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

Cucumbers

The officially registered Lukhovitsky F1 hybrid is a high-quality product with a high vitamin content. The fruits are not prone to overgrowth, and their flesh is juicy and firm. This variety is early maturing and has a medium yield, but has poor fresh-keeping qualities. It is resistant to many diseases, requires no special cultivation skills, and requires standard care.

Characteristic

The bushes are low, 45-50 cm tall. The plant devotes most of its energy to the fruit. The stems are thick, sometimes up to 4 cm in circumference, and covered with a stiff downy hair. The leaves grow densely, typically up to six on a single branch. They are pale green and also covered in downy hairs. The bush begins to form within a week of planting the seeds. It grows quickly and reaches its peak size within 10 days of germination.

The resulting fruits are of the gherkin type. They are:

small, bumpy and bright;
length from 5 to 13 cm, but often even less;
the weight of one cucumber rarely exceeds 100 grams;
shape – elongated oval;
color – rich dark green, sometimes with a predominance of white stripes along the entire length.

Please note!

A distinctive feature is the color of the pubescence. While other varieties have white pubescence, Lukhovitsky varieties initially have a dark brown pubescence. There are numerous tubercles all over the surface, sometimes sharp.

The fruit ripens very early. Just 35 days after planting, you can enjoy fresh cucumbers from your own plot. The cucumbers are sweet, juicy, and very firm. The Lukhovitsky variety never tastes bitter, making it one of the best for pickling, marinating, and salads. Thanks to their small size, the cucumbers pickle quickly, making canning them a pleasure. The flesh is a delicate light green. The aroma of fresh cucumbers is pleasant and appetizing.

To preserve the variety's properties, store it in the refrigerator for no more than three days. After this period, the fruit loses its flavor, crunch, and nutritional value. Lukhovitsky cucumbers don't have a long shelf life, and this is their main drawback.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Yield is the number of fruits produced per season per square meter of planting. The Lukhovitsky variety has an average yield, yielding up to 12 kg per square meter of planting. This is influenced by several factors, from adherence to all care instructions to the quality of the planting site and the plants grown nearby. However, among many other varieties, the Lukhovitsky variety ranks among the leaders.

Advantages:

Ripening speed. By planting cucumbers in a greenhouse in late April or early May, you can enjoy fresh and delicious vegetables in salads on the table by early summer.
Average yield. At least 7 kg per bush per season is sufficient.
Many cooking options. The Lukhovitsky variety is equally delicious fresh, salted, and pickled.
Marketability. If you're growing cucumbers for sale, Lukhovitsky cucumbers are one of the best choices. Their dark green color is appetizing, fresh, and inviting.
Taste. There won't be a single bitter or tasteless vegetable among the resulting harvest. The fruits are sweet, sometimes tangy, but never bitter or tasteless.
No voids. Many varieties occasionally have these, which can reduce the cucumber's weight. Lukhovitsky cucumbers have a very dense structure.
Ability to adapt to many conditions.

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Flaws:

Shelf life. A fundamental drawback that limits this variety from being suitable for widespread use. A cucumber can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than four days without losing its flavor and crunch. After that, the vegetable (even in a bag) absorbs all the unpleasant odors from the refrigerator and loses its original flavor. Unfortunately, it doesn't last long in the cellar either. After just a month, the cucumber becomes unappetizing and soft.
It's demanding in terms of care. Failure to follow certain standard guidelines can lead to crop failure.
High quality products are obtained only in the first year of cultivation.

Pollination and disease resistance

Lukhovitsky cucumbers produce only female flowers, so pollination is not necessary. The variety is genetically resistant to key diseases:

downy mildew;
Cladosporiosis;
white rot;
root rot;
anthracnose.

However, powdery mildew poses a threat to the entire Lukhovitsky cucumber crop. Since the disease is virtually untreatable, preventative measures are recommended:

observe the watering regime;
watch for parasites appearing on the foliage;
reduce the use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers during the growing season.

Lukhovitsky cucumbers are not susceptible to pests, but preventative treatment at the beginning of the season is not prohibited.

Features of agricultural technology of the variety

This variety is equally well suited for growing in greenhouses and garden beds. It adapts to both drought and rain. Windy conditions can sometimes be harmful to the stem, especially after the first fruits have formed.

Attention!

Untimely application of fertilizers causes vitamin deficiency in the plant, so this must be carefully monitored.

When carrying out agricultural technology, it is recommended to take into account classical technology:

Autumn soil cultivation. Preparation for the upcoming summer harvest begins in the fall. The selected area should be thoroughly cleared of debris and weeds, dug over, and trenches about 30 cm deep should be created for future plantings.
In spring, thoroughly fertilize the soil with organic manure, urea and sawdust.
Before planting, be sure to disinfect the seeds. To do this, soak them in a potassium permanganate solution for several hours, then rinse thoroughly with water.
In early May, when the average daily temperature exceeds 10 degrees Celsius, plant the seeds in trenches. At this stage, minimal watering is necessary, as the dug and fertilized soil contains sufficient moisture.
If you decide to prepare seedlings in advance, they can be planted in their permanent location as early as late April, once all the snow has melted. Lukhovitsky cucumbers adapt equally well to both seedlings and seeds.

During the initial stages after planting, water the plant sparingly. Firstly, the seeds or young root system can wilt from excess moisture. Secondly, in spring and even early summer, there's a high risk of hypothermia, as frosts are quite common at this time of year. Use only warm water for irrigation at any stage of the plant's growth.

If cucumbers are grown in a greenhouse, it should be ventilated daily from mid-May onward. This helps protect against fungal diseases, such as powdery mildew, to which this variety is susceptible. When grown outdoors, cover the vegetables with plastic after planting and, as in a greenhouse, uncover them daily in good weather from mid-May onward.

Reviews

The Lukhovitsky cucumber is a godsend for those who love an early harvest. Its versatility will appeal to all other cucumber lovers.

Olga, 48 years old.

This is one of my favorite varieties. I always plant cucumbers in April, and by June I'm already enjoying a fresh harvest. I can't say they require any special care. In the greenhouse, I always ventilate them every day. That's probably the only difficulty – remembering to open the greenhouse door. I love them; I've been planting them for years now.

Irina, 51 years old.

I love pickled cucumbers, and Lukhovitsky cucumbers are the best. I've been growing them for about six years now, and I've never had a bitter cucumber. For delicious pickles, it's crucial that the harvest be free of bitter varieties.

The Lukhovitsky variety is easy to care for and produces above-average yields. The key is to plant it as early as possible and follow basic farming guidelines to enjoy the vegetables in June.