Gherkin
Crop manual flat cultivation
Flat cultivation Milestones of yield increase
Optimal soil temperature is approx. 20°C, air temperature optimum is between 20°C and 35°C. Growth depression
In Central European flat cultivation, crop yield has
and the abortion of fruit have to be expected with
increased sixfold in the last 40 years. In the late
temperatures significantly beyond this optimal range.
70s, the launch of black mulch film as well as of
The gherkin plant is relatively wind-sensitive due to a
the newly developed ‘gherkin flyer’ contributed
lack of effective evaporation protection.
decisively to this development. The introduction of the parthenocarpic gherkin varieties Accordia
Sowing
RZ, Harmonie RZ and Melody RZ and the simul
In Southern Germany, sowing generally takes place
taneous use of horticultural fleece have also set new
from 10 April. This date, which is by approx. 2 to 3
standards in quality and yield. The increase in yield
weeks earlier, becomes possible through the use of
was further brought about by drip irrigation being
polypropylene fleece. This earliness method provides
introduced in about 2000.
frost protection. Generally, six strips of mulch film placed at a distance of 1.5 m and with a width of 1 m each are covered directly after sowing. The fleece is
Crop rotation
permeable to air, light and water, slows down wind
The gherkin is suitable as a good preliminary crop.
speed, decreases evaporation and buffers potential
However, phytosanitary reasons make a three to four
slight night frost.
year crop rotation recommendable. The aforementioned mulch film strips made of 20 – 35µ
Soil requirements
thick PE film (dyed black) are tightly laid on slightly
Heat-absorbing, humus-rich soil with good waterholding
raised beds with special plastic film layers whereupon
capacity and good structure is generally suited for
a border strip of approx. 20 cm is dug in. The mulch film
cultivating gherkins. These include humic loamy sand
maintains the winter damp in the seed-bed, increases
and sandy loam as well as black soil. The pH-optimum
soil temperature and suppresses weed growth. Drip
lies in the range of pH 5.8 to pH 7.
hoses are placed in the side area at the soil surface below the film each with the drip points turned
Climate requirements
upwards.
The gherkin plant is frost-sensitive. Its thermophily
Sowing is carried out with up-to-three-row pneumatic
is, among others, demonstrated by the fact that it
sowing stars. These sowing stars penetrate the length of
develops physiological disorders (e.g. stunting) at a
film at a distance of 33 cm and place 3 corn of gherkin
night temperature of below 5°C. The gherkin plant
seed each at a depth of approx. 2 cm. Thus, 6,000
germinates and grows at a minimum temperature of
running meters of film per ha add up to a density of
approx. 12°C and opens its flowers from 15°C.
50,000 plants/ha.
Weed control
When the fleece is removed for inter-row weed control:
The inter-rows can be sealed with soil-applied herbicide
• 50 kg stabilised N
film. Please note: In case of torrential rain there is the
are distributed between the rows.
danger of illuviation. As soon as weeds have emerged hand-high, the fleece is opened. Weeds in the sowing
Irrigation and fertilisation by drip generally begins at
holes have to be pulled out by hand. Between the rows
the first harvest, which is to be expected from mid of
hoeing can be done mechanically or a total herbicide
June, two weeks after blooming. The fleece should be
can be applied if a spray screen is used. In the latter
removed approx. one week before harvest.
case, the fleece must not be closed earlier than half a day or a day later.
During the harvest season, 100% soluble fertiliser is applied corresponding to the volume yield via the drip
Fertilisation
system: with a harvest loss of 10 to/ha crop:
One hectare gherkin with a yield potential of approx.
• 15 kg N,
100 t/ha has a nutrient requirement of approx.:
• 7 kg P2O5
• 280 kg N
• 24 kg K2O and
• 100 kg P2O5
• 2 kg MgO
• 280 kg K2O
are withdrawn from the field.
