The secret of crispy pickled cucumbers lies not only in the careful preparation of vegetables and the use of suitable spices, but also in choosing the right variety. One of the most popular hybrids used in pickling is the Khrustik F1, which will be discussed in the article.

Characterization and description of the variety

Khrustik F1 is the result of the work of Russian breeders. It was bred by Gavrish agricultural firm and, being a hybrid, has a set of special characteristics, which will be discussed below.

Did you know? From the point of view of nerds, cucumber is a berry, not a vegetable. The Pakistani traditional cuisine, which includes many sweet desserts with cucumber, agrees with this.

Description of the bush and fruits

The bush of this variety is indeterminate and is a powerful, vigorous vine, capable of reaching 3–3.5 m in height. Leaves are not too large, dark green, with well distinguishable veins. Khrustik’s fruits are “dressed” in the so-called “Dutch shirt” (a thin but dense peel with medium-sized tubercles located more often than in ordinary Russian greenhouses).

It is such a peel that makes the hybrid ideal for pickling. Cucumbers are cylindrical in shape and grow up to 10–12 cm in length and 100–110 g in weight. Thorns on white tubercles. The fruits are sweet, juicy, crunchy, aromatic. They genetically lack bitterness and seeds.

Fruitfulness

The crystal belongs to parthenocarpics (has a female type of flowering). The hybrid is characterized by a bunch (bunch) type of fruiting: 7-8 ovaries are formed in the axils of the leaf. All of the above makes the variety not dependent on insects for pollination and high-yielding (up to 12 kg with 1 m²).

Learn more about the benefits and harms of cucumbers.

Ripening and flowering

The timing of flowering depends on weather conditions and is approximately 30-40 days from the time of sowing seeds (after the appearance of 5-6 leaves). Hrustik is an early variety, and the first fruits can be expected as early as 44–48 days after emergence.

Pros and cons of the variety

• The popularity of this hybrid is promoted by:
• excellent taste of fruits;
• universality in use (good both in fresh form and for pickling);
• high productivity;
• early ripening;
• resistance to temperature extremes;
• high immunity to diseases;
• lack of bitterness and yellowness of fruits;
• almost 100% seed germination;
• good keeping quality.

Unlike ordinary greens, the hybrid parthenocarpic does not require pollination by bees and other insects, which allows it to be grown both in open ground and in the greenhouse. At the same time, belonging to parthenocarpics leads to the fact that the fruits do not have seeds, so it will not work to independently prepare planting material.

This can be considered a certain disadvantage of the variety. Another nuance of growing the Khrustik hybrid is the formation of numerous ovaries and, as a result, abundant friendly fruiting. Gardeners should not interfere with harvesting so that ripened fruits do not impede the growth of new ones.

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Agrotechnics sowing and growing

As already mentioned, this hybrid feels quite at ease in both protected and open ground. Consider the features of growing the Khrustik variety in a greenhouse and on beds without shelter.

In the open ground

Most often, cucumbers are bred through seedlings, since this accelerates the pace of obtaining fruits, but direct planting of seeds in the soil is also possible. In the latter case, planting is carried out after the threat of return frosts (in the second half of May), provided that the soil warms up to at least + 16 ° C. For this, the seeds are lowered into a groove 2-3 cm deep.

The distance between the seeds should be about half a meter. Then the seeds are sprinkled with moistened earth and dusted with ground black pepper (this will help scare away rodents and insects). In the event of a sharp drop in temperature after sowing, the future seedlings are covered with special caps or frame film shelter. Sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out in the last decade of April.

Important! Hybrid seeds are already ready for sowing and do not require additional processing. Moreover, it can do harm by removing applied growth stimulants from the surface of the seeds.

The seedling growing algorithm is as follows:

1. Seeds are planted in peat tablets or in boxes filled with decontaminated, well-moistened soil mixtures (leaf soil + peat + sand + biohumus).
2. Seeds are laid in pairs on the soil or in a small depression (1 cm) and sprinkled with soil.
3. The future seedlings are sprayed with warm water from a spray bottle, covered with a film and placed in a warm place (optimal temperature + 25 ° C). The film is lifted to access fresh air every day.
4. Before emergence of seedlings, seedlings are not watered, but lightly sprayed, focusing on the state of the earthen coma.
5. After complete germination, the seedlings are placed in a well-lit place (window sill of the southern window).
6. After the appearance of leaves, the air temperature is reduced to +18 ... + 22 ° C.
7. Two weeks before planting in the soil, seedlings begin to be hardened, first leaving them in the open air for 20 minutes a day and increasing the residence time to 8 hours. Weather conditions for hardening exclude precipitation, strong wind and air temperature below + 12 ° С.

Video: sowing seeds of cucumbers for seedlings

Seedlings are planted in open ground at the end of May, after the appearance of at least 2-3 real leaves and soil warming up to +16 ... + 18 ° С. The distance between the bushes should be 30 cm, and the row spacing - 70 cm. The place for the beds should be sunny and protected from the wind.

