Cucumbers "Babushkin Vnuchok F1": planting, growing, and care instructions

The first-generation hybrid "Babushkin Vnuchok f1" was developed by Russian breeders and added to the State Register of Vegetable Crops in 2012. The variety's key characteristics include early maturing, parthenocarpic, and salad-type qualities. The description and photographs indicate a low-growing, sparsely branched plant. The main advantages of "Babushkin Vnuchok f1" are its fertility and versatility. Up to 12.8 kg of cucumbers can be harvested from 1 m². The main drawback of this variety, according to reviews, is the inability to collect seed material suitable for growing similar cucumbers.

Characteristics of the variety

"Babushkin Vnuchok F1" is an indeterminate cucumber variety (the main stem grows indefinitely). The plant is vigorous, with limited lateral growth. Flowering is dominated by female flowers. The cluster-shaped node contains 2-4 ovaries. The leaves are dark green and medium-sized. The fruits ripen in 40 days from germination. Other properties of "Babushkin Vnuchok F1" cucumbers:

• length 9-12 cm;
• cylindrical shape;
• fruit weight 100-115 g;
• the color of the fruit is darker near the stalk, lighter near the place where the flower is attached;
• There are light stripes on the skin approximately to the middle of the fruit;
• the fruits are bumpy, with many white spines and white pubescence;
• The fruits have no seed sac or voids.

"Babushkin Vnuchok F1" is suitable for pickling, canning, and fresh consumption. It is immune to powdery mildew, rot, brown spot, cucumber mosaic, and downy mildew.

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Pros and cons of the variety

A common drawback of "Babushkin Vnuchenko f1" is the inability to collect seeds for subsequent cultivation of cucumbers with similar qualities, but this is a common characteristic of first-generation hybrids. Gardeners also note that cucumbers of this variety can become overgrown, causing the skin to become tough and less flavorful. The variety has the following advantages:

• early fruiting;
• productivity;
• immunity to cucumber diseases;
• good taste;
• versatility of use.

In addition, 'Babushkin Vnuchok f1' tolerates storage and transportation well, maintaining a presentable appearance, so it can be grown both for your own table and for sale.

Planting

Like many other varieties, "Babushkin Vnuchok f1" plant seeds in the ground or pre-grown seedlings. Many consider the seedling method preferable: plants planted this way will yield an earlier harvest and have a longer fruiting period.

To speed up seed germination, soak the seeds by wrapping them in a cloth and adding clean water so that the water covers them. Leave them in the water for about an hour. Then, harden them off. Wrap the seeds in a damp cloth and place them in a refrigerator set at about 3°C ​​for 2 days. The cloth containing the seeds should remain moist at all times.

Hardened seeds are planted in special peat pots with light, nutritious soil, planting them no more than 3 cm deep. Maintain a room temperature of 22-28°C until germination. You can even cover the pots with plastic wrap to create a greenhouse effect. Immediately after germination, remove the plastic wrap and lower the temperature to 18-20°C. Water the plants as the soil dries. It's best to place the seedlings on a windowsill where they will receive adequate light. A week before planting, harden them off, first under an open window, then by moving them to the balcony. Water thoroughly the day before planting.

Sow 'Babushkino Vnuchka f1' seedlings from April 20th to May 10th. They are transplanted when they have 2-3 true leaves: into the ground under cover in late May to early June, and then planted in open ground at the same time. Direct-seeding is used to plant the seeds when the soil warms up to 16°C. Sow two seeds in each hole, and then pinch The weaker seedling in each pair. Both seedlings and seeds are planted in a 50x50 pattern.

Care and agricultural advice

'Babushkin Vnunochok f1' requires shaping and support. Remove stems and flowers from the axils of the first five leaves, then remove only the shoots. Plants need to be tied to trellises, otherwise the vines will trail along the ground, wasting some of the potential harvest. Flowers and ovaries will fall off due to lack of light, and already formed fruits will rot. Stake the plant when it reaches a height of 32-35 cm.

This variety, like other cucumbers, requires watering, hilling, weeding, and fertilizing. Water the plants every 2-3 days with settled water warmed to 22°C. Water the roots in the evening. In extreme heat, cucumbers are watered Twice a day—morning and evening. After watering, the plants are hilled—the moist soil is loosened, spreading it around the roots. Weeds are removed once a week.

Fertilizing is done 3-4 times per season. Mineral fertilizers containing potassium, phosphorus, and ammonium nitrate are applied to the roots. Organic fertilizers, such as mullein diluted in water, are also used. Foliar feeding is also used, especially during cold summers. For this, a spray bottle is used to spray the nutrient solution onto the leaves (this should be done when there is no wind or rain to prevent the fertilizer from blowing away or washing away). Urea is most often used for foliar feeding (10 g diluted in 10 liters of water). It is sprayed on newly planted seedlings, then repeated after 15-20 days.

To prevent disease, inspect the leaves and stems of your plants daily. If you notice black or gray spots, insect-bitten leaves, or wilted leaves, treat the cucumbers with disinfectants such as Fitosporin.

The fruits of "Babushkino Vnunochka F1" are harvested daily or every other day to prevent them from becoming overgrown. It is recommended to cut them with a sharp knife rather than pick them. Harvesting continues until the end of July. When fruiting is complete, the cucumber stems are removed and the soil is fertilized.

Reviews

Alexey

I liked "Babushkin Vnuchok"; I've been growing it for several years now. However, to get a good yield, it needs to be tied to a trellis. This variety has a high yield; up to four cucumbers ripened on each node. The faster you harvest them, the faster new ones grow.

Michael

I haven't picked cucumbers from this variety for five days, and many are overripe; now they're only good for juice. The small cucumbers are good, especially for pickling.

The parthenocarpic hybrid "Babushkin Vnuchok F1" is distinguished by its early maturity. Cucumbers of this variety produce a good harvest both in open ground and in greenhouses. They are resistant to many diseases common to this vegetable. The fruits are crisp and tasty, suitable for canning and fresh eating.