Description of the hybrid cucumber variety "Hit of the Season f1" and the secrets of growing a crop

The Hit of the Season f1 cucumber hybrid has captivated gardeners with its excellent taste, abundant yield, and attractive, marketable fruit. Even an inexperienced gardener can grow these vegetables, and they'll produce a bountiful harvest. The plants require minimal maintenance and require no additional pollination. From the variety description and gardener reviews, you can learn about the specifics of planting and subsequent cultivation of the crop.

Description of the variety

The cucumber hybrid "Hit of the Season" immediately became popular among gardeners in virtually every region, as it is quite frost-resistant but also tolerates mild drought. Due to its ease of cultivation, the hybrid is grown in the Urals, Siberia, the Black Sea coast, and temperate climates. The plants are versatile and don't require special conditions, so they are grown in closed greenhouses, hotbeds, and even in open ground. In any case, adaptation occurs quickly and without losses.

The main feature of Hit of the Season is its early ripening period. From planting to full fruiting, it takes no more than 38 days. This parthenocarpic hybrid requires no pollination, and the flowers are predominantly female. During fruiting, each ovary develops 3-6 fruits simultaneously. The shoots are tall and strong. During growth, the vines are tied to a trellis or any support to ensure uniform ripening of the fruits. This hybrid is highly productive: a few days after the first fruits ripen, the yield reaches 10-11 kg/m².

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The fruits develop evenly on the shoots and are uniformly cylindrical in shape. Numerous white spines protrude from the dense green skin. The tough skin reliably protects the flesh from damage. Each cucumber is 9-12 cm long and weighs up to 100 g or slightly more. Ripening occurs uniformly, with 12-15 fruits ripening simultaneously on a single plant. This is very convenient for gardeners who rarely visit their dachas, as they can harvest the entire crop at once. The flesh is firm when cut, has a pleasant flavor, and a refreshing aroma. The fruits are versatile: they are suitable for fresh consumption, pickling, fermentation, and marinating. Some gardeners specifically grow this "Hit of the Season" variety for sale: it's easy to achieve maximum yield from the plants, and the fruits themselves retain their marketability for a long time, storing well, and are always eagerly sought after at the market.

The advantages of the Hit of the Season are:

• high taste and pickling qualities;
• abundant fruiting until autumn;
• stable yield rate;
• general purpose;
• disease resistance;
• possibility of outdoor and greenhouse planting;
• self-pollination;
• ease of breeding;
• frost resistance.

The hybrid has no obvious drawbacks. With proper cultivation techniques, it's trouble-free. The only drawback is its hybrid nature. If "Hit of the Season" is a favorite, you'll have to buy seeds every year for planting, as you can't harvest them from the seed cucumbers that have already emerged. Hybrids don't retain their genus, so there's no guarantee you'll get a high-quality harvest from the harvested seeds.

Landing rules

Most gardeners grow this season's hit from seedlings. When planting seeds in soil that hasn't warmed up well after winter, germination may be low, so it's best to transplant young plants to their permanent locations; they quickly adapt to the new conditions and continue to grow vigorously. Seeds for seedlings are sown in late April, as the hybrid is early maturing. The process involves several stages:

• The seeds are soaked in a growth stimulator or sprouted on a piece of damp cloth. When the protective shell cracks, the seeds are ready for planting. Treating the seeds for diseases and pests is not necessary; this procedure has usually already been carried out at the plant.
• Prepare fertile soil. You can use garden soil, but you'll need to add nutrients such as humus, peat, or ash. Heat the soil in the oven and water it with a copper sulfate solution to disinfect it.
• Prepare the container. You can plant the seeds in one large plastic container, or directly into individual cups;
• Fill the containers for future seedlings with soil, placing a drainage layer on the bottom, make indentations of 2-3 cm with a step of at least 5 cm and plant the seeds, then sprinkle with soil.

After planting, moisten the soil with warm water from a spray bottle, close the container with a lid, and allow the contents to germinate for several days. Under favorable conditions, "Hit of the Season" shows a maximum 100% germination rate, and sprouts will emerge within two weeks of planting. Plants can be transplanted into greenhouse soil 2.5-3 weeks after germination, in the first ten days of May, and outdoor transplantation should be done 2-3 weeks later than in the greenhouse.

Care Features

This season's hit is responsive to care, so to ensure good fruiting, you need to take the following steps:

• Loosen and weed the soil. Weeds interfere with the growth of young shoots by robbing the soil of nutrients. Weeding and loosening the soil help saturate the soil with oxygen, which is vital for supporting the root system.
• Water the plants regularly. Water as needed, depending on weather conditions. Three to four times a week is usually sufficient for cucumbers, but the rate can be increased during droughts and decreased during rainy seasons. A drip irrigation system can be installed, but overhead irrigation is not recommended. If moisture gets into the leaf axils, fungus develops, and if water droplets remain on the leaves, sunburn will occur.
• Fertilize the soil. Cucumbers respond well to organic fertilizers; for this, they are periodically watered with a solution of liquid cow manure or chicken manure, and fine ash is sprinkled between the rows. Fertilizing is carried out regularly, but at intervals no more than once a week. If ovaries are actively forming, there is no need for additional feeding;
• Mulch the soil. To protect the roots from overheating in the summer heat, apply mulch to the soil. It helps retain moisture in the soil longer, preventing the bushes from drying out;
• tie to a trellisVining shoots form quickly, but during fruit ripening, they become overloaded and break. Anchoring the vines reduces the load on the bush, thereby increasing the yield.
• Treat plants against insects. Plants grown outdoors are particularly susceptible to attack. They are treated with insecticides or folk remedies, but only before flowering.

When the cucumbers begin to ripen, they are harvested. Harvesting is done regularly, as soon as they are ripe. If the mature fruits are not removed from the branches, the shoots become overloaded and break, and the young cucumbers lack the strength to develop. The harvested vegetables are washed to remove soil and used as directed. Cucumbers can be stored, but only if dry, unwashed, and in cool conditions: the temperature should not exceed 96 degrees Celsius (205 degrees Fahrenheit) and the humidity should not exceed 70%.

Gardeners' reviews

Svetlana

The name of the hybrid, "Hit of the Season," caught my attention. I decided to plant it and was not disappointed. The seedlings sprouted very quickly, in less than a week, even though I had germinated the seeds beforehand. Three weeks later, I transplanted the seedlings into the greenhouse; the sprouts were disease-free and adapted well. I also watered the plants with an infusion of freshly cut grass. To prepare it, I use one part grass to 10 liters of boiling water. I let it steep for 10 days, then dilute it 1:10 and water the plants at the roots. I apply this fertilizer every seven days until flowering.

Margarita

Every year, I sow the seeds of the "Hit Sesonda" hybrid directly into the open beds. I don't prepare the seedlings beforehand; I simply don't have the time. To prevent the plants from freezing after germination, I cover them with cut-up plastic bottles at night for the first few weeks. Once the shoots develop leaves, the plants are less susceptible to frost, so the drop in temperature at night isn't as dangerous; on the contrary, the plants harden off and develop immunity. Over the three years of growing them, the vegetables have never been diseased or attracted any insects, even though I haven't treated them with anything. Fruiting continues almost continuously throughout the summer, so there's plenty to eat and pickle.