Advantages and features of the cucumber hybrid "Lastochka f1"

The Lastochka F1 hybrid is considered an early-ripening hybrid. The first cucumbers can be harvested as early as 35 days after pollination. The benefits of this vegetable are undeniable. Regular consumption of cucumbers helps eliminate toxins from the body and provides essential micronutrients and vitamins. Gherkins can be pickled or marinated. This hybrid is grown in central Russia, Moldova, and Ukraine.

Characteristics of the variety

The hybrid is sown directly into the garden. Swallow, like all hybrid crops, is a heat-loving plant. With proper care, the harvest will be rewarding. During flowering, the plant is pollinated by bumblebees and honeybees.

Each bush produces three nodes with two to four ovaries. A plant can produce up to 30 fruits at a time. The main stem can reach up to one and a half meters in length, making it a fairly large garden plant.

Cucumbers have a wonderful taste and contain many beneficial elements. For example, cucumbers contain B vitamins, carotene, and ascorbic acid, as well as beta-carotene and minerals. This proves that hybrids are just as beneficial as traditional varieties. The fruits have the following characteristics:

1. Shape – cylinder.
2. Colour: bright green.
3. The skin is thin.
4. Black-spined.
5. 3-sided in cross-section.
6. The surface is coarsely tuberculate.
7. Blurred whitish stripes.

Mature gherkins are 100-120 mm long, weigh 100 g, are not deformed, and have no hollow interior. You don't have to wait for them to fully ripen; young cucumbers resemble gherkins. They are suitable for salads and canning. When pickled, cucumbers remain firm and crunchy.

Many large farmers cultivate the hybrid, replacing other cucumber varieties with it. And good fruiting guarantees financial stability.

Key indicators

With proper care and favorable weather, one square meter of planting can yield up to 12 kg of high-quality cucumbers. Many vegetable growers plant this hybrid in their gardens, while the largest quantities of Lastochka cucumbers are grown in greenhouses.

Don't use seeds from last year's harvest, as they are a hybrid; plants grown from these seeds will not produce fruit. You should purchase seeds from the producer each year.

Vegetable growers who have been cultivating the cucumber hybrid "Lastochka" for many years have excellent reviews and point out a number of advantages. Important benefits include:

1. Resistance to temperature fluctuations.
2. High resistance to infection and development of common fungi.
3. Unique taste and versatility in use.
4. Early ripening makes it possible to eat cucumbers already in the first days of summer.
5. Easy care.

The main thing is to provide the plant crop with a sufficient amount of nutrients and moisture, then the hybrid will bear fruit well, and the cucumbers will be healthy.

The hybrid variety Lastochka tolerates sudden changes in weather conditions well. It is immune to:

1. Powdery mildew.
2. Cucumber mosaic.
3. Peronosporosis.

To ensure a rewarding harvest, you need to understand the plant's characteristics and follow planting and care guidelines. Swallow, like other cucumbers, thrives in warmth, but this hybrid variety is adapted to various regional conditions and thrives in the garden, even without cover.

Agricultural technology

Sow seeds when the temperature at the top of the soil is at least 12 ^OTraditionally, sowing begins around May 15th; in northern regions, planting occurs in early June. The seeds are placed in the soil to a depth of 20 mm. Six plants are planted per square meter. Cucumber rhizomes are located close to the soil surface, so cultivating the soil near the roots is prohibited to avoid damaging them.

You cannot plant cucumbers in a place where they previously grew:

• carrot;
• bean crops.

The sprouts will emerge approximately a week after sowing. The main shoot can reach up to 1.5 m in length. To simplify care and harvesting, it is recommended to tie the vines to a trellis or other supports. Swallowtails are planted in rows. Three seeds should be planted per hole. Leave plenty of space between plants, as the vines will creep. Leave approximately 500 mm between adjacent holes.

Care instructions

To ensure that the harvest is good and the plants do not die, you should systematically carry out watering. If the bushes are experiencing a lack of liquid, then:

• flowers begin to fall;
• the foliage becomes darker;
• the ovaries do not develop.

