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Pruning Cucumbers: The Key to Healthy Vines

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Nothing says summer like home-grown, crispy cucumbers. Behind that mouthwatering fruit are months of nurturing, protecting, and, most importantly, pruning cucumbers. Without proper cucumber pruning, your vines won’t be able to grow and produce fruit. In this article, we’ll answer all your questions about how to prune cucumber plants – plus more!

Before we get started, you have to know how cucumber vines grow. One main stem has nodes, or joints, along its length. Each node grows one leaf, fruit, tendril, and a new stem. When pruning, we’ll remove the new stem. This is referred to as the growth point, shoot, or lateral runner. The flower and leaf may also be pruned, but only in certain situations.

Pruning is very important but not the only necessity for growing cucumbers. For more information on planting cucumbers and making it to harvest, check out our articles on growing cucumbers vertically and cucumber plant care. For now, though, we’ll dive into all the details of pruning cucumber vines.

Our Favorite Pruning Tools At The Epic Shop:

Is Pruning Cucumbers Necessary?

Pruning cucumbers is not a difficult task! Source: lindakowen

Whether or not you pick up the clippers depends on the type of cucumber plant you have. Bush varieties don’t grow much laterally so they require little, if any, pruning. They only need a trim if they’re getting too friendly with the neighboring plants. Pruning isn’t as important for cucumber vines that sprawl on the ground without vertical support.

Climbing vine cucumbers are the real targets here. Because they depend on vertical support, they have to be kept in line. Pruning is necessary to keep the vines growing in the right direction. 

You’ll also find that proper pruning helps the plant produce more, higher-quality fruit. When you cut off a vine, the energy that was going into its growth is redirected elsewhere. So, if your cucumber vine is putting all its energy into growing lots of stems and leaves, it will not be focusing on fruit. Reducing the attention-demanding branches gives the plant a chance to get going on those cukes.

When Should Cucumbers Be Pruned?

Prune your cucumber plants throughout the growing season. Watch for new growth points and eliminate them while they’re under 2” long. Additionally, be on the lookout for damage and disease, which should be removed immediately.

Young cucumber plants may get ahead of themselves and flower while they’re still small. Clipping off the lower flowers redirects the energy to stem and leaf growth, leading to more fruit in the future. Additionally, you’ll be cutting back wayward branches as part of training young vines.

How To Prune A Cucumber Plant

You can clearly see the tendril and flower between leaves on this cucumber plant. Source: Treetop Mom

Before getting started, clean your garden shears. Otherwise, they could easily spread plant diseases not only to your cucumbers but to other plants as well. If possible, use bypass pruners instead of stem-crushing anvils.

As we mentioned, cucumbers grow from a leader stem. This is the lifeline of the plant and won’t regrow if cut. So, we’ll only prune the shoots coming from that main leader stem. Usually, you’ll stick to pruning the base of the plant. This keeps it to one leader vine but allows the top to fill out its trellis.

Find the lowest 5-7 nodes on the base and pinch off the shoots. If they’re already more than a couple of inches long, prune them with clippers so as to not damage the main vine. Make a clean cut as close as possible to the main vine. If the shoots are so large that they’re already hooked to the trellis, leave them alone and focus on newer stems instead. Remove any flowers so the plant will bloom on top.

Next, look for and remove any leaves, vines, or fruit that are severely damaged or showing signs of disease. Prune vines that just won’t grow in the right direction as well. If the leaves are getting super bushy in one place, thin them out so there’s good air circulation. If you want to redirect energy, prune the excess fruit or leaves. 

Once you’re finished, wash any tools you used and remove fallen debris from the ground. When watering, avoid getting the cucumber vines wet so bacteria doesn’t infect the cuts. Return to your cucumber vines a few times each summer to spruce them up as needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Should I pinch off cucumber flowers?

A: This is a great strategy when your cucumber plant is young. It redirects the plant’s energy into vine and leaf growth.

Q: Can you cut cucumber tendrils?

