Cucumber hybrid "Dirigent f1": high taste and yield

For pickled cucumber lovers, breeders have specially developed finely tuberculated cucumber varieties. The F1 hybrid "Conductor," a Dutch selection, is popular. Easy to grow and care for, this cucumber's characteristics make it suitable for planting outdoors. Gardeners' reviews are positive, praising the variety for its excellent pickling properties and resistance to fungal infections.

Description of the hybrid Conductor F1

This early cucumber was developed by Rijk Zwaan Welver GmbH (Netherlands) and is intended for pickling and preserving. An application for approval was filed in 2006, and the variety was added to the State Register in 2011. It is recommended for cultivation in the Central Region, although it is grown throughout the region.

This parthenocarpic cucumber does not require pollination. It is a first-generation hybrid, designated F1 in the description. It is characterized by vigorous growth and moderate branching of the lateral shoots. It produces predominantly female flowers.

The foliage is medium, with small, rich green leaf blades. The central stem reaches 1.8-2 meters in length. One to three ovaries typically form in the axils, and the cucumbers tend to form clusters.

The cucumbers are short, cylindrical in shape, up to 10-12 cm long. They do not exceed 14 cm in length and do not yellow. The thick skin is green, with faint whitish spots and stripes. The pubescence is dense and white. Cucumbers weigh 68-80 g. The surface is bumpy, with a "shirt" type called German. These cucumbers are suitable for pickling and canning. Unlike genotypes with a smooth surface, as well as cucumbers with large tubercles, the German "shirt" variety has small tubercles and spines, with the spines even located between the tubercles. This creates the impression of a fluffy, slightly prickly fruit.

The first cucumbers ripen in 40-42 days, and the fruiting period is prolonged. Cucumbers are harvested at the pickle and gherkin stage. Inside the pulp are small seed chambers, the seeds in the milky stage of ripeness, undeveloped.

This variety tends to form small clusters of ovaries, but regular feeding and watering are necessary to reach their full potential. According to gardeners, the fruits are delicious, crisp, and have a pleasant cucumber aroma. The hybrid produces fruit consistently, without any spurts. When stored properly, the cucumbers have a good shelf life and are suitable for long-distance transport.

Features of agricultural technology

Conductor is grown by sowing seeds directly into the ground (in the south) or by seedlings. With the latter method, the grown seedlings are planted in a greenhouse or in the ground under a covering material.

Sowing cucumbers and growing seedlings

Late April is the perfect time to sow cucumber seeds for seedlings. If you plan to plant cucumbers in garden beds, the timeframe should be extended to early May (this applies to temperate climates). Seedlings should be strong, with two to three well-developed leaves.

In the Urals, Siberia, and Northwest regions, sowing seeds is not done before early May. Allow about a week for germination, and the seedlings are ready for planting after 23-26 days. When growing seedlings, maintain a stable temperature of around 20ºC, avoiding sudden changes in temperature, and ensure adequate lighting and watering.

The crop doesn't transplant well, so it's best to sow it directly into the ground in individual containers. It's convenient to use pots or peat pellets for cucumbers, which are immediately placed in the hole when planting. Seedlings are also grown in cups (plastic or paper) so that when transplanting, the plants can be carefully removed along with the root ball.

Fill pots and cups with a nutrient-rich mixture. You can prepare the mixture yourself or buy ready-made soils from specialty stores. Prepare the soil mixture in advance. You will need:

• leaf or sod land;
• humus;
• rotted sawdust or calcined river sand.

Seedling stores sell specialized and universal soils. Peat mixtures alone are not suitable; humus and rooting agents (sand, vermiculite, perlite) must be added. Fertilizers include wood ash, superphosphate, or complex fertilizers.

Water the seedlings moderately, lightly misting the soil and not allowing it to dry out. Fertilize them 1-2 times and harden them off in the fresh air a week before transplanting. Hardened seedlings adapt better to new conditions, develop faster, and begin to bloom.

Caring for cucumbers

Planting is recommended when stable warm weather sets in. The soil should warm to approximately 15ºC…16ºC. In unheated plastic greenhouses in the temperate zone, planting is recommended in mid- to late May, and in raised beds in early June.

It's advisable to choose a sunny location for cucumbers, taking into account previous crops. Avoid growing hybrids in the same location for several years, as this can lead to disease and reduced yields.

If it's not possible to rotate the greenhouse for cucumbers each year (for example, swapping it with tomatoes), remove the top layer of soil and disinfect the soil. To cultivate and disinfect the soil, sow green manure (vetch, phacelia, oats, and mustard) in the fall.

Trellis with wire or rope are prepared in advance, and planting holes are marked. Conductor grows well in beds spread out. The hybrid's planting pattern is 2.5-3 plants per square meter in a greenhouse; in open ground, 4 plants per square meter are acceptable.

