Description and characteristics of the Ecole f1 cucumber variety: planting and care

Presented by the Semko agricultural station, the Ecole f1 cucumber is a mid-season, short-fruited hybrid variety with a uniquely short growing season of approximately 48 days. Fruits form on the bush 42-46 days after the green shoots emerge. A bright green color and significant "bumpiness" distinguish this miniature gherkin. Its firm texture prevents the formation of cavities.

Characteristics

Ecole f1 is a self-pollinating, white-stemmed variety distinguished by its compact bush size, bouquet-like color, and vigorous ovary formation (up to 5 per axil). This excellent quality, and since the cucumbers also have an excellent taste when fresh, it can be considered a versatile vegetable.

1. It grows and produces fruit equally well both in the garden and in greenhouse conditions.
2. Commercial properties provided by the combination of the length and width of the cucumber – 3/1.
3. The fruits are not bitter.
4. Resistance to viruses and bacteria: cladosporiosis, mosaic and mealy bacteria.

With proper care, the hybrid yields approximately 20 kilograms per square meter, and when harvested as pickles, around 8 kilograms per square meter. This is achieved due to the short internodes and long fruiting period. The high yield of the hybrid variety allows for pickled cucumbers measuring 40-50 mm in length to be harvested from the bush.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The Ecole F1 cucumber is a good hybrid. It's used for pickling, canning, and fresh consumption. It develops its best flavor when marinated and pickled. The variety's advantages include:

1. You can be sure of a high yield. Each fruiting node guarantees it, thanks to nine ovaries. A large harvest of gherkins is ensured by the bouquet-like color of the flowers.
2. The taste is excellent.
3. The presentation is 75%, and storage is always an excellent companion for quality.
4. Resistance to viral infections and diseases.
5. Easy to grow.

What makes this variety unique is that its fruits stop growing in dry weather and lack of water, but they don't drop like other cultivars. F1 means the seeds are from a first-generation hybrid variety. This means you'll get the maximum number of cucumbers in a small area. However, the collected seeds will not be suitable for planting next year.

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The disadvantages of vegetable crops include:

1. Prickly cucumbers can become pitted and have an unappealing taste if not picked at the right time.
2. Low resistance to downy mildew.

With proper care, you can grow a rich harvest of juicy fruits.

Resistance to diseases and pests

This vegetable variety has excellent immunity. Cucumbers are resistant to many diseases typical of cucumbers, but there are some diseases that can harm crops, namely:

1. Mealy lesions.
2. Mosaic infection.
3. White rot.

The main cause of the disease is stagnant water due to over-irrigation and poor crop rotation. Preventive measures against these diseases include mandatory spraying of the garden with a solution of Bordeaux mixture and copper. Treating the crop with a mullein solution can also help. To prevent the spread of the disease, affected areas are removed.

Pests rarely attack vegetable crops, but that doesn't mean prevention can be neglected. The following insects pose a serious threat to hybrid varieties:

1. Whitefly.
2. Aphid.
3. Ticks.

To combat whiteflies, treat the garden with a soap solution. As a preventative measure, feed cucumbers with slurry.

Growing rules

Cucumbers can be grown from both seeds and seedlings. When planting in beds, consider crop rotation – cucumbers thrive in areas previously cultivated:

• beans;
• potatoes;
• bell pepper;
• onion.

Growing in greenhouses requires regular ventilation. Otherwise, humidity will be high, leading to fungal growth. When grown from seedlings, the Ecole F1 hybrid begins to produce fruit more vigorously, and the yield increases.

Ecole F1 seeds are planted in the garden or greenhouse on May 15th, when the soil temperature will be around 15°C. Cucumbers are sown for seedlings in late March or early April.

Choosing a planting location is a meticulous process. It's important to consider the following tips:

1. Cucumbers produce full fruit in medium loamy, not dense soils with good air circulation.
2. The vegetable belongs to heat-loving plant crops.
3. Although the variety can grow in the shade, it produces the best fruit when planted in the sun.
4. It's important to protect the plant well from gusty winds. The bushes are tall and can be damaged by constant drafts.

