Description and characteristics of the Courage cucumber variety: planting and care

The "Kurazh" cucumber is a first-generation hybrid that has gained popularity for its ability to produce a bountiful harvest even in adverse weather conditions. Not only according to its description but also according to farmers' reviews, it easily tolerates both rain and prolonged heat. With proper planting and care, approximately 18-20 kg of marketable, short-fruited cucumbers, as pictured, can be harvested from one square meter.

"Courage F1": biological description

This hybrid is the Russian agrofirm Gavrish's best achievement in cucumber breeding. Its development allowed specialists to stabilize yields thanks to its cluster-type ovaries and self-pollination. The latter is crucial in rainy conditions, where insects are scarce, and in greenhouses. The hybrid was added to the State Register of Seeds of the Russian Federation in 2002 and is recommended for cultivation in all regions.

Bushes

Indeterminate plants have an unlimited main stem growth. The latter has moderate branching. Sturdy shoots are covered with medium-sized, green leaves with irregularly serrated edges. Flowering is female. The hybrid is parthenocarpic—pollination is not required, making 'Courage' suitable for growing indoors. Ovaries develop in clusters, in the leaf axils.

Fruit

This hybrid produces 2 to 8 cylindrical cucumbers per node. The length of the fruit is 14-15 cm, and the diameter is approximately 4.5 cm. Marketable cucumbers weigh 110-150 g. The dark green skin is covered with "smeared" silvery stripes and frequent tubercles. The pubescence is white. The crisp, light-colored flesh has an intense cucumber aroma and is free of bitterness when properly watered.

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Features and specifications

The first-generation hybrid "Kurazh" is resistant to adverse conditions. Technical maturity occurs 40 days after emergence or transplanting. The cucumber has good immunity to powdery mildew and root rot. However, if cultivation practices are improper, vegetable growers report damage from fusarium, bacterial wilt, and anthracnose.

Productivity, taste, purpose

This early hybrid boasts high productivity. Approximately 15-20 kg of marketable cucumbers can be harvested from a single square meter of land in private farms. With intensive cultivation, this yield of 10 kg per plant increases to 40-50 kg/m2 in greenhouses and large agricultural enterprises. "Kurazh" has a sweet, pleasant flavor and a strong aroma characteristic of the variety. The cucumbers are versatile: they are suitable for fresh consumption (salads, sliced), pickling, and canning.

Advantages and disadvantages

The hybrid is productive and promising. It has a wide range of advantages. However, vegetable growers also note several disadvantages.

Table: Pros and cons of a hybrid

Sowing cucumbers

Sowing technology, seed and soil preparation, and proper site selection influence the quality and quantity of the early cucumber harvest. It's also important to incorporate the crop into your vegetable crop rotation. Optimal predecessors for the "Kurazh" hybrid include potatoes, peas, soybeans, cabbage, and mustard. Avoid planting cucumber beds after pumpkin crops, as there's a high risk of infection from specialized pests.

Site selection and soil treatment

A sunny site with some shade during the midday heat, when the sun's rays are most intense, is chosen for cucumbers. The soil is prepared in the fall by spreading 200 g of wood ash, 4 kg of compost, and 100 g of nitroammophoska per square meter. The area is then dug to the depth of a spade. In the spring, after the snow melts, the area is harrowed to incorporate moisture. In northern regions, the beds are covered with plastic to help the soil warm up faster.

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Preparation of seed material

Purchase hybrid seeds from trusted retailers. To ensure uniform germination, the seedlings must be prepared in advance. Key steps:

1. Disinfection in a saline solution - the seeds are kept in it for about 20 minutes.
2. Treatment with manganese – soaking in the solution strengthens the immunity of future plants.
3. Germinating seeds with boric acid (baking soda) - wrap the seeds in gauze soaked in the solution, making sure the gauze does not dry out until the sprouts appear.

Technology and timing of sowing

Field work begins once the soil temperature reaches 14°C, which typically occurs in late April or early May, depending on the climate of the growing region. Two planting methods are used:

1. Horizontal planting: Prepare holes 40 cm apart, 2-3 cm deep. After the seedlings (3-4 seeds per hole) are covered with soil, they are watered and covered with plastic wrap until sprouts appear. After two weeks, the seedlings are thinned out, leaving the strongest ones. The advantage of this technique is that it saves time and effort on shaping the bush, as the shoots spread along the ground.
2. Vertical: furrows are made 1 m apart. Seeds are sown 15 cm apart. After sprouts emerge, they are thinned out. This method involves trellising, staking, and shaping the plants.

