Is it possible to cut the leaves of cucumbers and how to do it correctly

It is difficult to imagine a summer cottage without a neat garden of cucumbers. However, for novice gardeners, the cultivation of this crop raises a number of questions. In particular, do cucumbers need leaf pruning? Should I shape the vine?

In the article you will find detailed answers to these questions. We will tell you if it is possible to cut the leaves of cucumbers for better fruiting, at what time and how to do it correctly. Having learned the peculiarities of care and after reading our recommendations, you yourself will conclude whether it is worth cutting cucumbers.

Is it possible to cut the leaves of cucumbers

Pruning leaves is not only possible, but necessary. Let us analyze why the leaves are cut off for cucumbers, and which ones.

Cucumbers are liana shrubs. They form a long vine on which the fruits are located. If the vine is not cut, the green mass, actively growing, will take all the strength from the plant. Fruiting in this case will be weak.

Can the lower / upper leaves be trimmed

Vines are formed by removing the lower leaves, side shoots and barren flowers. To prevent root rot, pruning is carried out in the first part of the vine. Remove all inflorescences, side shoots, yellowed leaves that touch the ground.

This pruning provides ventilation and also allows the plant to channel nutrients into the fruiting area. In hybrids, the entire upper part is removed, starting with the sixth leaf. Three subsequent lateral shoots are left for fruiting.

During harvesting, the top leaves are not torn off, as they play an important role in the formation of fruits.

Important! Tearing off the top leaves of varietal crops (not hybrids) leads to yellowing of cucumbers.

Why do it

Many gardeners are unsure whether to trim the leaves of cucumbers. Let's analyze together what this method gives:

1. Saves water and nutrient consumption.
2. Prevents the spread of infections and pests.
3. Accelerates fruit ripening.
4. Increases the formation of female inflorescences.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Leaf Pruning

The benefits of pruning:

• the beds are ventilated from all sides;
• sunlight penetrates all parts of the vine;
• bees will be able to pollinate more inflorescences;
• plants are less susceptible to root rot;
• cucumbers bear fruit longer.

There are practically no drawbacks in leaf pruning, provided that crop care technologies are followed.

Important! Over-pruning the leaves in hot weather can harm the plant. Direct rays of the sun negatively affect fruiting.

Types of trimming

The peculiarity of cucumbers is that they have female and male inflorescences.

Males grow on the main stem and do not bear fruit. They are called "barren flowers". To increase the yield, such inflorescences are pinched. At the same time, the leaves are not cut off, since the plant absorbs useful substances through them.

Female inflorescences grow on lateral shoots. From them fruits are formed.

Let's take a look at which leaves to harvest from cucumbers to increase the yield and how to do it.

There are two ways to trim cucumbers: general and lightening. Let's consider each of them, find out which varieties and how to cut them.

General

This type of pruning is used for self-pollinating cucumbers. Such crops yield bountiful crops and need pruning.The fruits form on a main stem that can support a large harvest. On the side shoots, some fruit is also left for growth.

Important! In hybrid varieties, the yield is formed mainly on the main stem.

The cucumber vine is conventionally divided into four parts:

1. The first is the lower part of the whip near the ground.
2. The second is the next meter (four growth nodules).
3. The third is the next half meter of the whip.
4. The fourth is the top of the bush.

How to prune cucumbers:

1. In the lower part of the lash, all inflorescences, barren flowers, side shoots, yellow and downward leaves are removed.
2. Pinch the upper part after the sixth leaf for the development of lateral shoots.
3. On the second part of the growth of the vine 0.5-1 m from the ground, three main shoots are left, the rest are removed.
4. In the future, they work with these shoots, leaving four shoots on them.

Brightening

For weakened and diseased plants, lightening pruning is carried out. It is advisable to reduce the amount of green mass in rainy weather.

Pruning features:

• remove side shoots;
• remove leaves that darken the vine;
• hanging, sluggish, yellow leaves are cut;
• leave 2-3 fruit ovaries.

To increase the yield, in some cases, the lateral stems are left in the first nodes. Lateral shoots are lowered down to the ground. So the stem stops growing, the fruits begin to actively pour.

How to trim correctly

Pruning correctly and on time will help you grow a bountiful harvest and enjoy fresh cucumbers until late fall.

