Grafted Cucumber Gynial F1 plants - Cucumis sativus

The Grafted Long Cucumber 'Gynial F1' (Smooth Cucumber) is a highly productive variety. Resistant to cladosporiosis, it produces long, crunchy and non-bitter cucumbers (25 to 28 cm (10 to 11in)). For small gardens, the cucumber can be trained on any type of mesh support, which also makes harvesting easier! The plug plants of the Grafted Long Cucumber 'Gynial F1' can be planted from April to July, after the last frost, for a harvest from June to September. Grafting allows for a faster and more abundant harvest.

The grafting technique consists of giving a desired variety (here 'Gynial') the root system of another specially selected variety, called the rootstock. This rootstock has excellent resistance to soil parasites and diseases, which provides an extra vigour to the plant: it is then more resistant to difficult external conditions (such as cold climates) and will yield significantly higher than a non-grafted plant. The fruiting of grafted plants starts earlier and lower on the main stem.

Cucumber, along with tomato, is one of the star vegetables of summer. Refreshing and low in calories, it can be enjoyed in salads or on its own, with, for example, a yogurt, lemon and dill sauce. There are two main types of cucumbers: "forcing" varieties that are intended for greenhouse cultivation and those that are suitable for outdoor cultivation. Cucumbers can be smooth or spiny, long or semi-long. In addition to these classic varieties, there are also more "exotic" cucumbers such as the Kenyan Cucumber or the Snake Cucumber, which are generally more heat-demanding.

Cucumbers prefer light, loose, moist and humus-rich soils. They like sunny exposures and temperatures between 18 and 22°C (64.4 and 71.6°F). They are quite water-demanding vegetables that need regular watering.

Harvest: Cucumbers should be harvested when they have reached their final size, before their colour turns yellow. Be careful: overripe fruits become bitter. Remember to harvest regularly to encourage the formation of new fruits. Harvesting is usually done from June to September.

Storage: Cucumbers can be stored in the refrigerator for several days. To enjoy your harvest for longer, you can also preserve them in jars through lacto-fermentation or vinegar.

Gardener's tip: Like all cucurbits, cucumbers can be susceptible to powdery mildew: a white fuzz appears on the foliage. It is advisable to remove heavily affected leaves and spray with wettable sulfur every 2 weeks. As a preventive measure, avoid watering the foliage and make sure to ventilate your greenhouse well if the cultivation takes place under cover. A spray of horsetail decoction can also be applied to strengthen foliage resistance.