The best Dutch cucumber varieties: characteristics, planting and care features

Dutch cucumber varieties are a favorite among many Russian gardeners. Even today, with the abundance of domestically bred vegetable seeds available, Dutch varieties are preferred for their high yield and high germination rates. To achieve good results, select a variety not only based on a photo, but also taking into account the description, breeder recommendations, characteristics, and growing conditions.

Features and Benefits

Several Dutch seed producers are represented on the Russian market. Well-known examples include:

• Bejo Zaden;
• Seminis;
• Rijk Zwaan;
• Enza Zaden and others.

Dutch cucumber varieties are also sold by Russian agricultural companies, which indicate the origin on the packages. These varieties are primarily hybrids, labeled F1.

Dutch-bred cucumbers are valued for a number of advantages:

• early maturity;
• long fruiting;
• high commercial appearance of fruits (evenness, homogeneity);
• excellent germination of seed material;
• rapid adaptation of plants to various climatic conditions;
• a wide range of varieties and hybrids (by ripening time, size, purpose).

Among the "Dutch" varieties are early and ultra-early varieties, early-ripening varieties, and late hybrids. Cucumbers requiring insect pollination and parthenocarpic varieties have been developed.

Resistance to pests and infections (especially fungal diseases) is genetically engineered. This is especially important for plants grown in greenhouses and hotbeds, where pathogens accumulate over the years. This resistance eliminates the need for toxic fungicides and insecticides, resulting in an environmentally friendly harvest. Seeds from Dutch agricultural companies are often sold pre-treated, eliminating the need for pre-planting preparation (such as treatment or soaking). These seeds come in a variety of colors: pink, green, and blue.

Disadvantages include the high cost of seeds (especially new hybrids), as well as the inability to harvest seeds from most cucumbers. Hybrid varieties do not retain their characteristics in subsequent generations, so it's necessary to purchase seeds of your favorite cucumbers every year.

Bee-pollinated cucumber varieties

These varieties and hybrids are recommended for growing in open-ground beds. In Russian regions, some gardeners plant them in greenhouses, but this requires attracting bees to the shelters or pollinating the plants manually.

Among the famous cucumbers:

• Lord is an early, cold-hardy cucumber for open-ground beds. The fruits are elongated, up to 9-11 cm, and a vibrant emerald color with white spines. The flesh is firm, juicy, and slightly sweet. This hybrid is recommended for regions of Central Russia, although it is successfully grown by gardeners throughout the country.
• Sonata is a hybrid from Rijk Zwaan. Pollination is required and it's grown in raised beds, but it can also be grown in plastic or glass greenhouses. The cucumbers are versatile. The cucumbers are large-tuberculate, rich green, and uniform in appearance. They weigh 70-90 g and ripen in 40-43 days.
• Pioneer is a mid-season variety, with cucumbers ripening in 50-52 days. This cucumber variety is suitable for open ground. The cucumbers are cylindrical, uniform, and dark green with large, sparse tubercles. The pubescence is black. This hybrid is resistant to a range of infections and is characterized by stable fruiting.
• Ajax is a vigorous bee-pollinated hybrid, one of the first Dutch cucumbers to appear on the Russian market. Recommended for open-ground garden beds, it is heat-resistant. The plant type is indeterminate, with medium foliage. The hybrid is resistant to cucumber mosaic virus, powdery mildew, and olive spot. Suitable for transportation;
• Hector – this hybrid begins to produce fruit 33-35 days after the first shoots emerge. The plant is determinate and vigorous, with compact shoots and foliage. Fruiting continues until late autumn (in greenhouses), with yields reaching up to 16 kg/m² in sheltered areas. The cucumbers are firm, juicy, and sweet, with a crisp crunch. Suitable for salads and preserves.

Parthenocarpic varieties of Dutch selection

The list of cucumbers from Holland includes the largest number of parthenocarpic hybrids that do not require pollination. These plants fruit successfully under cover and produce a harvest in open-air beds.

