Cucumbers are those green vegetables that we can quench our thirst with; we can add them to a salad, preserve them or ferment them for the winter. Cucumbers can be grown in heated greenhouses all year round, but in unheated greenhouses they ripen almost first among vegetables, second only to radishes and green onions. Read our article on how to form cucumbers in a greenhouse step by step.
Limited space in greenhouses sometimes becomes a factor that does not allow us to get a full harvest from each cucumber bush. But if you organize a full feeding of the minerals necessary for cucumbers, good care and specific shaping of the bushes, then it is quite possible that the harvest will be exactly what this or that type of cucumber is designed for.
Why do you need to shape and pincush cucumbers?
In order to unlock the full potential inherent in a particular cucumber by breeders, it is not enough to simply buy seeds and grow plant seedlings. Sometimes the cause of failure is the incorrect formation of cucumber bushes. It happens that gardeners completely neglect this agricultural technique, aimed at increasing the yield of some garden crops. The formation of plant bushes involves tying, pinching and pinching the stems as they grow.
What is stepsoning
The primordia of the lateral stems, which begin to grow from the axils of the leaves, are called stepsons. Stepping involves the removal of these processes. The need to remove some stems arises from the fact that in a limited space or due to the genetic tendencies inherent in the plant, it does not have the opportunity to enlarge its root system to such an extent that it can provide nutrition to all the stems, leaves and fruits.
For fruiting, the lateral shoots need to receive the same amount of microelements as the central stem. Peduncles, ovaries and developing fruits should receive the same nutrition. By pinching, the gardener redirects nutrients to the fruits growing on a specific, specially selected stem. As a result, the plant devotes all its strength not to lateral shoots with many weak and small ovaries, but to just one or several, on which large, fully ripe and tasty vegetables will grow.
Limit the growth of cucumber stems by pinching the growing point. This technique is used to increase and accelerate the ripening of the crop and to reduce the length of the vine. After the plant stops increasing its length, it begins to actively branch - increase the number of lateral processes. In this case, the method of stepsoning can become either inevitable or harmful.
Cucumbers in a greenhouse: care and formation of a bush
Correct formation of the bush will ensure active formation of fruits, their filling and ripening. If cucumbers grow in a greenhouse, then there can be no question of the plant’s growth being left to chance. If there is a riot of greenery in the greenhouse, it means that the harvest will be meager, since all the nutrients will be spent on the growth of excess leaves and ovaries.
Methods for pinching cucumbers differ depending on the type of plant variety: short-fruited and self-pollinating and hybrid varieties.
You can shape both tied cucumbers and those lying on the ground
Each individual lash is formed in its own way. That is why gardeners used to trust the pinching procedure only to professionals, who chose the method based on the size and development characteristics of a plant of a particular variety. The main pinching usually occurred above the seventh or ninth true leaf, the side pinching - “above the cucumber”.
Modern bush formation:
- The main stem of modern cucumber hybrids is pinched only after they reach and become higher than the level of the upper horizontal trellises.
- When the main stem reaches the required length, the lateral branches at the five lower nodes are completely removed. In this case, in the first three branches it is necessary to remove the female flowers. Thanks to this, the leaves will grow large and healthy, which will help the plants produce a rich harvest.
- Pinching of lateral branches is done above the fifth leaf at the bottom of the plant according to the following scheme: first - above the first leaf, then - above the second and above the third. The upper shoots are launched through the upper trellises, lowered down and the pinching procedure is performed. All this is done when the plant reaches a length of at least 70 cm.
Over time, wilted leaves will appear on the lower parts of the plant and will need to be removed. This must be done very carefully so as not to damage the healthy stem. It is important that there are no petioles left after the procedure. Side shoots should also be removed when they are completely free of greens.
How to shape cucumbers correctly
By correctly forming cucumber bushes, the gardener achieves rational use of the internal volume of the greenhouse, ease of care, improved lighting conditions, optimal air circulation inside the bushes - that is, a person, by removing everything unnecessary at his own discretion, controls the growing season and fruiting of the cucumber bush.
Cucumber bushes are formed into one stem, with further branching in the upper part of the central stem, using the bush method. Formation patterns depend on the species of the plant. The formation of parthenocarpic (not pollinated at all) and self-pollinated cucumbers is somewhat different from insect-pollinated varieties and hybrids. On bee-pollinated cucumber species, ovaries are mainly formed on the side shoots, because male flowers grow on the central stem. That is, these types of cucumbers cannot form into one central stem.
