Cucumber Herman f1 – photo and description, planting and care, reviews

When home garden owners think about which variety or hybrid of cucumbers to choose for planting, the choice often falls on the Herman F1 hybrid. This is understandable; this cucumber is considered by many to be the best. Cucumber Herman F1, a description of the variety, reviews with photographs of which are reflected in this article, is distinguished by high yield, early ripening, and the greens do not have bitterness. Pollination is not required for fruit set; caring for the hybrid is quite simple.

Hybrid Herman grows well in greenhouses and in open ground, showing resistance to various diseases. Thanks to its positive qualities, German can be considered one of the best varieties bred in recent years.

Description and characteristics of the hybrid

Herman was bred by specialists from the Dutch company Monsanto. In 2001, the hybrid was included in the State Register and began to be used by summer residents for planting in Russia.

The hybrid is parthenocarpic; it can be grown with equal success in open ground and greenhouse conditions. In terms of ripening time, it is classified as early ripening; 38 days pass from the germination of the crop to the harvesting of the first harvest.

Medium-sized plant, determinate. This means that the bush itself stops growth after a certain number of ovaries are formed. The leaves of the hybrid are colored green and are of medium size.

Seeds obtained from the Herman hybrid do not retain the beneficial qualities of the parent and are therefore not suitable for further propagation. Herman produces only female flowers that do not require pollination. Inflorescences are formed in bunches in each leaf axil. 4-6 flowers are formed in one bunch at the same time.

The flowers produce cucumber ovaries, which look like gherkins. The length of the fruit reaches 10 cm.

Why do German cucumbers sometimes turn yellow?

The color of gherkins depends on the degree of illumination and can be light green or darker tones. Light color is usually observed when plants are very thick, which occurs when:

• lack of bush formation;
• high planting density.

The diameter of the fruit varies between 2.5-3 cm, weight reaches 100 grams. The shape of the greens is smooth, medium-ribbed, cylindrical, moderately tuberculate. There are light spikes on the surface of the fruit.

The pulp of the Hermann variety cucumber is soft, with a light aroma, sweetish in taste, without bitterness. The dark green peel shows slight spotting and short stripes of white. This hybrid is more suitable for making salads.

The hybrid is characterized by high productivity; from 1 m² you can get up to 25 kg of cucumbers. Cucumbers do not turn yellow during storage and can withstand transportation over long distances. The fruits are suitable for preparations; they can be salted and pickled.

Herman shows resistance to diseases:

• powdery mildew;
• olive spot;
• cucumber mosaic.

Diseases and pests of the German variety (table)

Photo gallery: how to recognize diseases?

Spider mite

Aphids on leaves

Downy mildew (downy mildew)

Rust

Advantages and disadvantages

Like any variety or hybrid, Hermann has disadvantages and advantages. But he has much more advantages than negative qualities.

Among the advantages, the following should be noted:

• ability to self-pollinate;
• early harvest formation;
• high yield;
• long fruiting period;
• suitability for growing in garden beds and in a greenhouse;
• resistance to a number of dangerous diseases;
• cucumbers are very tasty, have no bitterness;
• cucumbers do not turn yellow during storage;
• attractive appearance of the fruit;
• versatility in the use of crops.

Among the shortcomings are the following:

• at the initial stage of growth, the hybrid has a weak root system;
• when planted in cold soil, plants stop growing;
• during the growing season, plants do not tolerate a decrease in air and soil temperatures;
• poor resistance to rust;
• The hybrid does not tolerate heat well.

Reviews from gardeners

The hybrid variety German turned out to be so successful that in a short time it became widespread among the population. Summer residents who have been growing cucumbers for many years are satisfied with the results obtained.

Natalya, Tver

I purchased my first seeds almost 5 years ago. I still grow this variety and have no plans to give it up. I found out for sure that direct deliveries to our companies come from Holland, therefore, when purchasing them in a special store, I am not afraid of running into a fake.

But there are very few seeds in a bag - only 8 pieces. It would be at least 10. But nothing, our little family has just enough to eat and for canning. We are all pleased with the pleasant taste, slightly sweet, but absolutely without bitterness.

My cucumbers grow in a greenhouse, there is a stove there and the harvest can be harvested before winter. I extend the daylight hours artificially - with fluorescent lamps. My husband hung them from the ceiling. I'm quite pleased with this variety.

