How to properly plant cucumbers in open ground and greenhouses

Growing cucumbers in open ground is a prerequisite for proper care of this vegetable crop. The procedure allows you to increase productivity and solve many other problematic issues.

Necessity of the procedure

What is stepsoning? Stepchildren are called lateral shoots that do not allow the cucumber vine to develop normally. They take away moisture and valuable components needed for fruit formation. Stepchildren are formed between the leaf and the stem. Stepping is getting rid of side branches. They begin to be removed when the plant reaches a height of 6 cm.

For beginners, it is important to know what stepsons are and how to distinguish them from a regular leaf. Lateral shoots appear between the central stem and leaf. First, the leaf itself unfolds, and only then, a little higher, branches are formed. Only the top sprout should be cut off. It is best to plant cucumbers that grow in open beds in mid-July. At this time, the plant will gain enough strength to produce a good harvest.

The answer to the question of whether cucumbers need to be planted is definitely positive. It is necessary to get rid of side lashes, but this must be done carefully. The procedure is not just about removing all excess vegetation. Proper planting of cucumbers involves preserving healthy, strong leaves. They enrich the plant with ultraviolet light and oxygen. Not knowing these features can lead to the death of the crop or a decrease in the number of ripening fruits.

The procedure for forming a stem in cucumbers has a number of positive qualities:

• the number of crops increases;
• fewer weeds appear, so there is no need to weed frequently;
• in rainy summers the likelihood of rotting is reduced;
• the ripened harvest is easy and simple to harvest;
• caring for the beds will not be difficult.

Is it necessary to pick cucumbers of all varieties? Not all varieties of cucumbers will benefit from pinching. Single-stemmed species do not form long stems and therefore do not curl. As they grow, such crops form a neat bush, and the inflorescences are mostly female. Male inflorescences are usually called barren flowers, since they are needed only for pollination.

Most of the male inflorescences need to be removed. Otherwise, the cucumbers will turn out bitter.

It is necessary to remove not only side branches, but also diseased, dry, damaged leaves.Only pinching and clearing of diseased leaves is not carried out on the same day. You should not use the same cutting tools to avoid spreading diseases.

It is recommended to remove them in a timely manner as the mustache appears. They only confuse the plant and prevent it from developing normally. Without them it is easier to see the stepsons.

Rules of procedure

The main thing in the procedure is to know how to properly plant cucumbers to prevent damage. After the extra shoot has been identified, you need to slightly move the leaf away with one hand and tear off the sprouts near the stem with the other. It is recommended to leave a small process to prevent re-formation of the stepson and reduce the risk of infection.

How to trim lateral shoots? For these purposes, sharply sharpened scissors are used, which are designated specifically for these purposes. You cannot use scissors to do other work at the same time. Side shoots need to be removed when their size reaches 4 cm. Only in this case will they be easy to notice and tear off.

There are several schemes for how to plant cucumbers in open ground.

1. It is assumed that all additional branches will be removed. Leave one central, strongest stem. The method is especially suitable for those areas where cucumbers are planted close to each other and attached to a support. The bed will be neat, and all parts of the plant will receive sufficient light and air. Harvesting will also be easy, since the fruits will be visible.
2. If the cucumbers are not supposed to be tied to a support, then stepchildren of cucumbers in an open area begin by removing only those stepchildren that are up to 4 leaves. The bush will look lush, and a lot of fruits will ripen.The main stage is pinching the growth point, due to which the lateral processes will gain strength. It is on the side branches that female flowers most often form.

It is necessary to take into account that pollinating inflorescences most often form on the main branch, and female ovaries often appear on the side branches. You also don’t need to forget to remove the stepsons from the side lashes.

How long does it take to form a bush? Properly planting cucumbers in open ground can be achieved if you follow the following scheme:

• the cucumber stem is conventionally divided in length into four equal parts;
• begin to remove the stepsons from the bottom, which are located in the axils of the fourth leaf;
• for the next part, work is carried out between the fifth and seventh leaves (you need to remove all the side sprouts, leaving one leaf and one ovary);
• the third part, after the procedure, should remain with two ovaries and two leaves;
• the fourth lash is left with three leaves and three ovaries.

As soon as the first fruits appear on the main branch, you need to stop the growth in height by pinching the top. It is recommended to leave the side branches.

Caring for greenhouse crops

In a greenhouse, pinching must be carried out, since comfortable conditions promote the growth of greenery. The plant ceases to receive not only nutrients, but also lighting. Stepchildren begin to be removed when they reach 4-6 cm.

The diagram will help answer the questions of how and how many times it is recommended to remove stepsons when growing cucumbers in a greenhouse.

1. After the fourth leaves develop on the seedlings, all the shoots located below are torn off.
2. Removing the stepsons next time begins when unfolding the eighth sheet.On the side branches below the level, leave one ovary and one leaf.
3. It is recommended to repeat the procedure when the 10th leaf appears. You need to leave a couple of leaves and ovaries.
4. After the 11th leaf, three ovaries and leaves are left.
5. As soon as the height of the bush reaches 50 cm, the central stem is pinched. Do not forget to carry out pinching on the side branches.

Advice from gardeners: “We remove the stepsons without sparing, even if fruits have already begun to form on them. All the same, the branches will not reach high fruiting, and the fruits will be bitter.”