When choosing cucumber seeds, many gardeners are guided by the characteristics of the variety, giving preference to hardy and not too demanding species to care for. Paratunka meets these criteria.
Description and characteristics of the Paratunka cucumber variety
The cucumber hybrid ripens quite early, for 40-43 days after emergence, harvesting begins. The fruiting period, under favorable conditions and proper care, lasts until the very cold.
The plant has an average size of a lash with moderate branching. The leaves are colored deep green. On one leaf sinus, 2-3 cylindrical fruits with a delicate skin are formed, on which yellowish stripes (one third of the length) are visible.
The length of the greenery reaches 7-10 cm, the weight is 80-100 gr... 12-16 kg can be removed from a square meter of beds. A feature of the variety is the absence of the need for pollination of flowers.
Paratunka is a versatile variety suitable for outdoor cultivation. The fruits are suitable both for fresh consumption and preparations for the winter.
The Paratunka variety was bred relatively recently - in 2006 by the Moscow agricultural firm Semko-Junior.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The goal of the breeders was to obtain a plant with strong immunity and a long fruiting period... The achieved results not only met expectations, but were also strengthened by other advantageous qualities of the Paratunka hybrid.
Main advantages:
- versatility;
- pleasant taste with a sweetish note (no bitterness);
- resistance to various diseases and pests (bacteriosis, brown spot, powdery mildew, etc.);
- high productivity;
- keeps its presentation well during transportation;
- the possibility of growing in many regions of the country.
The Paratunka variety is recommended for use in the following areas: Volgo-Vyatka, Middle Volga, North, North-West, North-Caucasian, Central, Central black earth.
Disadvantages of a hybrid has practically no, except that the high price of seed and too sharp thorns on the skin of the fruit.
Soil requirements for planting
Cucumbers are grown on any type of soil, but a high yield will be obtained on light fertile (loam, sandy loam), which have neutral or slightly acidic environment.
On clay soils, the access of moisture and nutrients to the plant is difficult, therefore it is recommended to dilute them with sand, peat and humus (the mixture is made up of equal proportions of components). You can lower the acidity by introducing dolomite flour (tuff, crushed limestone) during autumn digging.
When choosing a place, give preference to sites on a hill. The close occurrence of groundwater to the surface of the earth can provoke rotting of the root system, fruits.
Cucumbers extract nutrients from the soil, so fertilization measures are an integral part of crop care.
Soil preparation for sowing need to start in autumn... Fresh manure is applied to the planned beds, after which the earth is dug up. Over the winter mullein decay, improve the soil structure, enrich it with valuable microelements (nitrogen, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, etc.). The amount of manure per 1 m2 depends on the degree of soil fertility, on average 6-9 kg / m2 are used.
If the autumn soil preparation work has not been carried out, this can be done in the spring 30-50 days before sowing the seeds. Immediately before planting, it is recommended to introduce humus (4 kg / m2).
In addition to organic matter, mineral fertilizers are used:
- superphosphate (40 g per 1 m2);
- ammonium nitrate (15 gr. per 1 m2);
- potash salt (25 g per 1 m2);
- wood ash (200 gr.per 1 m2).
They need to be brought in during the spring digging of the earth, deepening 20-30 cm... It is at this depth that the root system of cucumbers develops.
Sowing rules
The cultivation of the Paratunka variety practically does not differ from the general rules for the cultivation of cucumbers.
Gardeners use two seeding methods:
- in open ground;
- for seedlings.
Sowing starts more often in the middle of May, but gardeners are more guided not by timing, but by weather conditions.
Active plant growth begins at a steady air temperature 22-24 degrees, the indicator on soils should be not less than 14-15 degrees.
When planting in rows the following hole layout is used:
- the interval between the bushes is 15-18 cm;
- the distance between the rows is 60-70 cm;
- the depth of the holes is 3 cm.
When nesting the seeding method uses the scheme: 50 x 30 cm.
To get a harvest earlier and protect seedlings from spring frosts, seeds are sown in separate containers (small pots, cups) in greenhouse conditions or indoors.
This technology provides for the following important points:
- seeds are planted for seedlings per month before transferring seedlings to open ground;
- the soil for the cups is used light (before use it should be disinfected and warmed up);
- the seeds must first be soaked and heated (this procedure is not required for hybrids);
- it is necessary to deepen the grains into the soil by 1.5-2 cm;
- before emergence, the surface of the containers should be covered with glass or foil;
- watering is required regular, but moderate;
- after the emergence of young shoots, the temperature drops, and 2 weeks before being transferred to the beds, the seedlings are hardened (containers must be taken outside for 2-3 hours).
The root system of the seedlings is underdeveloped, therefore, the seedling must be transferred to the hole carefully along with the soil.
Care
The Paratunka variety belongs to unpretentious, but elementary plant care is still necessary.
Watering
Irrigation is recommended every 3-5 days with warm water, in hot weather, watering is carried out daily. In this case, it should be controlled so that the soil is moistened by 20-25 cm in depth. To prevent moisture stagnation, it is recommended to use sprinkling, drip irrigation system.
Weeding and loosening
To provide oxygen access to the root system, the soil is periodically loosened. This process combined with weeding, since the proximity to weeds provokes root rot, the accumulation of insect pests in dense thickets. In total, 4-6 treatments are carried out during the growing season.
Complementary feeding for cucumbers
The plant actively absorbs all nutrients from the soil, therefore, from the moment of planting to the end of the fruiting period, at least 3-4 baits are introduced.
The first make after the formation of 2-3 leaves at the shoots. Of the minerals, a mixture of urea (15 g), potassium sulfate (15 g) and superphosphate (50 g) is often used. You can also dilute mullein in water (1 liter of thick solution per bucket of water) or bird droppings (1.5 cups per bucket of water).
The second bait, rich in nitrogen-potassium substances, is introduced at the initial stage of fruiting, the third - in mid-July.
Care errors
Inexperienced gardeners often make mistakes that reduce yields:
- ignoring fertilization;
- the wrong choice of place for the beds;
- sowing seeds too early;
- violation of the watering regime;
- delaying treatment when damage is detected on plants.
Diseases and their prevention
The main enemies of Paratunka cucumbers are:
- root rot;
- anthracnose;
- peronosporosis;
- white rot;
- aphid;
- spider mite.
At the first signs of damage to the plant, it is necessary to process and remove diseased bushes from the garden to prevent the spread of the disease.
Timely prevention is considered the most effective way to avoid problems, which consists of the following measures:
- adherence to intervals during planting (avoid thickening);
- control of soil moisture level;
- daily inspection of plants;
- weeding and loosening of the soil;
- disinfection of seeds and a plot for beds.
Harvesting and storage rules
Paratunka cucumbers ripen about 42 days after germination.
To prevent the fruits from overgrowing, it is recommended to collect 1 time in 2 days... You can store the harvested crop for at least 10 days if you place the boxes in the basement (temperature no more than +8 degrees). If the indicator exceeds +10 degrees, then the shelf life is reduced to 4 days.
The Paratunka hybrid was approved by gardeners living in different parts of the country. It is interesting to grow it, you can experiment with cultivation in greenhouses, as courageous innovators did.