Types of bee pollinated cucumbers and their benefits
Among bee-pollinated cucumbers, 3 groups are distinguished – bush, gherkins and hybrids.
bush cucumbers
Many varieties of cucumbers form fruits on hanging long stems. Planting such varieties is advisable in areas with a limited area, for example, in greenhouses.
When grown outdoors, it is better to use bush varieties that are pollinated by bees.
At the same time, it is not necessary to build high trellises for growing.
Bush cucumbers have their own advantages:
- The plant forms a neat bush;
- They give a good harvest in lean years;
- Are resistant to the most common diseases;
- The fruits are small and suitable for conservation;
- Shrubs are easy to cover completely if frost is expected;
- Used for cucumber masks.
Gherkin
Cucumber varieties are called gherkins, which form fruits up to 10 cm long.
Benefits of gherkins:
- Beam ovaries, which already on the 3rd day form a full-fledged fetus;
- Very high palatability, used in salads and preserves;
- Very high productivity per square meter;
- Grow well in different types of soil.
bee pollinated hybrids
Hybrids work well for both outdoor and greenhouse growing, but seeds will not produce offspring with the same unique qualities.
Benefits of hybrids:
- bundle ovary;
- Cold resistance;
- No need to pinch the shoot for the correct formation of the bush;
- Long fruiting;
- A small amount of seeds;
- Resistance to bacterial diseases.
The best varieties of bee pollinated cucumbers
We offer you to get acquainted with the top 5 varieties of bee-pollinated cucumbers:
- Alliance F1 – mid-season hybrid variety with fruits up to 15 cm in length, very juicy and tasty;
- Royal F1 – an early hybrid of French selection, ideal for salting, not afraid of frost;
- Wisconsin – a mid-season gherkin variety with large-tuberculate spikes;
- White Miracle – a unique early variety with ivory fruits, very crispy;
- Phoenix is a late variety of bush type, there is no bitterness in the fruit.
Self-pollinated cucumbers – the pinnacle of the breeding process
This group of varieties has both a pistil and a stamen on the flowers, so the pollination process takes place with the help of dew and does not require flying insects, such as bees.
Self-pollinating cucumbers have several advantages:
- Always high germination rate;
- Grows well and develops at high humidity;
- Used both fresh and preserved;
- Frost resistance of seedlings;
- Ultra-early harvest, with proper planting, the first fruits can be obtained already at the end of spring;
- Reduced growing costs;
- Resistance to fungal and bacterial diseases;
- Reduced chance of damage by insect pests;
- Fruit without bitterness;
- Stable good harvest;
- Not afraid of sudden temperature changes;
- Fruiting is long, up to 2 months.
The best varieties of self-pollinated cucumbers
We have selected the top 5 varieties of self-pollinating cucumbers:
- Amur F1 is an ultra Dutch hybrid, technically ripe fruits become 40-45 days after germination, 8-10 fruits per node;
- Crispina F1 – an early gherkin hybrid that is ideal for pickling, it is this variety that is used to make burgers at McDonald;
- Excitement F1 – an early variety with a fruit weight of up to 140 g and a length of up to 10 cm, resistant to diseases and weather conditions;
- Stinger F1 – gherkin hybrid resistant to downy mildew;
- Polonaise F1 is a variety with a growing season of about 42 days, bouquet type, excellent for sale on the market.
Health benefits of cucumbers
Cucumbers are a storehouse of nutrients and trace elements. Among them are potassium, calcium, triterpenes, flavonoids, vitamins, and fiber.
These substances have an impact on the functioning of the digestive tract, the cardiovascular system, as well as on the condition of the skin.
Cucumbers are also very low in calories.
Hydration
Nutritionists always say that we should get up to 30% of water every day through food. Therefore, cucumbers, which are almost 96 percent water, will increase the hydration of the body.
Prevention of cancer patients
Cucumbers contain cucurbitacins, which add bitterness to the fruit. Due to their structure, they can partially reduce the growth of certain types of cancer cells. For example, pancreatic cancer according to the Journal of Cancer Research.
Another type of substance, lignans, which is found in cucumbers, reduces the risk of developing breast cancer.
Bone Strengthening
Cucumbers are rich in vitamin K, which, in conjunction with vitamin D, strengthens bone tissue and dramatically reduces the likelihood of fractures by about 30%.
Improving the work of the cardiovascular system
Cucumbers are rich in potassium, the consumption of which reduces the risk of developing diseases of the cardiovascular system, in particular coronary heart disease.
You can purchase many varieties of cucumbers, as well as other vegetable seeds, in the Florium online store.
Read also 10 Perennial Plants for Containers.
Published: 16.01.2020
