Why is it necessary to form cucumbers in a greenhouse and how to produce it correctly

Planting various vegetables in greenhouses, every gardener knows that in addition to light and water, they need additional care. Cucumbers are no exception. Along with traditional soil preparation and daily watering, it is important to form cucumber bushes correctly. This will allow you to get an excellent harvest and achieve high fruiting.

How to form cucumbers in a greenhouse - we will consider further.

What is this procedure and what is it for cucumbers

Bushes are formed not only for the sake of order in the beds, but also for plant protection from various diseases, as well as access to fresh air and light to the fruits.

When growing, it is recommended pinch formed branches... When the cucumbers are grown in the open field, they do not need to be formed - provided that the bushes are located at a great distance from each other.

The formation of cucumbers in the greenhouse is mandatory for the following reasons:

1. Uncontrolled growth and the formation of new ovaries leads to the fact that the root system cannot cope, the plant is saturated with nutrients and moisture unevenly. As a result, the quality of the fruit is significantly reduced. Cucumbers will be small, uneven, tasteless.
2. Thickets restrict insects' access to flowers for their further pollination.
3. When a focus of disease appears, all bushes are instantly infected, and the risk of losing the entire crop increases.
4. It is easier for gardeners to weed, water the soil and harvest from the formed bushes.

Most varieties require tying... A support is installed near each bush so that the stem wraps around it, and does not lie on the ground, otherwise the plant will get sick or rot.

When to form cucumbers in the greenhouse

It is important to know according to what scheme to form bushes and how to remove ripe fruits correctly... All this affects the quality and volume of the crop. If you leave cucumbers unattended, one part of the crop will die, and the second will not be of the best quality.

When the first 5-6 leaves appear on the garden bed, feel free to start forming bushes. If they reach a height of 20 cm, time will be lost.

Formation options

There are several types of formation, which depend on:

• varieties of cucumbers, length of a vine, degree of branching;
• growing conditions - in the open field or in a greenhouse.

Based on this, the type of support and the method of formation are selected:

• in one stem;
• in several stems;
• Herringbone.

How to form cucumbers correctly

Before choosing a method for forming cucumber bushes, pay attention to the variety... The fundamental criterion is the degree of branching and the length of the vine. The actively growing shoots are tied up and thinned out, otherwise they close each other and insects' access to flowers.

Required materials and tools

Materials for creating supports:

1. Wooden beams 1-2 meters long.
2. Copper wire, soft twine and ropes.
3. Unnecessary rags for tying bushes.
4. Wooden slats of different lengths.

Wrap the main stem only with twinethat does not injure the plant during growth.

Important! You cannot use thin wire, threads and various fishing lines, which, when pulled, will cut the stem.

Required tools:

1. Wire cutter.
2. Pliers, hammer and any nails.
3. A sledgehammer for driving a peg into the ground.

Schemes and step-by-step instructions with photos

Consider the methods of forming a cucumber bush into one and several stems.

Formation into one stem

The scheme is suitable for growing cucumbers in closed greenhouses:

1. Install a support near the bushes.
2. After forming 5-6 leaves, tie the bush loosely to the crossbar.
3. With the appearance of the first shoots, pinch them until the bush reaches 50 cm. All nutrients will go to the development of ovaries and the growth of fruits, and not just to the root system. By freeing the lower tier, you protect the plant from contact with the soil surface and possible diseases.
4. At a distance of 50 cm, leave two ovaries next to every third leaf, at the very top - three near every fourth leaf. Subsequently, an even bush is formed.

By choosing this method of formation, you get good yields and fruitfulness.

Formation into several stems

Cucumbers grow very quickly using this method.... Timely thinning is necessary: ​​too large sheets will not allow the vegetables to fully ripen.

Rules for the formation of a bush in several stems:

1. Tie the main stem to the trellis with a rope without pulling it.
2. Before the first ovaries appear, pinch the top of the bush.
3. Side shoots cannot be removed, they are tied up and pulled to the main stem at an angle. This will create a beautiful bush without damaging the shoots.
4. Wrap the whiskers from the side shoots around the main stem. This will strengthen the bush and prevent it from interfering with neighboring plants.