Let's take a look at how to properly prune cucumbers outdoors:

1. The procedure is carried out in the evening.
2. After pruning, it is recommended to water and fertilize cucumbers.
3. Pruning is carried out along the entire length of the plant.
4. Work begins after the growth of the sixth leaf. The lash is wrapped around the trellis and pinching the growth point.
5. Remove the side shoots in the first half of the vine, as well as all the leaves that look down or are planted.
6. The main stem is pinched after it reaches the top of the trellis. This part of the cucumber tops must be constantly monitored throughout the season. You can not let it grow, so as not to darken the beds.
7. The growing shoots in the second and third parts of the vine are placed on the trellis.
8. For uniform clarification, the shoots are distributed in a checkerboard pattern.
9. The lashes are pinched at a distance of 0.5 m.
10. After pruning, 3-4 ovary nodes and some leaves are left.
11. Shoots outside the row are cut off.

In hybrids, pinch the tops after the sixth leaf, leaving three shoots, the rest are removed. Common varieties are grown with one stem.

The procedure is carried out with garden shears in order to less injure the tops.

Attention. Male shoots (barren flowers) must be removed. If you leave them, the cucumbers will taste bitter.

What leaves to cut for a good harvest

Cucumber pruning is primarily carried out to increase fruiting. Remove leaves affected diseases, yellowed, located on the bottom row, and leaves thickening the bush.

Peculiarities of greenhouse and open field pruning

Cucumbers growing in vegetable gardens are exposed to various natural influences. Heat, wind and other unfavorable weather conditions have a negative impact on the growth and development of plants. The question arises: is it necessary to cut the leaves of cucumbers in the open field? Definitely yes.

The cucumber vine is formed depending on climatic weather conditions. In hot weather, more leaves are left on the bushes. On rainy days, their number is reduced.

When pruning cucumbers outdoors, you should know:

1. The tops of the growing shoots should be well lit.
2. With an abundance of barren flowers, you need to dry the soil, remove growth points, then cut off barren flowers.
3. Remove yellowed leaves in a timely manner, as well as those below the fruit. Leave only a couple of leaves on the shoots.
4. Do not direct the vine along the trellis - as it grows, it will darken the garden.
5. Plant varietieswhich are pollinated by insects, freely so that bees and other pollinators can reach the flowers.
6. When harvesting, try not to damage the whips and antennae, so as not to harm subsequent ovaries.
7. Do not change the position of the whips when picking fruit.

Consider the features of the formation of a cucumber vine when grown in a greenhouse. To do this, conditionally divide the whip into four parts.

We carry out work on the following points:

1. In the first lower part of the lash, remove all ovaries and lateral shoots up to the fourth leaf. At the same time, the tops continue to grow.
2. In the second part, we remove the growth point from four nodes, leave one fruit and 2-3 leaves.
3. On the third part of the bush, in each of the three nodes, we leave two fruits and two leaves.
4. In the upper last part, we leave three leaves and three cucumbers.

When the growth of cucumbers is slowed down in greenhouses, lightening pruning is carried out. The lateral stems, downward leaves and barren flowers are removed, leaving the ovary on the main stem.

Important! Prune cucumbers in the greenhouse in a timely manner, remove the shoots on the sides.

It happens that there are many shoots with barren flowers in a greenhouse on cucumbers - what to do? It is urgent to dry the soil, reduce the application nitrogen fertilizers and trim the growth point on each shoot. These activities will help direct nutrients from the tops to the fruits.

Optimal timing of the procedure

You should not postpone the procedure for pruning cucumbers, as this can lead to stretching and entanglement of the shoots. Nutrients will go to the tops, the fruits will develop poorly.

Remember the timing when you need to start removing unnecessary shoots, forming the tops of cucumbers:

1. Start of work - after the growth of the sixth leaf.
2. Subsequent procedures - every 10 days throughout the season.

Tips from experienced gardeners

We recommend listening to the advice of experienced ones - let's take a closer look at what experienced gardeners say.

Vasiliy: «I have been using the method of forming a cucumber vine by cutting for a long time. I prefer self-pollinated varieties. I form a crop on one stem, there is always a large number of fruits on it. I also leave a few side shoots, they also have a crop. "

Tatyana: “Recently I learned to cut the leaves of cucumbers and figured out which ones to harvest for a good harvest. I started to do this and noticed that pruning helps to get rid of root rot. I cut off all the leaves and side shoots of the bottom row. Plants are well ventilated from below. In addition, excess tops do not take up nutrients. The cucumbers fill up faster, more ovary has appeared. "

conclusions

Now you know whether to remove the leaves from cucumbers and how to do it correctly. Forming cucumber vines by pruning helps fight diseases and increases productivity. Plants are well ventilated, the sun's rays evenly illuminate the leaves and fruits, insects can easily pollinate the inflorescences.

You also learned how to remove leaves from cucumbers so as not to damage the ovaries and break the whips. By removing the male inflorescences, you will direct the forces of the plant to the growth and ripening of fruits. Prune carefully using our guidelines and tips.