Prepare the plot for planting cucumbers in advance, even in the fall. The preparatory process includes the following steps:

1. It is necessary to remove debris, weeds and tops that remained from last year.
2. Before planting in a greenhouse, it is important to replace the top layer of soil to protect cucumbers from insect larvae and fungal spores.
3. Dig the beds to 20-25 cm.
4. Fertilize with organic matter. It acts as a source of nutrition for the vegetable and helps raise the soil temperature. Horse manure can be used. It also eliminates harmful microbacteria. Heavy soil should be amended by adding moistened sawdust.

Ecole F1 is planted for seedlings as follows:

1. Seedlings are grown in individual half-liter containers. Seeds are not sown in communal containers, as transplanting causes stress to the plants.
2. You can buy potting soil at a specialty store or make it yourself. Mix equal parts soil, sawdust, humus, and peat moss.
3. Before sowing, the seeds are soaked in a solution with the addition of a stimulating substance (Kornevin, Zircon).
4. The soil is treated with manganese.
5. Plant the seeds no more than 30 mm deep. This will allow the sprouts to develop full roots and break through the soil layer.
6. Immediately after sowing, the boxes are covered with glass or plastic film to ensure a moist, favorable climate. As soon as the seedlings emerge, the protection is removed. After 30 days, the seedlings can be transferred to the garden or greenhouse.
7. Water generously, but not often. Moisturizing is not done with cold water.
8. Fertilizing is carried out using complex compositions.

When planting cucumber seeds in the garden, space them 300 mm apart. The correct row spacing is 650 mm.

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Caring for the plantings is simple; you just need to follow these recommendations:

1. Water only with warm water. Avoid overwatering. Water should be poured into shallow depressions dug around the seedling, as watering directly at the roots can damage them.
2. Shoots that are 250-300 mm shorter than the trellis should be removed.
3. Fertilize with organic matter. It should not be applied dry. Cucumbers respond well to fertilizing with diluted ash.
4. To ensure the plant's full development, regular soil loosening is recommended. This improves air circulation in the soil, oxygenating the roots and preventing water stagnation.

Reviews

Despite its relatively young age, this plant has already become a favorite among many gardeners. This hybrid's popularity stems from its high yield, resistance to dangerous diseases, lack of bitterness, and versatility.

Nadezhda, 49 years old, Belgorod

This is a gorgeous hybrid; the cucumbers are perfect for pickling, and the flavor is wonderful. My family loves them. I made a bunch for myself and the kids for the cold weather. I picked them every day, when they were very small, no more than 50 mm. It's just that they're prickly and painful without gloves. I'm extremely pleased with the harvest; there were plenty of ovaries. The more you pick, the faster the new cucumbers appear. They kept producing fruit right up until fall.

Tikhon Matveyevich, Volgograd

I couldn't make the daily trip out of town—I was busy at work. The heat was over 32 degrees Celsius all summer. I watered once a week, which was barely enough. Many of the plants withered. I was surprised by the bed with the new hybrid. No one expected such survival from a hybrid new to us. I bought the seeds because I was swayed by the reviews—I chose them from a catalog and photos online. An excellent variety for Volgograd.

Ageeva Larisa, 39 years old, Volzhsky

I liked the variety. It was my first time growing it, and I did everything carefully—I studied photos of the cucumbers, read about the gardeners' opinions, and read about the properties of Ecole. I was very pleased with the yield. The bushes are easy to care for. The advantage for me was the ability to harvest pickles—I love mini cucumbers. And they preserve beautifully. The only drawback is that if you leave the cucumbers in the garden too long, the fruit won't taste good.

This hybrid is easy to care for. Even a novice grower can grow juicy and delicious cucumbers. Its abundant yield and excellent shelf life make it even more popular.