Russian gardeners successfully grow the following cucumbers:

• Madita is an early hybrid (38-43 days). Madita F1 cucumber requires little to no shaping and produces a limited number of lateral shoots. Cucumbers are up to 8 cm long, dark green, and firm. Genetically, they are free of voids and bitterness.
• The Karina cucumber is an ultra-early variety, resistant to olive spot and TMV. It boasts beautifully shaped gherkins and excellent flavor. Genetically, it is bitterness-free.
• Pasamonte is a cucumber well known to Russian gardeners. It has been listed in the State Register since 1997. It is a productive, easy-to-grow, and flexible hybrid. The gherkin-type fruits ripen in 43-45 days. The axils contain up to three ovaries. It is a versatile variety, typically used in preserves and marinades.
• Cucumber Monolith F1 – an indeterminate variety with moderate foliage. Three to four ovaries per axil, small, petiolate leaves. Cucumbers are uniform, thin-skinned, bright green with numerous light stripes. The pubescence is dense and white. Fruit length is up to 12 cm, the flesh is juicy and firm, and the flavor is excellent.
• Baby Mini is a mid-early hybrid from Seminis. It's renowned for its short (up to 7-9 cm) cucumbers with excellent flavor. Baby Mini cucumbers begin bearing fruit on the 50th day and yield more than many hybrids, reaching up to 16-18 kg/m².
• The Platina F1 cucumber is a robust, balanced hybrid. The cucumbers are firm, thin-skinned, and up to 7-9 cm long. The fruits are harvested at the size of pickles. This cucumber is demanding in terms of nutrition and is characterized by high regeneration.
• Magdalena F1 cucumber – recommended for all regions of Russia, included in the State Register since 2009. Cucumbers are harvested for pickles and gherkins. The fruits are small, uniform, with tubercles and white spines. Yield – up to 8 kg/m²;
• Cucumber Profi F1 is an early, productive parthenocarpic variety. It produces best results under cover, yielding up to 12 kg per square meter. Yields are stable, and the plant quickly recovers from stress and adverse conditions. The cucumbers are dense, smooth, and finely tuberculated, making them ideal for canning.
• Bettina is an early cucumber, included in the State Register of the Russian Federation since 2010. Originated by the agricultural company Nunhems BV, it is grown in open ground and on windowsills indoors. It ripens in 38-43 days.

Popular varieties

This list includes first-generation hybrid cucumber varieties (designated F1) grown by hobby gardeners and farmers. These include:

• Marinda is one of the most sought-after Dutch hybrids among gardeners. It has been known in Russia since the 1990s and is listed in the State Register. The cucumbers are tasty, uniform in size, and suitable for pickling and preserving. Its advantages include the flexibility of the hybrid form, resistance to major diseases, and excellent yields (up to 30 kg/m² in greenhouses). It is a versatile variety.
• The Karin F1 cucumber is a cultivar of the well-known Klavdia hybrid, surpassing it in yield and flavor. It is a cluster variety, producing up to seven ovaries per axil. The cucumbers have numerous pimples and white spines. The flavor is excellent. Up to 13-15 kg of fruit can be harvested per square meter (in a greenhouse).
• The Ecole cucumber has been included in the State Register of the Russian Federation since 2007. This hybrid is prized for its excellent taste and the ability to harvest gherkins. Up to 20 kg can be harvested per meter (greenhouses), and up to 3-5 kg ​​in garden beds.
• Pasadena is a parthenocarpic variety with good yields (up to 12 kg/m²) and high resistance to a number of infections. The fruits are perfectly cylindrical, firm, and have thin, bumpy skin. The flavor is pleasant, and the flesh is crisp and juicy. It is used for pickling, canning, and marinades.
• Masha is an early parthenocarpic cucumber. Originated by Monsanto. A first-generation hybrid, it's a salad and canning variety. The first cucumbers are harvested 40-42 days after germination, yielding up to 11-12 kg of fruit per square meter.
• Klavdia is a cucumber from Seminis. A very popular hybrid, domestic companies have developed several similar varieties based on it: Klavdia Agro F1, Kucha-Mala, and Partner. It ripens mid-early and grows well in any region (open ground or sheltered). It is grown in Belarus and Ukraine. It is resistant to a number of diseases, and the cucumbers are not bitter. The fruits are up to 12 cm long, gherkin-type, emerald in color with slight spotting. The skin is thin, and the spines are white and soft. The cucumbers have a good flavor. They are used for canning and salads.
• Hermann The cucumbers are excellent marketable, firm, and beautiful. This hybrid belongs to the ultra-early group, producing its first fruits as early as 35-38 days.

