Cucumber Herman

Every year the popularity of hybrid varieties of cucumbers is only growing. Despite the need to purchase seed material annually, many people make a choice in favor of hybrids. Among their advantages: unpretentiousness, strong immunity, long-term fruiting, presentation and keeping quality. All this fully applies to the German F1 cucumber, and its early maturity made it a favorite of gardeners in Europe and Russia.

German F1 was bred by the specialists of the Dutch company Seminis, a large world producer of hybrid seeds for agricultural crops. In the early 2000s, the Seminis brand was taken over by the transnational giant Monsanto Company (USA), a leader in the production of herbicides and genetically modified seeds. Monsanto is regularly criticized by opponents of GMOs, and is also the subject of scandals and investigations, talking about the potential danger of some of their products to humans and the environment. Today Monsanto has been bought out by the German concern Bayer.

The originator of the variety is Monsanto Holland B. V. - the Dutch subsidiary of the corporation. In 2001, the hybrid Herman was included in the register and approved by the State Vort Commission of the Russian Federation for cultivation in all regions of the country.

Despite the ambiguous reputation of the originator company, German F1 has nothing to do with transgenic modifications, it is a product of selective hybridization - crossing of different varieties. You should not be afraid of such developments, they are environmentally friendly and safe.

Cucumber German is an early maturing parthenocarpic hybrid of the first generation for growing in open and closed ground. Differs in high yield and resistance to most diseases. The plant is medium-sized (up to 100 cm), its very tasty cylindrical dense fruits about 10 cm long have a rich green color, pronounced tubercles and prickly pubescence. This hybrid has good transportability. The purpose of the fruit is universal.

Hermann's bush is of a determinate type, compact, with a rather strong stem, medium branching and bright green pentagonal leaves. Ovaries are formed in the sinuses in bundles, 6-7 pieces each.

Strong, even, almost uniform in size greens weighing 70-90 g have a weakly pronounced ribbing. Even with untimely collection, they do not outgrow, remaining within 10-13 cm. Their peel is dense, dark green at the stage of full ripeness, with a slight spotting, slightly visible stripes and a slight waxy bloom. The surface is noticeably lumpy with white hairs-spines.

The crop is perfectly transported and stored for a long time without deterioration of the presentation: cucumbers do not turn yellow and do not lose density.

The flesh on the cut is juicy, light, the seeds are small, inconspicuous.

The palatability of the fruit is rated very highly: Herman cucumbers are crispy, sweetish, with a pleasant fresh aroma and absolutely no bitter aftertaste. They are used in a variety of ways: fresh for salads and slices, or canned for the winter. Herman salted cucumbers are especially good - this quick recipe allows you to preserve the healthy substances of the vegetable to the maximum and get the perfect summer snack.

The early maturity of this hybrid is one of the main advantages. Fruiting occurs on average after one and a half months (40-45 days) from the moment of emergence. Under greenhouse conditions, ripening is accelerated: about 35 days.Sowing is carried out in late March - early April, and after June 10, the first harvest can already be harvested.

In areas with a mild climate, when grown in an open area, the dates are shifted forward by a week or two. In the warmed up open ground, seeds are sown from mid-May, cucumbers ripen by mid-July. With the seedling method and in the open field, Herman can bear fruit as early as June, practically one of the first among hybrid cucumbers.

Due to the bundle (bouquet) setting of the ovaries in the nodes, Herman's fruiting is friendly and very abundant. It lasts until the end of summer. Many gardeners plant this hybrid in two passes: in spring and in June, then you can pick cucumbers in September, although due to a decrease in daylight hours, yield indicators may decrease.

German F1 regularly brings high yields on average 9 kg / m², according to the State Vort Commission, and according to reviews of private farmers and amateur gardeners, up to 15 kg can be harvested from 1 m². About 95% of the entire collection is in perfect presentation.

Plants of this determinant type are usually planted with 3-4 bushes per 1 m². Landing patterns are used: 70x30 cm or 40x90 cm.

Herman is considered to be a rather unpretentious culture. Only the process of transplanting seedlings requires accuracy, since young bushes have a weak root system. At the first stage of growth, in order to direct the forces of the plant to strengthen the roots, pinching is carried out in the first four leaf sinuses.

The parthenocarpic type of plant with female flowers does not need pollination. It is also not necessary to form a bush, but most often it is led into one stem, carrying out the "blinding" procedure. At the level of 5-6 leaves, only one ovary is left, removing the shoots, then 2 ovaries are saved in 7-10 sinuses. When the main shoot reaches 80-100 cm, pinch its top. Extra leaves can be removed for better fruiting.

Herman is cultivated in different ways. Can be grown horizontally, leaving 2 or three side lashes. In a greenhouse, it is very convenient to let the cucumber stalk grow along a soft and strong twine fixed to the ceiling. A trellis is often installed on the site, to which the bush is tied.

Hybrid care consists in moderate, but frequent watering and mandatory feeding. Before flowering, nitrogen and organic matter are introduced, during the period of ovary formation, potassium-phosphorus additives are needed, Herman responds well to the introduction of wood ash into the soil.

The main requirement for the soil when planting is its temperature: the soil should be warmed up as much as possible (at least 10 ° C at night). In terms of composition, loose loam or sandy loam with neutral acidity will be ideal.

Herman cucumbers are zoned throughout Russia. They prefer temperate climates without recurrent spring frosts and dry summers. In hot regions, the bushes should be shaded from the bright sun to avoid burns and exposure to high temperatures.

Breeders have worked on the strong immunity of this hybrid to the main diseases of this culture. Herman is resistant to root rot, to the phytopathogen of brown olive spot (cladosporium), powdery mildew fungus, and cucumber mosaic virus.

The plant can be affected by a fungal infection that causes rusty spots on the leaves. By timely removing the infected foliage and treating the bush with Bordeaux liquid, you can interrupt the development of the disease.

Proven folk recipes using wood ash, soap, herbal infusions will help from aphids and whiteflies.