Overwatering can deplete the soil of oxygen, causing the foliage to become pale. Furthermore, excess soil moisture can lead to root rot. Sudden changes in temperature and humidity can cause the fruit to become bitter. Water with warm, settled water. Drip irrigation is preferred for cucumbers. Afterward, weeds should be removed.

Weeds take away useful elements from the soil that cucumber bushes need for healthy development.

Fertilizers

The hybrid plant requires timely fertilization. After planting the seeds, apply fertilizer. To enhance nutrient absorption, dig small trenches around the bushes and add nutrients. When the seedlings reach 400 mm, remove lateral shoots. During flowering, trim off the lower foliage. Despite the plant's resistance to diseases and pests, the plants are treated with special compounds for preventative purposes.

Fertilize as the plant grows

To maximize the quality of cucumber fruiting, they need to be fed throughout the growing season. This is important even after the plant begins to set fruit. To ensure a bountiful harvest, it's crucial to know which fertilizers to use for the fruiting Swallow. After fruit sets have formed, the cucumber should be fed twice. Once to increase and improve fruit quality, and the second time to extend the fruit's lifespan. It's recommended to use several types of fertilizers for each application, and choose according to the needs of the vegetable. During this time, the cucumber requires minerals, especially K, Mg, and N.

Fertilization at the beginning of fruiting

Organic fertilizers that work well include compost or infusions at a 1:5 ratio, diluted mullein, or ash. Among the abundant minerals, the following are good choices:

1. Potassium nitrate – 25-30 g per bucket of water.
2. Urea – 50 g per bucket of water.

These fertilizers must be applied to moist soil, then the effect of their use will be higher.

To know how feed cucumbers with ashIt's important to understand the subtleties. Simply dilute 250 grams of ash in a bucket of settled water, stir, and water. This feeding of cucumbers can be done in the garden and greenhouse every six weeks.

Fertilizing to prolong fruit production

It's possible to stimulate re-blooming after harvesting. The following fertilizers should be applied:

1. Wood ash – 200 g per 10 l of water.
2. Infusion of rotted hay, aged for 2 days.
3. Baking soda solution – 30 g per 10 l of water.
4. Urea – 15 g per bucket of water (apply on top).

A non-standard treatment for cucumbers during fruiting is the use of a yeast solution (10 g per bucket of water) or bread soup. This method is becoming increasingly popular among vegetable growers.

Knowing what to feed a hybrid during fruiting will prevent gardeners from encountering problems with poor growth or yellowed or deformed fruits.

How to increase crop yields

The hybrid variety "Lastochka" will produce better fruit if the roots are more actively absorbing nutrients. Small channels should be created around the bushes. After planting, fertilize:

• potassium;
• phosphorus.

These elements promote fruit formation. To increase fruit production, the first set of ovaries should be removed. When the hybrid reaches 400 cm in height, remove the side shoots. During flowering, remove the lower leaves and pinch the tops.

With proper care, the Swallow produces crispy and tasty gherkins that are perfect for salads and preserves.

Reviews

Peter, 50 years old

I decided to plant the Lastochka hybrid this year. I have a huge greenhouse, so space was no problem. I watered it generously and frequently, especially since the summer was hot. The cucumbers are not bitter, which I like. I only fed them once because the soil is fertile and loose, and I was afraid to overfeed them. The bushes didn't grow very much, so I tied them to the fence. I picked gherkins every day. I recommend this hybrid.

Lyudmila, 41 years old

I traditionally grow several varieties of cucumbers and tomatoes in the greenhouse. This year, a friend recommended planting the Lastochka F1 hybrid. The cucumbers are firm, crunchy, and not bitter. I've sealed the jars for the winter. Fresh cucumbers can be stored for a long time in the refrigerator. They're easy to care for, no different from regular cucumbers.

Maria, 70 years old

I planted this hybrid for the first time. It's easy to grow—feed, water, loosen the soil, and weed. The gherkins are nice and firm, with no bitterness whatsoever. I canned the fruit; I'll appreciate them for the New Year holidays.

The hybrid cultivar Lastochka F1 is quite popular, despite its relatively recent appearance. With proper care, timely watering, and fertilization, a bountiful harvest of healthy cucumbers is guaranteed.