Features of growing and caring for Dutch crops

Basic agricultural practices are standard, but it's important to consider breeders' recommendations for specific varieties. The yield figures stated by producers are achieved by following proper care. introduction of increased rates of fertilizers, correct shaping of plants.

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Sowing seeds

Dutch potatoes are grown in shelters, in open spaces, by sowing directly into beds or by growing seedlings. In most regions of the country, seedlings are grown first, thereby reducing the time until the first fruits appear.

If the seeds are multicolored, they don't require any treatment or pre-germination. Sow them in prepared containers:

• boxes (pricking out will be required after two true leaves appear);
• plastic cups;
• peat pots or tablets.

Pots should hold 0.5 liters and be no more than 12 cm tall. They should have drainage holes to allow excess moisture to drain. Ready-made potting mixes can be used, or the soil components can be mixed independently. Peat-only mixtures are not suitable for cucumbers; it is recommended to add turf, humus, and river sand.

Sowing times depend on the local climate and the location where the crop will be grown. Cucumber seedlings are planted at 23-25 ​​days of age, when stable warm weather sets in. The sowing time is calculated taking into account the germination time (4-9 days) and the weather forecast.

Approximate dates for sowing seedlings:

• in the middle zone - April (with planting in May in open ground beds and greenhouses);
• in the Urals, in Siberia – in early May (with planting in early June).

In the south, cucumbers are sown directly into the ground in a permanent location in April-May.

While growing seedlings, water them regularly and feed them once or twice with a complex fertilizer or ready-made formulas (Kemira, Agricola). Approximately 10-14 days before planting, harden them outside, onto a veranda, or balcony.

Growing in open ground

Bee-pollinated cucumbers are more commonly grown outdoors, as it's easier to ensure pollination by insects. In beds, the plants are grown spread out on trellises (large-mesh nets).

The characteristics of hybrids are taken into account:

• growth rate;
• branching;
• growing method (without trellises or on supports).

Maintain proper spacing between seedlings, especially if planting them in a spreading pattern. Vigorous plants require a large area for adequate nutrition and space, so leave at least 45-60 cm between them.

Watering is based on weather conditions and rainfall. Before flowering, water up to 1.5 liters per bush; from flowering through the fruiting period, water up to 3-4 liters per mature plant. Mulch between rows with hay, humus, or peat.

Fertilizing vigorous cucumbers is essential, 4-5 times per season. Even if the soil was well fertilized before planting, the crop quickly absorbs nutrients from the soil. At the beginning of the growing season, nitrogen supplements are added (mullein or poultry manure diluted with water at a ratio of 1:10 or 1:20), and later, potassium and phosphorus fertilizers are added (potassium sulfate, superphosphate, wood ash).

No training is required for these varieties in the garden bed (when grown in spreading beds); when planting on trellises, pinch out the side shoots. It's important to consider the characteristics of hybrid cucumbers, as cluster cucumbers produce fruit primarily on the central stem, while other varieties produce more fruit on the side shoots.

To attract bees to cucumbers, honey plants such as fennel, clover, and phacelia are planted near the beds. If the hybrid description specifies the need for a pollinator variety, any hybrid with a large number of male flowers is planted. In cloudy weather and prolonged rain, when insects are unable to fly, pollinate the cucumbers by hand, using both male and female flowers. A brush or cotton swab is used to transfer the pollen.

