The Spino cucumber is a new F1 hybrid that is gaining popularity among gardeners with each passing season. Thanks to its excellent taste, high yield, and disease resistance, this variety has earned a place of honor in the global market and was included in the Russian National Register of Cucumbers upon its introduction.
Cucumber seeds "Spino"
Cucumbers "Spino"
"Spino" grows very compactly, without taking up much space.
Description of the variety
The Spino cucumber hybrid was developed in Holland and has a number of qualities that distinguish it from other cucumber varieties. It is distinguished by the following characteristics:
- early maturing, produces a harvest 30-40 days after planting in the ground;
- grows in all regions regardless of climate zone;
- feels good as evergrowing in a greenhouse, as well as in open ground;
- can grow and bear fruit in the shade;
- The fruits are dark green, up to 15 cm long, without bitterness.
Spino cucumbers can be eaten fresh or pickled for winter. When pickled or marinated, they retain their shape perfectly, remaining crisp and firm.
Advantages and disadvantages
The following advantages can be noted:
- From 1 sq. m you can collect up to 15 kg of high-quality fruits;
- the fruits have a good marketable appearance;
- cucumbers of this variety can be stored for a month, which allows them to be transported over long distances;
- plants are not susceptible to diseases typical for this type of crop;
- overripe fruits do not take on a barrel-shaped form, but remain cylindrical and smooth;
- The plant is generative, compact, and not prone to growing too much, which is why it does not require much space for growing.
During the cultivation of the hybrid, no negative qualities were identified.
Soil requirements
Spino cucumbers don't thrive in highly acidic soil. They prefer either a neutral or slightly alkaline environment. Slightly acidic soil is sometimes acceptable, but only if no other option is available.
You can determine soil acidity at home using baking soda and vinegar. Acidic soil will foam when mixed with baking soda, while alkaline soil will foam when mixed with vinegar. If there's no reaction, the soil is neutral.
- ✓ Use only hardwood ash, excluding oak and walnut due to their high acidity.
- ✓ Ash must be fresh and not exposed to moisture to retain its alkaline properties.
If the soil is acidic, you can deacidify it by adding ash, lime, and gypsum. Otherwise, the plants will wither and dry out prematurely.
The soil also needs to be rich in nutrients. This is achieved by mulching it with organic matter or adding fertilizer.
Rules for sowing seeds and planting seedlings
Spino cucumber seeds are planted 2-3 cm deep in the soil. If planting outdoors, the soil should be at least 12 degrees Celsius (55 degrees Fahrenheit). Otherwise, the seeds will rot in the ground and will not germinate.
Seeds are sown for seedlings Plants are placed in special cassettes, containers, or plastic cups. They are filled with soil taken from the surface and mixed with peat and sand in a ratio of 3:1:1.
Typically, one seed is sown at a time, but if you have extra seeds, you can sow two per container. After germination, leave the stronger plant and remove the weaker ones.
It's not recommended to keep seedlings in containers for too long—they should be planted when 3-4 leaves have formed, no later. Cucumber roots are straight, and if left in containers for too long, the roots will bend, and the quality of the seedlings will deteriorate.
Before planting seedlings in the ground, they must be hardened off to prevent sunburn. Two plants per square meter are allowed. Dense plantings will reduce yield.
Post-planting care
Caring for cucumber bushes consists of the following activities:
- Water regularly, especially during the fruiting period. Water with warm water, preferably in the evening, at the roots, avoiding waterlogging.
- Loosening the soil and removing weeds.
- Adding fertilizers and organic matter.
- Pest control.
- • Water plants in the morning to avoid sudden temperature changes and reduce the risk of fungal diseases.
- • Use drip irrigation to evenly moisten the soil without over-watering.
The Spino variety does not grow very much, so the bush can be trained on low trellises, up to 1 m in height.
How to achieve a bountiful harvest?
To ensure a bountiful cucumber harvest, it's not enough to simply care for the plants, water them, and feed them. It's also important to ensure the plant doesn't overload itself. It produces fruit normally when there are no more than 20 ovaries on it at any one time. Any more than that should be ruthlessly plucked to prevent them from weakening the plant.
Diseases and their prevention
The Spino variety is considered resistant to diseases common to cucumbers. However, during high humidity and rainy summers, preventative measures are beneficial.
- × Do not spray plants in hot weather to avoid leaf burns.
- × Avoid using copper-containing products during the period of active fruiting to avoid harming the fruits.
Plant bushes are sprayed with copper-containing products. Curdan, Gamair, and Thanos are best suited for this variety. They are applied liberally to the stems and leaves during dry weather to allow the plants to absorb the protective substances. If it rains after spraying, the protective layer will be destroyed, requiring further preventative treatment.
Preventative measures will help avoid premature yellowing of fruits, which can occur during dry weather.
Harvesting and storage rules
Spino cucumbers are easy to harvest because the fruit doesn't overripen as quickly as other varieties. If any cucumbers are missed during harvest, they won't lose their marketable appearance until the next harvest.
Thanks to these qualities, the harvest can be done every 3-4 days rather than daily. Harvesting begins six weeks after planting and continues for a long time, until the bushes dry out.
Spino cucumbers store well for a long time, but they shouldn't be kept in direct sunlight or in high-humidity areas. They also don't do well in sealed containers. They're best stored in small boxes in a dry, well-ventilated area. Harvesting is best done in dry weather, as cucumbers harvested in the rain don't store as well.
The hybrid variety Spino is a wonderful new product, capable of displacing many popular cucumber varieties from the global market. It has gained recognition not only among gardeners but also among large farmers, who appreciate its ease of cultivation and high yield.