Paratunka F1 is a hybrid developed by the Semko-Junior agricultural firm. It was added to the State Register in 2006. The official description and characteristics indicate that it can be grown in the Middle Volga, Northern, Northwestern, Volga-Vyatka, Central Black Earth, North Caucasus, and Central regions. Although this cucumber variety was initially considered a greenhouse variety, it was eventually discovered that it thrives outdoors as well. Reviews and photos indicate that it produces a bountiful harvest of marketable cucumbers.
Description
Paratunka F1 is a parthenocarpic hybrid. Its ovaries develop without fertilization, so it does not require insect pollination. This allows for indoor cultivation and a bountiful harvest, but it also precludes the use of self-collected seeds. These must be purchased each time, which is quite expensive. The bush itself is compact, indeterminate, medium-sized (up to 2 m), and moderately branched. The leaf blades are small. The high yield is due to the female flowering type, which produces no sterile flowers. It has a tendency to develop clustered ovaries (three or more per node).
The cucumbers ripen early. The harvest is typically 40 days after mass germination. Fruiting is uniform and even, depending primarily on proper agricultural practices. It continues until the first frost. Initially, the yield was stated to be 12 kg/m.2Now it reaches 22 kg and more per 1 m2 (provided that it is grown in a greenhouse).
The green ones have the following parameters:
- length – 8-10 cm;
- diameter – 3 cm;
- weight – 80-100 g;
- shape – cylindrical.
They are characterized by slight ribbing, a dark green color, and light stripes running approximately 1/3-1/2 the length. The skin is thin, covered in tubercles, and has white, prickly spines. The seeds are small and tender, practically unnoticeable, and do not harden over time. The flesh is dense and crisp, without voids. Bitterness is uncommon. Paratunka cucumbers are suitable for eating raw, in salads, pickling, and canning. Canning reveals their best potential. They are not prone to yellowing or over-ripening.
Landing
Paratunka can be grown using either seedlings or direct seedlings. The former method yields an earlier harvest, but it requires a lot of time and effort. Therefore, gardeners often choose the latter option. In most regions of the country, this process is carried out in the first ten days of May. Experienced farmers choose pelleted and encrusted seeds.
They are coated with a shell containing nutrients, growth stimulants, and antifungal and antibacterial agents. These seeds produce more shoots, and plants grown from them are less susceptible to disease. There is no need to prepare the seeds in any way (disinfect, harden, or germinate). After removing them from the packaging, they are immediately placed in the soil.
The soil for cucumbers is prepared in advance. In the fall, manure is added and the soil is thoroughly plowed. When planting, the distance between holes is 25 cm, and between rows, 75 cm.2 Plant 3-4 plants. Make holes 2-3 cm deep and water them with hot water. Then place 2-3 seeds in each hole and cover them with soil. Sprinkle the soil with warm, settled water. After the seedlings emerge, leave one sprout in each hole (select the strongest and most viable one, and remove the others).
To obtain seedlings, seeds are planted in plastic or peat cups. They are filled with leaf mold and garden soil. The bottom is covered with sawdust. The seedlings are transplanted to their permanent location only after they have developed four true leaves. Premature planting will temporarily stunt growth, while delaying planting will result in unnaturally tall plants, making them unviable.
You may be interested in:Seedlings planted on time quickly adapt to new conditions and begin growing within a few days. To prevent cucumbers from getting sick, harden them off a week before planting: take them outside for a couple of hours, then for longer periods. Care is taken to avoid direct sunlight on the tops, as this can cause sunburn.
Further care
Paratunka tolerates both dampness and drought equally well, so soil moisture levels are constantly monitored to prevent the soil from drying out or becoming waterlogged. Only settled, warm water should be used to irrigate the beds, as low temperatures can slow growth and reduce yields. The ideal water temperature is 22-25°C.
Frequency of watering The soil depends on weather conditions. In hot weather, the soil should be moistened daily, using small amounts of water. On cloudy days, the soil should be moistened every 2-3 days. Water should be applied at the roots, being careful not to wet the tops. This should be done either early in the morning or in the evening. This helps prevent burns and disease. To retain moisture in the soil longer, mulch it with dry grass.