A: Unless they’re in the way, leave the tendrils alone. The main vine needs them to hold on to the support.

Q: Should I pinch off cucumber flowers?

A: Pinch off the flowers if you want more stem and leaf growth – especially if the plant is young. You can remove flowers on the bottom so the plant will focus more on the top cucumbers (this will also keep cucumbers off the ground).

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How to prune cucumber plants

(Image credit: Denis Winkler / EyeEm / Getty Images)

Knowing how to prune cucumber plants is essential if you want to keep them in good health and maximize your home crop.

Cucumbers are attractive, versatile plants, and their fruit makes a refreshing addition to salads, sandwiches and cocktails. As climbing vines, they are also space-efficient, making them one of the best kitchen garden ideas for a small backyard.

However, when learning how to grow cucumbers, an important part of the process is pruning them properly, in order to keep the plants productive.

‘Cucumbers are one of the most active plants that can ruin your gardening system and plans really fast,’ says Emilly Barbosa Fernandes, expert small space gardener and consultant at HouseGrail . ‘If ending up with miles of vines and a few fruits does not sound appealing, then pruning is the way to go. 

‘Pruning cucumbers will forward the vital juices into the fruit development and make sure that the vines are growing in the right direction.’

It’s also important to know how to prune cucumber plants to keep them in good health. ‘It's vital to increase air flow and decrease disease, as well as prune off sick leaves,’ explains Suzy Blodgett, experienced grower and founder of the Confessions of a Growing Gardener blog.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

How to prune cucumber plants – expert tips

Pruning cucumber plants isn’t just a one-time job – you need to keep on top of the vines throughout the growing season. This can easily be done at the same time as picking cucumbers.

‘Ideally you want to start trimming your cucumber plants to remove any damaged or dead portions as you see them,’ says Jen Stark, founder of Happy DIY Home . ‘Prune outside leaves, branches, fruits, and flowers as needed throughout the entire season.'

To give your plants a helping hand, also look at the options for cucumber companion planting to minimize disease and encourage fruit production.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

When should cucumbers be pruned?

‘Cucumbers should be pruned once a week during the growing season. However, during the more active growth phases, this can be done even twice per week,’ says Barbosa Fernandes.

It’s important not to prune cucumbers too early, however. ‘If you make the mistake of pruning them too early, you can impact your vine's health and it might not develop correctly,' says Stark.

‘You should let your cucumbers grow to a decent size – as they grow one to two feet tall. This may be between three and five weeks after you plant them and they start growing.’

(Image credit: Merethe Svarstad Eeg / EyeEm / Getty Images)

What happens if you don't prune cucumber plants?

If you don’t prune cucumber plants, then not only can the vines grow out of control, but disease can set in.

‘Diseases such as powdery mildew can quickly overcome a plant if action is not taken quickly. Pruning the infected leaves can save the rest of the plant and stop the infection, ensuring that you still get your delicious cucumbers,’ says Blodgett.

‘If you have a mess of cucumber plants, not pruning can prevent proper airflow, which is the perfect breeding ground for the powdery mildew to take hold. You can also keep your garden neater by pruning your plants when they get a bit overgrown.’

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Should I top a cucumber plant?

‘Topping a cucumber plant means cutting its leader stem to redistribute the growth hormones in favor of secondary vines,’ says Barbosa Fernandes. ‘You should not top a cucumber plant because you want it to bloom on top to have a better crop.’

However, Blodgett argues that topping a cucumber plant may be useful later in the growing season. ‘If your plants are spreading out too much and the end of the season is approaching, you can top off your plants to stop the new growth and let the plant focus on finishing its current fruit,’ she says.

