Phoenix cucumber variety

The Phoenix cucumber was created in the 80s by A.V. Medvedev on the basis of the selection station in Krymsk. At first it was called "grade 640". The name Phoenix was given after an epidemic of downy mildew, which destroyed the crops of other varieties in the late 80s. The disease turned out to be powerless over this experimental variety. Subsequently, all varieties resistant to downy mildew received "bird" names.

Phoenix 640

Phoenix and Phoenix 640 - the same variety. In 1993, it was added to the state register of plants under the name Phoenix. Zoned for the North Caucasus, Lower Volga and Central Chernozem regions. Designed for outdoor cultivation. Resistant to true and downy mildew, cucumber mosaic virus.

Bee-pollinated. Late ripening, begins to bear fruit 55 - 65 days after germination. The fruiting period lasts until late autumn (up to frost). Productivity - up to 5 kg per 1 sq.m. On the plant, mainly female flowers are formed, located in bunches. Scourges up to 3 meters long, strongly branched. The preservation and keeping quality of fruits is high - up to 15 days under normal conditions.

Zelentsy up to 16 cm long, it is recommended to remove them daily or every 2 - 3 days. The fruit is elongated, triangular in section, weighing 150 - 190 g, has longitudinal white stripes. Possesses high taste. The pulp is firm and crispy. The skin is thick. With a lack of moisture and overgrowing, bitterness can form in the fruit.

Phoenix 640

The plant tolerates temperature extremes, summer heat and soil drought well. It grows and bears fruit when other varieties die or get sick. Therefore, for more than 20 years it has been popular with gardeners in the south of Russia.

Officially, the variety is considered a salad variety, but in private farms, greens are also pickled and salted. Numerous reviews of gardeners claim that zelents retain their elasticity when pickled, and when salted they crunch.

Phoenix Plus created by the same breeder and included in the state register in 2005. Zoned in the Central Black Earth, North Caucasian and Lower Volga regions. Designed for outdoor cultivation. The variety is mid-season, enters the fruiting period 46 - 55 days after germination. Bee-pollinated, salad. The plant is indeterminate, medium-sized, medium-branched, of a mixed type of flowering.

Zelents are fusiform, tuberous, 10 - 12 cm long, weighing 50 - 70 grams. The skin is dark green, with a slight mottling and short white stripes. The tubercles are of medium size, rare. The thorns are white. Fresh fruits have excellent taste qualities. Marketable yield is 300 - 427 c / ha, which is 5 - 28 c / ha higher than the Phoenix standard. The maximum yield is 625 c / ha, which is 174 c / ha higher than the Palchik standard. The output of marketable products is 85 - 95%.

Phoenix plus. Photo: Volvich Inna, Makeevka

The preservation and keeping quality of fruits is high - up to 15 days under normal conditions.

Plants are resistant to cucumber mosaic virus, powdery and downy mildew.

Compared to ordinary Phoenix, the Phoenix Plus variety has a smaller bush and fruit size, genetically there is no tendency to form bitterness, and a larger number of female flowers are formed. Also, it starts bearing fruit earlier.

Some gardeners speak negatively about the suitability of Phoenix Plus fruits for pickling.

Minimal care is required. Agricultural technology of both varieties is reduced to compliance with the general rules for growing cucumbers. They need warmth, moisture, a large amount of organic fertilizers. Phoenix is ​​best grown on trellises, Phoenix Plus can be spread, but it is better to use low trellises or separate supports for each plant.