Bidretta f1 cucumbers: advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The Bidretta F1 cucumber variety is a hybrid. This easy-to-grow cucumber was developed by Aelita-Agro breeders. It is suitable for outdoor cultivation. The cucumbers can be eaten fresh or processed. They are transportable and disease-resistant, but require protection from pests.

Characteristics of the variety

This is an ultra-early variety. It's planted in open garden beds without additional cover, as it's pollinated by bees. The fruits reach technical maturity in 25-35 days. Yield per 1 m² 4-5 kg. The Bidretta cucumber has strong immunity to infectious diseases.

Recommendation: To increase fruiting, it's best to plant the crop in loamy, loose soil that's been fertilized beforehand.

Fruit description:

• length 14-18 cm;
• weight 110 g;
• shape oblong, cylindrical;
• taste without bitterness.

The cucumber's surface is covered with a crisp, bumpy skin of a pleasant, bright color. There is no pubescence. The flavor is rich, the aroma intense.

Many farmers believe that the fruit has a rough skin and that the yield is low for a hybrid variety.

Advantages and disadvantages

The F1 designation in a variety's name indicates that it was bred from two other first-generation varieties. These plants are stronger than regular varieties and are superior in several respects:

• do not require professional care;
• resistance to infectious and bacterial pathologies, and pest attacks.

Of course, the Bidretta F1 variety also has its drawbacks. The most notable is the high price of seed. However, this high cost is justified by the variety's performance and the taste of the fruit. Breeders have been working on this for years. It is impossible to obtain planting material from this variety, as the seeds are underdeveloped and do not fully mature, thus unable to produce offspring. However, this seed situation offers another advantage: the vegetables are not prone to overgrowing.

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Resistance to diseases and pests

Pests can attack all vegetable crops, even hybrid varieties. Black aphids most often infest cucumber plants from trees such as:

• apple trees;
• viburnum;
• cherry.

The pest is approximately 5 mm in size. It develops rapidly, forming colonies. These colonies can be seen on the underside of leaves during infestation. Over the course of a summer, aphids can produce 10-15 generations. They suck debris from the plant, causing the plant to die.

It's a good idea to introduce ladybugs to your plot. You can attract them or buy them at the store. These insects quickly destroy aphid colonies. You can control aphids by treating the plant with the following:

• liquid soap – 700 g;
• unrefined vegetable oil – 200 g;
• water – 700 ml.

Commercial pesticides can be effectively treated by spraying with Karbofos. Chemicals should only be used during the growing season, when harvesting is not yet planned. For preventative protection, plant Dalmatian chamomile, chives, or green garlic near the cucumber beds.

Ants and aphids are permanent neighbors. They can nest right on a young cucumber plant. The root zone will be at risk, as tunnels run underneath. This disrupts the development of the plant's root mass, leading to stunted growth and ultimately death. Therefore, inspect the soil daily, and if signs of ant presence are noticed, sprinkle the area with wood ash. The following chemicals will help control ants:

• Ant-eater;
• Thunder-2.

Anthracnose is a common cucumber disease. When affected, the foliage of the plant becomes covered in orange and brown spots. These gradually grow and merge into a single spot, causing the leaves to fall off. The disease spreads throughout the plant and leads to its death. Fungal spores spread especially quickly in damp, rainy, and sunless conditions.

Rotting fruit should not be left on the plot. One treatment is recommended:

• Bordeaux mixture;
• Cineboma.

Bacteriosis thrives in high humidity, and under these conditions, it spreads rapidly through cucumber plants. The foliage becomes covered with dark, angular spots, and yellowish, cloudy droplets resembling mucus collect on the underside. The disease affects not only mature plants but also small seedlings. On established plants, bacteriosis inhibits development, reducing the number of ovaries. In damp weather, the spots take on an oily sheen. To combat the problem, you should:

• in autumn, dig the soil deeply;
• burn plant debris;
• observe crop rotation rules.

Plants should be spaced sparsely, weeded regularly (2-3 times per season), fertilized, and watered. If the plant is strong and has a healthy root system, it will be resistant to disease. Fungicides such as Etafol and Aliette can be used for pest control.

