An excellent hybrid with a lot of advantages - cucumber Real Colonel F1: full description of the variety

The real Colonel F1 is a cucumber that has all the advantages of hybrid varieties. It can set fruit without the participation of insects, which reduces dependence on weather conditions, it has an excellent yield and a pleasant taste. In addition, the bushes have high immunity to diseases.

Description of the variety Real Colonel

Cucumber Real Colonel f1 is a persistent parthenocarpic domestic variety, bred in 2004 by Manul. Its yield is average - under favorable conditions, up to 15 kg/m² is harvested. Main characteristics of the plant True Colonel f1:

1. The bush is tall, tall, indeterminate, with branching slightly below average, moderately leafy.
2. The leaves of the variety are large, slightly wavy, trefoil-shaped, dark green with a light border along the edges.
3. The cucumber is large, in the shape of a slightly curved spindle, its length reaches 15 cm, weight – up to 125 g, diameter – 4-5 cm.
4. The skin is thin, tender, covered with sparse but large tubercles, its color is solid emerald green with light whitish pubescence.

The greens ripen together, and at the same time many fruits appear on the bush. Marketability is excellent, there is very little mis-grading. The taste of the cucumber is juicy, fresh, with a slight sweetness and delicate aroma.

Advantages and disadvantages

The real colonel, judging by the descriptions of gardeners, has established itself as a high-quality, marketable, universal variety. This cucumber is well suited for both industrial and small private farms.

pros

The variety in question has many advantages that allow it to be classified as an elite category. Among the most significant positive qualities of the True Colonel f1 hybrid:

1. long fruiting period - cucumber can produce a harvest before the first strong autumn frosts;
2. unpretentiousness in care - the variety does not require complex agricultural techniques;
3. excellent taste - greens are perfect for salads and for all types of canning;
4. good immunity – plantings of the variety successfully resist cucumber mosaic and olive spot viruses.

Many gardeners note the attractive appearance of the Real Colonel fruits - they are smooth, neat, and shiny. This feature makes cucumber a profitable product in the vegetable market.

Minuses

This variety is not without its negative qualities - although there are few of them. The most sensitive shortcomings of Zelentsy Real Colonel f1 are the following:

1. tendency to form voids - the cucumber can burst from the inside, which has a bad effect on the pickling process;
2. vulnerability to root rot and powdery mildew - planting of the variety requires antibacterial treatment before being introduced into the soil, unlike such resistant hybrids as Mamluk f1.

Cucumber loves the sun very much - in a shaded area its yield and quality of fruits are noticeably reduced.

Reviews

“I came across a photo of the “Real Colonel” on the Internet and decided to plant it in my beds. For pickling, I choose small cucumbers, and we eat these fresh or cut them into salads. There are a lot of vitamins and the taste is excellent. The bushes are not very branched and are not demanding in care.” Elena, 45 years old.

“I have been growing this variety of cucumbers in a spring greenhouse for several years now. I collect fruits right up to autumn. Delicious and multi-yielding. I store greens in the refrigerator. The seeds do not always germinate, so I germinate them the old fashioned way - on a damp cloth. There were also barren flowers, but this did not in any way reduce the number of ripened fruits. The description of the “Real Colonel F1” cucumbers is true.” Alexey, 49 years old.

Landing Features

This colonel grows well in an open, well-lit and spacious area. There should be enough space on it so that the plants of the variety do not block each other’s light. The real colonel f1 is sensitive to air temperature and, especially, soil, so it is not recommended to plant this hybrid in open ground before May.

Landing dates

The variety begins to be planted after the heaviest spring frosts, at the end of spring. A real colonel lands in the open ground of the North Caucasus region in early May. In the South, you can postpone planting to the last days of April. condition - the temperature of the soil for cucumber should not fall below 14°, the air temperature - below 18°.

Soil preparation

A true colonel f1 prefers loose, light, well-moistened, but not soggy soil with neutral acidity. In September, the cucumber plot is cleared of debris and weeds, dug up and fertilized with mullein solution. 3-4 days before planting, the soil for the variety is once again loosened, enriched with humus or rotted sawdust, the beds are cut, and, if necessary, additionally moistened.

