Productivity and resistance of the cucumber hybrid "Siberian Express f1"

Gardeners in risky farming zones especially value early cucumbers. In short summers, these hybrids begin fruiting quickly, preserving the harvest from the autumn cold. The easy-to-care-for Siberian Express F1 cucumber, bred by Russian breeders, boasts a sprint-like fruiting rate. While cultivation is standard, the plant is distinguished by its disease resistance and high yield. The description outlines the main characteristics of the bunch cucumber, along with recommendations for plant formation and fertilizing.

Description and main characteristics of the Siberian Express F1 hybrid

This parthenocarpic hybrid, presented by the renowned company Gavrish, is a newcomer to the market. Although it was only added to the Russian State Register in 2019, gardeners across the country are familiar with the fruitful Siberian Express. Growing recommendations include all regions of Russia, but it is particularly suitable for high-risk farming zones for cultivation under temporary plastic structures.

The bushes are vigorous and develop like indeterminate plants (with no limit to the length of the main stem). Branching is moderate, with female flowering dominant. Up to 9-11 ovaries form in the axils, but only under favorable growing conditions. The leaves are dark green, large, with slight wavy surfaces and margins.

Cucumbers are 10-13 cm long and dark green. Small, blurred spots and stripes appear on the surface. The bumps are dense and studded with white spines. They weigh no more than 120 g. The flesh is crisp, juicy, and slightly sweet. The flavor is pleasant, with a traditional cucumber aroma.

These versatile cucumbers are suitable for canning, marinating, and pickling. Express cucumbers are delicious in salads and sliced. Once picked, they can be stored for up to 8-12 days without losing their appearance or flavor. They retain their marketability during transportation, making them prized by farmers growing commercial produce. An average bush yields 6-8 kg of fruit.

Features of cultivation

The originator, Gavrish, states in its description that the Severny Express hybrid is best grown in greenhouses. High productivity has been noted when planted in tunnels and open beds. This is important for gardeners living in regions with risky farming, where summers are short and hot spells are often followed by prolonged cool spells.

Sowing seeds and caring for seedlings

The sowing time is determined by the local climate, weather, and the future growing location. Cucumbers should have 2-4 strong leaves and a healthy root system when planted. Seedlings should be no more than 26 days old. Because cucumbers do not transplant well, they are grown in separate containers and then carefully planted into prepared holes.

For soil mixes, use store-bought universal soils for seedlings, or prepare your own substrates. You will need:

• humus;
• peat;
• Well-rotted sawdust (river sand, vermiculite). These components are used to improve soil moisture retention and looseness. Only calcined, coarse-grained sand is used.

Add a complex fertilizer and ash. For every 10 liters of mixture, add one tablespoon of mineral fertilizer (such as nitrophoska) and 0.5 liters of sifted ash. Germinate the seeds before sowing them in pots. Unless the package instructions specifically mention treatment, it's recommended to treat the seeds with a potassium permanganate solution before sowing.

When growing seedlings, maintain a temperature of +20ºC…+22ºC, avoiding fluctuations in temperature. Water regularly, being careful not to spill water on the plants. Also, feed the cucumbers once or twice a day using complex formulas or ready-made fertilizers. There is a wide selection available in stores, so you can choose from general-purpose nutritional formulas or specialized fertilizers for the crop (Agricola No. 5).

Harden off the seedlings 8-10 days before planting by placing them on a veranda or balcony. Harden them off gradually, acclimating them to lower temperatures and new conditions. These seedlings adapt more quickly to greenhouse conditions and are less susceptible to disease.

Caring for the hybrid in the greenhouse and on the beds

There are no significant differences in the cultivation techniques for greenhouse and field cucumbers. The techniques are the same, but when planted under cover, the first harvest of cucumbers occurs more quickly. The planting time is determined by weather conditions: stable warmth, soil warming to 14ºC…16ºC.

Early Siberian Express is planted in heated greenhouses in April, and under plastic or polycarbonate covers in May. In the Moscow region, seedlings can be planted outdoors no earlier than early June, although the exact timing depends on the weather.

In Siberia, the Urals, and the Northwest, the crop is planted in shelters in May, and in open ground no earlier than June 10-12. Fertile soils with a neutral pH are selected. If deacidification is required, lime or chalk is added. High yields are achieved by following crop rotation, alternating crops within the plot.

The best predecessors for cucumber seedlings:

• representatives of the Solanaceae family;
• legumes;
• green manure.

When planting the hybrid in shelters, create a trellis: install supports and stretch wire (it's more convenient than rope, as it doesn't sag). The recommended planting pattern for this variety is 2-3 bushes per square meter.

When planting in ridges, plants are grown in a spreading pattern, with a pattern of 3-4 plants per 1 m².

Care for the crop includes:

• loosening the space between rows (cucumbers respond well to loosening the soil, increasing yield);
• watering;
• top dressing;
• bush formation;
• prevention of diseases and pests.