Growing in a greenhouse

Greenhouse cucumber cultivation has a number of specific features related to irrigation and plant formation. Parthenocarpic varieties, which thrive in greenhouse conditions and do not require bee pollination, are most often planted in shelters.

The first watering should be 4-6 days after planting. Thereafter, water moderately, avoiding overwatering or drying out the soil. Once the fruiting period begins, increase the watering rate (to 3-5 liters per plant). Dutch hybrids are known for their resistance to temperature fluctuations and flexibility, but it's best to provide the plant with comfortable, stress-free conditions.

Mulching is used to retain soil moisture. Suitable mulches include humus, peat, hay, and chopped straw. Mulch will protect against drought and overwatering, and will also prevent weeds. The maximum humidity level in a greenhouse is 70%.

The fertilizing schedule is similar to that for cucumbers grown outdoors. Fertilize heavily fruiting hybrids every 8-10 days, preferably after watering to avoid damaging or burning the cucumber roots. It's advisable to alternate root and foliar feedings, mineral fertilizers, and organic matter. Plants respond well to wood ash infusions and green manures made from fermented grass (comfrey, dandelion).

For spraying in the greenhouse, solutions of ash, boric acid, and iodine are used, which increase the number of ovaries and help boost immunity.

Dutch varieties yield maximum yield only if the plants are properly trained. Each hybrid description specifies the training scheme and plant type.

Approximate diagram:

• in the first leaf axils (up to 3-4) the ovaries are blinded;
• at a height of up to half a meter, pinch off the side shoots to one ovary and two leaves;
• higher (up to one and a half meters) leave a pair of ovaries and 2-3 leaves;
• Next, cut off the shoots above the third leaf and leave four ovaries on it.

Parthenocarpic and bee-pollinated cucumbers are grown on trellises in greenhouses. This inverted pyramid arrangement ensures uniform fruiting of the hybrid, good plant illumination, and controlled plant load. As with beds, bee-pollinated varieties are hand-pollinated in the absence of insects.

Harvesting cucumbers regularly during the fruiting period is essential. Dutch hybrids rarely overgrow or turn yellow, but delayed harvesting delays the ripening of subsequent batches of cucumbers and reduces the overall yield per plant.

Reviews

Galina, Nizhny Novgorod

I only plant Dutch seeds. I grow cucumbers (I love Bettina, Marinda, and Lord) and tomatoes, and they never disappoint. They're a bit pricey, but it's well worth the investment. The seeds in the packets are carefully selected and uniform, with a 100% germination rate. It's rare that a seedling doesn't sprout; usually 10 out of 10 seeds do. I've also planted Masha, but if you don't harvest it in time, the skin is a bit rough. Otherwise, it's a very productive and tasty hybrid.

Tatyana, Dmitrovsky District, Moscow Region

Every year I tell myself I won't try new varieties, but I still buy and plant them. I really like Dutch cucumbers, but they require good nutrition. I feed them with green manure, nettle infusion, and manure a couple of times. Once they start bearing fruit, I give them an ash infusion once a week. Marinda grows well at home, although I sow it both in the greenhouse and in the garden. I also want to mention Lord and Pasadena, which I've been growing for a long time. Of the new ones, I liked Hokus (a gherkin), but it's pollinated by bees, so I cover it with lutrasil in the garden.

Boris, Omsk region

I sow Dutch hybrids for an early harvest. I sow our Russian seeds for canning, so they'll start growing later, and foreign varieties produce good fruit as early as early June. I have a glass greenhouse and even installed heating, so the cucumbers are comfortable and warm. I'm planting Lord, Madita, and Karina. I really like Baby Mini, which is great for salads. I'm planning to find seeds of the Barvina hybrid; they say it's an improved version of Bettina, more productive (though it's far more) and tastier.

Wanting a guaranteed high cucumber harvest, gardeners choose Dutch-bred varieties and hybrids. They are distinguished by their high yield, resistance to weather and temperature fluctuations, and excellent taste.