Evaluation of "caipira" cucumber cultivars under protected cultivation in two sowing dates

Four varieties (Branco Colonião, Caipira Hortec, Prêmio and Rubi) and three hybrids (Caipira AG-221, Guarani AG-370 and Safira) of cucumber were evaluated under protected cultivation at São Manuel Experimental Farm (FCA/UNESP) during summer and winter seasons. The experimental model was randomized block, with four replicates of five plants per plot. `Safira' F1 hybrid presented the highest yield during the summer (41.3 fruits/plant), while `Premio' F1 hybrid had the smallest commercial yield (6.7 fruits/plant) during winter. In average, harvesting was initiated 51 days after sowing in the summer, and after 87 days in the winter. Also hybrids were more precocious than open pollinated cultivars, in the summer. Fruits surpassed commercial weight earlier in the summer than in the winter. It was concluded that `Safira' F1 hybrid was the best cultivar for the summer, while in the winter all cultivars presented lower yield.

Cucumis sativus; yield; summer; winter