Cucumbers "Zanachka f1": recommendations for growing and care

Early cucumber varieties are especially popular with gardeners, as they can produce their first harvests of cucumbers as early as June. Zanachka F1 cucumbers, according to the description, require pollination, but are easy to care for. When sowing and planting dates and growing guidelines are followed, the plants produce large quantities of knobbly, crisp cucumbers. Reviews of the variety are positive, with particular praise given to the hybrid's ability to quickly adapt to a variety of conditions.

Description and main characteristics

The Zanachka hybrid appeared on the market thanks to the efforts of breeders at the Gavrish agricultural firm. An application for approval was filed in 2007, and the variety was included in the State Register in 2008. Gavrish's products are well known among Russian gardeners. Popular hybrids, in addition to Zanachka F, include self-pollinating cucumber varieties such as Karambol, Posol, Magnit, and Atlet, which also require pollination. Gardeners note the quality and good germination of the seeds.

This hybrid has medium-sized bushes with highly branched lateral shoots. Its flowering pattern is mixed, but it features a high density of female flowers on the main stem and lateral shoots. The foliage is dense. The leaves are dark green, medium-sized, and slightly wavy. Ovaries form in axils in groups of 2-3.

The cylindrical cucumbers reach approximately 10-12 cm in length and no more than 3.5 cm in diameter. They weigh up to 130 g. The pimples are sparse and covered with white spines. They belong to the large-tuberculate cucumber varieties.

The taste is pleasant, slightly sweet, with a distinct cucumber aroma. According to reviews, the main use of Zanachka F1 is for preserves, although these cucumbers are also delicious fresh, in salads, and sliced. The name is no coincidence: these cucumbers are used for "stashes," pickling, marinating, and preserving for the winter.

With proper care, 10-11 kg of fruit can be harvested per square meter. This variety is easy to store and suitable for transportation.

Gardeners report good results when planting cucumbers under shelters (film or polycarbonate greenhouses). In temperate climates, this method yields early harvests and extends the harvest period. Cucumbers ripen early, with fruits harvested in 38-40 days. They continue to bear fruit until frost sets in.

Agricultural technology of the Zanachka F1 hybrid

Although bee-pollinated cucumbers require more attention, gardeners plant different varieties in their beds and greenhouses every year. These cucumbers have several advantages over parthenocarpic varieties: they are tastier and more aromatic, so they remain popular.

The crop is grown primarily from seedlings; only in southern regions are the seeds sown directly into the ground. Sowing seedlings and then planting them allows for an early harvest of cucumbers and extends the harvest period.

Sowing cucumber seedlings

The sowing season for cucumbers begins in late April, but the exact timing depends on the local climate and the planting location. When grown in greenhouses, sow in mid- to late April; when planting in open-ground beds, sow for seedlings no earlier than early May.

Approximate dates for sowing seeds:

• in the middle zone for heated greenhouses - from April 12-15;
• in the middle zone for planting in ridges - at the beginning of May;
• In the Northwest, Siberia, and the Urals, seeds for seedlings are sown in early May.

For sowing, prepare peat pots, plastic cups, and paper cups. The containers should hold 0.5 liters to allow the plants' roots to develop freely. Cucumbers are sown directly into separate containers, as they do not tolerate transplanting well. Sowing in peat pots is convenient: the seedlings' roots are not damaged, and they are planted directly into the soil in containers filled with nutritious soil. When planting from plastic cups, use the transshipment method, removing the seedlings with the root ball still attached.

When preparing the mixtures yourself, take:

• turf or leaf soil;
• humus (peat);
• coarse river sand, vermiculite.

When growing seedlings, maintain the temperature regime and the required level of lighting. Water moderately, as the soil in the pots dries out.

Fertilize as needed, as plants grow quickly in well-fertilized soil and require no additional feeding. If growth is slow, feeding with Agricola No. 5 seedling fertilizer is recommended.

About a week before planting, cucumbers are brought outside. Hardening begins with 20-30 minutes, then gradually increases the duration. Hardening promotes rapid plant adaptation after planting and boosts plant immunity.

Caring for cucumbers

The basic techniques for caring for a bee-pollinated hybrid are standard:

• irrigation;
• application of fertilizers;
• prevention of diseases and pests;
• weeding;
• formation of bushes.

It is necessary to ensure complete pollination of the crop, otherwise the harvest will be small.

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Recommendations for agricultural technology:

1. Carefully select a site for the crop. Select a sunny area with some partial shade for cucumbers.
2. The beds are prepared in the fall: plant debris is removed, the soil is dug up, and fertilizer is added.
3. To deoxidize the soil, dolomite flour, chalk, and slaked lime are added to the soil.
4. Cucumbers are planted when the soil warms up to +14ºC…+15ºC.
5. When planting seedlings in shelters, supports and trellises are installed in advance.

Agronomists recommend rotating the location of cucumbers each year, alternating vegetable plantings within the plot. Good results are achieved by sowing cucumber beds in the fall with green manure: mustard, rye, or winter oats. Before the cold weather sets in, the plants are dug into the soil, creating a fertile patch of soil in the spring.

Plant 2-3 bushes per square meter. When growing the Zanachka F1 hybrid in greenhouses, it is necessary to plant a pollinator cucumber alongside it. The planting pattern is unimportant; what's important is that plants with a high number of male flowers grow nearby in the same bed. Popular hybrids include Shmel, Nectar, and Casanova.

