Bush Cucumber: Description and characteristics, reviews

There's a whole group of cucumbers known as bush cucumbers. However, the "Kustovoy" variety was developed as a distinct variety back in the USSR by specialists from the Poisk agricultural firm and the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution. It was added to the Russian State Register in 1980. The description and characteristics indicate that "Kustovoy" is not a hybrid. It was developed for private cultivation in open ground. It is not suitable for greenhouses. Reviews indicate that it has proven itself throughout the CIS. Photos taken by gardeners confirm this.

General characteristics

The main difference between the bush cucumber and other varieties is the shape of its shoots. In this regard, it's more like a zucchini. It grows as a bush, with several shoots arising from the root. The shoots are almost never longer than half a meter. The plant doesn't require regular pinching of side shoots or shaping. The leaves are deep green, small, and densely packed.

The ovary is formed near each leaf. The flowers are predominantly female. This variety is bee-pollinated, so it should be grown outdoors where insects have access. The use of plastic covers is only possible in the initial stages.

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Although this variety is advertised as early-ripening, the cucumbers can be harvested 45-50 days after the first shoots appear, which is more typical for mid-season cucumbers. The plant produces its main crop within three weeks. Yield depends on the weather, soil quality, care, and insect activity. On average, it yields 5-6 kg per square meter. The cucumbers are 8-12 cm long and weigh approximately 100 g. However, gardeners can, of course, harvest the gherkins when they reach 7-8 cm in length or allow them to ripen fully, reaching a length of 25 cm and a weight of 300 g.

The fruits of the Kustovoy cucumber are no more bitter than those of any other variety. The skin is thin and delicate. This vegetable is suitable for salads and pickling, but it has a short shelf life. If stored for a long time, it becomes soft and tasteless. Canning cucumbers with airtight lids in jars is not recommended, as there is a high risk of swelling.

Pros and cons

The Bush variety has many more advantages than disadvantages. These include:

1. Hardiness. This variety is undemanding of soil and tolerates heat, drought, and strong winds better than others. It can be planted in remote areas where constant care is not possible. However, it goes without saying that with more careful care, the yield will be higher.
2. Easy care. The plant doesn't require pruning, trellising, or bush training. The shoots don't intertwine, allowing for good sun exposure and ventilation. This reduces the risk of disease. The plant doesn't require any special fertilizers other than those recommended for all cucumbers.
3. Early harvest, uniform ripening of fruits. The plant produces fruit before midsummer, when heat and humidity can cause various diseases to develop on some plants. This reduces the risk of losses.
4. Drought resistance. The plant doesn't require frequent or abundant watering, as its small stems evaporate and require much less water than other varieties. In dry and hot weather, keeping the soil beneath the bush slightly moist is sufficient.

The main drawback of this variety is its inability to be grown in greenhouses. This is because Kustovoy requires bee pollination, and it's difficult to provide access to pollinating insects while maintaining the desired microclimate. Furthermore, Kustovoy is unable to produce the same abundant harvest as modern tall hybrids intended for indoor cultivation.

Cucumbers with long vines can develop new vines, which will later produce ovaries, thereby yielding an additional harvest. Bush cucumbers, on their short vines, form the first spring ovaries, which will complete fruiting. Therefore, this variety is not recommended for farmers looking to make money from selling vegetables. Taking up greenhouse space with them is simply not profitable.

Sustainability

All bush varieties are highly disease-resistant. The "Kustovoy" variety is resistant to various types of rot (including root rot) and bacterial diseases. However, it is vulnerable to powdery mildew and downy mildew. These diseases are caused by pathogenic fungi. Their activity causes gray-brown patches on the leaves, which resemble felt or velvet in texture.

This problem can be combated with serum. Spray it on the leaves and shoots. Plants can be treated similarly with a soap solution. In severe cases, the use of fungicides (such as Fitosporin or Quadris) is advisable. The disease spreads rapidly and, if left untreated, can quickly destroy all plantings.

Plants can also be damaged by insect pests and their larvae. Aphids are the most common. These winged green or black insects, although small, are easy to spot. Clusters of aphids are often found on a bush. They suck the sap from the plants, causing them to die. Ash mixed with chalk in equal quantities can help solve the problem. Dust the affected plants with this mixture.

Another equally common pest is the spider mite. Its ideal habitat is damp, weed-infested soil. When a plant is infested, the entire bush is covered in white webs produced by the insect's specialized glands.