To determine whether it is necessary to remove the stepsons and allow only one cucumber vine to grow, at the very beginning of the growth of cucumbers, pay attention to the buds that first appeared in the axils of the lower leaves. If ovaries appear there, therefore, this plant belongs to a parthenocarpic hybrid or self-pollinating variety. The appearance of barren flowers will indicate that the plant must be allowed to develop into a bush. Only the further growth of the vines will show where the ovaries will grow on them.
To ensure that cucumbers do not get sick and bear fruit normally, they should not be planted densely; the load on the central cucumber vine should increase gradually. The lower leaves should not come into contact with the ground, all parts of the bush should not grow chaotically. What all cucumbers have in common is that they are all climbing vines, so they require trellises and staking.
How to tie it correctly
The first garter of cucumber shoots is carried out when they reach the lower tier of the support net or other support device, for example, plastic tape or metal wire. Garter tapes about 25 cm long are used. When gartering, care must be taken not to uproot the seedling. The lashes are either wrapped around a support or attached to the mesh. To prevent shading of the bushes, the side lashes are attached at an angle of 30-35°.
When mounted vertically on long cords fixed under the ceiling of the greenhouse, the stem and tendrils of the plants are wound and secured with long tapes. Horizontal fastening involves arranging arcs or trellises from long pieces of wire to which cucumber vines are attached.
How to shape cucumbers
Forming is done to strengthen the plant itself and improve the development of the bush. If this procedure is performed correctly, the fruits will become large and strong. Formed bushes have a number of advantages, which include:
- saving space in the greenhouse,
- free access to each bush for watering, loosening, fertilizing or spraying,
- the stems do not touch the ground, which provides protection from rot or pests,
- convenience in picking fruits,
- free ventilation in the beds where cucumbers grow,
- correct watering,
- ease of penetration of daylight,
- more intensive growth of cucumbers.
The fruits will develop more actively and have excellent taste, but for this, gardeners should familiarize themselves with some of the nuances of this procedure.
In one stem
In this way, cucumbers with bunch fruiting are most often formed by self-pollinating and parthenocarpic cucumber species. All ovaries, stepsons, tendrils, and pedicels are removed from the first 5 leaf axils. In all subsequent nodes, only the ovaries are left and all stepsons are removed.
Forming a cucumber into one stem: video
With side shoots
Bee-pollinated varieties and hybrids of cucumbers are formed according to a multi-stem scheme. The central stem of the plant is tied to a support. From the beginning of the stem in the first 4 axils to the 5th leaf, everything is removed. The stepson is left in the fifth axil, allowed to grow and pinched after the first leaf. Along the entire length of the central stem, as it grows, all stepsons, ovaries, and flowers are removed from every 4 nodes. At every fifth node a shoot is again left.
Formation of a cucumber bush (video)
Selecting a method
How to form a cucumber bush depends on the variety. The central shoot is not touched in hybrid, bunch varieties.
Parthenocarpics (cucumbers pollinated by insects) usually have little branching; their main stem is also allowed to stretch out, and the main male flowers are formed on it.
Indeterminate varieties produce the main harvest from lateral shoots. In an adult bush, pinch the central shoot. If you properly form cucumbers in open ground or shelters, you can increase the fruiting period until late autumn.
Pinching and pruning: how to do it correctly so as not to cause harm
In order not to harm the plant, it is necessary for the cucumber seedlings to remain in the ground for at least 5 days. Tools for trimming stepsons, mustaches, ovaries and flowers must be sterilized. Work in a greenhouse can be done at any time, but the soil under the plants must first be moistened to ensure proper turgor .
What is turgor?
is a process that occurs in the cells of plant leaves and is caused by hydrostatic pressure. Translated from Latin, it means “to be filled.”
Methods for forming cucumbers
If you do not pay due attention to the formation of cucumbers in a greenhouse, a number of problems may arise, which include the following factors:
- all the strength and nutrition of the plants will go to extra shoots, not fruits,
- the thickening of cucumbers will create a significant barrier to the penetration of sunlight, which in turn will be an obstacle to the normal growth and development of the crop,
- when thickening occurs, a favorable environment is created for the occurrence of various diseases and the proliferation of pests,
- dense plantings make caring for the plant much more difficult,
- access of insects to dust-pollinated varieties will be difficult, which will undoubtedly affect the fruiting of the plant.
Morphology of a cucumber - where do the roots of the habit of forming bushes come from?