Caring for the crop

To ensure proper plant development and a full harvest of uniform, tasty fruit, cucumbers require regular care. The "Courage" hybrid has its own unique characteristics: to prevent the cucumbers from tasting bitter, water generously during certain stages of development. When grown on trellises or special wooden nets, the bush must be trained.

Watering

The optimal irrigation system is drip irrigation: water is applied to the roots in measured doses. This ensures that the soil remains moist throughout the growing season, reducing the formation of an air-tight crust. If drip irrigation is not possible, water the plants from a watering can, avoiding contact with the shoots. The water should be settled and not cold. The plant needs moisture especially during the flowering and fruiting stages.

Soil treatment

Maintain good aeration and cleanliness around the tree trunks by regularly loosening and weeding the soil. The first soil cultivation is carried out after the seedlings emerge, to a depth of 2-3 cm. Do not insert garden tools deeper, as this can damage the shallow root system. Loosen the soil only after it has become moist.

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Bush formation

Indeterminate plants are pinched when grown vertically, as their growth is unlimited. The first four leaf axils are "blinded." The ovaries in subsequent nodes are left, and the shoots are removed. In the last three axils, all flowers and side shoots are removed. A 2-meter-high trellis is twined around the main stem, which is pinched twice at the end.

Top dressing

Fertilization is an important agricultural practice that ensures abundant and long-lasting fruiting. The soil is nourished with macro- and microelements three times during the growing season:

1. 14 days after the emergence of seedlings, the plants are fed with an infusion of mullein made from 1 kg of the product and 10 liters of water.
2. During flowering, superphosphate is added to the tree trunk circles.
3. During the fruiting phase, wood ash, rich in phosphorus, potassium and additional microelements, is added to the fertilizer.

Protection from diseases and pests

The "Courage" hybrid is resistant to many pests. However, if crop rotation and basic care aren't followed, plants weaken. Fusarium and anthracnose are observed on cucumber shoots, but fungicides can slow their progression. Insecticides will protect the bushes from aphid attacks. To ensure a high-quality harvest, preventative spraying is recommended. Otherwise, the disease can develop after flowering, when effective pesticides are no longer suitable.

Harvesting and storage

The first fruits are harvested 35-40 days after germination or rooting of the seedlings. The harvest is done in the morning or evening, when sunlight is not strong. Regular harvesting (every other day, or daily during peak season) prolongs fruiting, as new ovaries are rapidly forming in their place. However, if the fruits are left on the vine for a short time, they will not outgrow the fruit.

Store the harvest for fresh consumption in the refrigerator. In the produce section, where the temperature is maintained between 5-6°C, the cucumbers retain their nutritional value for 7-10 days. Most of the harvest is used for preserves and various types of canning. When grown on an industrial scale, the harvested fruits are stored in vegetable storage facilities with a temperature of around 0°C and good ventilation, from where they can be transported to stores or processing plants within 20 days.

Reviews

Sergey, 36 years old

I grow cucumbers in my garden plot for sale. To save space, I chose vertical cultivation. Since this hybrid can become bitter due to lack of moisture, I set up drip irrigation. Now, with standard care (fertilizing, weeding), I get 25-30 centners per 100 square meters.

Alina, 32 years old

We recently bought a private house. A neighbor recommended planting several different vegetable plants in the first year. For cucumbers, I settled on the "Kurazh" hybrid. Since I have no gardening experience, I didn't expect a large harvest. I didn't train the plants; I simply let them grow on the ground. I was pleasantly surprised to harvest 6-7 kg of uniform, sweet cucumbers per plant.

Peter, 62 years old

Due to the intense development of powdery mildew, the cucumber harvest of other varieties suffered. Only the "Kurazh" hybrid showed good results, demonstrating resistance to the pathogen. By the first half of June, I was already eating cucumbers straight from the garden.

"Kurazh" is a high-yielding hybrid with excellent taste and marketability. It is ideal for cultivation in both home gardens and on farms, provided irrigation systems are properly established in arid regions.