Landing

Since the Kustovoi variety is bee-pollinated, its seeds are fully viable. Therefore, many gardeners prefer to collect seeds from their own harvest. Specialty stores sell two types of seeds: regular and coated. The latter type can be used immediately and requires no preparation before planting. The coatings contain growth stimulants, pesticides (protect against diseases and parasites), and nutrients. This increases seed germination by 10% and yield by 20%. They also provide protection against pests.

Because bush type intended for open groundThere are two ways to plant it. The first is by planting seedlings in mid-spring. To do this, place the seeds in a nutrient-rich substrate. The first shoots should appear about a week later. The soil should be kept slightly moist. Moisten it by spraying with a spray bottle. Then, loosen the soil. Do this carefully to avoid damaging the root system.

In mid-May, when the risk of frost decreases, the seedlings can be transplanted to their permanent location. The distance between cucumbers in a row should be 30 cm or more, and between rows, at least half a meter. It's advisable to prepare the soil in advance. In the fall, dig the soil thoroughly and mix it with horse or cow manure. In the spring, it's helpful to add ash to the holes.

Further care and harvesting

Plants should be watered either immediately after sunrise or shortly before sunset. During the day, moisture will evaporate, damaging leaves and fruit. Allow the water to sit in the sun to warm up before watering. Cold water can cause root rot and plant death. Water should be applied directly to the roots. Avoid getting water on leaves and shoots, as this will burn tissue like a lens. After watering, loosen the soil.

To increase the plant's yield, fertilize it. A week after the first shoots appear, apply potassium fertilizer. This will stimulate the growth of young plants and help strengthen the roots. When growing cucumbers from seedlings, the first application of fertilizer should be made a little earlier. Agronomists recommend fertilizing at different stages of the plant's growing season.

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The optimal time to choose would be:

1. During the period of active shoot growth, mix 15 g of ammonium nitrate with the same amount of potassium chloride and 30 g of superphosphate. Dissolve the mixture in a bucket of water and pour it under the bushes.
2. Flowering period. Mix 500 ml of mullein, steeped for two weeks, with 1 tablespoon of nitrophoska and add a bucket of water. If flowering is weak, you can add an additional 0.5 g of boric acid.
3. Vegetable ripening period. Chop any young herbs, soak them in water, and let them steep for 10 days. Then mix 1 liter of this infusion with ash and add 10 liters of water.

Before applying fertilizer, the beds should be thoroughly watered with plain water. This will prevent the fertilizer components from burning the roots. Additionally, foliar feeding is necessary. Superphosphate, potassium nitrate, boric acid, and zinc sulfide can be used for this purpose. These substances should be dissolved in water and then sprayed onto the plants.

The harvest should be done every 2-3 days. If not done promptly, the plant may break under the weight of the fruit, leading to premature death. Furthermore, regular, frequent harvesting stimulates the growth of new fruit. Pick the cucumbers carefully, being careful not to damage the plant. Scissors can be used for this. It is also recommended to remove any yellowed leaves. Cucumbers can be stored in a cellar near a container of liquid or in the refrigerator. The shelf life is no more than a week.

Reviews

Victor, 48 years old

Last year, I planted several cucumbers of this variety. I liked that the bush doesn't grow too much. The plant doesn't need staking, and the fruit is easy to pick. I'm also pleased that the cucumbers store well and don't spoil. To ensure a bountiful harvest, I watered the plants every two weeks with a solution of half milk and half water. As a result, the plants remained disease-free, and the yield was average. Basically, I'm growing them for myself, not for sale, and that was enough for me.

Mikhail, 32 years old

We've been growing this variety for many years. It's perfect for our small plot. Even the fully grown plants don't take up much space. Two years ago, to save water, we mulched the cucumbers with sawdust. This caused dampness, and the plants started getting sick. Last year, we bought a drip irrigation system, and I'm still thrilled with it. This system reduces water consumption, and the soil stays moist longer. This has allowed us to save water and prevent cucumber diseases.

Growing the Bush variety requires little knowledge or experience, making it ideal even for novice gardeners. The plant is hardy and completely undemanding. It boasts high phytoimmunity. While it yields less than hybrids, it doesn't lack flavor or aroma. Agronomists claim that the Bush variety is one of the healthiest and tastiest varieties available.