April cucumber variety (F1)
April - a hybrid of an early ripening cucumber, which begins to bear fruit in 40 - 45 days from the emergence of shoots. Was obtained at the Vegetable Experimental Station. IN AND. Edelstein (Moscow). The original seeds are produced by the selection and seed-growing company Manul, whose employees are the authors of this hybrid. In 1977, the variety was included in the state register of the Russian Federation. Approved for use in the Northern, Central, Central Chernozem, Middle Volga, North-Western, Volgo-Vyatka and North Caucasian regions of Russia. Best of all, this culture is successful when cultivated in protected ground (greenhouses, film greenhouses
The variety is predominantly of the female flowering type, parthenocarpic (i.e., does not require pollination by bees). However, with the help of bee pollination, which is especially important for early planting, it is possible to increase the yield by 25 - 30%.
Plants are high-yielding, medium-growing, characterized by limited lateral branching. Planting density in greenhouses - 2.5 - 3 bushes / square meter. Blinding is carried out in the first 3 - 4 leaf axils (all ovaries and shoots are removed). Next, the bush is formed in the form of an inverted herringbone. The main stem is pinched when it reaches the top of the trellis.
The zelents are cylindrical, ribbed, medium tuberous, weighing 160 - 300 g, 15 - 25 cm long, belong to the variety type Zozulya... The skin is green or dark green, with short (1 - 3 cm) white stripes, coarse if not picked in time. The pubescence is complex, rare. The thorns are white. The picking of cucumbers is carried out at least two to three times a week. In the first month of fruiting, the yield is 7 - 13 kg / square meter.
Salad hybrid - intended for fresh consumption.
The variety is resistant to common cucumber diseases - the common mosaic virus, olive spot; tolerant to root rot. And also characterized by cold resistance, which allows you to harvest in bad weather conditions.
Advantages of April cucumber: increased productivity, high taste properties of fruits, friendly return of the harvest, long fruiting period, fruits do not turn yellow for a long time.
The main disadvantage is susceptibility to white rot.
It should be noted that April, along with the variety Zozulya, in 1977 at an international exhibition held in Germany, he was awarded a gold medal for the best taste of greenery.
We plant this cucumber with the whole family: me, mom, sister. I really like the fact that it is growing rapidly. Cold-resistant, which is important in our area, besides, I plant it in June in open ground. Sometimes in June our weather is unstable, and the temperature fluctuates a lot.
The plant loves fertile soil, but even on an unfertilized bed, it gives a quite tangible harvest. It should be borne in mind that a hybrid variety with parthenocarp,i.e. it can set fruits without pollination, but to get a good harvest it must be pollinated by insects, so I often add to the edges of the garden what attracts flies, bees (for example, fish scales, sweet syrup etc. ).
It is advisable to tie up the bushes so that the air circulates and to water them on demand, otherwise there were cases that the fruits rotted from the tip if the lashes were not tied.
But if you did not remove the cucumber on time, then it will not turn yellow, but it will reach a large size, the peel will become tough, and the seeds will be large.
I appreciate Aprelsky for its taste. There is practically no bitterness. The pulp itself is dense, tender. Great for fresh salads and whole pickles. But I didn't really like the sliced salads for the winter - it became soft.
35 - 40% of cucumbers are bitter, and they are very good.
I never planted this variety in the garden, only on the windowsill in early spring. I sow at the end of March or at the beginning of April, it will not work earlier - additional lighting will be needed. The soil must be taken fertile (I have a mixture of garden and humus) with a volume of five liters, or better, more. The container should be shallow, it will be 20 cm deep enough, but wide enough, since the root system of the cucumber is superficial. Requires a garter. I can say that it is quite suitable for growing at home, but more I like to grow the Zozulya variety on the windowsill, because it is more powerful and gives a greater yield. And the taste of the April cucumber is very, very good, especially in early spring, when there is still nothing in the beds.
I have known this variety for a long time. For several years he grew April's on the windowsill in the apartment. The result was very good. Now I use a film greenhouse, where these cucumbers give an excellent harvest. Almost no care. I cut off only the side shoots. Once every 15 days I feed them with Zdraven fertilizer. I water it abundantly, if possible every day. So that the moisture does not evaporate quickly, I cover the surface of the beds with a layer of freshly cut hay up to 5-7 cm thick. The fruits are very good fresh in salads. You can also do "little salting". I recommend Aprelsky to everyone who is independently engaged in the cultivation of cucumbers.
It tastes very bitter: on some cucumbers, the bottom, and some are almost entirely bitter. I planted a greenhouse in my garden, in open ground (with relatives in a completely different soil) and left one plant at home on the windowsill. Absolutely everyone is bitter. I use the non-bitter part in salads. Begins to bear fruit early. Quite large fruits are formed on the windowsill. Tolerates cold nights normally.