Description of the cucumber "Mamenkin Lyubimchik F1", cultivation and care of the bushes

The Mama'kin Lyubimchik F1 cucumber was created by breeders by crossing two varieties. The plant produces well both in open ground and in a greenhouse. When propagating the hybrid outdoors, horizontal cultivation in raised beds is used. When growing the plants in a greenhouse, vertical cultivation is used to maximize the number of plants in the available space. The hybrid can be grown on a balcony, as it does not require insect pollination.

Briefly about the plant and its fruits

The characteristics and description of the variety are as follows:

1. After planting the seeds in the ground, the finished product can be obtained in 45-50 days.
2. The bush is short. The hybrid is characterized by a small number of lateral shoots. The bushes have few leaves, so the plants do not interfere with each other.
3. The plant has female flowers. The ovaries form in a cluster.
4. The cucumber described here is cylindrical in shape. The fruit weighs no more than 90 g and is 80 to 100 mm long. It is light green in color and slightly ribbed. The surface of the fruit is covered with white, rather sharp spines. On the flower side of the cucumber, there are light stripes that do not extend to the center of the fruit.
5. There are no seed chambers or other voids inside the cucumber.

Gardener reviews indicate that Mama's Favorite yields 10-13 kg per square meter. The hybrid is resistant to most diseases common to cucumbers.

The fruits can be eaten fresh or added to salads. Cucumbers are pickled or salted for winter storage. Because the fruit is resilient to long-distance transport, it is grown commercially.

Sowing hybrid seeds

First, the seed stock is disinfected with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, aloe juice, or honey. After this, the seeds are germinated until roots appear. The largest specimens are selected and then planted in individual peat pots. Water them with warm water and feed them with complex fertilizers or organic matter.

Grown seedlings are transplanted to open ground at the end of May. When planting seeds in a greenhouse, this period shifts to the end of April. When planting in beds, ensure daytime temperatures do not fall below 22°C. If there is a risk of nighttime temperatures dropping below 16°C, it is recommended to cover the bushes with warming material in open areas and install heating devices in unheated greenhouses.

Mama's Favorite loves warmth and good light. Therefore, choose a draft-free location for planting. The bushes are planted at a 0.5 x 0.5 m size.

At home, this hybrid is planted on windowsills, balconies, and loggias. In these conditions, cucumbers grow year-round, as long as the soil isn't overwatered, there are no drafts, and there's adequate lighting. For indoor cucumbers, drying out the soil poses a major threat. The plants become diseased and produce few fruits.

Caring for bushes

Plants should be watered 2-3 times a week with warm water that has been left to stand in the sun. Use moderate amounts of water. Care should be taken to avoid water getting on the leaves, as this will burn the bushes, which will impact the yield. During severe drought, increase the frequency of watering to every day. Avoid allowing the soil around the hybrid's roots to dry out, as this will result in a loss of up to 40% of the yield. During rainy weather, reduce watering to once a week.

To prevent plants from shading each other, it's recommended to remove any leaves that interfere with neighboring plants. Cucumbers should be fertilized at least four times per season. Initially, use organic fertilizers (manure, peat, chicken manure). Then, add a small amount of nitrogen and potassium mixtures. During flowering, the bushes are given more phosphorus fertilizer.

If the farmer has complex mixtures containing nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, the hybrid can be fertilized three times per season. This is initially done 10 days after planting the seedlings. Subsequent fertilizing is done during flowering and fruit formation.

It's recommended to loosen the soil twice a week to better aerate the cucumber root system. This will accelerate plant growth and eliminate the risk of root parasites destroying the plants' roots.

Weeding will prevent the hybrid from becoming infected with certain fungal and bacterial diseases. This procedure is performed once every 12-15 days. This kills some pests that infest weeds and then spread to crops.

The gardener must carefully monitor the appearance of various garden pests on the plot. If dangerous insects are detected, they are exterminated using chemicals or traditional plant protection methods.