3 times a week. Avoid allowing water to drip onto the leaves or stagnate under the bushes.

Regular loosening of the soil is necessary to ensure oxygen reaches the root system. Weed control protects the plants from diseases and pests.

Plants are tied to trellises, as stems can reach 2 m in greenhouses and 1.5-1.7 m in open areas. Harvesting is important to allow time for other fruit sets to form and develop.