Cucumbers variety Relay were bred in the late 80s by breeders of the experimental station. Edelstein. The peculiarity of the variety is that it is recommended to grow it in winter in unheated greenhouses. The possibility of growing cucumbers of this variety in the open field is also not excluded.
Description of the variety and its characteristics
The first fruits can be obtained within 55 - 60 days after sowing the seeds. The plant is fast growing. Cucumber leaves are large and dark green in color. The cucumbers are spindle-shaped. Their length reaches 20 - 22 cm. The pulp is juicy and crispy, has a slightly sweet taste. The skin of the fruit is thin and tender, covered with small tubercles.
The fruits are mainly used fresh for the preparation of salads. Cucumbers have a long shelf life and tolerate transportation well. Bushes do not need good lighting.
Cucumber relay
With properly organized agricultural technology, up to 44 kg of fruits can be obtained from 1 m2.
An equally important feature of this variety should be noted - the ability to adapt to growing conditions.
The popularity of the relay race cucumbers is also due to the fact that they are not afraid of such a disease as cucumber mosaic, as well as root rot.
Agrotechnics
Plants do not require any special care. It is enough to plant them correctly and in a timely manner, regularly water, huddle and feed them.
Plants can be grown both through seedlings and through direct sowing of seeds into the soil.
Cucumber relay
It's worth starting with the selection and pre-treatment of seeds. To get a good harvest of the Relafeta variety, the seeds of the cucumbers must be of high quality. They need to be soaked in warm water for no more than 25 - 30 minutes. Those that float up are not suitable for sowing, they can be thrown away. The rest must be placed in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 40 minutes.
[alert color = "yellow" icon = "thumbs-o-up"]Important! Processing with potassium permanganate will disinfect the seeds. They will give friendly and healthy shoots. [/ Alert]
Now you can start germinating the seed. To do this, they are carefully placed on damp gauze or cloth. The seeds are moistened as they dry. After 3 - 5 days, the seeds will swell. They are now ready for seeding.
The soil can be purchased ready-made, or you can prepare it yourself by mixing humus, wood ash and peat in equal amounts. You can also disinfect the soil by watering it with potassium permanganate water. This helps to avoid the development of soil rot.
The earth is placed in containers with a volume of no more than 500 ml. The seeds are placed in the soil to a depth of no more than 1 - 1, 5 cm.
If the seedlings are grown in a greenhouse, for the first 10 to 12 days the indoor temperature should not be higher than 17 degrees. With the development of fruits, the greenhouse temperature must be increased to 20 - 22 degrees.
If the containers with seeds are in a living area, they must be placed in a well-lit place. This will help to avoid pulling the shoots up. Do not forget that containers with seedlings must be covered with a transparent film. This will create a greenhouse effect. This procedure speeds up the seed germination process. As soon as the first shoots appear, the film can be removed.
After 10 - 15 days, seedlings can be planted in the beds.
Cucumber relay
A small amount of mullein or humus must be added to the soil before planting seedlings. Using a hoe, make holes no more than 5 cm deep. The distance between them should be approximately 25 - 30 cm. This is significantly less than for seedlings of cucumbers of other varieties. This difference was made possible by the fact that the Relay cucumbers are well cultivated and give a good harvest in the shade.
It is recommended to water the plants daily. It is advisable to choose the same time for this. The temperature of the water used for irrigation should fluctuate between 35 - 37 degrees. Better to take settled water.
Rules for watering cucumbers of this variety:
- You can only water the soil near the root.
- It is recommended to spray the leaves only.
- Dry land is better than waterlogged land.
- The best time to water is in the evening after sunset.
Top dressing should consist of organic and mineral fertilizers. During the growing season, only root feeding is carried out from a nitrophoska solution with the addition of chicken droppings. Nitrophoska contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which makes it almost ideal feeding.
In the future, as a top dressing, you can use a solution of 1 liter of superphosphate, 10 liters of warm water and 500 gr. mullein.
It is important not to overdo it with fertilizer. No more than 5 liters of top dressing can be applied to 1m2 of the plot.
If the seeds are sown in open ground, they undergo exactly the same preliminary preparation as in the previous version. The soil and holes are prepared in the same way.
After sowing, it is recommended to cover the soil with a transparent film. This technique will help the seeds to give the first shoots much faster and more friendly.
Bush formation
When growing cucumbers in greenhouses, it is imperative to form a bush. There are several reasons for this:
- Maximum yield as a result of adjusting the growth rate of the vegetative part of the bush.
- Economical use of the area of the greenhouse premises.
- Get the most optimal amount of lighting.
- Simplicity of care.
- Prolongation of fruiting period.
It is much easier to form a tied bush. There are several options for garters:
- vertical (the rope is pulled vertically. Each bush is tied to a separately stretched rope);
- horizontal (on both sides of the bed supports are installed, to which horizontal twines are attached. As the bush grows, the stem is fixed to it).
It is equally important to regularly carry out pinching.
Cucumbers Relay
The procedure is that as the main stem grows, the lateral stepsons located in the leaf axil are removed. If the stepchildren are not removed, they will take all the nutrients, water and energy from the plant. The length of the stepson should be no more than 5 cm. If the length is longer, there is no point in removing him. The first pinching is carried out when 7 leaves have already been formed on the plant. One node should contain no more than 3 - 4 ovaries.
When the first plant loops grow to the top of the support, all leaves are removed from the bottom of the stem, and the stem itself goes down.
The cultivation of the "Relay" cucumber will provide the family with fresh and crispy cucumbers, even in winter. For their cultivation, there is no need to apply a lot of physical strength, time and money.
