How to properly pinch cucumbers in a greenhouse step by step, diagram

A bountiful harvest depends on comprehensive care of the crop. Cucumbers are no exception. The final result depends on how you water, fertilize, and care for them. Pinching out the side shoots has a significant impact on cucumber development. What this procedure is, why it's so important, and how to pin out greenhouse-grown cucumbers—we'll discuss below.

Why do you need to remove side shoots?

Vegetable farmers often debate the benefits of pinching out side shoots. One camp argues that pinching doesn't produce significant results and can be omitted. The other insists on the need to remove side shoots, citing a bountiful harvest as proof of their case. To understand which camp is right, let's take a look at the cucumber growth process.

It all begins with the formation of the main vine, which produces the bulk of the fruit. Over time, side shoots (stepchildren) begin to separate from the central vine, taking some of the parent's nutrients for development.

Depending on the care and variety of cucumbers, fruits also form on the side shoots, but in most cases, the quality of the fruit is noticeably inferior to that of the mother vine.

The essence of side-sonning is that by gradually thinning out the branches from the central vine, you prevent the crop from wasting its nutrients and energy on the formation of green mass, which does not bring any benefit.The saved resources are directed by the plant to the main part, accelerating its growth and causing the formation of larger fruits.

Thus, the advantages of pinching out stepsons include:

• increasing the growth of cucumber vines;
• formation of large fruits.

Cons:

• More time needs to be spent on shaping and pinching.

Cucumbers grown without pinching

Breeders working to improve agricultural crops are developing new cucumber varieties that don't require pinching. This result is achieved because the vines don't develop side shoots, and the central shoot grows into a spreading bush. The following varieties boast these qualities:

• Saratov F1;
• Petrovsky F1.

Another group of varieties that don't require pinching include cucumbers that don't produce long side shoots, and therefore don't require much effort to grow. These varieties include:

• Blizzard;
• Gribovchanka;
• Northerner;
• Valdai.

Most other cucumber varieties require special care, including shaping. If this is neglected, the harvest will be meager, and the bulk of the crop will consist of inedible green shoots and leaves.

The best time for pinching out side-sons

When pinching out side-children, it is important not only to perform all the necessary actions correctly, but also to do them within the allotted time:

1. Gardeners who have been growing cucumbers for years recommend pinching out side shoots before the end of July. Side shoots formed during this period will produce strong stems that will yield a bountiful harvest.
2. A procedure performed later than the specified time will not produce the desired results, and its effect will be weak.

Please note! Stems shorter than 6 centimeters in length are not suitable for side-sonning. They will not benefit from this procedure, and the procedure will likely harm the plant and the future harvest.

If you follow these instructions and complete them within the specified timeframes, harvesting at the end of the season will be a joy.

How to properly pinch cucumbers in a greenhouse

Correct pinching of cucumbers Working in a polycarbonate greenhouse is an art form, with many subtleties. If you're experimenting with side-sonning for the first time, pay attention to the following:

1. This procedure is applied to shoots 6 centimeters or larger in size. Smaller shoots are not yet ready for pinching.
2. The cucumber plant is tied up immediately after the seedling is planted in the ground. This will initially set the correct growth pattern, which is crucial, especially in the confined space of a greenhouse.

The pinching algorithm consists of the following steps:

1. Shoots and buds that appear after the 4th leaf are carefully removed.
2. Some gardeners recommend fertilizing the plant before the next stage of development. Any store-bought fertilizer designed for this purpose will work.
3. Next, two lateral shoots are formed.
4. Ovaries and branches formed up to 4 nodes are shortened.
5. Above each node formed on the whip, 4 leaves are removed.

A sharp knife or special scissors are used as the working tool. Only young shoots are allowed to be removed by hand. After removing the excess, the cucumber plant is tied up.

The plant must be tied carefully, without damaging the top, otherwise it will weaken and eventually die. At best, you'll have to spend a lot of time healing the damaged part.

Further care of the plant

Remember that caring for cucumbers in a greenhouseFrom planting to harvest, the process of growing cucumbers isn't limited to pinching out the side shoots. Don't abandon the cucumber vine after this process. Maintain it, periodically removing any excess branches that hinder overall development. Remove any damaged or unnaturally looking leaves immediately. Otherwise, they will interfere with the cucumbers' growth.

To ensure you have time to harvest additional crops, follow these steps:

1. At the end of summer, remove the shoots from the trellis, carefully laying them out on the ground.
2. The shoots that do not have ovaries are removed.
3. The same fate befalls sick-looking whips.
4. The remaining ones have their axillary processes removed.
5. The soil is fertilized with a mixture of peat and charcoal, after which it is loosened.
6. When the weather gets cold, the vines are covered with a protective film.

If everything is done correctly, the vine should bloom again, and you will have the opportunity to harvest additional crops in the future.

In conclusion, I would like to note that regardless of the place of side-sonning - in open ground or a greenhouse, the main thing is:

• strictly follow the chosen scheme;
• perform all operations as carefully as possible, trying not to cause unnecessary damage to the bush.

Any misstep will ruin your efforts, and everything will go down the drain. Otherwise, there shouldn't be any difficulties. A patient and attentive farmer will definitely get a decent harvest, one they won't be ashamed to show off to their neighbors.