Planting a plant

The Bidretta hybrid can be planted in two ways: with or without seedlings. Breeders recommend the former method, as it produces healthy seedlings with excellent immunity. To achieve good results, follow these guidelines:

1. Preparing the container. Plant each bush individually in peat-humus pots. Plastic containers can be used, but this will complicate the planting process.
2. The soil used should be pre-disinfected, and you can prepare it yourself. Experienced gardeners recommend choosing a ready-made substrate, prepared in industrial conditions.
3. The seeds are placed at a depth of 1-1.5 cm.
4. The soil is moistened before sowing, but not after.
5. The seedlings are placed in a room where the air temperature is consistently maintained at least at +21 ^OWITH.

The space above the pots should be well-lit, for which purpose fluorescent greenhouse lamps can be installed. Cover the containers with plastic film to create a greenhouse effect.

Hardening off the seedlings is necessary, beginning 5 days before transplanting them to open ground. If done correctly, seedlings will emerge as early as 3 days after sowing. The seedlings are placed in the garden only 2 weeks after they have developed 2-3 true leaves. The optimal time for growing seedlings is mid-May, but regional climatic conditions must be taken into account.

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How to transplant into open ground

Bidretta is suitable for any region. However, it can be damaged by recurrent frosts and sudden temperature fluctuations. Therefore, before transplanting young seedlings to open beds, they need to be hardened off. This process begins 5-7 days before the planned transplanting:

1. The temperature is lowered to +16 ^OWITH.
2. Ventilate for 2 hours.

This increases the ability to resist infections and allows the seedlings to adapt to the new atmosphere much more quickly.

Particular attention should be paid to soil preparation. Work begins two weeks in advance.

What you need to do:

1. Determine the location where the cucumber will grow. Avoid planting in areas previously occupied by pumpkins, as this can expose the immature seedlings to disease. Good predecessors for the Bedretta F1 variety include tomatoes, cabbage, potatoes, and peas. These crops can also be mixed with each other. This will be a safe and beneficial solution.
2. Cucumbers have weak roots. They quickly absorb moisture and nutrients. Therefore, the soil should be free of weeds, as they suppress the cucumber's root system.

Shortly before planting, the soil should be dug up and watered. When the soil has warmed steadily to +15+16 ^OOnce the seedlings have established themselves, they can be moved to their permanent growing location. Plants should be spaced 40 cm apart, and beds should be spaced 1 m apart. On average, 1 m² there are 3 sprouts.

Care instructions

The Bidretta F1 variety is easy to care for, but basic cultivation practices must be followed. Throughout the growing season, you should:

• water bushes;
• feed;
• remove weeds;
• control pests;
• loosen the soil.

The soil should be kept constantly moist, watering at least every three days. Be careful not to let any liquid get on the leaves. When loosening the soil, you can immediately remove weeds. This will allow oxygen to reach the plant roots. Loosening and weeding should be done regularly.

The fruits of the Bidretta hybrid can be harvested regardless of their ripeness. For salads, fruits no longer than 10 cm are suitable, and for canning, they are picked when they reach 4-5 cm.

Cucumbers grow very vigorously, so they need to be picked every two days. This must be done carefully and gently. Avoid turning the leaves or twisting the vines, as this will cause bitterness.

Cucumbers should not be picked off, but cut off with scissors, leaving small stems on the fruit.

Store the fruit in a plastic bag on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. No need to wrap or tie it tightly.

Reviews from summer residents

The Bidretta variety is a favorite among home gardeners. It's easy to care for, produces a tasty harvest, and is disease-resistant.

Svetlana, 42 years old

Lately, I've fallen in love with hybrid varieties. I recently discovered Bedretta. I'm pleased with the quality of the cucumbers and their flavor. They bear fruit quickly, I'd even say rapidly. I canned them. We tried them this winter – they were amazingly delicious. I highly recommend this variety.

Stanislav, 46 years old

The climate in my region is quite harsh. I've already tried many different cucumber varieties in search of the best, most adaptable ones, but Bidretta has proven to be the best. The yield isn't particularly abundant, but the other characteristics more than make up for this minor drawback. I simply plant more cucumbers now and can eat the vegetables and make jars for the winter.

Irina, 39 years old

I often hear that growing hybrid varieties isn't profitable. After all, you have to buy seeds every year. But for me, Bidretta is the best variety. It produces delicious cucumbers, is disease-resistant, and is easy to care for.

Every plant requires care: watering, fertilizing, tying, and pinching. The amount of care you provide determines how many and what quality fruits the Bidretta variety produces.