How to pinch cucumbers in a greenhouse: diagram, instruction for beginners

Cucumber herding is a mandatory procedure only if the main lashes are well developed, and the cucumber bushes give a weak crop. Stepchildren are shoots that grow and develop from the leaf sinus, and the plant spends nutrients on their growth. Removing stepsons must be carried out correctly and in a timely manner so as not to harm the plant and not accidentally pinch off the main stem.

Do I need to pinch cucumbers

Gardeners claim that pinching does not affect yield. The number of ovaries depends on the fertility of the soil, on the selected variety and the climatic conditions where the vegetables grow. With the uncontrolled growth of greenery, male shoots or empty flowers are formed that do not bear fruit and consume nutrients. It is especially important to remove the shoots in greenhouse conditions, there is little space in the greenhouse, overgrowing of plantings leads to the shading of other plants. It will be difficult for the vegetable grower to pick cucumbers, and cramped conditions will limit his actions in the greenhouse.

Branches appear from the sinuses of the leaves, they become additional stems. During the season, a large number of fruits will not have time to form, the plant will distribute resources to shoots. Female stems appear on the lateral parts of plants. To increase productivity and improve the quality of cucumbers, stepsons on the bushes are cut, leaving 2-3 female shoots.

The benefits of pinching:

• yield increase due to the development of female shoots;
• uniform distribution of light for all parts of the plant;
• good air exchange;
• no thickening of landings;
• enough nutrition and moisture for each bush;
• there is no bitter taste in cucumbers:
• the fruits are high-quality and tasty.

When to plant cucumber bushes in a greenhouse

The first time stepsons are removed on cucumbers, when 6-7 leaves are formed on the bush. Stepsons are still small at this time, you do not need to use scissors, just pinch them with your fingers (nails). Pinch all the shoots above 5 leaves, leave 1-2 strong stems. Stepsons are more often removed when the stem length exceeds 6-7 cm. During the growth, the appearance of the ovaries is monitored and all lateral processes are shortened. After the first pinching, the garter of the cucumber bushes begins.

The second time the procedure is carried out after the growth of 9-10 leaves. In tall cucumbers, pinch the top of the head. Admission allows you to develop better lateral stems and increases the number of fruits.

Outdoor planting of cucumbers

For pollinated species of cucumbers grown on an open garden, an inverted Christmas tree scheme is used, as in a greenhouse, gradually increasing the load on plants. Pollinated varieties can not be grown in one stem. In most varieties, only male flowers are formed on the main lash, and female ones on the side shoots. If you remove the stepsons on the sides, you can remain without a crop. When buying seeds, the instructions on the label should indicate which variety is pollinated and which is not.

According to the classical scheme of insect-pollinated varieties and hybrids

For cucumbers pollinated by insects, a universal process for removing shoots is used. Pinching occurs on the principle of an inverted Christmas tree. Cucumber plants are cut from top to bottom, the higher, the more lateral stems and ovaries remain.

It is necessary to step in cucumbers in open ground in several stages:

1. On the lower part of the trunk, 3-5 knots are blinded, flowers and ovaries are torn off, leaves are not touched. Blind until flowers bloom. The plant must be at least 50 cm high.
2. Above, for the next 3-4 knots, the lateral stepsons are left, they were pinched at the beginning of development over the first leaf.
3. On the trunk leave shoots located in the sinuses of the next 3 leaves. At this site, pinch the process above the second sheet.
4. On the next part of the stem, the stepsons of the cucumbers in 3 knots are removed and the crown is torn off.

The main trunk is thrown on the trellis, it hangs down and can continue to grow. The central whip is also wrapped around a horizontally stretched rope.

The scheme of pinching with a female type of flowering on the main stem

If female flowers form on the central stem, then the bush stepsons in a certain sequence. It will take support and fabric for the garter of a long stem. You can use the tool, but better pinch with your hands.