As editor of Period Living, Britain's best-selling period homes magazine, Melanie loves the charm of older properties. I live in a rural village just outside the Cotswolds in England, so am lucky to be surrounded by beautiful homes and countryside, where I enjoy exploring. Having worked in the industry for almost two decades, Melanie is interested in all aspects of homes and gardens. Her previous roles include working on Real Homes and Homebuilding & Renovating, and she has also contributed to Gardening Etc. She has an English degree and has also studied interior design. Melanie frequently writes for Homes & Gardens about property restoration and gardening.

how to properly cut off excess leaves from a crop

Content:

Mid-July is the time for the formation of cucumber bushes and the appearance of the first flowers. It's time to think about pruning plants, as the future harvest depends on this procedure. Very often summer residents ignore it, letting the process take its course. In the garden, where there is enough space for spreading long lashes, this is not so scary. It is a completely different matter in closed ground, where space is limited and every centimeter of it must be used rationally. Under this condition, the yield in the future will depend on which cucumber pruning scheme is chosen in the greenhouse.

Methods for forming a cucumber bush in a greenhouse and increasing yields

Since we are talking about protected ground, we will consider methods for forming bushes belonging to parthenocarpic (not requiring pollination by insects) hybrids. The first method of pruning involves the step-by-step execution of the following steps:

Once the main stem has reached the top row of the trellis or greenhouse bar, there are several ways to proceed. The first option is to wrap 2 times around the crossbar and direct the growth vector down. Pinching is carried out over 3-4 leaves, leaving 3-4 ovaries. When the hanging stem is 1 m above ground level, pinch the growth point. The tops of the side shoots are shortened when 3-4 internodes are formed on each of them.

Formation of cucumber bushes in a greenhouse

The essence of the second method is to shorten the top of the main lash when it "outgrows" the level of the trellis by 20-30 centimeters. A pair of processes are released from its nodes, and as they grow, their tops are also shortened (each time they grow by 50 cm). On the last sheet (in the axil), a continuation shoot is formed. Similarly to the first option, the growth of all shoots is stopped.

Purpose of pruning cucumbers in greenhouses

Without pruning, both the plant itself and future yields can suffer. Therefore, you should know how to cut cucumbers in a greenhouse. The event must be held on time in order to:

Video: Soil for cucumbers in a greenhouse

Beginners in gardening often wonder if it is necessary and if it is possible to pick off leaves from cucumbers. The answer is simple: no, but it is possible and necessary to prune them, because they consume the food that the plant and fruits need. Leaflets that are on a segment of the stem from the soil to 30-40 cm in height should also be removed, because they no longer provide nutrition to the whip.

Thinning pruning should be done when huge leaf plates prevent access to light and sunlight.

Basic principles of pruning cucumber bushes in a greenhouse (scheme)

Formation of cucumbers in a greenhouse

The main purpose of pruning is the formation of a bush, which limits the growth of the vegetative mass of the plant in order to maximize the supply of nutrients to the fruits. In order for pruning to justify the effort expended and lead to the expected result, you need to do it according to an approximate scheme, taking into account some nuances:

By following the recommendations and monitoring the condition of the bush, the gardener will receive a good harvest as compensation for the work and time spent.

Terms of pruning cucumbers when grown in greenhouses

Watering cucumbers in a greenhouse

It is impossible to determine the exact dates with dates and months, as they depend on planting time, pruning method, variety, climate. But the main regulator is the growth and development of the vegetative mass (leaves, stems, lateral processes). Initially, the ovary, leaves and stepchildren (no more than 5 cm long) are removed on a lash segment of 40-50 cm. 3-5 knots.

How to form cucumbers

Methods of pre-tying cucumbers before forming in a greenhouse (table)

First of all, you need to decide which method of tying to choose. The process of forming cucumber bushes will depend on it. There are several basic methods that are most often used indoors.

