Cucumber Othello f1: description and characteristics, reviews

Cucumbers

The Othello F1 cucumber was developed by Dutch breeders in the 1990s. Since 1996, it has been included in the Russian state register and has gained widespread popularity. This hybrid is an early-ripening variety. It can be grown in the southern and northwestern regions of the country, the Urals, and the central part of the country. It can be planted both in open ground and in greenhouses or hotbeds.

Description

This hybrid is not self-pollinating; bees are needed for fruiting. Othello F1 belongs to the early-ripening cucumber group. The fruits are ready for harvesting in just 45 days after germination. This variety is distinguished by excellent branching and medium climbing ability. The main stem is strong, capable of reaching up to 2 meters in length. It can grow both vertically and horizontally. For best growth, it should be tied to some kind of support.

Please note!

The plant itself is quite large and leafy. To prevent fruit rot, it's important to plant it at a distance from each other, allowing it access to soil, moisture, and air.

It has a distinct female inflorescence, yellow in color and bell-shaped. Up to six ovaries can form in each axil. The leaves are small and rich green.

Fruit:

medium size;
cylindrical shape;
the surface is green with a rich hue;
covered with small tubercles with spines along the entire perimeter;
the skin is thin and tender;
There are small whitish stripes.

The fruit grows to 10-12 cm in length, but the size of the finished product depends entirely on the grower. The harvest can be as short as 5 cm or as short as 12 cm. It has no internal cavities and is not prone to them. A cucumber can weigh up to 120 grams.

The pulp is juicy, tender, and perfectly crunchy. The fruit has a fresh, rich, green aroma. The flavor itself is sweet, delicate, and refined, without any bitterness or other distinctive aftertastes.

Othello F1 is suitable for canning, salads, juices, and other summer dishes. It has a long shelf life and is resistant to long transportation. Pickling enhances its flavor, making it a wonderful pickle for holidays and even evening dinners.

Advantages and disadvantages

Yields can reach up to 10 kg per square meter. One of the advantages of these vegetables is their shelf life and consistent fruiting. The harvested fruits do not wilt for a long time. Pollination, both natural and artificial, is essential for a bountiful harvest. They are best grown outdoors.

Advantages:

early ripening period;
good taste;
excellent drought tolerance;
simultaneous fruiting process;
resistance to fungal diseases during growth;
absence of bitterness and viscosity;
good transportability over long distances;
growing on all open and closed surfaces;
standard care;
shelf life.

Resistance to diseases and pests

The variety does not tolerate sudden weather changes and temperature fluctuations well. However, overall, this hybrid is a resilient vegetable. Only during periods of drought does it require more careful watering and care. Othello is resistant to:

powdery mildew;
cucumber mosaic virus;
spotting;
Cladosporiosis.

When transplanted, the hybrid easily adapts to new conditions. The fruits are not prone to overgrowth if harvested on time. Cucumbers are susceptible to attacks by insects such as aphids and shoot flies.

Please note!

The fight against them consists of treating the bushes with special sprays or other protective and preventative means against pests, or using folk methods.

Landing conditions

When planting Othello F1 seeds, choose well-lit and well-ventilated areas to avoid unnecessary crop protection. It's best to plant the plants outdoors to ensure natural pollination by bees. The soil should be:

easy;
according to the pH environment, neutral or slightly acidic;
with good conductivity of moisture and nutrients.

Loam or sandy loam are good options. Sawdust, sand, and rotted leaves can be added to less fertile soils. The best predecessors for cucumbers are eggplant, peppers, cabbage, tomatoes, potatoes, and carrots.

It's important to check the quality of the seed bags for shelf life. They can be disinfected in a garlic pulp solution (3 parts water to 1 part pulp) for approximately 50-60 minutes. Then, it's recommended to saturate the seeds with mineral nutrients by placing them in the prepared solution for 10-12 hours. After this time, rinse them under running water and spread them on cheesecloth to dry and swell.

Advice!

To speed up the ripening of the first harvest, the seed packet should be slightly warmed before planting, allowing it to germinate more quickly and take hold in the soil.

You can harden off Othello F1 overnight before planting by placing the bag on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator, away from the walls. If growing from seedlings, peat pots or other similar containers are ideal for the containers for future cucumbers. The gardener can choose the necessary fertilizer or soil at their own discretion.

It's recommended to adhere to a precise planting pattern to ensure proper growth. Seedlings should be spaced at least 70 cm apart, and staggered spacing is best. Seeds or seedlings can be planted in the soil at a temperature of 14-15 degrees Celsius, typically in late May or June.

Growing

Since Othello F1 bushes have a large growth radius, each seedling should be planted at a sufficient distance from each other so as not to interfere with normal flowering and yield – 50-70 cm.

Features of agricultural technology include:

favorable conditions for planting seeds;
refinement of seedlings;
growing bushes;
plant care;
Features of garter and pruning.

To ensure optimal, rapid, and healthy growth, Othello f1 requires regular, moderate watering. Air temperatures should reach 20°C (68°F) and soil temperatures should reach 14°C (55°F). Warm, not too salty water is best. Water before sunrise in the early morning and after sunset in the evening to prevent scorching of the leaves and stems. Othello f1 does not tolerate excessively wet soil. After each watering, remove any crust that has formed and loosen the soil.

Reviews

Gardeners appreciate Othello for its ease of care and bountiful harvest. They have excellent flavor and can be grown in almost any region.

Anna, 54 years old

I bought a packet of Othello seeds this year to try, my kids recommended it. I haven't tried planting the seeds, only seedlings, but they grew beautifully in peat pots on the windowsill. The cucumbers turned out crisp, without bitterness or other bad flavors, and they're great fresh. I made a couple of preserves for the winter. We opened them – they were just as delicious, maybe even better.

Nikolay, 60 years old

I grow Othello cucumbers in a greenhouse at my dacha. I made beams and tied them up properly. After a while, they produced beautiful cucumbers. I'm glad I chose this particular hybrid at the store. I didn't harvest 10 kg per meter, but something close. They're really not astringent or bitter. My wife pickled them and says they're great for canning.

Othello F1 is a bee-pollinated hybrid variety. The fruits ripen quickly and the bushes require little care. The yield is above average.