A catalog of late-ripening cucumber varieties for open beds

In their rush to harvest early, gardeners often overlook late-season cucumber varieties. But their fruits have a distinctive flavor and are ideal for pickling, preserving, and salting.

What are these?

One of the decisive factors for gardeners when choosing a cucumber variety or hybrid to plant is the crop's ripening time. This is especially important for gardeners living in temperate climates. Short, cool summers make it difficult to harvest for a long time, so it's no surprise that early and mid-season cucumbers are gardeners' favorites.

There are three groups according to the start date of harvest:

• early (greens are picked after 32-42 days);
• mid-season (43-50 days);
• late (over 50 days).

The description on the seed packet indicates which group the variety belongs to. However, it's important to keep in mind that these are approximate dates, as the fruits may develop faster or slower depending on growing conditions, weather factors, and care. Often, an early cucumber will produce its first greens later due to a cool start to summer, or a late-ripening hybrid will begin fruiting earlier.

Features and Benefits

To understand the benefits of late-ripening cucumbers, it's necessary to understand the botanical characteristics of cucumbers. Fruiting depends on how well and correctly all the plant's organs are formed. This primarily depends on the root system, which supplies the above-ground portion with nutrients.

During the initial growing season, before the first ovaries form, the plant rapidly develops its root system and, to some extent, shoots. Once flowering and ovary formation begins, the aboveground portion begins to grow vigorously, while root growth and development slows.

Early cucumbers develop roots in approximately 25-30 days. Once fruiting begins, growth slows, and all energy is devoted to fruit formation. This results in intense production of cucumbers over a short period of time, followed by the plants drying out.

The small root system of early-ripening cucumbers cannot "feed" the plant or supply it with nutrients for an extended period. Therefore, the fruiting period of ultra-early and early cucumbers is short.

Late-ripening varieties take a long time to develop roots (up to 40-50 days), forming a vigorous bush with strong shoots, ready for long-term fruiting. The plants begin to bear fruit later, but the period of cucumber production extends until the coldest weather. Even in moderate climates, in open-ground beds, late-ripening cucumbers produce fruit for a long time without becoming diseased or drying out from nutrient deficiency.

In addition to a long fruiting period, the advantages of late-ripening hybrids include:

• excellent taste of cucumbers;
• versatility of use (suitable for salads, excellent for canning, pickling, marinades);
• resistance to adverse weather conditions;
• low susceptibility to infections and pest attacks.

Late-ripening varieties with developed root systems and well-formed above-ground parts successfully withstand short-term droughts, cold spells, and prolonged rainfall. Even in open ground, they continue to bear fruit until late autumn.

The climate in most Russian regions is temperate, with frosts possible as early as the second half of summer. Therefore, when growing late-ripening cucumbers in beds, it's essential to provide temporary shelter for the plants (arches with film or covering material) to protect them from inclement weather.

According to gardeners, they are distinguished by their rich flavor and firmness. This is especially evident when pickled, where the fruit's aromatic bouquet is fully revealed. Canned goods made from late-ripening cucumbers retain their appearance, shape, and flavor better.

Today's best

Late-ripening cucumbers of domestic and foreign selection are available for sale, with fruits of various types and purposes (salads, canning). When choosing, it is recommended to consider the characteristics of each variety or hybrid and pay attention to recommendations on agricultural practices.

• Stella F1 – cultivated since the 1980s, it is well known among Russian gardeners. It belongs to the salad varieties and ripens in 65-67 days. The cucumbers have a dense, slightly corrugated base, with sparse tubercles. The pubescence is white. Yield: 16 kg/m².
• Antoshka F1 is a vigorous indeterminate hybrid with large, slightly wrinkled leaves. The flowers are predominantly female. The first batches are harvested on the 56th-58th day; the variety tends to set ovaries in clusters. The cucumbers are spindle-shaped, dark green, and striped. They grow to 10-11 cm in length, weigh 70-85 g, and have excellent flavor. A yield of 12-14 kilograms is obtained per square meter.
• Regal F1 is a French-bred cucumber, included in the State Register of the Russian Federation since 1995. The fruits are short with a complex white pubescence. Length: 8-12 cm, weight: 85-115 g. The harvest is uniform, fruiting is stable, with 2-4 kg of fruit per square meter.
• Rais F1 is a hybrid suitable for cultivation in winter glasshouses and in summer, in open-air beds. It is shade-tolerant, with strong, well-developed roots and dense foliage. It is resistant to the main cucumber diseases (root rot, powdery mildew, and ascochyta blight). The fruits grow up to 20 cm, with thin skin and numerous tubercles. They have good flavor.

Phoenix is ​​one of the most well-known. Several varieties have been developed, including Phoenix (Phoenix 640) and Phoenix Plus (an improved version). The latter variety is considered mid-season, although the exact ripening time depends on care, weather conditions, and growing location.

It is resistant to cold snaps and poor weather conditions, and is rarely affected by downy mildew and powdery mildew. The cucumbers are elongated, up to 15-17 cm, with numerous white tubercles and spines. It is used in salads, although gardeners note that when sliced, the fruits are good for canning.