Tatiana, Orekhovo

Every year I experienced nothing but torment with cucumbers. They didn’t collect it on time - they outgrew it, then the lashes break, or they come up with some unimaginable care in the recommendations. In general, I decided that it would be cheaper to get on my nerves - to be ready to buy.

When my husband bought the German variety, at first I was very angry, I thought that I would suffer again. I was surprised that the plants grew very quickly, and I didn’t experience any problems with the seedlings. Although they wrote that losses are possible during transplantation, not a single seedling died.

The harvest was also collected in October. It’s not worth talking about the taste - how good cucumbers are. The most important thing is that care is very simple. Now I don’t work hard in the greenhouse, as I used to, but relax.

Soil requirements

The hybrid grows well on different types of soil, but has an increased requirement for heat. You should provide it with a soil temperature above 14 degrees. Otherwise, the seeds will take a long time to germinate, and cucumber seedlings will take a long time to adapt to unfavorable conditions.

Herman is a high-yielding hybrid, which means that a lot of nutrition is required to form a crop. Hence the increased requirement of the hybrid for soil fertility.

To get a decent harvest, you will need to add the following to each square meter of garden beds:

• a bucket of rotted manure;
• bucket of peat;
• a bucket of sand to make the soil loose;
• 1 tbsp. superphosphate;
• 1 tbsp. potassium nitrate;
• 1 tbsp. ammonium nitrate.

How to sow?

The German cucumber variety is distinguished by its rather powerful bush development and must have enough space for normal growth. It is advisable to maintain the distance between the rows at 60 cm, and the planting spacing in the row is at least 30 cm.

Planting by seeds

German cucumber seeds are covered with a protective shell and do not require additional processing before sowing. The manufacturer guarantees their germination rate at 95% or more, and therefore, when sowing seeds, they are placed one at a time.

When sowing, the following parameters must be maintained:

Attention! If sowing was done in an open garden bed, after sowing it is advisable to cover it with a synthetic film. It will raise the temperature a little and retain moisture. With the appearance of single shoots, the shelters are removed from the beds.

Sowing begins when the soil warms up to 12 degrees. The air temperature should be kept at 17 degrees and above. Typically, such temperature indicators occur in Russia in the first ten days of May; there are differences in each region.

Planting seedlings

If the initial goal is to obtain an extremely early harvest, the Herman hybrid is grown through seedlings. Seedlings are planted in open ground at the age of 25-30 days.

Seedlings should grow in containers that allow them to be selected at the time of planting with a ball of earth on the roots. Thanks to this, the roots are less damaged.

Before planting cucumber seedlings German F1, you need to prepare the area:

1. dig up the soil;
2. make planting holes;
3. apply fertilizer.

For planting, use seedlings with 3-4 true leaves. Seedlings are buried in the soil up to the cotyledon leaves.

Harvesting

Herman actively bears fruit throughout the summer, right up to the first autumn frosts. It is recommended to collect fruits once every 2 days, cutting them off with scissors (to prevent stump rotting).

Parthenocarpics do not grow too large, but if not picked in time, they can inhibit the appearance of new cucumbers. The fresh shelf life is 7 days. Cucumbers should be stored in a cool place. The variety is perfect for pickles and marinades.

In less than 20 years of cultivation, Herman F1 has captivated gardeners around the world with its early ripening, excellent presentation, abundant fruiting and taste. It does not require complex care and does not bother owners with too frequent illnesses.

By following the simple rules discussed in the article, you can get an excellent harvest and enjoy the juicy taste of fresh, aromatic cucumbers or pickle them for the winter.

Care after landing

Herman, judging by the reviews of gardeners, it is not enough to plant correctly. Post-planting care of the crop is of great importance.

To get a decent harvest, you need to do the following:

• water every 3 days;
• fertilize approximately three times per season;
• during the growing season, fight weeds;
• loosen the soil after each watering;
• As the plants grow, tie them to the trellis;
• carry out the formation of bushes;
• Collect greens in a timely manner, preventing them from overgrowing.

The formation of cucumber bushes is carried out according to the following rules:

1. remove all shoots and flowers from 1 to 4 leaf axils;
2. in the axils of the 5th and 6th leaves, remove the sprout and leave 1 ovary;
3. in the axils of 7-10 leaves, remove the sprout and leave 2 ovaries;
4. when the stem outgrows the trellis, you need to throw it over it;
5. pinch the growth point of the cascading stem when the distance to the ground is 1 meter.

