When choosing cucumber seeds, preference is given to early-ripe species., characterized by good yield and resistance to adverse weather conditions, diseases and pests. The listed qualities correspond to the Mash cucumber variety.
Table of contents
Description and characteristic of a grade of cucumbers Masha (Masha)
The shrubs of the plant are formed with a strong branched stem and dense greens. Each branch with proper care gives an average of 5 fruits. Masha variety suitable for greenhouses and cultivation in the open field.
According to the description, Masha (Maria, Masha) cucumbers in mature form have a dark green color, the shape is cylindrical with dense skin. The length of the fetus reaches 8-10 cm with a maximum weight of up to 90 grams. The diameter of the vegetable is 3-3.5 cm.
Taste characteristics are soft and lack of bitterness. 11 kg of fruits are removed from one m2, which indicates a good yield.
Hybrid cucumber Masha F1 (Our Masha F1) was bred in 2000 by Dutch breeders. The rightholder is the company MONSANTO HOLLAND B.V.
Advantages and disadvantages
When breeding cucumbers breeders set obtaining a hybrid resistant to weather vagaries, diseases and pests.
Among other advantageous qualities of a hybrid:
- early ripening;
- immunity to scab;
- weak susceptibility of flour dew, mosaic;
- the ability to independently carry out pollination without the aid of insects, humans;
- simple rules of agricultural engineering;
- high yield.
If the cultivation involves transplanting seedlings, then it is worth considering the fact of poor development of the root system in seedlings.
Hybrid Masha, as well as other varieties, prone to fast ripening. Therefore, the fruit should be harvested daily, so that the harvest removed from the beds should have a presentation.
Requirements for soil for planting
By preparing the soil to start in advance, it is better in the fall. On the plot of the planned cucumber beds manure, wood ash and nitrophobia are applied (3 buckets / 3 glasses / 100 g. Per square meter).
If the autumn work on the enrichment of the soil with nutrients was not performed, in early spring on the site of future plantings spread manure with a thin layer and cover it with fertile soil (a cushion of at least 20 cm).
An alternative is to introduce a mixture of ash and superphosphate to the site. (1 cup / 2 tablespoons per 1 m2).
If there is humus, you can add it in the amount of 1 bucket per 1 m2. Complete the procedure of watering future beds with a solution of sodium humate (1 tablespoon per 10 liters of water).
When growing seedlings used substrate, including: peat, sand, humus, leaf earth (all components are taken in equal parts). It is advisable to pour the resulting mixture with boiling water and leave for 5 minutes in a preheated 200-250 ° oven.
This treatment ensures the destruction of pathogenic bacteria and larvae of pests that pose a danger to the new crop.
The soil for cucumbers should be light and non-acidic. The plot with high groundwater storage will not work.
Cucumber seeds and their sowing rules
The variety Masha is considered universal due to self-pollination, therefore it can be sown both in greenhouse conditions and in the open field. Sowing is carried out at a stable temperature regime of + 14 ° C and above.
Spring weather is full of surprises, the probability of frost is still high. Reinsure can be the shelter of crops at night with plastic film. This will protect the seeds and seedlings from freezing.
Whichever method of cultivation is chosen, it is necessary to prepare seed material before seeding. For disinfection should immerse it in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 15 minutes.
If the seeds have an unusual bright colorit means that they have already been processed in the factory, as can be seen from the information on the label.
Seeds before preparation need to sort and sort. Damaged and weak copies are removed, the sense from them will still be small.
After soaking the grain is washed in clean water and wrapped in a wet cloth for germination. The process takes 4-5 days. It is important not to allow drying of the fabric.
Cucumbers are grown in two ways: seeds and seedlings.
Sowing in open ground is performed in the second half of May. 5 plants are planned for 1 square meter.
The location of the holes in the horizontal mode of cultivation (sprawling of lashes on the ground) is planned according to the 60 x 80 cm scheme, with the vertical one (on the trellis) 100 x 20 cm. The depth of immersion of seeds is 2-3 cm.
After the completion of planting, the beds are mulched and covered with a film before germination.
With a seedling growing method, the first fruits can be obtained earlier.. Seeding in separate containers is done at the end of April (1 grain per separate capacity).
The main conditions for a good and fast growing of seeds are sufficient moisture, lightness, temperature conditions, which vary depending on the stage of development of the shoots.
Before the emergence of shoots above the surface of the substrate, heat up to 28 ° is necessary. After sprouts appear, the temperature drops to 18 °.
To plant seedlings should be carefully, transferring it along with the substrate in the hole. The root system is not developed at this stage, any mechanical action can destroy the escape.
Care
In general, the agricultural machinery of the Masha variety is simple, there is no need for special treatments. The care involves standard procedures for dressing, irrigation, weeding and loosening.
Irrigation
Water the plant should be every 1-2 days. depending on the intensity of drying of the soil.
Ideal for sprinkling, a large head can expose the root part, which will cause the culture to rot. Irrigation in the grooves, drip system.
After irrigation need to mulch the soilto prevent rotting of ripening fruits.
When and how to feed
If the soil has been properly prepared, then need to feed the culture at the beginning of flowering and after every 10 days.
For these purposes, organic and ready-made complex fertilizers are used, which can be alternated.
From organic often used infusions of mullein (1:10), bird droppings (1:25) or nettle (1: 5). Wood ash (1-2 cups) is added to the prepared solution. The application rate of nutrients is 500 ml under 1 bush.
Ready fertilizer suitable: Agricola for cucumbers (25 g. Per 10 l of water), Fertika Lux (20 g. Per 10 l of water), BioMaster for cucumbers (25 g. Per 10 l of water), etc.
Whatever prikormki not used, they should be administered in liquid form after watering.
Weeding and Loosening
So that the soil remains light, and oxygen freely penetrates its structure, need to periodically aerate.
Dredging the tool into the ground is not worth it in order not to damage the root system.
Hilling of bushes is also useful.. To form a bush, increasing the number of lashes, it is recommended to pinch the top over the fifth leaf.
How to shape cucumbers:
Cultivation errors
Often gardeners, not taking into account the peculiarities of culture, allow gross mistakes that may affect the crop.
Among the main ones:
- when choosing the sowing date, be guided not by the temperature indicator, but by the church calendar;
- to break up the beds annually in the same place;
- thicken the beds;
- cancel all types of treatments when buying hybrids and rely only on plant immunity;
- refuse complex fertilizers for the purpose of growing organic crop.
Diseases and their prevention
Variety Masha is resistant to many diseases and pests.however, it is not worth neglecting regular monitoring and prevention.
When you find the first signs you need to quickly recognize the cause of the problem and carry out processing to localize the lesion.
The main enemies of cucumbers are:
- root rot;
- powdery mildew;
- white rot;
- spider mite;
- aphid;
- slugs.
The following measures are recommended as prophylaxis:
- after sowing, cover the beds with a film to maintain the temperature;
- before planting, treat the seeds, disinfect the soil;
- Sprinkle the crushed eggshell along the edges of the seedling, this will block the access of the slugs to the plant.
Harvesting and storage rules
You need to collect fruit regularly (every day), to prevent them from ripening. Frequent harvesting speeds up the fruiting process.
When removing cucumbers use force is not worth it, you can harm the lash. Fruit harvesting begins on the 37-39th day after planting seeds.
This is very convenient for those who are engaged in growing hybrid for sale.
To obtain a generous harvest, you must follow the basic rules of growing vegetables.Timely care and prevention significantly reduces the risk of death of the fruit due to disease or pests.
And at least Masha is considered unpretentious and resistant to external factors., it is necessary to pay attention to the garden beds.