Cucumber Claudine

On the modern vegetable seed market, there are many varieties and hybrids of cucumbers of different ripening periods. One of the most popular among gardeners and farmers is the early Dutch-bred Claudine hybrid.

The Claudine hybrid cucumber was created by scientists at the Dutch agricultural firm Monsanto in the 2000s. The parent form of the hybrid is the vegetable Claudia. Breeders A. N. Kononov and H. Klein worked on the breeding of the Claudine hybrid. Cucumbers were entered into the register of approved for use in 2008. Culture zoned in all regions of Russia. You can grow greens in garden beds and under a temporary film cover.

Claudine is a medium-sized plant of an indeterminate type (the main stem grows indefinitely), which has moderate branching, long lashes, a powerful central stem and medium thickening with bright green leaves.

The culture is self-pollinated. When the bush blooms, large yellow flowers of the female type bloom on it. The arrangement of the ovaries of the plant is bundle: in each such bundle, up to 7 fruits grow.

Dutch cucumbers stand out among the many congeners for their evenness and accuracy of shape. The bushes ripen fruits weighing 85-90 grams and up to 10 cm long. The shape of zelents is cylindrical or elongated-oval. Ripe cucumbers are evenly covered with a dark green cover, which is diluted with light longitudinal stripes. The rind of zelents is thin and tender, covered with many small tubercles and white, very prickly thorns.

The huge advantages of the variety are the ability to easily transfer transportation over long distances, as well as good keeping quality at the correct temperature (10-14 days).

Claudine is characterized by excellent taste. The flesh of the vegetable is fleshy, dense, crispy. The taste is dominated by pleasant sweetness, perfectly combined with a rich refreshing aroma. There are practically no seeds in the pulp.

This hybrid of salad purposes is ideal for fresh consumption, for preparing salads and assorted vegetables. In addition, cucumbers can be canned whole, but they are not suitable for pickling, since they become soft in the marinade.

The Dutch cucumber belongs to the class of early maturing species. The growing season lasts 35-45 days. Fruits ripen gradually, so the period of fruiting in the culture is extended. The massive harvest takes place in July-August. It is recommended to collect greens every 2-3 days. It should be noted that ripe vegetables are not deformed, and their peel does not turn yellow.

A crop is declared productive if it is properly cared for. On average, 9.8 kg of crispy greens can be taken from 1 m2. In conditions of greenhouse cultivation, yield indicators can be higher - up to 12 kg / m2.

The crop must not only be looked after, but also planted correctly on the site / in the greenhouse.Due to the fact that Claudine cucumbers love space, it is recommended to place no more than 2-3 bushes per 1 m2. The optimal layout for planting is 50x30 cm.

There are two ways to plant Dutch cucumbers: direct sowing into the ground or through seedlings. It is the seedling method that gardeners and farmers prefer. Bushes with a height of 15-20 cm are selected as planting material, which have a strengthened central stem, a developed root and have 3-4 true leaves. It is recommended to plant cucumbers on the garden bed only after the onset of stable heat (17-20 degrees). As a rule, planting in open ground is carried out in early June, and the culture is planted in the greenhouse in May.

To get a high yield, you need to work hard and provide the plant with intensive agricultural technology: frequent watering with warm liquid (drip system or under the root), fertilization (liquid organic matter is especially welcome 3-4 times during the growing season), tying to trellises or plant supports, the formation of bushes , loosening and weeding of the soil every 10 days and after heavy rains, periodic hilling, prevention of viruses and insect infestations. In greenhouses, you need to control the level of humidity, periodically ventilating the structures.

The cucumber variety has no special requirements for the structure of the soil. The plant is most comfortable to grow and bear fruit in conditions of loose, moisture-permeable, breathable and fertile soil, characterized by a neutral acidity index. In addition, the soil should not be waterlogged and heavy. Sandy loam, loamy, chernozem soils are most suitable.

The Dutch cucumber Claudine is a crop that loves light, warmth, good air ventilation and space, therefore it is recommended to grow it in a sunny, weed-free area, slightly shaded by taller stands. In addition, zelents should grow in an area where the occurrence of groundwater is deep enough. It should also be noted that cucumbers are susceptible to cold snaps, drafts and cold winds.

The plant's immune system is strong. Cucumbers are resistant to many diseases such as powdery mildew, cucumber mosaic virus. In addition, the plant is tolerant of downy mildew. In an unfavorable environment, cucumber bushes can attack pests: aphids and spider mites.