How to properly cucumber:

• they put up supports, bushes are attached to them;
• lower 6-8 knots blind, cut off stepsons and ovaries;
• on the next 2 nodes pinch the shoots, but leave one ovary;
• on the next 8 nodes, you need to remove the side shoots on 1 sheet;
• subsequent pinching of 4-5 knots is carried out after 2 sheets;
• in 23-26 sinuses pinch lateral processes;
• the main stem is fixed near the support, the apex is removed above the 25-26 leaf sinus;
• shoots of the following orders must be removed on 1-2 leaves.

Schemes of parthenocarpic varieties and hybrids

Parthenocarpic hybrids form one stem, since all flowers are only female. Leaves and ovaries are left on it, shoots are removed. The method is used on an industrial scale, bushes are grown in height, a lot of space for them is not required.

The bundle ovaries are pinched according to the principle:

• the first 4 nodes are completely blind;
• subsequent to 17 inclusive pinch shoots, do not touch the ovaries;
• the following shoots in 3 sinuses should be removed after 2 sheets;
• the main trunk is attached around the support, lead to another bush, pinch the top of the stem.

Further Care Tips

To reduce stress for plants after removing stepsons, you need to fertilize the bushes. Together with watering, organic or mineral additives are added. Bushes are restored within a week. Cucumber seedlings have a very sensitive root system, so watering with cold water can lead to negative consequences. They put water containers in the garden or in the greenhouse, the liquid heats up in a day and is watered with bushes in the morning.

Some tips for caring for cucumbers:

1. It is better not to use secateurs to remove shoots. Young processes easily break off hands with the help of nails. If the lash has grown more than 40-50 cm, then sharp scissors will be needed.
2. During pinching, yellow and dry leaves are removed immediately. They obscure the bushes and may also be infected with an infection or fungus. In this case, the diseased plant is treated with a fungicide or alcohol solution.
3. If the lashes are tied artificially, then the mustache can be removed. They are not needed for mounting.This will save lighting and resources for the bushes.
4. Pinch the shoots carefully so as not to touch the sinus of the leaf. The sheet is pulled back, the stepson is torn off and the process is nipped off with a slight movement. With injuries, the plant will begin to spend energy on restoration, and not on the formation of fruits.
5. A great garter material is cotton. Natural fabric does not cut into stems. Strips of 2-3 cm are cut. If the trunk is tightly pulled, then it will wither over time, the stem is tied weakly so that the tissue does not pinch it.

Pinch-free cucumbers

If there is no time to engage in pinching, you can plant varieties of cucumbers that give a good harvest without pinching. Plants form a lush bush without curly shoots. There are species with short lateral processes. Many parthenocarpic hybrids do without removing stepsons. They have female flowers; pinching can reduce productivity.

Hybrids F1 that do not require stepsonovki:

1. “Bouquet” - parthenocarpic hybrid has a good taste of cucumbers. The variety is precocious, resistant to disease. Forms few side shoots. In deciduous sinuses up to 6 ovaries.
2. “Alphabet” is a female type variety with short ripening periods. Bushes weakly branching, ovary bunch. Formed in a node up to 5 pieces of fruit. The first collection of cucumbers occurs on the main lash, then the fruits are removed from the side shoots. Often vegetables are used for salting.
3. "Faithful friends" - a cold-resistant hybrid, resistant to disease, pollinated by bees, female type. 6-8 fruits are tied in a knot, the bush is weakly branched, cucumbers are not bitter.
4. “Regina Plus” is an ultra-early hybrid, female type of flowering. Forms few side stepsons, disease resistant. Great fruit flavor, suitable for fresh and salty foods.

After harvesting, the lashes are laid out on the ground, having previously removed them from the supports. Sick bushes and those without ovaries removed from the beds. On the remaining bushes, all shoots in the sinuses are cut off. The earth is loosened, fertilized with peat and ash, watered with infusion of grass. In the preceding cold weather, plants are covered with a film. After this procedure, flowering begins again, and before the fall, you can harvest a greenhouse a second time.

It is impossible only from high-quality seed material and the selected variety to get an excellent crop of vegetables. Proper pinching of cucumbers increases the number of fruits and facilitates the work of caring for the greengrocers. Pinching, tying, dressing watering is not difficult to apply even for beginner growers. Thanks to care and attention, you can grow delicious cucumbers on your own without bitterness and without chemical additives.