Watering: Features

Water the plants regularly with warm, settled water. When watering, take into account the condition of the plants, the soil type, and the weather conditions. On hot days, water every day to prevent the plants from wilting. The recommended amount for mature plants is 5-6 liters of water per plant (in hot weather).

The beds are watered as needed, taking into account the amount of precipitation. Water heated in the sun to 20ºC is used. Water from wells, ponds, boreholes, and rainwater is first settled in barrels while simultaneously warmed in the sun.

After watering, the soil is loosened to allow oxygen to reach the root system. Mulching, which involves placing hay, sawdust, or straw between the rows, will simplify maintenance. Mulch protects the beds from drying out, becoming overwatered, and preventing weeds.

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Fertilizing the hybrid

Particular attention is paid to the nutrition of cluster hybrids. The genetically determined ability to form clusters of ovaries manifests itself only with adequate nutrition and adherence to agricultural practices.

At the first stage, nitrogen supplements are essential to promote rapid plant growth and development. Cow manure diluted in water (1:10) or poultry manure (1:15) are used. During the flowering and fruiting stages, potassium and phosphorus (potassium nitrate, superphosphate, and ash) are added to the fertilizer.

How to apply fertilizers:

• 16-18 days after planting seedlings in a greenhouse or garden bed;
• second feeding – after 14-16 days (at the flowering stage of plants);
• third and subsequent feedings – every 10-14 days.

Folk remedies that are effective include watering cucumbers with green "tea" (an infusion of fermented grass), boric acid solutions, and yeast. It's advisable to alternate foliar sprays with root dressings, especially if weather conditions are unfavorable for the crop's growth and development. Ash, used in dry form or as an infusion, is a good gardening aid.

https://youtu.be/AsEB-xqUQIY

Formation of bushes

Bouquet-fruiting cucumbers are trained on a single stem by pinching out the side shoots. The hybrid's originator's description specifically notes that the main crop of Siberian Express grows on the central shoot. Therefore, the standard pattern is as follows:

• in the lower zone of the stem up to 50 cm, all growth points are blinded;
• all emerging lateral shoots are pinched along the entire stem;
• when the main stem reaches the trellis wire, wrap it around it and lower it down;
• pinch off after 15-25 cm.

These hybrids are characterized by rapid growth and simultaneous fruit ripening on the bush. If the plant fails to develop, some of the ovaries turn yellow and die, and yield declines.

Harvesting

A long-awaited moment for gardeners – harvesting their first cucumbers. Siberian Express begins fruiting early; with proper care, the first cucumbers can be picked in just 42 days. Cucumbers can be harvested at the pickle or gherkin stage, or when they reach full biological maturity.

Regular harvesting is recommended, as this promotes faster development of new fruit buds and prevents the plant from becoming overloaded with green fruit. Harvesting fruit daily is the key to an excellent yield, while any delays reduce the plant's productivity.

Advantages and disadvantages

In offering a new hybrid, Gavrish breeders focused on early fruiting and the cucumber's cluster-forming properties. Among the advantages of the Siberian Express F1:

• high yield rates;
• excellent taste;
• early dates of delivery of the first batches of fruits;
• parthenocarpy;
• resistance to major fungal infections (downy and powdery mildew, olive spot);
• sprinting nature of fruiting;
• bouquet type of ovary formation.

Flaws:

• The impossibility of collecting seeds for subsequent sowing. In F1 hybrids, subsequent generations do not retain parental characteristics, and there is no point in collecting seeds for sowing;
• Demanding of proper nutrition. Only with regular feeding will the Siberian Express reach its full potential.

Yields are higher when planting the hybrid in film greenhouses, so it is advisable to follow this recommendation and provide shelter on the site.

Reviews

Elya, Moscow region

I often buy seeds from the Gavrish company. Two years ago, I chose the Siberian Express variety at the store. It's a good early cucumber with a large number of cucumbers. I didn't notice any significant differences from other hybrids; it's just as disease-resistant and produces a lot of fruit.

Ignat, Altai

I only grow cucumbers in garden beds because I think they have the best flavor. I chose the Siberian Express because of the name; I knew it was a cucumber for our climate. As for the harvest, we had a large crop of tasty, small cucumbers. It was a good year for this vegetable, so we pickled a lot of them in jars and ate them in salads all summer. I didn't notice any bunching, although there were plenty of ovaries. Maybe I'm doing something wrong with the feeding.

Elizabeth, Vyborg

I prefer only self-pollinating cucumbers. I bought the Siberian Express because it ripened early, but it didn't really stand out from the others. I grow five Dutch varieties; they're mid-season and used for preserves. This cucumber has started bearing fruit almost as quickly as them. The cucumbers have a good flavor, a pleasant aroma, and a hint of fragrance. Incidentally, this isn't typical of Dutch hybrids, but ours have the distinct aroma of a true cucumber.

The early and productive Siberian Express F1 is a new first-generation hybrid. Its key advantages include early fruiting, cluster-type ovary formation, and good yield.