There is a certain scheme for how to grow cucumbers in a greenhouse so as not to harm the plant and reap a high-quality harvest in the future. As they grow, the cucumber branches become tangled with each other, begin to take up a lot of space, which is not much in the greenhouse anyway, and block access to every bush. The task of caring for them becomes more difficult and problems arise.
Necessity of the procedure
The formation of many cultivated vegetables is carried out so that the bushes grow in the right direction. The procedure includes trimming and gartering.
Forming cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse is recommended not only for order, beauty and cleansing of furrows. The procedure helps reduce the risk of developing various fungal and bacterial diseases and allows light and air to flow freely to each bush.
When the cucumber grows, you need to pinch off the branches. The formation of cucumbers in open ground does not need to be carried out, but only if the cucumbers are located at a great distance from each other, and the weather is pleasant with sunshine and rain. Greenhouse cucumber requires similar conditions, since vegetable growers count every square meter.
Forming cucumbers in a greenhouse is useful for several reasons:
- Uncontrolled branching and formation of ovaries leads to the fact that the root system cannot cope with the distribution of nutritional components and moisture throughout the plant. The fruits on the branches will be small, twisted, and will lose their taste.
- The interweaving of a large number of stems and leaves shades and prevents air access, which affects the quality of the fruit.
- Through the thickets it is difficult for pollinating insects to get to the flowers.
- If a disease or pest appears, it will spread quickly and you could lose the entire crop.
- The formation of a bush makes it easier to care for the vegetable in the future. It is convenient to water, loosen, and weed the soil.
Many types of cucumbers need staking. It is necessary to install a support near each bush so that the stems do not lie on the ground, otherwise there is a risk that the plant will get sick or rot.
It is better to carry out all actions to form cucumbers in the greenhouse early in the morning, so that open wounds can shrink during the day.When the plant begins to bloom and bear fruit, you should not turn or change the position of the flower or ovary. Rules and diagrams that have been popular among agronomists and amateur gardeners for many years will help you form a bush correctly.
Advantages of formed bushes
The main procedures for forming a bush are pinching shoots and tying up stems. As a result, the formed plant will give a rich harvest and facilitate the maintenance procedure.
The result will be:
- free access to each bush for watering, spraying, loosening and other manipulations;
- comfortable conditions for applying fertilizers;
- free air ventilation in the beds where cucumbers grow;
- the stems do not touch the ground and are protected from rot and many insect pests;
- daylight penetration available;
- easy harvesting process.
The fruits develop actively and have excellent taste, but for this, vegetable growers should know how to form cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse.
Useful tips
Correct formation of cucumbers in a greenhouse is based on following some recommendations:
- You need to get rid of barren flowers in a timely manner.
- When removing shoots and leaves, it is better to use a knife.
- If a lot of empty ovaries are formed, then for some time it is necessary to reduce the frequency of watering the soil.
- Picking ripe cucumbers is done carefully so as not to damage the branches.
- Cucumber leaves that appear close to the surface of the ground should be removed.
There are other rules for how to form a bush. The growth of shoots should be monitored every week. Whiskers, empty flowers, low-quality fruits and bad leaves are plucked immediately after detection, as they take away additional nutritional elements from the plant.
The formation of cucumber vines begins with the appearance of three pairs of leaves above the surface of the ground. At this moment, the plant does not yet exceed 18 cm in height. If the dimensions exceed the recommended standards, then there is no point in starting formation.
If you pinch the top, you can extend the period of fruiting until late autumn, but provided that the rules for growing are followed.
It is recommended to promptly remove damaged, bad leaves from cucumber branches, which contribute to the formation of thickets and increase the risk of spreading diseases. You just need to know that pinching and fighting diseased leaves cannot be done at the same time.
To prolong fruiting, closer to the autumn period, the resulting lashes are removed from the support and laid out on the ground. Branches without ovaries are pruned, the ground is loosened and fertilizer is applied (a mixture of peat and wood ash is suitable).
As a result, new flowers appear on the stems, and it will be possible to collect a repeat, fresh harvest.
Ways to strengthen stems
The first step on how to properly shape cucumbers is garter. As soon as the height of the plant reaches 25 cm, the garter procedure begins.
There are the following garter methods:
- The vertical option involves installing a 2 m high support in the shape of the letter “P”. A rope should stretch from each bush to the top of the structure. As the cucumber stem grows, it is carefully wrapped around the rope.
- The horizontal method involves deepening wooden pegs at a distance of 30 cm from each other. Ropes are tied to them horizontally. The disadvantage is that upon reaching the first horizontal row, the stem stops and does not want to move further upward.
