Features and benefits of the hybrid cucumber variety "Petersburg Express f1"

Petersburg Express F1 is included in the state register of vegetable crops intended for cultivation in home gardens and farms. It is suitable for indoor cultivation. It is recommended for all regions of Russia, as well as other CIS and neighboring countries, as it tolerates cold well.

Features of the hybrid

Petersburg Express F1 is an early-ripening first-generation hybrid, bearing fruit in just 38-40 days after the first shoots emerge. It is cold-hardy and tolerates spring frosts. One to three ovaries form per truss. The bush is not characterized by extensive branching or abundant foliage.

An indeterminate hybrid with vigorous growth, it reaches a height of approximately 1.5 m, although with proper care it can grow up to 2 m. It has weak branching and a medium amount of foliage.

Leaf blades:

• medium size;
• bright green color;
• without pronounced wrinkling.

Limited growth of lateral shoots significantly simplifies plant care, as pinching and blinding are needed much less frequently. The ovaries are arranged in clusters.

Information about the fetus

The fruits of the Petersburg Express F1 are cylindrical and dark green with white stripes covering a quarter of the fruit. The cucumbers have large, but widely spaced, tubercles and black spines. The gherkin-type fruits are short, reaching about 8-10 cm in length, weighing approximately 80-90 g, and 3 cm in diameter.

Cucumber pulp:

• crispy;
• dense consistency;
• without pronounced bitterness.

The fruits of the Petersburg Express F1 variety retain their shape and size throughout the entire fruiting period, never becoming overgrown or overripe. These cucumbers have an excellent flavor and retain their flavor even when pickled, marinated, or cooked. They are suitable for fresh consumption. Harvesting begins 38 days after the first shoots emerge. Harvesting should be done at one-day intervals.

Cucumbers' small size makes them ideal for canning. They can be stored for long periods without losing their flavor or physical properties. This makes them ideal for use in salads and fresh eating.

Productivity is about 12.5 kg per m²This depends on care, growing conditions, frequency of feeding and watering.

Main advantages of the variety:

• resistance to bacterial wilt, powdery mildew and root rot;
• ease of cultivation.

The cost of the seeds is quite impressive, but compared to the taste and other positive aspects, this disadvantage does not seem significant.

Plant resistance to diseases

The greatest danger of the variety is fusarium, rhizoctonia, ascochyta leaf spot, and pythium. Ascochyta leaf spot causes gray spots to appear on the leaves, which eventually affect the entire leaf blade. A black fungus then develops, killing the hybrid's fruit. The main disease control measures are:

• soil disinfestation;
• spraying cucumbers with Bordeaux mixture (5 g of the product per 10 liters of water).

If the disease is detected at an early stage, the leaves can be treated with copper-chalk powder (in a 1:1 ratio).

Diseases can develop if cultivation guidelines and preventative measures are not followed. Gamair and other biological products that help disinfect the soil can be used for prevention.

When infected with rhizoctonia, the plant becomes covered with yellow spots that gradually turn brown. The root collar begins to turn yellow and dry out.

Fusarium wilt is difficult to cure, so affected parts are simply destroyed. To prevent this, the soil is disinfected.

Main pests:

• mole cricket;
• whitefly;
• aphid;
• slugs;
• ants
• spider mites.

Slugs can be controlled by sprinkling the beds with tobacco; rosemary and allspice also help. Proper feeding is essential—avoid using pure animal manure. It must be diluted to prevent the plant's root system from rotting and inviting slugs. Finished beds are sprinkled with a hard, fine material, such as ash or crushed eggshells.

Whiteflies reproduce quickly; when they appear, leaves turn yellow and become covered with a characteristic coating. They can be controlled with an onion or garlic decoction.

Ants enrich the soil, destroy some parasites, loosen the soil, but at the same time they carry aphids and spoil the seedlings. Method ant control - a mixture of sugar and boric acid.

A soap solution helps against mole crickets. Tobacco and chamomile are used as a preventative against bedbugs. Aphids are destroyed by hot peppers, garlic, and tobacco. The pest lives in anthills or fallen leaves. It attacks both stems and leaves, sucking out their sap.

Features of cultivation

In cool climates, the Petersburg Express F1 variety is grown using seedlings. Planting time is determined based on the region's climate.

Seedlings are usually sown in early April. The seeds should be planted at a depth of about 1 cm. For this, use small pots with a soil mixture containing:

• humus;
• river sand;
• turf soil.

For germination, it is necessary to maintain the air temperature at around +22 ^ODuring the day and around +17 ^OWith the night.

Before planting, the soil should be evenly moistened. After the first shoots appear and during active growth, maintain the temperature above 14°C. ^ODuring growth, apply one or two applications of nitrogen-containing fertilizer. After the third leaf forms, add soil up to the cotyledon level to strengthen the root system.

Seedlings are planted in the ground 15-20 days after the last spring frost. Space plants about 30 cm apart, and rows 50 cm apart. The cotyledons are positioned at ground level. The soil should be loose and neutral (optimum pH is 5.5; if there are any deviations, add lime, chalk, gypsum, etc.).

The root system of the St. Petersburg Express F1 is close to the surface, so loosening the soil must be done very carefully to avoid damaging it. This ensures air access and regulates humidity.

Feed the plants once every 8-10 days:

• mineral;
• nitrogenous;
• phosphorus;
• organic fertilizers.

The first feeding is done two weeks after planting. The plants need to be weeded; wood fiber and sawdust can be used to prevent growth.

Watering is necessary Warm, settled water in the evening. Drip irrigation from a watering can is the optimal method. Water the plant generously, at least three times a week. On sandy and clay soil, water more frequently, but with less water. Reduce the frequency and volume of waterings if flowering is delayed; increase the amount of water as the air temperature rises.

Reviews

Anastasia Safronova, 36 years old

Petersburg Express F1 is a wonderful variety. It's easy to care for, and the cucumbers grow to be delicious, with a hint of sweetness. I use them in every way possible, but I especially love adding them to salads. They're easy to preserve, and their small size means even a small jar holds a decent amount.

Alexander Sharutenko, 56 years old

I love this variety for its low maintenance. It does require some care, of course, but it's much easier than other cucumbers. I usually harvest 13 kg, which is enough to preserve for our whole family. We don't use them in salads, but they're very good pickled—firm and crunchy. They also look very beautiful; the entire harvest is virtually uniform in size and color.

Stanislav Vasiliev, 62 years old

The early maturity and yield are my favorite aspects of this variety. In just over a month, I grow several dozen kilograms of cucumbers, most of which are immediately pickled, and the rest I give away to friends and children. This variety also quickly became a favorite for my young grandchildren, who always complained about bitter cucumbers.

Petersburg Express F1 is a good variety with many advantages. It produces a fairly large harvest in a short period of time, is easy to care for, and is suitable for beginning gardeners and vegetable growers. With proper care, this variety is resistant to diseases and pests, yielding approximately 13 kg per m.², which is sufficient for both pickling and fresh consumption.