Planting seeds

The real colonel f1 is planted mainly with seedlings. To do this, you need to germinate the seeds of the variety in separate containers - cardboard, paper, or peat. They are placed in soil enriched with humus, chicken droppings, sand and peat. Two seeds are added to one glass. Temperature of germination – 24°, growing of seedlings – 22°. Water the cucumber daily, in the evening.

Planting seedlings

The seedlings of the variety are ready for transfer to open ground on days 28-29 after seeding. Each sprout should have 4 leaves. 10 days before planting, Real Colonel seedlings are hardened by taking them outside for 20-40 minutes. Transfer the cucumber to a sunny, windless day, deepening it by 4-5 cm.

After planting, the Real Colonel f1 is watered and covered with film.

Planting scheme

The real Colonel f1 is a powerful, spreading plant, so only 4 bushes can comfortably fit per 1 m². If necessary, the cucumber is further thinned as it grows. The required distance between neighboring bushes of the variety is 45 cm. Accordingly, the recommended row spacing is 65-70 cm. Plantings are arranged so that each plant receives maximum sunlight.

Care

Agricultural technology of the hybrid A real colonel is not difficult. Judging by the description, the cucumber will only require abundant watering, frequent weeding and loosening. This variety is suitable for moderate fertilizer and requires almost no bush formation.

Watering

The described variety loves frequent and generous watering. A real colonel f1 is watered every day at the root, using the drip method, trying not to wet the leaves. Watering is done in the late evening - otherwise, you can accidentally burn the cucumber if water gets on it during the heat of the day. Water for bushes is used warm, carefully standing in the sun.

Garter and bush formation

Despite its impressive size, the True Colonel bush does not branch very actively, so it will not be difficult to form it. The main thing to do:

1. Tie the cucumber vertically onto a trellis or net as soon as the bush grows 20 cm.
2. Pinch the top of the plant at a height level of 1.3-1.4 m.
3. Form a bush of the variety into a central stem, removing side shoots - you can leave 2-3 branches 15-20 cm long.
4. Blind the main stem from the bottom to the 4th leaf.

In the axils, the cucumber will form 4-5 ovaries - if too many of them form, you will need to tear off some so as not to overload the plant.

Top dressing

A true colonel f1 is not picky about fertilizers. The cucumber will grow well with periodic organic fertilizing, occasionally diluted with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. Fertilizers are applied to the cucumber every 10-12 days.

The variety loves the following fertilizing: mullein solution, wood ash, rotted manure. During the period of active growth, they are fed with nitrogen fertilizers, and during flowering - with superphosphate. You can also mulch the area under the Real Colonel with dried field grass.

Hilling

This cucumber requires frequent loosening and periodic sprinkling with soil. Hilling retains moisture at the roots and protects from coolness. A real colonel f1 is sprinkled with earth every 3-4 days for 1/3 of the growth of the bush. At the same time, mulch is thrown around the bush of the variety, without touching the stem. Loosen the soil around the plant after each watering, preventing the formation of liquid dirt at the roots.

Pest treatment

The hybrid origin makes the variety resistant to many standard fungal and bacterial diseases. However, their prevention ultimately minimizes the risk of infection of the bushes. The rapid ripening of fruits does not allow the use of strong chemicals, as this will make the crop toxic. However, you can treat the bushes with solutions made at home:

1. To prevent powdery mildew, a mixture of iodine, milk and soap is prepared. Add 25 drops of iodine, 1 liter of milk and 1 spoon of soap to a bucket of water. This solution should be sprayed on the foliage of the bushes.
2. Gray mold is vulnerable to baking soda diluted in water.
3. The risk of bacteriosis infection is reduced by two Trichopolum tablets per 1 liter of water.

Among insects, the variety is susceptible to attack by spider mites and slugs. The fight against them should begin in the fall by digging up the area and leaving it to freeze. This will lead to the death of weeds and larvae of harmful insects.

Diseases and parasites

A real colonel has a developed immune system, but, nevertheless, requires the gardener to take preventive measures against viruses and parasites. The area for cucumbers is disinfected with Fitosporin, the plantings themselves are sprayed with a solution of onion peels or serum with iodine.