- The use of a mesh garter is very popular.A net is made and installed near the cucumber bed. Each bush with the help of a mustache will rush upward.
Whatever method is chosen for gartering a cucumber in a greenhouse, the sequence of steps should be followed and important nuances should be taken into account.
Formation options
How to properly form a cucumber bush depends on the chosen type. Tall or short, hybrid or varietal cucumbers require different conditions.
Tall varieties of cucumbers, which can grow up to 1.6 meters in height, feel great in the greenhouse. They require mandatory tying. For this purpose, a wire support of at least 1.8 meters in height is pulled near the beds. If the support is stretched over the bed in a horizontal position, then it is additionally recommended to tie a thick thread hanging down. The stem is twisted clockwise around the support.
Gartering of cucumbers often coincides with the 10th day after planting the seedlings. Cultivation can continue on a strong rope or on a wooden trellis.
Scheme for the formation of cucumbers in a greenhouse with the formation of one stem using the tying method:
- Approximately 6 days after planting, the seedlings are attached to a support, which is located next to the bush.
- At the base of the stem, where the first pair of true leaves are located, shoots and flowers are removed. Thus, more air and light will flow to the stem, necessary for further development. The risk of rotting will be reduced.
- As soon as the lash continues to stretch and the next pair of leaves appears, only the shoots and flowers that are located on the side are removed. The shoots must be removed immediately so that they do not have time to grow.
- While the lash is growing, pinching is repeated in each new area, leaving first two leaves (when the plant reaches 50 cm), then three and four.Thus, closer to the top there will be more leaves on the side shoots than at the bottom.
- On the left shoots, new shoots will soon begin to appear on the sides; they need to be gotten rid of, otherwise the planting will be dense.
- As soon as the cucumber vine reaches the height of the support, the main top is pinched, allowed to grow a little and cut off completely.
It is very important to monitor the integrity of the bush with one formed stem. It can break under pressure from side shoots, so additional support is built.
How to properly form cucumbers in a greenhouse using a multi-stem method has its own characteristics. Step-by-step instructions will help you understand the intricacies of the procedure:
- After the sixth leaf appears, the central stem is attached to a support.
- The top of the plant is pinched, and the lateral shoots can be left untouched until the first ovaries form on them.
- As soon as the additional shoots become stronger, they are lifted and secured near the central stem.
- The tendrils are wrapped around the main stem to provide stability to the plant.
There are secrets to how to form a cucumber bush without tying it up. If a low-growing variety is chosen, then the bush does not need support, and it will be much easier to form it. But here the main thing will be whether the cucumber is a hybrid or varietal.
Varietal types of cucumbers mainly have male flowers on the central stem that do not form an ovary - barren flowers. Female flowers are located on the side shoots, so the future harvest should be formed from them. In these types of cucumbers, the main stem is pinched after the appearance of 4 leaves, and the side stems - after 2 leaves.
In hybrid cucumbers, all flowers are capable of forming ovaries, so the main stem does not need to be cut off. Side shoots begin to be pinched after the second leaf.
Features of caring for vegetables in an open area
How to shape cucumbers in open ground is not much different from the procedure in greenhouse conditions. Carry out the same steps:
- They begin to pinch the top from the moment 5–6 leaves appear. After this, the plant will begin to branch and form additional shoots.
- The garter will allow the plant to creep up without interfering with other bushes. In addition, the number of fruits will increase significantly.
- As the lash grows, the tendrils and barren flowers need to be removed. Some agronomists recommend leaving a few male flowers for pollination.
- Ripe fruits are harvested immediately, as they absorb nutrients. Yellow, dry leaves should also be removed.
The formation of cucumbers in open ground depends on the type of vegetable. In the case of the formation of hybrid varieties, it is better to lead the stem along a vertical support into one stem. Pinch the top only when the maximum height of the installed support is reached. Pinching of side shoots begins above the third leaf.
Forming a cucumber vine and tying cucumbers in open ground can be done in two main ways:
- The horizontal method involves installing two long sticks next to the bushes, with a string stretched between them. The cucumber stem is directed to the bottom row of the rope.
- The vertical method involves digging two long sticks near the bushes, between which a string is pulled. Vertical ropes are tied to the twine and the hanging end is attached to the cucumber stem.
Should I do it? pinching cucumbers in an open garden, depends on the variety. If low-growing varieties are planted, then there is no need to pinch the top. If the varieties are tall, then pinching is necessary, and the procedure begins when the plant reaches a meter in height.
