Choosing the right variety of cucumbers, it is difficult not to get confused in a large number of different hybrids. But if a classic version with fast and high productivity is required, then there can be no better competitor.

Characterization and description of the variety

In 1980, a new variety of cucumbers, called the Competitor, was introduced to the State Register by the Crimean Experimental Breeding Station. The name of the institution may be somewhat misleading - not the Crimean peninsula, but the small city of the Krasnoyarsk Territory Krymsk.

Initially, this variety of cucumbers was bred in a warm temperate climate, but today it is widely popular in many regions, because due to its early maturity it is able to give a good harvest in a short summer.

Did you know? The homeland of cucumbers is the Himalayan mountains, in the vicinity of which wild cucumbers can still be found today..

The competitor belongs to bee pollinated varieties, which means that it requires open ground or beds under arcs with the presence of covering material that is used at night. The weight of the fruit reaches 100 g, and in length - up to 12 cm. The shape of the cucumber is cylindrical, ribbed, with characteristic white stripes on the “nose”.The yield from 1 m² is about 3-5 kg. Cucumbers of this variety have a juicy, sweet flesh.

The competitor compares favorably with its taste qualities both fresh and canned. Another advantage is that this variety does not belong to hybrids, which means that seeds ripen in its fruits, which in the future can be used for sowing next year.

Moreover, according to numerous reviews, such sunrises show greater resistance to numerous diseases.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Variety Competitor has many advantages, among which are noted:
• high germination rate;
• high survival after the transplant process;
• good resistance to fungal diseases, namely powdery mildew;
• long fruiting period;
• the ability to prepare seed material yourself.

• Among the main disadvantages of this variety, one can distinguish its intolerance to overexposure on the garden, which can lead to:
• quick spoilage of fruits;
• thickening of the skin;
• cracking;
• loss of aroma and bitterness.

Grade planting dates

Depending on the method of planting cucumbers, the timing of planting will vary:

1. Sowing directly into the open ground must be carried out in early or mid-June.
2. Sowing under temporary shelter (film) is carried out in the second half of May.
3. For seedlings, seeds are sown in early May.

Important! Growing cucumbers in seedlings accelerates fruiting by 2 weeks.

Planting and growing cucumbers

To obtain a rich harvest that will more than pay for the time and money spent, cucumbers of this variety should be sown and grown in accordance with some recommendations.

Soil requirements and tank sizes

You can prepare the soil for sowing seeds and further growing seedlings yourself or buy a ready-made substrate. In the case of the first option, you will need a mixture of equal parts of peat, sawdust, turf land and humus.

When choosing a container for seedlings, it is worth considering that there are several ways to germinate seeds:

1. The use of a large capacity followed by replanting seedlings in open ground - it is worth noting that this variety does not always respond well to picking, so this method is not recommended for beginner gardeners.
2. Separate small cups (you can use disposable plastic) or special pots, the volume of which does not exceed 300-500 ml, with mandatory openings on the bottom to prevent moisture accumulation.

Preparation and technology for sowing seeds

Before sowing seeds, it is necessary to undergo a preparation procedure that will help to get stronger and healthier seedlings, which means that it will increase the likelihood of a good crop:

1. First of all, the seeds must be soaked in saline (35 g of salt is dissolved in 1 liter of water) for 15 minutes, after which those seeds that have surfaced are removed - they are unsuitable for sowing and will not germinate.
2. Further, all seeds are well washed under running water and soaked for a day in a weak solution of potassium permanganate - this procedure will help to disinfect the seeds from various viral, fungal and bacterial diseases.
3. To obtain early seedlings, all seeds are germinated before planting. To do this, they are placed in a container and covered with a damp cloth, which is periodically moistened with water. Germination procedure lasts until the seeds give a sprout the size of half the seed itself (usually up to 10 days). After this, it is also recommended to conduct hardening for the stability of the future plant to temperature differences.
4. Seeds are placed in a variable temperature for several days. About 6 hours germinated seeds are at a temperature of +18 ... + 20 ° С, the remaining 18 hours - at a temperature of +2 ... + 5 ° С. In this case, overgrowth of seedlings should be prevented.
5. 2-3 seeds are sown in separate glasses. In the case of germination of all seeds leave one, the strongest sprout. The rest are nipped off or carefully cut with scissors.

Important! It is believed that the best seeds to plant are 3–5 year old.

Seedling Care

After sowing, the container with future seedlings is covered with a film until the first shoots appear in a week. Watering during this period is carried out with warm water 1 time. It is important to remember that seedlings are very susceptible to temperature conditions, which should be maintained during the day at +20 ... + 23 ° С, and at night - +16 ... + 19 ° С.Seedlings require a lot of light, but direct sunlight should be avoided. With a lack of natural light, it is recommended to use fluorescent lamps, which are located at a distance of 5-10 cm from the shoots.

Drafts and crowding should be avoided - pots with seedlings are placed at some distance from each other.

