Dutch cucumber hybrid "Bjorn f1": description of the variety and advantages

The Bjorn F1 cucumber variety is a hybrid crop. The patent belongs to the Dutch seed breeding company Enza Zaden. It was added to the Russian state register only recently, in 2015, but has already gained popularity in many regions of the country. This variety is recommended for greenhouse planting throughout Russia, as well as in other countries such as Ukraine, Belarus, and elsewhere. In regions with favorable climate conditions, open-ground planting is permitted.

Characteristics of appearance and taste

The Björn variety has an indeterminate main stem, meaning it has no growth restrictions. It can reach 1.5-2 meters in length. The plant's root system is robust, so it doesn't require much fertilizing. It's a loosely vine variety with self-regulating branching. The foliage is well developed, but the bush isn't overloaded with leaves.

The ovary formation type is clustered (bouquet), which ensures the variety's high yield. It's best to train the bush vertically, tying it to a trellis. The bushes are not only easy to train but also require little attention after harvest (blinding lower leaf axils or pinching out side shoots). The flowering type is female. The variety is parthenocarpic, meaning it doesn't require pollinating insects to form ovaries or ensure fruiting.
Fruit:

1. Gherkin type.
2. They do not exceed 12 cm in length and weigh on average 100 grams.
3. They maintain uniformity of shape and size throughout the entire fruiting period.
4. They do not overgrow or become overripe, and retain their physical and taste qualities.
5. The shape of the cucumbers is classic cylindrical.

The skin is dense, crisp, and a rich, dark green color, with no light stripes on the surface (the color is uniform). The pubescence is dense and white. Large bumps can be seen on the surface.

The flesh has excellent flavor—dense, slightly sweet. Thanks to genetics, the fruits never taste bitter (even if watering is not maintained or harvested at the wrong time). Culinary cucumbers are a salad variety, meaning they are recommended for fresh consumption. However, experienced home cooks note that the cucumbers retain their flavor when salted or pickled, making them suitable for home canning.

General characteristics of the variety

This hybrid has very high yields. From 1 m² up to 20 kg of cucumbers when grown in a greenhouse and up to 15 kg per 1 m² in open ground.

When grown in greenhouse conditions, there can be two crop rotations in one season:

• spring-summer;
• summer-autumn.

The hybrid produces a stable harvest and is highly stress-resistant. Even in unstable climates (low light, windy weather, temperature fluctuations), the plant consistently produces buds that do not die off.

Positive qualities of the variety:

• high yield;
• stress resistance;
• versatility of culinary use;
• fast and abundant germination.
• simultaneous ripening of several fruits due to the “bouquet” (bunch) formation of ovaries.
• good shelf life and preservation of marketable appearance during transportation.

The main disadvantage of the variety is considered to be the high market price of the original seed material.

This is especially convenient when growing cucumbers in greenhouses or hotbeds. This characteristic means the fruit itself contains virtually no seeds. This improves its flavor and increases the variety's culinary potential.

Resistance to diseases and pests

The variety is susceptible to adverse weather conditions, resulting in reduced yields. Cucumbers take longer to ripen. However, the plant does not shed its ovaries once they have formed, even if light and heat are insufficient. The variety is highly resistant to olive spot. It is tolerant to:

• powdery mildew;
• downy mildew;
• cucumber mosaic virus.

Like any greenhouse variety, it's susceptible to pest attacks. To prevent fungal damage to the root system, the soil should be properly prepared and cultivated before planting seedlings or dried seeds. Dig over the soil to remove rotting roots from the previous harvest and weeds, fertilize the soil, enrich it with nutrients and minerals, and treat it with a potassium permanganate solution.

Should not be used as fertilizer clean animal manure, especially horse and cow parsley. It needs to be diluted, otherwise the cucumbers' root system will rot and the plant will die early. Finished beds should be surrounded by a hard, fine material. Suitable materials include:

• calcined salt;
• grated eggshells;
• ash.

This will protect against slugs, a common pest of greenhouse varieties. The fruit, with its thin and delicate skin, cannot withstand contact with such pests.

Cluster cucumbers do not tolerate chemical insecticides well, so it's better to prevent the appearance of classic greenhouse pests with preventative measures than to try to get rid of them later while the plant is still flowering or fruiting. These pests include:

• melon aphid;
• whitefly;
• spider mite;
• thrips.

Therefore, to combat this pest, special attention should also be paid to preventive measures:

• regular weeding;
• soil sterilization;
• renewal of the top layer of greenhouse soil;
• treatment with disinfectants not only of the soil, but also of all equipment.

Planting other crops in adjacent beds helps, such as cruciferous vegetables (radishes, radishes) or garlic.

Features of agricultural technology of the variety

There are two ways to plant the plant in the ground (either outdoors or in a greenhouse): using seedlings or dry seeds. However, experienced gardeners and large farmers recommend using seedlings, citing faster germination and higher yields. The plant requires regular and generous watering. However, when planting outdoors, consider the time of day. Avoid watering the bushes in high sunlight, as this may cause the leaves to turn yellow. It's best to water twice a day, at dawn and late in the evening. The plant is a cluster plant, so it requires additional feeding during the period of intense fruiting:

1. It is better to use organic substances and ready-made mineral mixtures.
2. During the season, such procedures are usually required 5-6 times.

The soil should be mulched with peat. Careful attention should be paid to the formation of the bushes. A rope should be strung from each plant to a string 2 meters from the bed. A vertical cultivation method is essential for growing the plants.

When growing hybrids parthenocarpic cucumbers Many people don't pay enough attention to pinching. It is known that non-hybrid varieties require this procedure to prevent the appearance of on the bushes of barren flowersFor hybrids pinching is doneTo control plant growth and form a healthy bush, pinching stimulates the formation of new buds, which increases yield.

This is an early-ripening variety that, with proper care, yields twice a season, so it should be planted early. In May, as soon as occasional night frosts cease. The ambient temperature should reach 18°C. ^OC. When planting with dry seeds, after fertilizing and watering the soil, make small depressions in the ground (approximately 2 cm).

The harvest is done twice per season. Care must be taken when doing so:

• cut cucumbers without damaging the stalk, otherwise it will dry out and stop bearing fruit;
• remove all ripe fruits from one bunch;
• do not leave the fruits on the branch, harvest regularly every 2-3 days, and daily during the period of intensive fruiting;

Cucumbers can be preserved and frozen for the winter, then used fresh for culinary and cosmetic purposes. Cucumber masks are excellent for nourishing and moisturizing the skin, and also reduce swelling and redness.

Reviews from summer residents

Konstantin, an experienced summer resident, Volgograd

I grew Björn cucumbers for the first time this year. The variety didn't disappoint. They're tasty and juicy. They're perfect for any dish. My wife uses them for salads and preserves them in jars for the winter. They're also delicious pickled. They've rarely had any problems. If you take care of them, water them regularly, weed them, and treat them for pests, you won't have any problems. You can harvest several kilograms from a single plant.

Victoria, a novice gardener, Rostov Oblast

This year, I planted Björn cucumbers both in the open ground and in a greenhouse. I didn't notice much of a difference. The cucumbers are identical in physical properties and taste. The harvest is abundant and consistent. I planted a few bushes and supported them with supports. They grow tall, but don't require much space. I highly recommend this variety for those with a small garden.

The Björn F1 variety is one of the best hybrids. It is disease-resistant and easy to care for.