Powdery mildew

The disease can affect cucumbers with cold watering and high humidity in rainy summers. Dew can be identified by a whitish powdery coating on the leaves and stem. In the early stages of infection, Real Colonel f1 is sprayed with an infusion of nettle or whey. In difficult cases, the variety is treated with drugs such as Topaz or Quadris.

Root rot

A cucumber can become infected with this disease in a waterlogged area at high temperatures. The disease is characterized by brownish rotting ulcers on the roots of the plant variety, gradually rising up the stem. To prevent the Real Colonel from completely rotting, the root collar and lower part of the plant stem are sprinkled with powdered coal or wood ash. The drugs Fitolavin, Gamair and Alrin-B also help well.

Slugs

This parasite attacks cucumbers with high humidity and insufficient weeding frequency. Slugs eat up young shoots of the variety Real Colonel f1. The most effective way to control pests is traps made from cabbage and pumpkin leaves. They are laid out throughout the area under the cucumber in the evening, and early in the morning the parasites hiding under the leaves are collected. To repel slugs, nettles, parsley and balsam are planted around the area under the variety.

Main characteristics

The yield of the variety is very high, reaching 10-13 kilograms per m². The fruits on the hybrid are formed at the same time. Cucumbers are suitable for consumption raw. Ideal for pickling, canning and salting.

The advantages of the variety include high yield, long fruiting (until frost). It has excellent taste in fresh and canned cucumbers. Other benefits:

• self-pollinating;
• universal for use in food;
• resistant to many cucumber diseases.

The disadvantages of the variety include the tendency to produce hollow cucumbers at unfavorable ambient temperatures. Due to unsuitable weather, the number of barren flowers increases. The germination rate of the variety is from 60 percent.

Cucumber is resistant to the following diseases:

• brown spot;
• ordinary cucumber mosaic;
• root rot;
• powdery mildew.

Note! Susceptible to attack by spider mites and slugs. However, if you dig up the area in a timely manner, you will be able to avoid damage.

Disease resistance

The hybrid is resistant to:

• root rot;
• cladosporiosis;
• mosaic virus;
• powdery mildew.

For prevention, it is enough to properly care for plants: water moderately, protect from temperature changes, pull out weeds, observe crop rotation, and fight pests.

Common parasites are spider mites and aphids. When they appear, the leaves are treated with a soap solution, an infusion of onion peels or tobacco, or insecticides.

Expert opinion: Cucumber The real Colonel F1 has earned a lot of positive reviews. Gardeners note high productivity, abundant and long-term fruiting and resistance to adverse conditions.

Features of agricultural technology of the variety

The variety is best planted in seedlings. In the southern regions of our country, cultivation in open ground is allowed. It is recommended to plant high quality seeds in the greenhouse. You should first prepare ridges with well-loosened soil. This is necessary for the conductivity of water and nutrients.

Mineral deficiency can be replenished artificially. Add a mixture of wood ash, sand and humus before planting.

It is recommended to plant seeds or seedlings in the warm season. Sudden changes in temperature and frost can destroy young plants. You need to wait until the average daily temperature is +14 degrees. When cucumbers begin active growing season, it is necessary to regularly water, feed the bushes, and shape the direction of the vines.

1. Watering. You can moisten greenhouse cucumbers once a week. Crops growing in open ground should be watered depending on the amount of precipitation. During drought – once every 2 days. Try not to get water on the leaves and stems to avoid fungal infection. Use only warm water. After watering or rain, it is necessary to loosen the soil. Otherwise, a crust will form, which will prevent moisture from evaporating.
2. Feeding. Fertilizers can be applied on days when the air temperature is +17 degrees or more. When seedlings germinate, it is necessary to add mineral fertilizer complexes with nitrogen and potassium. When cucumbers bloom and ripen, apply phosphorus fertilizing.

• bred mullein;
• chicken droppings;
• solution of whey and iodine.

Harvesting and storage

A real colonel matures by the first days of July. The variety of greens is collected every other day, not allowing them to grow longer than 14 cm. Cut the cucumber in the evening, after watering, with part of the stalk. Do not forget that timely harvesting stimulates prolongation of fruiting.

Based on the description, the real Colonel f1 is stored for about a week. In order for the greens to last longer, they are stored at a temperature of 8°-9°, first folded in a plastic bag so that there is enough air left there.