Cucumbers are one of the most popular vegetables grown in probably every garden. Depending on the possibilities, cucumbers can be grown under covers or in the ground. The plants under covers are led near the strings to save space. Cucumbers in the ground can be grown horizontally, allowing them to grow freely.
Should cucumbers be trimmed at all?
Yes. Cutting the plants is to reduce the green mass to allow the plant to develop the best and most effective fruit. Excess leaves slow growth by limiting the transport of water and nutrients to the top of the plant
How do we trim cucumbers?
The length of the main shoot and the number of left side shoots depends on the method, period and date of plant cultivation.
In field cultivation, we remove the primordia from the first 2 nodes only when the plants are growing poorly. If we have limited space, we can head the main shoot. The plants will branch out and produce more side shoots that will grow into female flowers to produce fruit. Cut off the side shoots of the 1st row (growing out of the main shoot) after the 2nd-3rd knot. Trim the side shoots of the 2nd row (growing from the 1st row) when they are about 1.5 m long.
In cultivation in tunnels, 3-4 weeks after planting the plants, hang the main shoot over the previously unfastened wire, trim and tie. It is necessary to remove female flowers to a height of 0.6-1 m from the ground. Leaving them inhibits plant growth and reduces the quality of the fruit. Most often, all shoots and seedlings up to 4-6 knots are removed, and later side shoots are cut after 1-2 buds.Side shoots appearing after the first harvest, growing below 30 cm above the ground, must be removed so that they do not weaken the plant's growth.
Plants in the frame should be cut when they produce 5-6 leaves. Trim the main shoot after the second leaf, the side shoots of the 1st row after the fourth leaf and the 2nd row shoots after the fifth leaf.