It can be useful:

How to properly water cucumbers with soda and what benefits it will bring

Why potassium nitrate is useful for cucumbers during fruiting

Features of the formation of parthenocarpic varieties

When choosing seeds, pay attention to what type the variety belongs to. cucumbers:

• insect pollinated;
• parthenocarpic (self-pollinated).

The main difference - female flower on self-pollinated varieties with ovaries in the form of a small cucumber. These varieties do not require insect or human pollination assistance.

At the time of planting seedlings to tie the bushes, prepare twines hanging from above. Do not overtighten to prevent plants from pulling out of the ground. Wrap the stem loosely around the support, preferably under each leaf, so that in the future it does not break off under the gravity of the fruit.

Remove side shoots, flowers and ovaries from the lower tiers. When the bush reaches 30 cm, pinch the side shoots up to 5-6 leaves. Further - above the first leaf of each ovary.

When the cucumber vine reaches the crossbar, it is thrown over, and it grows down... Pinching is done over 2-3 leaves. When 1 meter remains between the soil and the liana, it is pruned, stopping growth.

Features of the formation of bee-pollinated varieties

Insects have male flowers (barren flowers), incapable of independent formation of ovaries without the participation of bees or humans.

During flowering create access for insects or pollinate yourself... To attract bees, make a solution based on honey or jam and spray the bushes.

It is not necessary to pinch the main stem, it should reach the top bar. In the area of ​​the lower 4-5 leaves, all flowers and ovaries are removed. From 5-7 leaves, shoots are left up to 20 cm. Further, the length is increased. In the area of ​​the crossbar itself, the shoots reach 50 cm. Having wrapped the crossbar with the main stem, pinching is done.

Avoid overgrowth of impassable vines... Such landings are poorly lit, and insects will be difficult to access. Insufficient ventilation will cause disease in the bushes.

With insufficient pollination of the bushes by bees pick the male flower and touch the female flower with it (it has a small ovary).

Attention! Perform all manipulations in the morning, while it is not very hot.The process is long and monotonous, but worth the effort.

The nuances of formation in a greenhouse

Growing outdoors and indoors is very different... In the first case, the bush grows horizontally, in the second - vertically.

With horizontal growth, vines are located along the ground, and foliage creates a special microclimate. The pinching process is impractical and will cause diseases of the bushes. To prevent the cucumbers from growing too much, it is more effective to pinch the main shoot.

If you observe a large number of barren flowers, pinch the main stem and partly the lateral branches. This promotes the growth of branches of the second order, which will contain female flowers.

Vertical cultivation is typical for indoor greenhouses... Formation is performed in one or more stems. As a result, the bush is better illuminated and does not occupy large areas.

Remember to ventilate the greenhouse for good ventilation and oxygenation of plants. Provide access for bees and bumblebees to pollinate the cucumber bushes. Water them in the morning, remove dried and diseased leaves.

Advantages and disadvantages of the procedure

Formation relieves cucumber bushes of all kinds of problemsthat interfere with getting a quality crop. This facilitates plant maintenance and contributes to high yields thanks to:

• the formation of an optimal load on the root system;
• effective ventilation of plants;
• good lighting and uniform moisture saturation of all tiered leaves and the fruits themselves;
• ease of caring for cucumber bushes;
• timely prevention of diseases;
• increased fruiting;
• comfortable harvesting of ripe crops.

If we neglect the formation, then:

• ovaries turn yellow and fall off due to lack of nutrients;
• fruits do not ripen, have an irregular shape;
• yield decreases;
• the risk of disease increases.

Conclusion

The correct formation of cucumber bushes is the key to a good harvest and high fruiting. So you will create comfortable conditions for the growth of plants, protect them from diseases, facilitate the process of caring for the crop, and most importantly - please yourself and your family with fragrant and juicy cucumbers!