Thereof the following quantities are broadcast as basic
A further 10 kg N/week are needed for plant development
fertilizer before laying the film:
within the first three weeks of harvest. This amount is
• 100 kg N,
also needed at the time of regeneration (after the main
• 80 kg P2O5
harvest). Then a N : K2O-ratio of 1.3−1.6 : 1 has to be
• 140 kg K2O (chloride-free)
chosen. In times of high yields, fertiliser should be applied with focus on potassium (1 : 1.3). The gherkin does indeed prefer nitrogen in form of ammonium, however, attention should be paid to an alternation between ammonium and nitrate in order to prevent antagonisms with potassium, magnesium and especially calcium. Magnesium is applied in the form of MgSO4, however, never in combination with CaNO3 (precipitation of gypsum). Micronutrients are applied as a chelate cocktail once a week (Mn, Zn, Mo, B ). The respective amount of fertiliser is applied with approx. 25m3 of water. Afterwards, the drip hoses should be rinsed with water.
Irrigation
Harvest
On hot summer days, one hectare gherkin plants can
The first stem fruits have to be harvested in order
evaporate up to 80,000 litres of water. The fruit harvest
to stimulate further fruit setting. A picking rhythm
also corresponds to a disposwal of water (the fruit
of two to four days is necessary depending on the
contains 96% water). A lack of irrigation leads to an
weather conditions and the fruit size aimed at. For
abortion of young fruits and hollow spaces in larger
mainly smaller gradings of up to 9 cm, fruits have to be
fruits. Depending on the type of soil, water has to
harvested every other day. That adds up to a surface of
be applied once or twice per summer day. On heavy
max. 5 ha (per so-called ‘gherkin flyer’ with 24 people) on
soil, up to 8 litres/m can be administered with one
which harvest can take place. With a larger grading mix
application. On light soil, this amount has to be split
up of to 15 cm, picking can take place at intervals of 3.5
into two applications.
days. In that case, the ‘flyer’ capacity is approx. 8 ha.
2
Regular picking of all target sizes without missing single fruits leads to a very balanced fruiting habit in case of need-adjusted fertilisation and water management.
Added value in all segments Variety name
Majestosa RZ F1
Character Smooth Spined
L/D
3,2
Fuga RZ F1
3,1
Schubert RZ F1
3,2
Componist RZ
3,2
Karaoke RZ F1
3,0
Wagner RZ F1
3,1
Sonate RZ F1
3,0
Puccini RZ F1
3,1
Chopin RZ F1
3,2
Lehar RZ F1
3,1
Strauss RZ F1
3,2
Liszt RZ F1
3,2
12-303 RZ F1
3,1
12-305 RZ F1
3,1
Segments Mecha- HandFlat pick nical outharvest door
Added value Very Open early plant easy pick
Strong against downy mildew
ConcenHigh regene trated fruit ration setting
Crops are generally less susceptible with good crop management.
Diseases Breeding focus
Gummy stem blight (Didymella bryoniae)
Our varieties offer high cultivation reliability due
This fungal disease also infects wet crops. Only few
to the high resistance level against Powdery Mildew
fungicides are effective if applied preventively. Stems,
(Px), Cucumber Scab (Ccu) as well as Cucumber
leaves and fruits can be infected. Fruit infection takes
Mosaic Virus (CMV). Important diseases such as
place via the flower. Resistance against especially the
Downy Mildew (Pcu) and Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Virus
fruit symptoms are a breeding aim of first priority.
(ZYMV) are focal points of our breeding. Lygus bug (Lygus pratensis) Downy Mildew (Pseudoperonospora cubensis)
Stinging into young leaves and shoot tips causes holes
Downy Mildew (Pseudoperonospora cubensis) has to be
in leaves as well as stunted shoots. More damage is
regularly treated from the very beginning of infection.
done to the fruits due to stunted growth. Chemical
Warm and humid weather with night temperatures
treatment with e.g. pyrethroids is possible.
above 13°C and fluid water on leaves for several hours are favourable conditions for infections.