Paratunka is demanding of soil, so to ensure a good harvest, gardeners use fertilizer. They usually start with a manure infusion. To do this, fill the container 30% full. manure, then top up with water. Cover the mixture and let it sit for a week, stirring occasionally. Dilute the finished fertilizer with warm water at a ratio of 1:10 and water the beds.
You may be interested in:An infusion of fresh nettles is also used. Young nettles, which have not yet produced seeds, are cut, compacted into a container, and filled to the top with water. The mixture is left in a warm place for a week to ferment. The resulting infusion is diluted with water at a ratio of 1:10, and the grounds are discarded on a compost heap. This fertilizer is used throughout the growing season every two weeks. Organic fertilizers are often alternated with mineral ones, such as Agricola, Rastvorin, and Zdravnem. Weeds are always removed from the beds, as they draw moisture and nutrients from the soil that the plant requires.
To avoid unnecessary disturbance to the plant, immediately after planting the seeds or seedlings, install a support—a trellis with a multi-tiered taut rope. The stems are tied after four pairs of leaves have formed. The vine is raised onto the support and secured with a bandage (not too tightly, to prevent damage). A properly formed bush resembles an inverted pyramid. This is how it's done:
- in the first 4 leaf axils, remove stepsons and flowers;
- in the 5th and 6th axils, lateral shoots are removed and only flowers are left;
- in the next 3 axils, flowering shoots with 1 leaf and ovary are preserved;
- moving higher, the bush is formed according to the principle of a gradual increase in foliage and flowers: on the main vine, one leaf is added every 3;
- the main vine, which has stretched up to the trellis, is tied up and allowed to grow another 20 cm, and then pinched;
- Subsequent manipulations are performed with the lateral processes.
From the beginning of fruiting, the harvest is collected daily. Regular harvesting stimulates the development of new ovaries. This is done in the morning, as this is when the fruits are at their juiciest. They are stored in the refrigerator or in boxes in the cellar. They are not placed in bags, as lack of oxygen leads to rapid spoilage. When stored properly, the shelf life of undamaged cucumbers is 7-10 days.
Sustainability
Paratunka is relatively resistant to most diseases and pests. Problems usually arise when agricultural practices are not followed. In this case, the following may occur:
- powdery mildew - is a consequence of infrequent ventilation;
- downy mildew, cladosporiosis and anthracnose - occur during periods of prolonged rain;
- spider mites - usually appear on dry days;
- Whiteflies attack the tops in any weather.
Treatment is tailored to the individual. For example, fungicides are used for fungal plant infestations, acaricides for spider mites, and insecticides for thrips and whiteflies. Organic farmers use folk remedies for these purposes (ash, onion peel and garlic infusion, and potassium permanganate). Their advantage is their safety, but their disadvantage is their low effectiveness. Therefore, they can be used, but only in the early stages of the problem.
Reviews
Vladislav, 37 years old
I've been planting paratunka at my dacha for several years now. I love its low maintenance. Even though I'm often at work and can't always devote my attention to it, I get a bountiful harvest every time. My wife occasionally waters, pinches, and feeds the bushes. I hill them a couple of times during the growing season. This strengthens the delicate root system and retains moisture longer.
Julia, 50 years old
I've been growing Paratunka F1 for a long time and don't plan to change it. I plant it in a greenhouse, so every spring I have an early harvest of home-grown cucumbers. Usually, there's enough for both food and retail. Last year, the bushes were infested with aphids. I used Fitoverm, a biological control product. I was pleased with the results.
Paratunka's advantages include the pleasant taste of its cucumbers and their versatile use, early maturity and long fruiting period, as well as its resistance to temperature fluctuations. The only drawback of the hybrid is the high cost of its seeds. However, this cost is more than offset by its positive qualities. Therefore, the variety's demand is not waning, but rather growing.
When to plant cucumbers in May 2024 according to the lunar calendar
Cucumbers for a polycarbonate greenhouse: the best varieties for the Moscow region
A catalog of late-ripening cucumber varieties for open beds
Catalog 2024: The Best Bee-Pollinated Cucumber Varieties