Rules for growing Bingo cucumbers and the features of this new variety

Bingo cucumbers are a hybrid variety of parthenocarpic origin, meaning they don't require insects for pollination—every bud is guaranteed to produce a fruit. There are also no such things as barren flowers. The seeds of this variety don't grow large, retaining their small size and exceptional crunch.

Introduction to the variety

Bingo is most often grown in greenhouses. However, it can also be grown in open beds, although certain weather conditions, such as strong sunlight or excessively humid summer months, can negatively impact yield.

This is a relatively new development, which is classified as one of the following types:

• bouquet, due to its peculiarity – bouquet arrangement of ovaries;
• gherkin-picul, since it can be collected at the pickle stage, and when ripe it reaches an average of 8 cm - like a gherkin;
• early, because little time passes from planting to harvest;
• thin-skinned, thanks to the thin but strong skin.

Originators

The Bingo hybrid is the result of crossing several cultivars and has been popular among greenhouse farmers since 1920. Its creators are convinced that this unique variety can also be successfully sown outdoors.

External characteristics of the plant and cucumbers

The Bingo cucumber plant has a strong stem and medium-sized leaves with a rich green hue. The leaves are arranged on the stem with moderate density. During flowering, bright yellow female buds appear, forming a compact cluster of 4 or 5 ovaries.

The hybridized vegetable also has other varietal characteristics:

• Under optimal growing conditions, the bush can grow up to 200-250 cm.
• Cucumbers are characterized by their evenness and cylindrical shape.
• At the pickle stage, their average weight varies from 30 to 40 g, and at the gherkin stage – about 75 g.
• The fruits are dark green.
• On the surface of the cucumbers there are small tuberculate formations and light-colored spines.
• The skin is thin, but quite strong.
• The flesh is light, juicy, and crisp, and the seeds are barely visible. There are no cavities inside the fruit.

The long fruiting period and clustered fruiting allow for two harvests. The choice between these depends on the owners' preferences:

• If you let the fruits ripen before pickling, the harvest will be smaller, but these cucumbers are excellent for pickling;
• If you allow them to reach the size of a gherkin, the productivity doubles (due to the increase in the weight of the cucumbers).

Taste and purpose

Despite its early ripening, the Bingo cucumber offers a wide range of uses. This variety is distinguished by its versatility, allowing it to be used in a variety of ways:

• Pickling options include individual jars or a mixture with other vegetables;
• It is used for fresh consumption and adding to salads to replenish the body with vitamins.

The Bingo cucumber is unmistakable – when cut, the flesh is intact, and when tasted, it offers a sweet, uneventful bite, a firm, and crisp texture. It looks appealing on the table and in jars after pickling, and its flavor is mouthwatering.

Ripening and yield

One of the key features of bouquet cucumbers is the ability to harvest the vegetables all at once, which is especially important when growing gherkins. In greenhouses, the harvest period is 40 to 45 days; in open ground, the harvest period may be slightly longer, but not significantly, depending on how quickly the cucumbers ripen.

Up to 18 kg of fresh, ripe cucumbers can be harvested from 1 square meter of planting. If harvested early, before the fruit reaches full development, the yield at the pickle stage is 7-8 kg, and gherkins can yield an average of 12.5 kg.

Resistance to diseases and pests

The Bingo F1 cucumber variety has a natural resistance to various diseases and pests. It is resistant to powdery mildew, cladosporiosis, and cucumber mosaic. The following may occasionally occur:

• Ascochytosis. This is an infectious disease that can affect cucumbers grown both in greenhouses and outdoors. Infection can be transmitted by wind or contaminated gardening tools. Fruit affected by ascochyta blight are not suitable for consumption.
  To prevent the disease, it is necessary to ensure good ventilation in greenhouses, thoroughly disinfect the soil before planting, use only garden tools treated with disinfectant, and purchase seeds from reliable producers.
  Bordeaux mixture is used for treatment. A 1:1 mixture of copper sulfate and chalk can also be used.
• Aphid. This insect settles on leaves, sucking out the sap, which slows the growth of the bushes. To prevent the pest's presence, it is necessary to thoroughly disinfect the greenhouse and soil in the fall and spring.
  Fitoverm, Iskra, Tanrek are used for destruction.
• Root rot. This condition causes the plant's roots to become brittle, the leaves to turn yellow, and fruiting to cease. To prevent this condition, it's important to follow the principles of moderate watering, avoiding excessive moisture, which can cause serious problems.

Features of cultivation

Bingo cucumbers prefer warm conditions, so they are most often planted in greenhouses. There are two approaches to planting: either sowing seeds directly into the soil or pre-growing seedlings in individual pots. It's important to adhere to the established planting dates.

When is the right time to plant?

