Spino Cucumber is a new F1 hybrid that is gaining popularity among gardeners every season. Due to the good taste of the fruit, its high yield and resistance to disease, the variety has won an honorable place in the world market and from the very appearance it was entered in the National Register of Russia.
Grade description
The Spino cucumber hybrid is bred in Holland and has a number of qualities that distinguish it from other varieties of cucumbers. It differs in such characteristics:
- early ripening, gives a crop 30-40 days after planting in the ground;
- grows in all regions irrespective of a climatic zone;
- feels good both when growing in a greenhouse, and in open ground;
- can grow and bear fruit in the shade;
- fruits are dark green, up to 15 cm long, without bitterness.
Spino cucumbers can be consumed fresh and pickled for the winter. In salting and marinade, they perfectly retain their shape, remain crispy and elastic.
Advantages and disadvantages
Of the advantages, the following can be noted:
- with 1 sq. m can collect up to 15 kg of high-quality fruits;
- the fruits have a good presentation;
- cucumbers of this variety can be stored for a month, which allows them to be transported over long distances;
- plants are not exposed to diseases characteristic of this type of crop;
- overripe fruits do not take a barrel-shaped shape, but remain cylindrical, even;
- the plant is generative, compact, not prone to grow very much, so it does not require much space for growing.
During cultivation of the hybrid, its negative qualities were not detected.
Soil requirements
For cucumbers of the Spino variety, soil with high acidity is not suitable. They need either a neutral or slightly alkaline environment. Sometimes slightly acidic is allowed, but only if the other is not.
Determine the acidity of the soil at home using soda and vinegar. Acidic soil will foam when mixed with soda, and alkaline soil with vinegar. If there is no reaction, then the medium is neutral.
If the soil is acidic, it can be deoxidized by adding ash, lime, gypsum to the soil. If this is not done, the plants will wither and dry out early.
Also, the soil should be saturated with nutrients. To do this, it is mulched with organics or fertilizers are added.
Rules for sowing seeds, planting seedlings
The seeds of cucumbers of the Spino variety are planted in the ground to a depth of 2-3 cm. If planting is carried out in open ground, the soil must be warmed up to at least 12 degrees. If this condition is not met, the seeds will not sprout, but simply rot in the ground.
Seedlings are sown in special cassettes, containers or plastic cups. They are filled with earth taken from the surface of the soil and mixed with peat and sand in a ratio of 3: 1: 1.
Usually one seed is sown, but if there is a supply of seeds, two can be sown in one container. After germination, a stronger plant should be left, and a weak one should be removed.
Seedlings are not recommended for a long time to withstand in the tank - it needs to be planted when 3-4 leaves are formed, no later. The roots of the cucumber are straight, and if the seedlings are kept for a long time in the container, the root bends, and the quality of the seedlings deteriorates.
Before planting seedlings in the ground, it must be hardened, otherwise it may burn in the sun. For 1 square. m allowed to plant 2 plants. With denser plantings, yield decreases.
After landing care
Care for cucumber bushes consists in the following activities:
- Regular watering, especially during fruiting. It should be watered with warm water, it is better in the evening, under the root, avoiding waterlogging of the soil.
- Loosening the soil and removing weeds.
- Fertilizing in the form of fertilizers and organics.
- Pest control.
The Spino variety does not grow much, so the bush can be formed on low trellises, up to 1 m tall.
How to achieve a generous harvest?
In order for cucumbers to give a high yield, it is not enough just to take care of the plants, water and feed them. It is important to ensure that the bush does not overload itself. It normally bears fruit when no more than 20 ovaries are on it at the same time. If there are more, they must be ruthlessly plucked so that they do not weaken the plant.
Diseases and their prevention
Variety Spino is considered resistant to diseases that are characteristic of cucumbers. But with increased humidity and rainy summers, it is useful to carry out preventive measures.
Bushes of plants are sprayed with preparations containing copper. Kurdan, Gamair and Thanos are best suited for this variety. They abundantly treat the surface of stems and leaves in dry weather, so that the plants have time to absorb the substances necessary for protection. If it rains after spraying, the protective layer will collapse and prophylactic treatment will need to be carried out again.
Preventive measures will help to avoid premature yellowing of the fruit, which can occur in dry weather.
Harvesting and storage rules
Harvesting Spino cucumbers is easy, because the fruits do not ripen as quickly as other varieties. If part of the cucumbers during the collection went unnoticed, they will not lose their presentation until the next harvest.
Thanks to these qualities, the crop can be harvested not every day, but once every 3-4 days. Harvesting begins a month and a half after planting and lasts a long time until the bushes dry.
Spino cucumbers are well stored for a long time, but you can not keep them in the sun and in places with high humidity. They also do not tolerate storage in closed containers. It is best to store them in small drawers in a dry room with good ventilation. Harvesting is best done in dry weather, as cucumbers collected in the rain are worse stored.
The hybrid variety Spino is a great novelty that can displace many popular varieties of cucumbers from the world market. He received his recognition not only from gardeners, but also from large farmers who appreciated the variety for its unpretentiousness and productivity.