Basic rules for pruning cucumbers in a greenhouse
Why is this necessary?
Growing cucumbers in open ground and greenhouse conditions differs significantly. However, regardless of the external conditions, the plant requires careful care. For greenhouses, for example, it's important to select parthenocarpic hybrids, or those that are self-pollinating and don't require bees. Parthenocarpic plants are not pollinated at all, and their fruits are seedless.
To achieve a good harvest and grow as many plants as possible, pinching is used in a greenhouse. It's crucial to perform this procedure correctly.
After planting cucumber seedlings in the soil, as the vegetables grow, the plants need to be tied up. In a greenhouse, it's easiest to secure cucumbers to ropes hanging from the ceiling. The vines are then wrapped clockwise around the plant. This prevents the cucumbers from drooping when tied. The first time the plant is tied up is when it reaches half a meter in height, and the process is repeated weekly thereafter.
If the side shoots weren't pinched, they would develop fully and require staking. However, by tying a side shoot to the main stem, you can create shade for the main stem. Under these conditions, the yield won't increase; only the space between the plant's leaves will increase. If you tie the side shoots separately, the cucumbers will take up most of the greenhouse, but this won't affect the yield, as a side shoot doesn't produce as much as a full-grown plant. This is why greenhouse cucumbers should be trained to form a single stem.
Many people ask, "How do I prune cucumbers in a greenhouse?" This procedure is simple, but it ensures proper plant care.
There are several ways to shape the stem:
- "Umbrella" is used for pinching out side-sons of hybrid or parthenocarpic varieties of cucumbers with long fruits.
- A method for forming bushes of varieties with short fruits.
Lateral shoots need to be removed before they become strong. After all, young shoots are thin and can be removed with just two fingers. A strengthened lateral shoot can only be removed with a special tool. Furthermore, strengthened side shoots can also produce shoots that need to be removed.
Stepsoning scheme
To properly perform side-sonning in a polycarbonate greenhouse, it is necessary to follow the procedure diagram.
The process of pinching out cucumbers consists of several stages:
- Blinding. You can begin pinching cucumber plants in a polycarbonate greenhouse only after four leaves have formed on the stem. All other shoots and leaves are destroyed, including flower buds.
- Pinching. After seven leaves appear, remove any excess shoots. However, be sure to leave a leaf and ovary on the stem. After this, tie the bushes back up.
- Eight leaves should form. At this stage, the fruit and a couple of leaves are left.
- At this stage, the top of the plant is removed, but only when the eleventh leaf appears. After this procedure, the bush begins to grow in width. The plant's vines are quite long and, in addition to braiding the support, require securing with rag fiber. This must be done carefully, as accidentally damaging the top of the plant will cause it to turn yellow and may die.
- Thinning. The number of fruits on the main stem is regulated by shortening the shoots above the third to fifth node. It's important to prevent overcrowding. According to gardeners, the best practice is to pinch out five side-leaves above the second node, the next five above the third, and so on.
It's important to remember that after each stage, the plant requires additional care, particularly fertilizing. Commercial fertilizers can be used. Also, during this period, cucumbers require increased watering, warm soil, and good ventilation in the greenhouse.
The correct way to remove side shoots from cucumbers is to pull back the leaf and then remove the shoot at the base.
The procedure must be carried out very carefully, since plants take a long time to “heal” wounds from side-sonning.
Pinching out side shoots ends when the procedure has been fully followed. However, gardeners believe that proper crop cultivation requires constant monitoring of the plant and the removal of excess fruit. These "draw" minerals, inhibiting the development of the plant and its fruits.
So, pinching out cucumbers' side shoots in a polycarbonate greenhouse is easy. The key is to carefully follow all the steps, be extremely careful, and provide the plant with proper care.
Video: "Pruning Greenhouse Cucumbers"
Use the tips in this video to learn how to properly shape cucumbers and reap bountiful harvests.