How to prune cucumbers in a greenhouse?

An important procedure in the formation of a cucumber bush is its pruning. Thanks to such procedures, a high yield is ensured, an improvement in the quality of ripe fruits. Pruning is important for vegetables that grow not only outdoors, but also in greenhouse conditions.

Many novice gardeners do not quite understand what the need for pruning a cucumber planting in a greenhouse is. As a rule, as a result, such people do not achieve high yields. Experienced summer residents and breeders always advise not to neglect such a procedure, since it is very effective. All useful microelements obtained from the ground are not spent on unnecessary leaves, if you cut them off beforehand. Due to this, the growth and development of culture is accelerated.

Pruning greenhouse cucumbers is essential to achieving important goals.

• By trimming cucumbers, the quality of ventilation of the greenhouse space is significantly improved.
• The procedure under consideration ensures that the development of rot and stalks and rhizomes of planted vegetables is prevented. This is a kind of prophylaxis that is highly effective.
• Greenhouse cucumbers are pruned in order to improve the illumination of the space. Due to this, photosynthesis is also increased, which is so important for the respiration of both humans and the development of planted plants.
• Thanks to the correct pruning, the correct formation of both the stem and the cucumber bush as a whole takes place.
• Thanks to pruning, the formation of diseased and weak areas on the plant is ensured. Drying of sheet plates is prevented.
• Correctly carried out pruning of cucumbers in the greenhouse allows you to get rid of all the empty flowers and leaves that turned out to be superfluous.
• By trimming the cucumbers, the main planting resources are saved for the proper development of the ovaries.
• Competent pruning of greenhouse crops makes it possible to end up with even fruits, characterized by the best taste.
• Pruning allows you to direct the necessary useful elements directly to the ovaries, and not to the side shoots.
• Since the shoots in the lower part are cut off thanks to the procedure, it becomes much easier to care for the bush.

Before you start pruning greenhouse cucumbers, it is important to properly prepare all the necessary tools. The selection of specific devices primarily depends on which part of the planting is planned to be removed. It is advisable to cut the vine, which began to turn yellow and began to wither, with a well-sharpened secateurs of sufficient length.

If the gardener decides to cut the unnecessary empty flowers, then it is better to prepare garden shears. With these tools, you can also thin out a bush by removing foliage and shoots. Very young and thin stepchildren can be easily pinched off with your fingers, without using any tools.

Absolutely all tools that are used to trim cucumbers in the greenhouse must be well disinfected. The hands of the summer resident must first be thoroughly washed. It will be useful to treat with special antibacterial compounds.If you do not follow such simple conditions, there is a high risk of introducing dangerous infections.

Let's figure out the general rules for pruning cucumbers grown in the dungeons of the greenhouse.

• For the first week and a half, the planting will go through an adaptation phase. That is why it is not recommended to “disturb” her at this time.
• It is necessary to form a neat cucumber bush of the correct shape, starting with its garter to the supporting part.
• Cutting off stepchildren should be carried out only with thoroughly disinfected tools of good sharpening. Some gardeners advise to pre-boil all items for 10 minutes. Other gardeners soak the tools in a weak solution of potassium permanganate overnight.
• Cucumber shoots need to be cut to their very base. This must be done so that no "hemp" sticking out is left outside.
• Pruning should be done regularly. Experienced summer residents recommend doing such procedures at least once every 7 days.
• Unnecessary shoots should be removed early in the morning so that during the day the wounds have time to heal, and with the advent of coolness they are not open to dangerous infections.

The correct removal of leaf blades largely depends on the specific species, cultivation characteristics, pollination and the harvesting period of the cucumbers.

The tops, which have the following characteristics, need to be removed without fail:

• has any mechanical damage and defects in the form of tears, tears, and so on;
• leaves showing signs of parasite attacks or the development of infectious diseases;
• if characteristic unhealthy spots, increased dryness or rot have formed on the foliage, they must also be cut from the bush.

There are hybrid varieties of cucumbers that require complete removal of the top of the stem, starting from 6 leaves. In this case, it is required to leave only 3 lashes intact. Ordinary plants form only 1 stem - everything else needs to be removed.

Cultivars capable of self-pollination keep most of the fruit on the main lash. Based on this feature, all the tops on the side must be cut off. This also applies to species pollinated by bees. Removing unnecessary greenery is very important to ensure insect access.

Yellowed foliage, which is located in the lower areas after the fruiting zones, must be removed. Everything else should be left in its place and not touched.

There are situations when the bushes are overgrown with branches too abundantly. In such a case, it is necessary to carefully trim the growth point. At the same time, the volume of nitrogenous fertilizers should be reduced, the soil should be dried. Due to such actions, more useful elements will be able to get directly to the fruits.

There are several basic schemes for pruning cucumbers in a greenhouse. Each of them provides for a certain order of actions, which the summer resident must adhere to.

This type of pruning is carried out in relation to self-pollinating varieties of cucumbers in order to concentrate the bulk of the crop on the central stalk, to simplify the care of the bush by reducing the size of its growth. Some summer residents still decide to leave the ovaries on the side shoots in order to increase the number of fruits. In this case, an additional support structure may come in handy so that the bush does not accidentally break under the load from the cucumbers. It should not be overloaded.

Pruning should start from the bottom of the bush. It is necessary to remove the shoots on the sides, and with them the inflorescences. Those leaf plates that have a frankly painful and stunted appearance are also subject to cutting.Hybrid varieties of greenhouse cucumbers primarily need such care measures, since the lion's share of female flowers is created in the center of the stem. In this case, there is no need for lateral processes.

This type of pruning can be considered preventive. The procedure is aimed at effectively combating many diseases. If the cucumber bush gradually becomes more and more lethargic and weak, the formation of ovaries slows down, then the problem may be hidden in too much branching of the plant. In this case, it is paramount to remove weakened leaves, as well as shoots that create a shadow for the tiers below.

It is allowed to leave intact from 2 to 3 good ovaries. This measure will make it possible to improve illumination, will guarantee additional ventilation inside the cucumber bush in the greenhouse.

If there are healthy leaf plates on the bushes, then they may not be cut off at all. Allowed to leave a couple of things. All other leaves must be carefully removed step by step so that the plant can rationally spend all its resources, redirecting the nutrient components to the ovaries and fruits, and not to the processes of the growing season.

The pruning process is very stressful for the plants in the greenhouse. Even if all the recommendations are followed, the bushes will still need additional support in the form of top dressing. Cucumbers are very good at phosphorus, potassium and nitrogenous compositions. It is also important to monitor the degree of moisture in the beds in the greenhouse.

If barren flowers begin to form too often, watering can be reduced. It is necessary to use only warm water not lower than +22 degrees.