Tying method Step-by-step procedure
Vertical 1. Fold a piece of twine in half.
2. Fix vertically to the open side or top rail of the frame.
3. Attach the bottom end in a loop to the plant under the second or third leaf without much tension.
Vertical on pegs 1. Hammer the prepared pegs into the ground next to the bush (you can do this before planting so as not to damage the root system).
2. Tie the twine to the peg, fasten the upper end to the frame bar from above without tension.
Horizontal 1. Fix the main stem to the horizontal first row of wire so that the leaves do not touch the soil in perspective.
(for low greenhouses) 2. As you grow, wrap the lashes around the wire.
3. Use extra pieces of string to help the shoots reach the row above.
Mixed 1. Send shoots that will settle themselves on the cells.
(on trellis or coarse mesh) 2. Follow direction vector.
2. If the mesh is slanted (in the form of a tent), guide the stems, providing maximum access to light and air.

Parthenocarpics (they are the most suitable for the greenhouse) need access to the maximum amount of light. Relating to self-pollinating varieties, they do without the presence of insects and bees. It is convenient to grow bushes on a plastic mesh or other type of trellis.

Peculiarities of pruning of parthenocarpic and bee-pollinated types of cucumbers

Pruning is also necessary, taking into account the nuances described above. The formation of the bush is carried out as the stem grows. Plant garter is required. And pruning a bush (depending on the conditions of protected ground) can be similar to that used for varieties pollinated by insects.

Note! Plants of this type usually form into a single stem, on which barren flowers, male-type flowers, appear first.

The ovary and fruits are formed from female flowers, which are placed on lateral shoots. To increase their number (and, accordingly, productivity), you should pinch over 4-5 knots.

Caring for cucumbers in the greenhouse after formation (table)

Bush formation is only part of the activities on the way to a bountiful harvest. In addition to it, constant care of the cucumber crop will have to be carried out.

Parameters Indicators
Air temperature - 7 days after planting + 20-22 °C
- then 18-20°C
- at 3-4 ° C, the air should be warmed up
- during the formation of the ovary should not be higher than + 18 ° C
Air humidity - when fruits ripen, should be 75-80% (according to
hygrometer)
Ventilation - at temperatures above 30°C inside the greenhouse
Soil condition - add sawdust when digging, then add nitrogen
Excess sunlight - cover the greenhouse with a special net
- whiten windows
Watering - before flowering - once a week
- after flowering −1 time in 2-3 days
Top dressing - feed 5-6 times per summer
Harvesting - fruit should be harvested with gardening tools
scissors or secateurs

Everything is not so difficult, the main thing is that there is a desire to work and achieve a good result. And it will be mandatory if you follow the recommendations of experienced gardeners, watch video tutorials and follow agricultural practices.

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How to cut cucumbers in a greenhouse so that there is a good harvest

When planting cucumbers, every gardener wants to get a good harvest at the end. To do this, you need to create the necessary conditions : fertilized soil, pruning and plucking cucumbers, good watering, weeding.

Today's article is about cutting cucumbers. We will explain for what purposes it is needed and according to what scheme it is correct to carry out the process.

Content

Reasons why you need to cut cucumbers in the greenhouse

Many people think that cutting cucumbers is only necessary to keep the beds in order. This is not entirely true.

Cut cucumbers grow better and ripen faster.

First of all, this procedure allows you to grow a rich harvest, has a positive effect on the health and development of the bush. Experts say that the correct pruning of cucumbers in greenhouses allows the plant to fully "breathe" .

There are a few other reasons that need to be mentioned.

  1. Uncontrolled leaf growth leads to an overload of the root system . A lot of nutrients go into the plant itself, and not in the fruit. What does the gardener end up with? Small cucumbers, which in some cases do not even ripen.
  2. Fruit quality largely depends on proper air access . If this condition is not met, a good harvest should not be expected.

    The yield of greenhouse cucumbers largely depends on the correct formation of the bush.

  3. A plant with few leaves is very easy to care for . The same weeding takes a minimum amount of time, not to mention spraying and loosening.

But in the open field, cucumbers can not be cut. This is due to the fact that they sit at a great distance from each other. The only point is that the plant needs a mandatory garter. This is best done using vertical stakes . Otherwise, cucumbers will lie on the ground. This can cause them to rot, especially after watering. And it also greatly increases the risk of plant diseases.