Watering

Particular attention is paid to watering cucumbers. Demanding of air and soil moisture, the plants require regular irrigation, but not overwatering. Before flowering, water at a rate of approximately 6-8 liters per square meter. In sheltered areas, water more frequently, and in garden beds, adjust for rainfall. If sunny days alternate with rainy ones, the plants will receive sufficient moisture from precipitation and do not require additional watering.

After flowering and at the beginning of the fruiting stage, water generously, 4-6 liters per plant. Humidity levels in the shelters should be monitored; they should not exceed 85%.

It is recommended to mulch the spaces between rows using mown grass, sawdust, or peat. Mulching prevents the soil from drying out and eliminates weed growth. It improves the soil structure, prevents the formation of a hard crust, and significantly simplifies the process. caring for cucumbers.

Fertilizing

During the growing season, cucumbers are fertilized 4-5 times. The crop is demanding in terms of nutrition, but high-yielding hybrids produce high yields with frequent fertilization.

At the beginning of the growing season, cucumbers need nitrogen, so organic fertilizers are recommended (bird droppings diluted 1:15, mullein 1:10). From the moment of flowering onward, potassium-phosphorus compounds are predominantly applied: superphosphate, wood ash, potassium sulfateIt's convenient to use ready-made formulations that contain the necessary nutritional components for the crop:

• Agricola;
• Kristalon;
• Ideal.

Supporters of organic farming use an infusion of fermented nettles for feeding wood ash, ash infusion, boric acid solutions, yeast. To protect cucumber plantings from diseases and pest attacks, treat plants with fungicides, regularly ventilate greenhouses, remove leaves and cut vines.

Plant formation

The bee-pollinated hybrid is pruned according to the breeder's recommendations. The lower tier of the plant is pruned (to a height of 50 cm), removing leaves, ovaries, and side shoots.

Lateral shoots pinch:

• 1-2 leaves and ovaries are left on the central stem (up to 1 meter);

• over a meter - pinch off 2 leaves and the same number of ovaries;
• over 1.5 m, leave 3 leaves and 3 ovaries.

As soon as the top reaches the trellis, it is wrapped around the wire, lowered down and after about 10-15 cm, it is also pinched.

Pollination of cucumber

Parthenocarpic and bee-pollinated varieties should not be planted together in the same bed. Otherwise, bee-pollinated varieties may produce misshapen fruits. Bees are used for pollination.

For cucumbers in the garden, this is easier. In greenhouses, open the vents and doors, and spray the plants with a honey-sugar solution. Planting honey plants near the greenhouses produces good results.

On cloudy days, when insects are absent, pollinate the bushes by hand. Use a brush to carefully transfer pollen from the male to the female flowers. Male flowers appear and open earlier, while female flowers open a little later. The difference between them is simple: the presence of an ovary on the stem after the flower in female flowers (a thickening). Male flowers have a stem without thickening.

Fruit picking

The first Zanachka greens ripen approximately 40 days after germination. Subsequent fruiting continues to increase until autumn.

Cucumbers are harvested as they ripen, taking care not to delay harvesting. Most modern hybrids are not prone to overripening, although they may turn slightly yellow and develop "barrel" fruits if not harvested regularly. Timely harvesting not only prevents these cucumbers from appearing but also promotes the formation of more ovaries.

Advantages and disadvantages

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This bee-pollinated hybrid is suitable for cultivation in all regions of Russia. Reviews indicate that it produces well in both garden beds and indoors, adapts quickly to various conditions, and produces a consistent harvest.

Advantages:

• high yield (up to 12 kg/m²);
• excellent taste characteristics;
• early collection dates;
• resistance to sudden temperature changes;
• keeping quality;
• long fruiting period;
• high product characteristics;
• resistance to major crop diseases.

The following are noted as disadvantages:

• Lack of parthenocarpy. To achieve high yields, it is necessary to attract bees and provide pollinators. In small plots, hand pollination of the bushes is advisable;
• The inability to collect seeds for subsequent sowing. F1 hybrids do not retain parental traits in subsequent generations. New seeds are purchased every year.

The manufacturer's catalogue notes Zanachka F1's resistance to root rot, downy mildew, powdery mildew, and VOM.

Reviews

Elena, Kirzhach

I bought Zanachka solely because of the name. I've grown cucumbers from "Gavrish" before, and I have nothing bad to say about it. The variety performed very well, but you have to pick them every day. My cucumbers started to grow in July, but I couldn't get out to the dacha. I arrived and there were tons of cucumbers, and they were already starting to turn yellow. Otherwise, I recommend this variety for planting.

Alexander Vladimirovich, Aleysk

For an experiment, I sowed cucumbers directly into the garden bed. I sowed them in June and covered them with white vegetable cloth. In the greenhouse, the cucumbers were already large, but in the garden bed, Zanachka was just starting to grow. Germination was good, and then they started growing. The bed became a veritable carpet of green, and they blossomed evenly. They were almost on par with greenhouse cucumbers in terms of volume, and it was a hot summer, too. So, this variety is perfect for open beds.

Olga, Balakhna

A neighbor gave me five seedlings. She gave them with good intentions, so I had a lot of cucumbers. They were planted in the greenhouse, along with the tomatoes. I know this isn't a good neighbor, but for now, it's the only way. But the fruit grew in abundance, enough for canning and fresh eating. I'll definitely buy this variety myself next year.

The Zanachka F1 cucumber is popular with gardeners across the country. Its advantages include excellent taste, high yields with proper care, and resistance to infections.