Spider mite (Tetranychus urticae)
In South Germany, first symptoms appear already
Hot and dry conditions are favourable. The pest always
in early June. In case of disease pressure, allowed
starts with spots in the hottest and driest parts of the field.
chemicals have to be regularly applied at intervals of
The mites are sucking at the downside of leafs, protected
approx. 7 days. At least two different active ingredients
by a delicate spider web. Spraying with allowed acari-
(systemic and contact) should be mixed. An alternation
cides has to be done immediately. Border treatment can
of active Âingredients is important in order to prevent
prevent immigration. Plant-bitter varieties such as Puccini
resistances.
RZ and Gershwin RZ are avoided by spider mites.
In our parthenocarpic assortment you may find already less susceptible varieties such as Majestosa RZ, Fuga
Virus diseases of gherkin
RZ, Schubert RZ and Chopin RZ in the smooth segment
Virus diseases of gherkin such as CMV (cucumber
and Karaoke RZ in the spined segment.
mosaic virus) and ZYMV (zucchini yellow mosaic virus) are especially dangerous in combination. The plant
Angular leaf spot (Pseudomonas syringae)
grows sickly, the fruits show black distortions when
This bacterial leaf disease can also infect fruits. The
infested by ZYMV. Vector control as well as physical
disease spreads only in wet crops. Copper is said to
distance to other cucurbitaceae are precautionary
have a certain bactericidal effect. Various varieties show
measures. Beyond that, only resistances can help.
lower symptom expression: Schubert RZ, Chopin RZ
All Rijk Zwaan cucumber varieties are resistant to CMV.
und Strauss RZ. Rijk Zwaan is increasingly working on
There already are varieties such as Kybria RZ, Shakthi
resistant varieties.
RZ and 12-302 RZ which are resistant to or, at least, strong against ZYMV.
Our gherkin specialists
Crop coordinator international
Specialists according
Further gherkin specialists
to culture method
according to country
Flat manual
Bosnia, Montenegro, Serbia
Turkey
Djurdje Spasojevic
Ismail Aydogan
djurdje.spasojevic@rz-agro.rs
i.aydogan@rijkzwaan.com.tr
Brazil
Ukraine
Marcelo Sartori
Stanislav Ovcharyk
m.sartori@rijkzwaan.com
s.ovcharyk@rijkzwaan.ua
Gerald Krischke g.krischke@rijkzwaan.de
Germany, Austria, Czech Republik Gerald Krischke g.krischke@rijkzwaan.de Vertical outdoor temperate Hungary
Laszlo Ragyak
Central Asia
Vietnam
l.ragyak@rijkzwaan.hu
Nasredin Sharipov
Gerard Hulisz
n.sharipov@rijkzwaan.de
g.hulisz@rijkzwaan.nl
Vertical outdoor subtropical India
Poland , the Baltic States
Prasanna D.G.
Marcin Pawlak
p.damdahalli@rijkzwaan.com
m.pawlak@rijkzwaan.pl
Vertical indoor
Romania
Ukraine
George Puican
Andriy Galagurja
george.puican@hollandfarming.ro
a.galaguria@rijkzwaan.ua
Russia
Flat mechanical
Gennady Sudenko
USA, Canada
g.sudenko@rijkzwaan.ru
Georg Pape g.pape@rijkzwaan.com
Rijk Zwaan’s descriptions, illustrations, growing advices and any other information in whatever form for example on expiry, sowing, planting and harvesting dates are based as precisely as possible on experiences in trials and in practice. However, Rijk Zwaan does not accept in any case liability for damages resulting from the use of such descriptions, illustrations, growing advices and information. The buyer/user itself is responsible for proper storage of the seeds and will be deemed to determine whether the products and growing advices are suitable to be used for the intended cultivations and under the local conditions. Inclusion of a variety in this edition does not automatically imply that such a variety is available for purposes of exploitation; it might be available for testing only. For more information, please contact Rijk Zwaan (www.rijkzwaan.com). The pictures in this edition show the types to which the varieties as mentioned belong and not all varieties as such. These pictures do not constitute any warrranty, expressly or implied, of crop performance.
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