Self-pollinating cucumber varieties and parthenocarpic hybrids

Many people believe that parthenocarpic and self-pollinating cucumbers are the same thing. Alas, they are wrong. Parthenocarpic cucumbers form fruits without pollination at all; therefore, there are no seeds in the fruits. And self-pollinating cucumbers have both pistil and stamens in one flower, and they pollinate themselves, producing fruits with seeds. The most popular among self-pollinating varieties: Orpheus-F1, Alliance F1, Amur F1, Gepart F1, Zozulya F1. All of them are suitable for growing in protected ground, on a balcony and even in an apartment on a windowsill, just like parthenocarpic cucumbers.

The agricultural technology for growing self-pollinating and parthenocarpic cucumbers in greenhouses is no different from the agricultural technology for bee-pollinated varieties. But growing parthenocarpic or self-pollinating cucumbers on a windowsill is a much more difficult task. Cucumber is a very light-loving plant and you need to use additional lamps and some kind of backlight. The pot should have good drainage and gravel or eggshells should be placed at the bottom of the pot. Sand or peat should be added to the soil mixture for better water permeability. Cucumbers should be shaken periodically to encourage pollination.

Don't forget that the cucumber is a climbing vine and needs trellises. They grow a lot, so they need to be planted rarely and are best placed in a checkerboard pattern.Make sure that the room temperature does not rise above 25 degrees and does not fall below 18 degrees. Humidity should be around 80%, which can be achieved by placing the pots in trays with wet pebbles and misting frequently. Loosen the soil more often and avoid drafts; cucumbers do not like them. With good care at home, you can collect 10-15 cucumbers from one bush.