Watering is carried out with warm, settled water 1 time per day under natural light and 2 times with additional illumination by lamps. Regular spraying is also recommended.

Important! Temperature conditions above + 23 ° C, especially in combination with increased humidity, lead to pampering of seedlings, which can negatively affect the further growth and development of the plant.

Also, seedlings require top dressing at least 2 times:

1. The first feeding is carried out after 2 weeks after the appearance of the first sprouts, either ready-made fertilizers or a urea solution in the ratio of 1 teaspoon per 1 liter of water are used, with the condition 1 cup per 1 sprout.
2. The second top dressing is carried out when a second leaf appears on the seedling stalk and a solution of 1 teaspoon of wood ash and nitrophoska, dissolved in 3 liters of water, is used. The portion of top dressing also makes 1 glass on 1 root.

The main rule of fertilizing is the application of fertilizers with morning watering under the root of the plant, avoiding contact with the stem or leaves.

Planting seedlings in a permanent place

Seedlings are usually planted in early June at an optimum air temperature of +20 ... + 25 ° C. As the soil for planting, loose, drained soil is used, which must be warmed up to a minimum of + 15 ° С.For best results, it’s best to use the area where crops such as potatoes, tomatoes, peas or corn were grown last year.

The preparation of beds for sowing cucumbers is carried out in the autumn by adding organic fertilizers to the soil (you can use cow manure, hoping that about 14 kg of manure will be needed per 1 sq. M). In the spring, three weeks before planting, the bed is dug up, loosened and fertilizers applied again, but now mineral (phosphorus, potassium, magnesium).

Planting seedlings is carried out in pre-prepared rows at a distance of 40–45 cm from each other and about 40 cm should be left between rows.

Did you know? Cucumbers began to be used in food more than 6000 years ago.

Cucumber care after planting

After planting, caring for cucumbers is greatly simplified, but some nuances are still worth considering.

Bush formation

Formation is one of the most important principles in the process of growing cucumbers. Rhizomes of cucumbers cannot fully supply with water and nutrients all the ovaries formed on the bush. This leads to a meaningless waste of energy, yellowing and wilting, so it is so necessary to remove, first of all, the excess parts of the plant.

To do this, on the main lash, counting from the ground, three leaves are left in a row, and all the flowers and branches are plucked. From the fourth leaf, flowers and leaves are left, and the side lashes are pinched by 1 knot (that is, only the first leaf and all the flowers around it remain, the rest is removed).Starting from the next sheet, one should follow the same pattern, leaving one knot more on the side lashes.

Fertilizing and watering

When watering this variety of cucumbers, it should be remembered that cucumbers love abundant moisture, but excessive watering can trigger the appearance of fungal diseases. It is best to water the cucumbers every other day in the evening using a watering can or using a drip irrigation system.

Water temperature should not be lower than + 18 ° С. During the fruiting period, the frequency of watering increases, since insufficient moisture can lead to bitterness of cucumbers.

During the flowering period, cucumbers are in dire need of top dressing. As fertilizers, cow or chicken droppings, as well as mineral fertilizers (for example, urea or superphosphates), are perfect.

Soil care

In order to avoid the formation of a crust on the surface of the earth and water vapor, as well as for the supply of a sufficient amount of oxygen and enrichment of the root system with it, the soil after each irrigation (or rain) must be loosened.

Before loosening in the aisles, the lashes of cucumbers are carefully shifted to the side, and then returned to the place. Loosening is carried out to a depth of 4 to 8 cm.

Also, the soil must be mulched, that is, cover the soil with a protective layer consisting of straw, peat, sawdust, synthetic coatings and others. This procedure is able to protect cucumbers from temperature extremes, perfectly retains moisture in the soil and doubles fruiting.It is also mandatory to remove weeds from the beds of cucumbers, which take a large amount of water and nutrients from the soil. Weeding or pulling should be carried out together with the roots. Remaining in the ground, they will very quickly give new shoots.

Disease prevention

The most dangerous and common diseases among all varieties of cucumbers are cladosporiosis, powdery mildew and bacteriosis. The competitor is famous for its resistance to this kind of disease, but as a preventive measure requires mandatory treatment with Bordeaux fluid.

Seedlings can be processed if there are 2–4 leaves on it. The procedure itself is carried out only in the morning or evening to avoid burns on the leaves and stem.

Harvesting and storage features

The harvesting process is not very different from any other varieties. During maximum fruiting, cucumbers are harvested every other day, and for conservation - 2 times a day (morning and evening). If necessary, long-term storage, the fruits are cut with scissors, leaving a small shoot of the stem.

Before you place the cucumbers in the refrigerator, you need to leave them for some time in the fresh air in a shaded place.

Variety Competitor for many years continues to enjoy well-deserved popularity. Due to its undemanding care and excellent taste, this variety is perfect for both professional gardeners and beginners.