Phoenix cucumber

The Phoenix cucumber is a worthy example of domestic selection, especially beloved by those who work in a summer cottage or personal plot of a small area, without resorting to greenhouses and greenhouses. A novice gardener may be perplexed about the availability of several varieties with this name. There is no secret here: Phoenix and Phoenix 640 are one and the same variety, just the marking may be omitted in the name. Phoenix Plus is distinguished by some features: an earlier ripening period, spindle-shaped greens.

Phoenix was bred to the Federal Research Center. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources ". The famous Soviet scientist-breeder A. Medvedev is rightfully considered the author of the variety. The name of this variety, previously designated by the numbers 640, has an interesting explanation: during the period of an epidemic of powdery mildew, which destroyed plantings not only in the Soviet Union, but also in Eastern Europe, this cucumber was not susceptible to a dangerous disease. Together with him, several more experimental samples survived, which received other "bird" names.

Strong immunity is not the only advantage of the variety, named after a fabulous bird that rose from the ashes. Phoenix has practically no competitors for 42 years, since the creation of this unique cucumber by the author.

Cucumber Phoenix is ​​a variety resistant to cold snaps and unfavorable conditions with strong immunity against downy mildew and powdery mildew, with extended and abundant fruiting and high yields. In his description, characteristic features are certainly mentioned:

• rapid growth and a small number of cuttings;
• late ripening (55-60 days);
• the appearance of ovaries after 3-4 weeks from the moment the seed is planted in the ground;
• calibrated (the same size of the fruit, which makes it optimal for commercial cultivation);
• the need for insect pollination of female-type flowers;
• the ability to bear fruit at a time when other varieties no longer give zelents (up to the first frost).

Ease of transportation, long-term preservation of the presentation and suitability for any culinary needs: from eating fresh to harvesting for the winter, as well as a pleasant taste do not mean that the variety is completely devoid of flaws. His fruits are large, with temperature changes they can become bitter. Some gardeners do not like the long growing period, they prefer early maturing varieties. But Phoenix is ​​out of competition in its time period. It has the ability to persist for a long time without compromising the presentation and visual appeal.

A plant of an indeterminate type, in the presence of a small plot of land, requires mandatory growth control, because it can easily grow up to 3 meters or more. The scourge is covered with bright green small leaves. The variety has large yellow flowers of the female type. Due to the incompetence of some authors, you can find a mixture of the characteristic features of the late and earlier Phoenix Plus, which is just of average height and does not require special control over the stem and layering.

Zelentsi are large in size, 16 to 18 cm long, can reach a weight of 156 to 192 g, are covered with light decorative stripes symmetrically located on a green field. There is a tuberosity on the cucumber, it is covered with black thorns, but timely harvesting does not allow the appearance of bitterness, hardening and yellowing of the skin. Phoenix can be recognized without a detailed description: catchy, presentable appearance and somewhat large for lovers of gherkins and pickles, fruits appear on shelves in August-September, smell in autumn and real field cucumbers in all their variety of complex aromas.

The Phoenix cucumber is a universal variety. It is eaten fresh with pleasure, in monosalads and in complex compositions with other vegetables. Moderate pulp density, persistent and pleasant aftertaste, an abundance of juice, useful trace elements and vitamins, late ripening - these are the features that allow the variety to be used for pickling, barrel pickling, assorted vegetables and other combined preparations for the winter. After heat treatment and sterilization, the fruits retain their integrity, without forming voids and depressions in the pulp. This is their fundamental difference from Phoenix Plus, which is considered a salad vegetable and does not last up to two weeks in a cool place.

A hardy and tenacious stem is recommended to be tied to a support, as it can break under the weight of the fruit and then dry out. The filling zelentsy have excellent marketability - at least 85%. Fruiting begins when the garden is already half harvested, in late August - early September. Therefore, Phoenix can be planted in mid or late June, the period depends on the onset of autumn (climatic conditions of the region). The harvest time is approximately 55-60 days from the moment of planting.

Average yield per 1 sq. m - 5-6.5 kg of zelents. You can also find lower numbers (3.5-4.5 kg), however, experienced gardeners grow more, using the correct agricultural techniques: permanent watering during the fruiting period, timely feeding. The maximum yield can be harvested if you remove green plants with a mass of 150-200 g. There are owners who remove very young cucumbers, their market yield is less.

The Phoenix cucumber does not require any special tricks from the owners in the field of agricultural technology. It is enough to choose a well-lit and ventilated place for planting, to provide the plant with a solid support so that the stem does not break, high-quality watering during the fruiting period so that the harvest is worthy. Planting can be carried out by 2 methods: by introducing seeds directly into the soil or by seedling. Each garden has its own priorities, he can choose any of them, but the planting time implies the successful application of both.

Planting in an open space allows you to place 4-5 bushes, growing in a greenhouse reduces the number of planted plants, but allows you to control the external conditions. A common feature of care is the need to pinch the shoots so that the plant bears fruit, and does not increase the vegetative mass.