The main agricultural techniques are standard and include:

• watering;
• weeding;
• loosening;
• top dressing;
• prevention of diseases and pests.

Irrigation

The plants are demanding in terms of moisture and do not tolerate either insufficient water or excessive watering. Watering should be adjusted according to soil drying times and weather conditions. In garden beds, care is simplified by precipitation; if it rains regularly, cucumbers do not need watering. Approximate watering rates are: 6-8 liters per square meter before flowering; during the fruiting stage, apply 5-6 liters per plant under mature bushes. After watering, loosen the soil and weed thoroughly.

Warm, settled water is used for irrigation. Plants respond well to mulching between rows with hay, straw, and compost. When the compost has decomposed, fresh mulch is applied, and plant residues are incorporated into the soil. Mulch prevents the soil from drying out, weeds from growing, and a soil crust from forming.

Top dressing

For demanding cucumbers, organic and mineral fertilizers are used, as well as traditional recipes. During the first stage, the hybrid requires nitrogen to promote the growth of green mass. To achieve this, water the crop with a solution of mullein diluted 1:20 with bird droppings.

Potassium and phosphorus are added to the fertilizer during the flowering and fruiting stages. Ready-to-use fertilizers containing essential macro- and microelements (such as Ideal, Agricola, and Kristalon) are suitable for feeding the crop. Complete feeding promote rapid formation of ovaries.

Approximate fertilizer application schedule:

• 15-18 days after planting cucumber seedlings in a permanent place - for the first time;
• the second time - at the flowering stage;
• then every 10-14 days.

Gardeners' favorite folk remedies:

• wood ash infusion;
• yeast solution (use dry or raw product);
• boric acid solution.

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To prevent diseases, greenhouse cucumbers are treated with biofungicides, including whey with added iodine and a soap solution. To increase yield, plants are sprayed with Zavyaz.

Plant formation

When planting in open ground, do not train the plants. When growing in greenhouses or on trellises, regularly trim the side shoots.

• at the bottom of the plant, 3-4 nodes with ovaries are removed along the stem;
• pinch off the side shoots, leaving a leaf and ovaries;
• pinch the main stem by wrapping it several times around the trellis wire.

Branching is average, and lateral shoots grow slowly, so shaping doesn't pose any particular problems. The key is timing. pinching.

Harvesting

The Conductor hybrid produces fruit for a long time, so be prepared to harvest cucumbers regularly. Pick the fruit daily, as even slight delays can reduce the overall yield. The cucumbers don't overripe or turn yellow, and retain their excellent flavor, but other fruits on the bush may stunt their growth.

The cucumbers are suitable for refrigeration and long-distance transportation. This hybrid is prized by farmers growing produce for sale.

Advantages and disadvantages

This Dutch company's products have been renowned in Europe for over 80 years. Their high-quality seeds are certified, and gardeners report excellent germination rates. Their cucumber hybrids Karaoke, Kibria, and Trilogy, as well as the cucumber Conductor, are in high demand.

Among the advantages of the hybrid:

• early ripening;
• excellent taste;
• high commercial properties;
• the versatility of cucumbers, although many gardeners grow Conductor specifically for pickling;
• the presence of parthenocarpy;
• high immunity to traditional fungal diseases of the crop (olive spot, root rot, downy mildew).

Disadvantages: seeds cannot be collected for subsequent sowing. Dirigent is a first-generation F1 hybrid; the seeds in the cucumbers are underdeveloped and unsuitable for harvesting and subsequent sowing.

Reviews

Julia, Krasnodar Krai

I like Dutch cucumbers more than others. 100% germination, resistance to all diseases, early ripening—they have it all. I've been planting Conductor for a long time, but sometimes I can't get seeds and have to supplement with other hybrids. It's a tasty and productive variety.

Ivan, Liski

I grow cucumbers in a garden bed, without any special farming techniques. I feed them with cow manure and ash, and don't use any chemicals. I rotate the planting sites every year, so my yield is always good. The cucumbers are used for pickling and marinades. My wife makes excellent canned cucumbers, which produce crispy and delicious cucumbers.

Ksenia, Leningrad Oblast

Dutch seeds almost always yield a good harvest. I grow our cucumbers too, but imported ones are always fruitful. I bought Dirigent seeds for the first time about eight years ago, and ever since I've seen them, I've always bought them. They're more expensive than Russian cucumbers, but I'm confident in the results. I grow them in a bed, cover them with agro-material as autumn approaches, and the plants don't mind any cold snaps until autumn.

The hybrid cucumber, Conductor F1, has proven itself a popular choice among Russian gardeners. The high seed prices are fully offset by the high yields and minimal maintenance required.