Cucumbers for open ground - self-pollinating varieties

In ancient times, many people planted Cucumbers are specifically used to cleanse the body of illnesses and ailments. The key is that the vegetable consists of seventy percent water, and it is eaten when the fruits reach the right size and a juicy green color, as this is when they will have a sweet and very juicy taste. Ripe fruits, however, cannot be eaten; they are only used for seeds to be planted next year.

There are many varieties of self-pollinating cucumbers for outdoor cultivation, perfect for adding to various salads and for preserving in brine for the winter. Besides winterizing, cucumbers can also be used as small, side, or pickled cucumbers; in any form, this vegetable is delicious.

What varieties of these vegetables are there (self-pollinating)

As mentioned above, cucumbers have been cultivated for thousands of years. During this time, gardeners have developed numerous new varieties and hybrids, and one of the most popular today is the self-pollinating variety. If you sort cucumbers by variety, you'll see that they vary in size: they can be medium-sized, fairly large, or very small (gherkins), and their skin can be smooth or bumpy. In this case, gardeners will need to select the most suitable early self-pollinating cucumber variety for open ground, as these vegetables can be used in a variety of ways. Small gherkins are suitable for jarring, medium-sized cucumbers are ideal for pickling in brine for the winter, while large cucumbers are used in vegetable salads due to their thick skin and large size.

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Each cucumber variety can have both female and male hormones, but mixed varieties also exist. For example, if a gardener selects a cucumber variety containing only female or only male hormones, pollination will be necessary to produce fruit, which means bees are essential. This is often very inconvenient for gardeners, as poor pollination can lead to reduced yields. Therefore, it's best to choose high-yielding cucumber varieties for outdoor cultivation that are self-pollinating. They don't require pollination from other plants of the opposite sex, as they contain both male and female traits, helping to achieve the highest yields. This rule is especially relevant for greenhouse plants, as it's simply impossible to keep bees in insulated environments. Therefore, purchasing cucumbers with only female or only male hormones will result in no harvest at all.

Each variety may differ not only in its appearance, planting dates, but also by taste. Some are best used in salads (in this case, the cucumbers should remain fresh), and can also be preserved in jars for the winter (they will remain crisp and delicious). Some varieties are suitable for pickling or salting (to make lightly salted cucumbers). Early-ripening varieties are likely to have a more delicate and mild flavor, will be very juicy, and the skin will be thin. These cucumbers are better suited for eating fresh in vegetable salads than for canning. Later-ripening or mid-season cucumber varieties, however, can be used for canning, pickling, and in vegetable salads.

How to grow these varieties of cucumbers yourself

In fact, planting and growing beautiful plants that will yield a bountiful harvest isn't difficult at all. While some varieties are only planted as seedlings in prepared greenhouse soil, you can also choose self-pollinating cucumber varieties for open ground in the Moscow region, which are simply sown directly in the ground. This method is ideal for growing these types of cucumbers, as the vegetable adapts well to these conditions and thrives even in cold weather. These types of vegetables are very economical, as they don't require as much time or additional processing chemicals compared to cucumbers grown in greenhouses. However, if these cucumbers receive less water and heat, they won't produce a very large harvest, so to ensure a good yield, it's important to select high-quality plants and provide minimal care.

I'd like to highlight some cucumber varieties that are quite suitable for growing outdoors. They are self-pollinating, but they do benefit from protected soil. For example, these varieties include "Connie," "Gerda," and "Druzhnaya Semeyka." It's worth discussing these self-pollinating cucumber varieties for outdoor cultivation in Siberia in more detail.

The "Gerda" variety is a highly sought-after vegetable by gardeners. It's considered a mid-season variety, and naturally, it self-pollinates during flowering. This variety is used for outdoor cultivation, but the key to growing vegetables is that the plants will thrive only in a protected environment. soilEach cucumber warms up within a month of planting, sometimes forty days. This variety produces small cucumbers, also known as gherkins. Each branch can produce about five cucumbers, each up to ten centimeters long. This cucumber variety is particularly noteworthy for its resistance to a wide variety of diseases, and it also has excellent flavor both fresh and pickled.

The "Friendly Family" variety is no less popular. This variety is considered early or mid-season ripening, as the first cucumbers can be picked after forty-five days. landings Seedlings in the ground. When ripe, the fruit can grow up to twelve centimeters in length. This type of vegetable also resists various diseases well. The cucumbers are not bitter, and they are firm, making these self-pollinating cucumber varieties suitable for open-ground cultivation in the Urals, allowing for the use of small vegetables for pickling in jars.

Is it worth growing greenhouse cucumbers?

Gardeners sincerely believe that greenhouse-grown vegetables can be harmful to human health or simply not as nutritious as those grown outdoors. However, by following the proper soil fertilization, watering, and ventilation, you can grow completely safe, delicious-tasting vegetables. Self-pollinating cucumber varieties grown outdoors receive positive reviews, as these varieties yield a much larger and more abundant harvest than those grown outdoors. For example, if you consider the yield per square meter of greenhouse over the entire cucumber growing season, you'll see that the yield is approximately thirty kilograms per square meter, while outdoor cucumbers yield ten times less.

Of course, growing self-pollinating bush cucumber varieties for open ground requires considerable investment in building a greenhouse, heating it, and providing high-quality lighting. Regular watering and fertilization will also be necessary, but even these costs will be well worth the harvest. It's worth considering special cucumber varieties that can self-pollinate, such as 'Zatek,' 'Emelya,' or 'Zozulya.' There are many other popular varieties, but these have received particular praise from gardeners.

The "Emelya" cucumber variety is considered one of the best, as the first fruits ripen within a month and a half of planting. These varieties are recommended for indoor greenhouse cultivation only, though in some cases, they are also grown in regular greenhouses. It's worth noting that one square meter of cucumber can yield over 13 kilograms, which is quite impressive for a greenhouse plant. The first fruits can be harvested just one month after planting. The fruits themselves can have a very bright and rich green hue, and the taste is simply amazing—very fresh and delicately sweet. This hybrid plant, like other bred varieties, tolerates a variety of diseases that can attack the bushes.

"Zozulya" is another excellent, productive, self-pollinating cucumber variety for open ground cultivation that is certainly worth considering. Because this variety produces a large number of female flowers, the yield can be very good; for example, one square meter can yield over twenty-four kilograms of ripe, delicious fruit. These fruits are often used for canning, but they can also be eaten fresh and added to vegetable salads, as each fruit can range from medium to large in size.