Cucumber, which belongs to the pumpkin family, differs significantly in its structure from other greenhouse crops.
A humid microclimate, partial shade and the absence of drafts are important for it. After all, the cucumber arrived to us from hot India, characterized by a humid climate. That is why experienced summer residents try to grow this vegetable in a separate greenhouse. Cucumbers are the most rewarding crop in the greenhouse
Its roots do not grow as deep into the ground as, for example, a tomato. Therefore, the formation of a cucumber bush in a greenhouse is precisely aimed at helping to strengthen the root system.
Cucumber is a monoecious crop, which means the presence of both female and male flowers on one bush. There are also bisexual forms, in which each flower has both male and female organs. To obtain a large harvest, it is necessary to remove those vines on which mainly barren flowers (male flowers) grow.
On the left is a male flower (barren flower), on the right is a female
Forming cucumbers: an easy way (video)
The formation of cucumbers in a greenhouse is divided into several stages:
- Removing side shoots and flowers in the axils of 4-5 lower leaves;
- The ovary above 4-5 leaves must be left, and the stepsons must be removed;
- If the stepsons have sprouted more than 20 cm, then removing them can lead to the shedding of the ovaries;
- After 5 more leaves appear in this area of the plant, the stepsons can be left, but you need to pinch off their tops after the first leaves appear;
- Stepchildren growing on side shoots are immediately removed;
- The top of the main stem must be pinched at the height where it hangs over the tensioned wire, when it can easily be thrown over a couple of times.
Each type of cucumber formation has its own differences.
In a polycarbonate greenhouse
Cucumber bushes in the greenhouse must be properly cared for; they must be formed in such a way that this care ensures normal taste and a good harvest of fruit. When planting seedlings, it is necessary to maintain such a distance between the bushes that one or another method of tying and pinching cucumber vines ensures that the shoots and leaves are not thickened.
Parthenocarpic hybrids
Hybrids of non-pollinated cucumber species are usually grown using the vertical staking method, forming them into one central stem.
Bouquet type cucumbers
Cucumbers of bouquet (beam) type of ovaries belong to parthenocarpic and self-pollinating hybrids. The main way to grow this type of cucumber is by vertically tying one central stem. Sometimes, if there is sufficient space in the greenhouse, at a height of approximately 1.5 m, the stepsons on the central stem are not removed and the plant is allowed to form one or two lateral shoots. In this case, it is necessary to secure a horizontal fastening made of wire or rope in the upper part of the greenhouse, to which the side shoots must be tied.
Proper care of plants after formation
Gradual pinching does not end after reaching the maximum height of the cucumber bush. Then the plant is observed and, if necessary, excess shoots and leaves are removed. The ovaries and side lashes are torn off in the morning. Then, during the day, the resulting wounds will dry out under the sun’s rays and the risk of disease will decrease.
When removing the stepsons, try not to touch the cucumber vines again or turn them over. The plant does not tolerate such interference well. The bush often slows down its development, begins to hurt and dry out. Dried leaves and shoots beginning to turn yellow are cut off to improve the illumination of the bush. Fruit-bearing shoots are also removed so that the plant does not waste energy on maintaining them.
Reviews
Cucumbers were planted without formation. The harvest was below average. A neighbor once suggested how to do this procedure correctly. Now the harvest is enough for the whole family. Care is not very labor-intensive, but the result of the effort is obvious. I am very pleased with this method of growing cucumbers!
Marina, 49 years old, Rostov-on-Don
I am an experienced gardener. I managed to try a lot in my greenhouse. At first it seemed that this would result in less harvest, because to form a bush in a greenhouse you need space. But after reading the works of other gardeners and spending a little time browsing gardening forums, I realized my mistake. Now I don’t save space to the detriment of the harvest. In addition, each variety requires a special approach, so you must always take into account which type of cucumber you are talking about. It is this factor that determines the planting and care of the plant.
Oleg, 52 years old, Astrakhan
The formation of a bush is a prerequisite for obtaining a good harvest. Our family has always used this method in the greenhouse. The results are beyond praise!
Tamara, 34 years old, St. Petersburg
Natalia
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Ask a Question
To get an excellent harvest, you need to water on time, fertilize and create favorable conditions for cucumbers. As this crop grows, it will need proper shaping, without which it is impossible to get an excellent harvest. Having completed all the procedures correctly, the gardener can count on a bountiful and tasty harvest. Health to you and your loved ones!
