Scheme and rules for forming cucumbers in a greenhouse

Features of formation in a greenhouse

Growing any vegetable requires a great deal of attention, effort, and time. To achieve a good harvest, you need to properly care for literally every planted vegetable. For example, cucumbers grown in a greenhouse require proper watering, temperature, moisture, and light control, insect protection, and fertilization.

It would seem that plant care complies with all the rules and recommendations of more experienced gardeners, yet the harvest is disappointing. The mistake lies in the fact that cucumber plants need to be tied up and trained. Growing cucumbers in a polycarbonate and film greenhouse is one of the most important stages of vegetable crop care. If you leave a plant to grow haphazardly, there's a high risk of a low-quality harvest. However, properly shaping a bush is no easy task unless you know a few tricks of the trade.

Improper pruning or removal of leaves and side shoots can result in the plant having a single, barren flower. It's important to train the plant so it produces new shoots and fruit. Keep in mind that each cucumber variety requires different training; there's no single method or pattern.

Basic rules and schemes

Before you begin tying and shaping your bush, we suggest you familiarize yourself with some recommendations from experienced farmers:

• Keep an eye on the root system; when tying up shoots, you can accidentally pull the roots out of the soil;
• Be methodical, twist the stem around a taut rope or twine once or twice a week;
• periodically inspect the plants and remove tendrils, damaged fruits and male flowers from the bushes;
• Be careful and gentle, try not to damage the stem when tying and pruning;
• do not forget to remove damaged and dried leaves during the growing season;
• if there is an abundance of empty ovaries, dry the soil so that the mineral fertilizers can nourish the plants;
• Regularly remove the ground leaves that periodically appear on the stems of vegetable crops;
• Do not leave stumps when pruning;
• Work carefully with the upper shoots, damage to which threatens the death of the entire bush.

Now you know how to train cucumbers in a greenhouse. Now let's look at the most common methods and techniques for pruning and tying vegetable crops:

• plant garter;
• leaf removal;
• pruning lateral shoots;
• topping.

We tie it up

Only sparse cucumber bushes can be formed correctly.

The recommended planting density for growing vegetables indoors is 2–3 plants per square meter. How do you tie up cucumbers? Once the plant reaches the first horizontal mark (a taut wire, rope, or twine), carefully wrap the stem around the support. Be careful not to break the top of the plant or pull out the roots.

As the plant grows, continue twisting the stem around the support. You can also twist the side shoots around the central stem or attach them to a horizontally stretched wire. Maintain a consistent direction, for example, twisting the shoots clockwise.

Removing the leaves

Using a sharp knife or garden shears, trim off any leaves that touch the ground. This usually involves the bottom 2, 3, or 4 leaves. It's important not to break off the leaves, but to carefully trim them away, leaving no stubs. Pruning can leave wounds that allow fungal pathogens to enter. Leaving stubs on the stem can quickly cause the bush to rot.

We remove lateral shoots

This bush training method is also known as pinching. When pruning the lower leaves, remove some of the side shoots. Pinching can only be done when the shoots have grown 3–5 cm. Be extremely careful when pinching cucumber varieties that produce female flowers on side shoots. Removing too many side shoots with female flowers from the bush can result in a complete loss of fruit.

We pinch

Pinching is used to form cucumbers into a low-vine style. What does this method involve? Pinching is the partial pruning of side shoots. The central stem is cut off after its length reaches the top support wire. Pruning the central portion stimulates growth and increases fruiting of the side shoots. Proper pruning increases greenhouse yields.

Video "Forming cucumber bushes in a greenhouse»

This video will show you how to properly shape cucumber bushes.