In the greenhouse

Parthenocarpic hybrids perfectly develop and bear fruit in unheated greenhouses. The conditions are similar to the requirements for planting seedlings in open ground: the presence of several leaves and preliminary hardening. However, landing dates are shifting slightly. Seedlings can be placed in the greenhouse already in early May, and therefore, start growing seedlings in the first ten days of April.

Read more about how to properly grow cucumbers in a greenhouse.

Depending on the dimensions of the greenhouse, 2–4 rows of bushes are formed. In a row, seedlings are placed in ridges 20 cm high with a step of 30 cm. Planting is not recommended to thicken due to the increased photophilousness of cucumbers. For the same reason, the installation of additional lighting will be useful: with a blue spectrum at the beginning of growth, with red - during the flowering and ovary. Using sources of additional lighting, you need to remember about the mandatory 6-hour break for the proper course of biological processes.

Care Features

The hrustik is rather unpretentious in leaving, but nevertheless requires standard agrotechnical measures: watering, top dressing, weeding and bush formation.

Important! Cucumbers should be watered with warm water early in the morning - so by the evening there is not a drop of moisture left on them that can cause fungal diseases.

Watering and fertilizing

On the issue of watering, it is important to maintain balance. Cucumbers do not like waterlogging of the soil, and lack of moisture. On average, watering is carried out once a day, spending 5-10 liters of water per 1 m². Rainy summers reduce watering.

For Khrustik, a few top dressings per season will be enough:

• the application of nitrogen fertilizers at the beginning of growth (5 g of Ammophos is scattered in the ground and sealed by loosening);
• complex feeding during flowering (1 tsp each of potassium sulfide, urea, superphosphate and 1 cup of slurry are diluted in 10 l of water);
• feeding with a solution of wood ash (1 cup per 10 liters of water), a 2-day infusion of rotted hay or foliar top dressing using a urea solution (15 g per 10 liters of water).

Greenhouse cucumbers need to be fertilized very carefully, since an overdose can be detrimental to plants.

We advise you to learn about feeding cucumbers during flowering and fruiting.

Garter and bush formation

The central lash is tied to a vertical wooden trellis with synthetic ribbons. Further, the bush must be formed (to save space, prevent disease and ease of fruit collection). Unlike ordinary Zelentsy, parthenocarpic hybrids do not pinch the central lash over the 5-6th leaf, but the sinuses of the first 5th leaves go blind (shoots and flowers are removed).

The remaining 6 lateral shoots with a length not exceeding 25 cm do not touch. The next few shoots are shortened to a length of 40 cm, and then pinch the shoots to 50 cm. When the vine reaches the maximum height, pinch the top. For air circulation near the rhizomes, the lower leaves are regularly removed.

Video: tying cucumbers on a trellis

Soil care

Soil loosening is done once every 10 days, usually combining it with watering and weeding. The process of loosening requires special care so as not to injure the root system. For loosening, forks are used: they are stuck between the beds and pulled out without turning.

Summer residents who are not able to spend a lot of time loosening and weeding can carry out the mulching procedure (lining the soil with straw, mowed grass, sawdust). This procedure is especially recommended for greenhouses. Mulching not only inhibits the growth of weeds, but also makes the soil more breathable, helps maintain its moisture.

Pest and Disease Control

The crystal has good immunity against diseases: powdery mildew, mosaics, root rot. Peronosporosis can overshadow the cultivation of this variety. The disease is characterized by the appearance of yellow spots on the sheet and falling of the ovaries. Peronosporosis is caused by a fungus favored by cold, damp weather.

Prevention of the disease are:

• seedling treatment with sodium humate;
• compliance with the rules of watering and top dressing;
• pinching shoots;
• crop rotation compliance.

Learn about treating cucumbers for diseases with folk remedies.

The use of fungicides ("Ridomil", "Khom") for the treatment of affected bushes is permissible only until fruit sets. Otherwise, the bush is removed and the soil is disinfected with antifungal agents.

The crystal can also be infected by pests (spider mites, gourds). This can be prevented with the help of ladybirds (these insects are attracted by planting dill and leaf mustard nearby). Bushes are also treated with solutions of wood ash, soap and tobacco (with aphid dominance) and infusions of celandine and dandelion (with a mite).

Harvesting and storage of crops

The first crop can be harvested already a month and a half after full germination. The crystal is not prone to overgrowing, but it is recommended to collect fruits at the beginning of fruiting every day, since the filling of the ovaries in the bunch is consistent, and ripened fruits can impede the flow of nutrients to cucumbers that are still forming. For pickling, it is best to pick gherkins 5-7 cm long - so it will be more convenient to place them in a jar. The hrustik possesses good keeping quality and transportability.

Did you know? Pickled cucumbers help fight stress by generating a hormone of joy and boosting mood.

Fresh cucumbers are stored:

• up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator (in a plastic bag with holes for ventilation);
• up to a month in the basement (in ceramic or enameled dishes, sprinkled with sand).

The variety is ideal for preservation, preserving its sweetness and crispiness in a marinated form and acquiring a spicy flavor

Hybrid Khrustik F1 is actively grown in domestic areas due to its excellent taste and abundant early fruiting. The variety does not require special efforts on the part of the gardener - it is enough to follow the recommendations given in the article.