• "Veselaya Kompaniya" (Merry Company) is suitable for canning and pickling. The fruits are clustered, uniform, and have a good flavor. They are 10 cm long, with green skin and faint whitish stripes. The pubescence is white. The fruits are genetically free of bitterness;
• Khrust F1 is a bunch-type cucumber. It ripens in 50-52 days and produces high yields with proper fertilizing. The fruits are large, pimpled, white-spined, and weigh 80-100 grams. The fruit has a firm texture and thin, rich green skin. These cucumbers are versatile, but are best used for pickling and preserving.
• The Athlete cucumber lives up to its name: the bushes are robust and branched, with large leaves that are slightly ragged at the edges. One or two ovaries form in the axils of the central stem. Ripening time is 55-60 days. It requires light and moisture. The salad-type fruits have large, sparse tubercles and a thin neck. The spines are whitish and sparse. Inside is crisp, sweetish flesh. The cucumbers are 18-20 cm long and weigh up to 18 g. On average, 24-26 kg are harvested from one square meter, with a maximum yield of 35 kg/m².
• Three Sisters – This plant produces numerous cucumbers up to 12 cm long. This fruitful and delicious cucumber is ideal for canning, marinating, and pickling. The cucumbers are firm, with juicy, sweet flesh. This first-generation hybrid is resistant to major cucumber diseases and is flexible. It quickly adapts to a variety of climates. When preserved, the cucumbers hold their shape well and retain their flavor.
• Kapelka cucumbers are first harvested on the 48th to 50th day. The cucumbers are black-spined, firm, and crisp. They reach up to 11 cm in length. An important characteristic is the lack of bitterness in the fruit, which is more common in hybrids. Kapelka cucumbers are suitable for long-term storage after harvesting.
• Solnechny (Solnechny) – with white-spined cucumbers, requires insect pollination. It's best planted in open-ground beds. Gardeners appreciate Solnechny for its excellent cucumber flavor, crisp aroma, and crunchy flesh. The cucumbers contain numerous seeds and are free of bitterness. The cucumbers are ready for harvest in 50-51 days, and the harvest lasts for a long time, until frost sets in.
• Steppe cucumber – bee-pollinated variety, productive, and resistant to diseases (root rot, downy mildew, and powdery mildew). The fruits are cylindrical, with large pimples, and a sweetish taste. Length: up to 12 cm, weight: 80-110 g. The bushes are vigorous, so when planting seedlings, maintain a distance of up to 30 cm between holes. In open ground, they yield up to 4-5.1 kg/m²;
• The Izobilny F1 cucumber is a popular hybrid for cultivation in temperate climates. It grows well outdoors but can be grown indoors. The first fruits ripen in 56-65 days. The cucumbers are gherkin-shaped, with large tubercles. Insect pollination is required. A bush yields up to 5-6 kg of cucumbers. Advantages of this hybrid include shade tolerance, high yield, good seed germination, and a long fruiting period.
• Annika is a gherkin-type hybrid. Developed in Germany, it has thrived in Russian gardens. The bushes are strong, medium-sized, and produce emerald-colored cucumbers with firm, juicy flesh. The Annika F1 cucumber is recommended for pickling and marinating.
• The Aist cucumber, developed in the 1990s, is worth mentioning. It is prized for its good, consistent yield. The fruits are green, with sparsely pitted skin, and have a good flavor. Requiring insect pollination, it is recommended for planting in open-ground beds.

Features of agricultural technology

The main techniques are standard, there are no differences careNo. Most gardeners grow the crop from seedlings, then plant the seedlings in a permanent location.

Mandatory techniques:

• watering;
• fertilization;
• loosening the soil and weeding;
• soil mulching;
• plant formation.

Water the plantings in furrows or holes, avoiding moisture on the leaf surface. Since late-season cucumber varieties bear fruit for a long time outdoors, reduce watering in late summer and fall. During this time, plants usually receive sufficient rainfall, and excess moisture can cause infections and root and stem rot.

Plants are fed every 10-12 days, taking into account the fruiting period. Before flowering, nitrogen-rich fertilizers (diluted mullein, ammonium nitrate) are added, followed by potassium and phosphorus supplements. If the fruiting period is prolonged, organic fertilizers are also added later in the growing season to stimulate the development of additional lateral shoots.

It's recommended to plant cucumbers with strong, unrestricted branching in open-ground beds. These bushes actively develop stems, lateral shoots, and produce more flowers and ovaries. All that remains is to feed the cucumbers regularly, providing the vigorous bush with nutrients.

In open ground, cucumbers are typically grown spread out, without support. Another common method is to plant cucumbers using a large-mesh net instead of a trellis, encouraging the shoots to grow upward. In any case, when planting seedlings, maintain a distance between the holes (up to 40-50 cm), avoiding dense plantings. Late-ripening cucumbers are characterized by vigorous above-ground growth and the formation of numerous lateral shoots, so dense plantings may result in insufficient feeding space.

When cool weather arrives, the beds are covered with agrofibre, arches with film are installed, and humidity levels are monitored. The cucumbers are harvested as they ripen, preventing them from overripening on the plants.

Reviews

Nikolai Petrovich, Kirishi

I grow late-ripening varieties in the beds and plant early ones in the greenhouse. I harvest all summer long, despite our rainy climate. Even in a cold year, I have cucumbers. I grow Nerosimy and Phoenix, which bear fruit for a long time. They are especially good in warm summers, especially when the autumn is dry. The cucumbers ripen in the beds until October, and even the overgrown ones are delicious.

Anastasia, Lobnya

My grandmother only appreciates varieties in the garden; she's not particularly fond of hybrids. She plants a few hybrids in the greenhouse with the tomatoes, but gets the bulk of her pickling from the garden. She says they're tastier. Phoenix grows well, doesn't get sick, and stays green for a long time. The cucumbers are delicious, with a crunch, as she says, like real Russian cucumbers. She also praises Stella and Nezhinsky, using them for pickling.