Cucumber "Aztec f1": planting, growing and care

The cucumber variety "Aztec f1" belongs to parthenocarpic Gherkins were first bred by Dutch breeders. This variety is popular and readily available, producing an excellent yield. The plant is not pollinated by bees, but this does not affect its flavor. The variety is versatile, allowing it to be grown both outdoors and in greenhouses.

Description of the variety

A medium-sized bush with dark green leaves, it reaches a height of up to 2 meters and produces a cluster of up to 5 female flowers. "Aztec f1" is an early-ripening variety and can yield 9 kg per square meter within 50-55 days of sowing. It is also immune to diseases such as white mosaic and powdery mildew, and tolerates sudden changes in temperature and weather conditions. Fruit characteristics include:

• oval-cylindrical shape;
• length 9-15 cm;
• diameter 4-5 cm;
• frequent small bumps with white spines;
• dark green skin with a light coating at the stem;
• without bitterness;
• does not lose density during canning;
• suitable for storage;
• does not spoil during transportation.

Cucumbers are suitable for fresh consumption, and are also suitable for slicing, salads, and pickling.

Preparing seeds and soil

After selecting large seeds for future cucumbers, it's important to ensure they warm up. Store the seeds for one month near heating appliances at temperatures up to 25°C. Next, disinfect them with a garlic infusion—30g of garlic pulp per 100g of cold water. Soak them in the infusion for 1 hour. Alternatively, soak the seeds in a nutrient solution. To do this, wrap them in a cloth and soak them for 12 hours in an infusion of 1 teaspoon of nitrophoska and wood ash per 1 liter of water. Then, treat them by placing them in the cloth and immersing them in warm water. To harden, place the seeds in a damp cloth in a cool place with a temperature of 1 to 5°C for 24 hours.

Before planting in their permanent location, seeds are sown in containers, but individual cups are best. This will reduce damage to the plant roots. The shoots will not stretch if they are exposed to direct sunlight or if they are placed on a windowsill during daylight hours. Depending on the climate zone, seedlings can be planted in a greenhouse in April. Outdoor planting is planned for May. It is important to time the sowing by container (late March), as it is not recommended to keep the future harvest in containers for more than a month.

As a preventative measure, changing the planting locations of vegetables will only be beneficial. Although Aztec f1 cucumbers are resistant to most diseases, insect pests pose a threat to future harvests. The soil should be thoroughly dug, fertilized with nutrients, the greenhouse disinfected, and then ventilated. Planting in open ground during frost season is not recommended. Planting in greenhouses is permitted if located in a sunny location and free from cold winds.

Planting and care

Plant the seedlings in raised beds. Once formed, water them with a copper sulfate solution: 7 g of copper sulfate per 10 liters of water. Leave for 24 hours. Plant vertically, about 4 cm deep, with a distance of at least 50 cm between beds and at least 30 cm between plants. This will prevent the spread of pests should they appear. Cucumbers require plenty of warm water to produce a good harvest: every 8 days during the growing season and every 4 days during the fruiting season. Watering with a strong stream from a hose is not recommended. If water does not permeate the soil well, lightly loosening it with forks or puncturing it is acceptable; the risk of damaging the root system is minimal.

When growing the Aztec f1 variety in greenhouses, fertilize with mineral and organic fertilizers five times per season. One-third of the container is filled with dense grass (preferably young nettle). Next, fill the container with warm, settled water and add Baikal EM1 (50-70 g per 50-liter barrel). Fermentation continues for 4-5 days, after which the infusion is used for fertilizing.

However, in open ground, during temperature fluctuations, fertilizing is not recommended. Cucumbers do not tolerate low temperatures well; their root system poorly absorbs beneficial micronutrients from the soil, which slows the development of the above-ground part. Foliage turns pale, and growth and fruit set are impaired. Therefore, fertilizing during cold snaps is not recommended.

Helpful tips

It's difficult to overestimate the importance of prevention in gardening. It's often easy to underestimate it, risking partial or complete loss of the harvest. Therefore, by following simple rules, you can avoid unpleasant consequences:

• clean and disinfect work equipment before and after work;
• clean greenhouses from pests by burning sulfur candles in the greenhouse;
• regularly remove weeds from the area;
• observe crop rotation;
• burn the remains of old plants on a fire;
• Dig up the soil at the end and beginning of the season, mixing fertilizers and protective mixtures.

In greenhouses, at the beginning of the season, it's recommended to burn metal parts with a torch, especially in corners. Insects like to nest here and lay eggs for future migration to plants and vegetables.

Reviews

Vitaly

I first encountered Aztek last year, and decided to plant it again. The firm, juicy cucumbers were perfect for both table and pickling. They grew without issue, and I fed them four times with dry ash after burning the straw.

Antonina

I was surprised by the variety's disease resistance. Three seasons in a row, not a hint of mosaic disease, considering our region, where this disease is common. The plants were grown outdoors, weeded, fertilized, and watered regularly—all according to the instructions—so there were no problems at all.

The Aztec f1 variety is distinguished by its high yield, low maintenance, and distinctive flavor. The plants are immune to diseases and fungal and viral infections, so prevention is limited to pest control. Despite its simplicity, this vegetable requires proper care, balanced watering, and monitoring during seasonal growth.