Important! You should not water cucumbers with cold water, as this will cause the fruits to taste bitter and the development of plants will stop. When the air temperature drops to +12 degrees or lower, you need to reduce the rate and number of waterings.

What is remarkable about the variety?

Herman F1 cucumbers are a variety loved by gardeners for their excellent taste

Summer residents have long loved German F1 cucumbers for a number of positive characteristics, and today they are successfully grown in all regions of the country. The characteristic features of the culture are as follows:

1. This is a high-yielding variety, the productivity of which reaches 25 kg per 1 m2.
2. The plant is distinguished by early ripening. From the emergence of seedlings to the formation of fruits, 35–40 days pass.
3. Cucumbers have powerful stems that grow up to 4–5 m. They are quite resistant to external influences and do not break as a result of bending.
4. Female flowering type. The variety is determinate, that is, the growth of the main shoot is limited.
5. The leaves are medium in size and have a rich dark green color. 6–7 ovaries are formed in one node.
6. The fruits are cylindrical, ribbed, grow up to 10 cm in length. Their weight ranges from 70 to 90 g. The skin is dark green in color with light stripes, covered with a faint waxy coating and pubescence. White thorns can be seen on cucumbers.
7. The pulp is aromatic with a characteristic crunch and medium-dense structure, has a sweetish taste without bitterness . According to the tasting scale, the fruits of this variety received the highest rating - 5 points out of 5.

Important! During storage, cucumbers do not turn yellow.

How to get an additional harvest wave?

With the right technology, you can get an additional harvest of Herman cucumber. In August, the growth of green plants on the bush decreases, but by applying appropriate foliar feeding, you can get a new wave of fruiting.

Below are 2 popular feeding recipes:

1. Milk with iodine. Take 9 liters of warm water, add 1 liter of milk, 35 drops of iodine. After mixing, the solution is ready for use.
2. Boric acid. Dissolve 10 g of the product in 1 liter of very hot water. Then add cold water, bringing the volume to 10 liters.

Important! To extend fruiting time, it is recommended to hill up cucumber bushes so that additional roots can grow. It is important to remove yellow leaves.

Features of the German cucumber

German cucumbers are characterized by a number of positive qualities:

• high yield (up to 8.5–9.0 kg/m2);
• excellent marketability indicators (up to 95%);
• early ripening (40–45 days after planting);
• long fruiting period;
• unlike other varieties, it is not affected by powdery mildew, cucumber mosaic, or cladosporiosis;
• good taste;
• versatility of use.

Disadvantages of the variety:

• poor resistance of plants to high temperatures (in hot climates the bushes should be shaded);
• instability to frost;
• susceptibility to rust disease;
• nutritional requirements.

How to harvest and store crops?

To prevent greens from overgrowing, they should be collected 3 times a week. With this approach, fruiting will be long and abundant.

For pickling, pickle cucumbers 5-7 cm long are collected. If you plan to use cucumbers for salads or pickling, pickle greens 10 cm long are collected. The fruits can be stored for no more than a week. During this time they will not turn yellow and will remain marketable. Cleaning is carried out in the morning or evening hours.

Having carefully read the description and characteristics of parthenocarpic Herman cucumbers, we can conclude that the hybrid is a good choice for gardeners. With the right technology, the manufacturer guarantees a high and stable harvest. German is not as often affected by dangerous diseases as other varieties. A large list of useful properties and qualities allows us to hope for a decent harvest of tasty fruits.

Appearance of the plant

Herman cucumber plants are characterized by determinacy (limited growth) and reach an average height. Flowering is of the female type, the ovaries are laid in the form of bunches. The leaves are not too large, colored green or dark green.

The fruits are cylindrical in shape, rich green in color, with a tuberous surface and white pubescence. The peel has short stripes and subtle spots. The weight of one cucumber reaches 80-90 g, length 10-12 cm, thickness - up to 3 cm.

Hermann's greens are small, dark green, with a tuberculate surface.

The pulp of the cucumbers is dense and has a firm consistency, which allows the cucumbers to maintain their crispness when preserved. The taste is excellent, without bitterness.