Expert advice

Before you start cutting cucumbers in greenhouses, you need to know the basic rules.

  1. Pruning and plucking must take place no earlier than 10 days after planting in the greenhouse.
  2. Before carrying out the procedure, cucumbers must be properly tied . Thus, you will see a bush, you can examine its leaves.

    It is convenient to use plastic collars for a garter, they are inexpensive and last a long time.

  3. Cutting must be done with sharp and clean tool . This will protect the plant from infection.
  4. After pruning, there should be no protruding stumps. If there are any, then the procedure was performed incorrectly.
  5. Shoots and inflorescences are removed from bottom to top, starting with 4-5 leaves .

    Pluck out excess inflorescences with two fingers.

  6. The tops of the lashes are never broken, but are cut off with sharp tools.
  7. Plant should be observed after each pruning . If necessary, it is re-attached to the support.
  8. Pruning is best done in the morning . So that by the evening the place of the cut is completely tightened.

This is important! How to understand that the bush is cut correctly? In fact, everything is quite simple. First of all, look at its shape. Outwardly, it should resemble an isosceles triangle, but upside down. This form is the most correct. The main load falls on the center of the plant, the lower leaves have air access.

When to prune

When pruning cucumbers, timing is important. They directly depend on the development and growth rate of stepchildren.

It is best to start the process when the stepsons have reached 5-6 cm . This allows the plant to avoid injury. After cutting with something, it is not necessary to process the cut point.

If, after trimming, the length of the stepsons again reaches more than 5 knots , the procedure must be repeated.

Pruning scheme

Cucumber pruning primarily depends on the plant variety and its growth.

Scheme of the formation of a cucumber bush when grown in a greenhouse.

For example, tall varieties always need a tie before pruning . There are several ways of this process, but experts recommend taking a closer look at wrapping the plant around the support in a clockwise direction.

This garter should be done several times a week. In this case, the growth of cucumbers will be neat.

Self-pollinating varieties of cucumbers are most often chosen for greenhouses . Conventionally, they are grown in one stem, it is on it that the entire crop ripens. Fruits can also form on side branches.

There is a chart on how to properly remove leaves and side shoots.

  1. Cucumber stalk divided into 4 equal parts . Work is done only at the bottom. Carefully count the shoots, remove the very first of them. But pinch off the flowers in the axils between 2 and 4 leaves . In this case, it is better not to touch the leaves themselves. This scheme helps to protect the plant from putrefactive processes.
  2. Next, watch the growth of cucumbers. As soon as 4 leaves reappear, remove the side shoots again. This will happen already at a height of 60–70 cm . It is necessary to leave one leaf and ovary.
  3. Next trimming is done when 10 leaves appear. Plant height is approximately 130 cm . All shoots that have grown over 10 leaves are removed. But in the sinuses it is desirable to leave 2 sheets and 2 ovaries . This will help increase the yield.
  4. With the appearance of 12 leaves, the number of ovaries can be easily increased to 3 pieces .
  5. As soon as the central stem reaches the desired height, it is well fixed around the support (it is better to wrap it), pinch it.

    The main stem is wrapped several times around the wire and allowed to grow until it reaches the neighboring bush.

If this pruning scheme is followed correctly, the harvest will be rich, and the fruits themselves will be juicy and bright green.

Removing leaves: all the pros and cons

You can hear from many gardeners that cucumber leaves should not be removed. Experts responsibly declare that this is completely wrong, and here's why.

Excess leaves cover the ovaries, which are in no hurry to grow and ripen, as they are in strong shading.

  • In rough vegetation there will be no proper whip, this will reduce the amount of harvest.
  • Leaves "close" the plant to the flow of light and air.
  • There is a high probability of contracting root rot.

Which leaves to remove? First of all, you need to cut off the leaves on which there are signs of the disease. It can be yellow or brown spots, the leaves are dried, twisted.

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