The timing of planting Bingo cucumber seeds and seedlings depends on when the soil temperature reaches at least 15-16 degrees Celsius. These dates may vary depending on the region's climate. In southern regions, this is April, while in more northern and temperate zones, the optimal time is May.

Preparing a site in a greenhouse

The main principle of preparatory work is thorough soil cultivation. The instructions call for fertile soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. The addition of vermicompost (compost) made from rotted manure and river sand to improve drainage is essential.

Preparations begin in the fall and include the following stages:

• removal of weeds along with roots;
• deep plowing with the addition of all necessary fertilizers.

In the spring, before planting, dig over the soil in the greenhouse again and treat it with a weak solution of potassium permanganate to prevent diseases. Before planting, cover the bed with agrotextile, making cross-shaped holes for each cucumber plant. This reduces weeds and makes caring for the cucumbers easier.

Preparing a plot in the garden

When preparing the soil for outdoor planting, use the same principles as for greenhouse crops. However, unlike in a greenhouse, it's important to choose a location outdoors that receives good sun but isn't too shaded. Create raised beds and dig narrow trenches in them.

Pressed manure is placed in the furrows and covered with fertile soil from a local farm supply store. The surface of the bed is then covered with plastic film and left to warm for a week. After this, the actual sowing process begins.

Planting seeds

The seeds used for sowing are covered with a unique green coating. This promotes rapid plant growth and protects them from various diseases. These seeds do not require additional treatments such as dressing, hardening, or soaking, as they are already fully prepared for planting in prepared soil.

Planting seedlings

To speed up the ripening process, seeds are sown for seedlings. To do this, the seeds are placed in individual pots filled with nutritious soil, and certain conditions must be observed:

• the soil temperature should be +13-16 degrees;
• the air temperature in the room should be +21-25 degrees;
• it is necessary to avoid penetration of cold air;
• The seeds are buried to a depth of 3.5 cm.

The pots with seedlings are placed in a location with adequate light. After 3-5 days, the first shoots appear, with a 100% germination rate. The seedlings are grown in pots for about a month, until each seedling has four leaves. After this, the planting material is ready for transplanting to its permanent location.

Planting diagram

When planting Bingo, a classic scheme is used to ensure optimal space for each plant. It looks like this:

• the distance between plants is 45-55 cm;
• the interval between rows is identical.

Care instructions

Bingo f1 cucumbers require careful care. Key aspects of plant care include: monitoring soil moisture levels around the trunk, supporting the plants with special structures, and optimizing nutrition through fertilizer.

Watering

Bingo cucumbers require regular soil moisture—on average, once a week. During periods of heavy rainfall, irrigation in the greenhouse can be reduced, and if grown outdoors, it can be omitted altogether.

Please also consider other requirements:

• At high temperatures, watering of plants increases.
• It is best to water plants in the morning or evening, avoiding the use of cold water – only warm and settled liquid is needed for the procedure.
• Avoid allowing drops to fall on the green mass of the plant.

Garter and shaping of bushes

The Bingo variety tends to form climbing stems, so to ensure a bountiful harvest, it's important to firmly secure the bushes to specially placed supports. Trellis, netting, or thin twine can be used for support.

Top dressing

To ensure optimal growth, Bingo requires periodic addition of nutrients to the soil, approximately every 10-14 days. Mineral complexes containing potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen are preferred as a primary fertilizer.

To create an effective feeding schedule, use this recipe:

• 20 liters of warm water;
• 1 kg of cow dung;
• 20 g potassium sulfate.

To treat the soil under cucumbers, use this solution in a ratio of 5 liters per 1 square meter of area.

Hilling

When growing the Bingo variety on a surface covered with non-woven material, hilling is not required - it is enough to remove any weeds that appear in the areas where the cucumbers grow.

If there is no covering, covering the bushes with soil is necessary. The soil around the bush should be piled up to a height of 6-7 cm. Hilling should be done only after watering or rain, and not using dry substrate.

Harvesting and storage

Bingo cucumbers are ready to harvest every 2-4 days. For further canning, they can be picked when they reach 5 cm in length. At the gherkin stage, cucumbers should be harvested at 9 cm in length. They are usually eaten fresh or pickled for quick consumption.

For long-term storage, refrigerate cucumbers. This variety is highly resistant to damage and retains its quality for 14-16 days.

Positive and negative qualities

Cucumber Bingo has many benefits, but the following stand out in particular:

Gardeners' reviews of Bingo cucumbers

The Bingo F1 cucumber is a first-generation hybrid with abundant yields and low maintenance requirements. The vegetables are easy to transport and have a long shelf life. These qualities make the Bingo variety a favorite among gardeners and farmers who grow it commercially.

Frequently Asked Questions