Features of the Meringue F1 cucumber variety, the subtleties of care and reviews of gardeners

Meringue F1 cucumbers are a hybrid developed by the Dutch company Monsanto. The producer of seeds that are sold in Russia is the Seminis enterprise. This variety was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 2007, since then it has established itself from the best side and won the hearts of many gardeners.

Gardeners noted a number of Merengi's advantages:

• early maturity;
• high productivity;
• self-pollination;
• versatility in application;
• resistance to many diseases;
• tolerance of bad weather conditions;
• excellent taste;
• beautiful appearance.

As you can see, the variety has a lot of positive qualities. However, before choosing seeds for planting, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the characteristics, descriptions, photographs and yield reviews.

Characteristics of the variety

Meringue F1 is a paternocapic hybrid. Flowering type - female. Bushes grow quite vigorous, open, with small leaves. Up to three zelents can grow on one node.

This variety belongs to the early maturing, from the appearance of the first shoots to the beginning of the harvest, no more than 40 days pass. Merengue is characterized by active fruiting during the entire growing season.

Cucumbers are small, grow to an average of 12 cm in length, tubercles with white thorns are visible on the surface. A distinctive feature of the fruits is that they rarely outgrow, even if they are not removed immediately after ripening. As a rule, they do not deform, do not turn yellow.

Another positive feature of the F1 Merengi is the amicable ripening of the first wave of the harvest. The variety is resistant to many fungal, viral and bacterial infections. For example, he is not afraid of the cucumber mosaic and powdery mildew, which so often affect this culture.

Meringue grows well both in open beds and in a greenhouse. In the first case, about 12 kg of crop can be harvested from one square meter, in the second - 15 kg.

Growing in an open bed

It should be noted right away that experienced gardeners grow F1 Meringue through seedlings. Any varieties of cucumbers do not tolerate damage to the roots, therefore, the transplant is carried out extremely delicately, always together with an earthen lump.

Experienced gardeners have come to the conclusion that it is best to grow seeds in coconut tablets or briquettes, but peat tablets and pots are not recommended - they may lose their shape and not preserve the integrity of the root system.

Below are the rules to follow in order to get strong and healthy seedlings.

• For planting seeds, a new light soil is taken without weeds and the remains of other plants.
• Each plant develops in a separate container.
• Do not plant seeds too early "in reserve": it is better to plant the seedlings later in the ground than to get overgrown plants.
• It is important to provide the seedlings with the necessary access to light, if necessary, put lamps.
• Watering is needed delicate, without an overabundance, otherwise the roots rot and the plant dies.
• Before transplanting, the seedlings must be hardened.

Gardeners advise planting seedlings in the evening and immediately pour abundantly with warm water, without falling on the leaves.

The quality of the land is also of great importance. If the soil is acidic, dolomite flour or lime is added. Do not water the cucumbers before transplanting - a wet clod of earth can deform and damage the roots with its weight.

When the plants are old, tie them to the supports. This is done for the convenience of harvesting and protecting the bushes from pathogens living in the ground. For these purposes, it is most convenient use trellises with a mesh stretched over them.Merengi's leaves are not very large, they grow in small quantities - harvesting will be convenient.

Meringue F1 is very fond of complex fertilizers. The use of nutrients in a chelated form is recommended: they are better absorbed by the root system, and they are also used for foliar feeding.

Use nitrogenous fertilizers very carefully. And an overabundance will provoke excessive growth of side shoots and leaves, which will reduce yields.

Harvesting

This variety of cucumbers does not require daily picking. It is enough to bypass the bushes once every 4-5 days, but not less often, otherwise the cucumbers will begin to take away strength from the mother plant, intended for the ripening of other greens.

Cucumbers will appear until the first frost. If you cover the open bed with foil, you can prolong the fruiting of the Merengi.

Growing in a greenhouse

Meringue can be grown quite successfully in a greenhouse, even heated in winter. In the latter case, it is important to provide additional lighting, otherwise the bushes will be weak, too elongated, and the yield will be low.

When growing this type of cucumber in a heated winter greenhouse, care must be taken. If the plant lacks nutrients, warmth, regular watering and light, it can get sick.

In order to prevent an outbreak of infection in cucumbers, it is important to monitor the slightest changes in appearance, growth and fruiting.

General recommendations

Where to plant seedlings - in a greenhouse or outdoors - depends on the grower and the regional climate. An open bed, a greenhouse or a regular greenhouse will do.

The optimum temperature for growing seedlings, good growth and yield ranges from +22 to + 27 ° C. About a month after sowing the seeds, the seedlings can be transplanted to a permanent place.

When planting with seeds, holes are made with a depth of 2-3 cm, and row spacing - 50-60 cm. If potatoes, cabbage or onions used to grow in the garden, it is ideal for planting cucumbers. After planting the seeds, cover the bed with foil. When the first shoots appear, gently loosen the soil.

It is important to water, weed and loosen the soil in a timely manner so that a crust does not form, blocking the access of air to the root system.

The best thing water cucumbers spray or watering can to avoid soil compaction and the possibility of root damage. It is not recommended to water with one stream.

Irrigation nutrients

Each plant has its own favorite water composition. In order to ensure the availability of nutrients along with the necessary moisture, the following solutions can be used:

• Take a special remedy "Kristalon cucumber". Dissolve 1-2 g in 1 liter of water, stir everything.
• 0.4 kg of ammonium nitrate and 0.4 kg of double superphosphate are mixed, then 0.3 kg of potassium sulfate, 100 g of iron, 2 g of boric acid and copper sulfate are added. ½ glass of water is poured, everything is stirred.
• For ½ glass of water, 0.2 kg of urea, 100 g of potassium sulfate, 150 g of superphosphate are taken.

All fertilizers are applied using a drip irrigation system. You can also purchase ready-made additives for watering cucumbers.

Hybrid reviews

In general, the opinions about the variety are positive. The palatability of cucumbers is highly appreciated, especially the sweetness and lack of bitterness, as well as the appearance and high yield.

Below are some feedback from gardeners sharing their experiences on growing Merengi, yields and caring for this hybrid.

Svetlana, Krasnodar: “I have been growing cucumbers for a long time, I like to try new varieties and experiment. Merengue was advised by my mother, I looked at the photo of the harvest, tried pickled cucumbers and decided to grow this variety at home. Cucumbers are very sweet, crunchy, no bitterness at all. The harvest met my expectations. "

Kirill, Tula: “I have always been skeptical about hybrids of cucumbers, they do not always take root in our climate.But Merenga took root and gave a good harvest of delicious cucumbers. We decided to marinate a part, it turned out great. "

Dilyara, Alushta: “For me, the presentation of cucumbers is most important, I sell them. The main thing is that customers like cucumbers in appearance and taste. Long-term storage in a torn form is also of great importance. Merengue meets all these requirements. "