How to form cucumbers?

How to form cucumbers?

The correct formation of bushes is one of the key agricultural practices when growing cucumbers. It allows you to set a certain direction for the growth of vines, which helps the plant to direct maximum efforts to the harvest, and not to the development of green mass. That is why it is important to know when and how exactly cucumbers should be formed. The choice of a specific method for decorating a cucumber bush depends primarily on the varietal characteristics of the plant.

It is worth noting that there are general principles for carrying out such procedures, but at the same time there are certain nuances that are characteristic of bee-pollinated, parthenocarpic and hybrid species.

How to form cucumbers?

How to form cucumbers?

The need for a procedure

If you learn how to perform all the procedures correctly and in a timely manner, then you can count on a large harvest from each individual lash due to the formation of cucumber bushes. But it is important to take into account that the formation of this vegetable crop in the beds, that is, in the open field, and in greenhouses are different processes that have significant differences. But in any case, it is important to remember that plants that develop on their own, without human intervention, will sooner or later turn into real bush thickets. In such a jungle, formed both in the garden and in the greenhouse, it is very difficult to process and tie, as well as harvest.

The problem under consideration is the most relevant, when seedlings of branched varieties are selected for breeding cucumbers. Excessively elongated and at the same time thin lashes of the plant will be less illuminated and ventilated, which in itself can provoke the development of many diseases. If certain first ovaries are not cut off and all shoots are left on the bushes without exception, then the yield, as a rule, is significantly reduced. In such situations, the fruits will not be able to form both on the main (central) trunk and on the side lashes. In parallel, the ovaries may begin to turn yellow, actively dry and eventually fall off.

Proper formation of a cucumber bush contributes to:

  • concentration of all the forces of culture on fruiting;
  • a significant improvement in the access of light and its uniform distribution;
  • rational use of space when growing vegetables in greenhouses;
  • a noticeable increase in the fruiting period;
  • multiple simplification of the performance of all manipulations in the care of plantings and harvesting as it ripens.

It is worth noting that even if one of the stages of formation was missed, then weak shoots that thicken the bushes should definitely be eliminated. Inexperienced gardeners who are afraid of injuring plants are advised to pinch the stepchildren with ovaries during growth. The implementation of the described agricultural technique does not provide for accurate measurements of the length of the shoots using a ruler and the calculation of the number of nodes. It is important to remember that the currently existing and actively used schemes for the formation of cucumbers are conditional, since in each case it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the beds or greenhouses, as well as varietal properties and planting forms.

By the way, the formation of bushes has both supporters and opponents. According to the latter, the vegetable crop in question is able to develop and bear fruit perfectly on its own. And it is worth noting that such statements are true, especially when it comes to growing bee-pollinated varieties in open ground. But here it is important to remember that the seedlings in the garden are placed at fairly large intervals, which will provide enough light and nutrients for all plants. Otherwise, the stems will inevitably intertwine, and the fruits on the ground will rot.

As long-term practice shows, it is much more convenient and rational to grow cucumbers using trellises and using the formation of bushes. This is most relevant for greenhouses, which often have to deal with limited space. At the same time, now more and more often you can find varieties of vegetables that do not need the described procedures. We are talking, in particular, about such hybrids as:

  • “Sarovskiy”;
  • “Bouquet”;
  • “Valdai”;
  • “Izhorets”;
  • “Pace”.

The listed types of cucumbers do not need human intervention. This is due to the presence of a sufficiently powerful central stem against the background of short and weakly developing lateral shoots.

Fundamental rules

At the moment, you can easily find step-by-step instructions that will describe in detail the entire process of forming a cucumber bush so that in the end there are few lashes. The choice of a specific method depends on the variety and conditions of the plants. It is clear that when growing vegetables on a windowsill, in greenhouses and in beds, the approach to formation will be different. However, there are also general rules.

  • All necessary operations aimed at the formation of bushes must be carried out on time.
  • In order to ensure full access of air to the roots and prevent the competition of plants for light and nutrition, thickening of the bottoms should not be allowed.
  • The central stem should be directed straight up.
  • The formation of dense thickets along the trellis structure is unacceptable.
  • Work on the formation of bushes is best done in the morning, so that the wounds can dry out and heal during daylight hours.
  • Empty flowers, as well as dry or diseased shoots and leaves, must be cut and broken off daily, leaving no stumps.
  • For cutting, only sharp, properly sharpened and disinfected tools are used. Breaking off the lashes often leads to serious damage, and often the death of the plant.
  • During pinching, the tip of the shoots is removed directly so as not to cause irreparable damage to the bush.
  • It is highly recommended to turn the whips over as little as possible, as cucumbers can react painfully to this.
  • One of the key points is proper watering. It is impossible to water the cucumbers on the leaves, since in this case only spraying is allowed. The temperature of the water used varies from 22 to 24 degrees. It is highly undesirable to water the heated soil with cold water.

How to form cucumbers?

It is important to remember that at all stages of growth and development of a vegetable crop, it is necessary, in parallel with the formation of bushes, to remove dried and affected leaves, tendrils and shoots that have already bear fruit in a timely manner.

Special attention deserves the moment associated with pruning the leaves of cucumbers. It is no secret that it is in them that photosynthesis is carried out, which is necessary for the ovaries and ripening of fruits. In the context of formation, it is necessary to use the rule according to which each ovary must necessarily have a leaflet responsible for the nutrition of the greens.

Based on the foregoing, it is allowed to remove the already mentioned defective ones, as well as leaves that thicken the planting and prevent its normal ventilation. First of all, the foliage is cut at the very bottom, that is, lying on the ground. After that, they proceed to the removal of side shoots, on which the cucumber crop was previously harvested. This approach allows you to create the most comfortable microclimate for plants in plantings. It is important to remember that the leaves are cut off, leaving no petioles.

How to form cucumbers?

How to form cucumbers?

Formation of different varieties

At the moment, farmers use different methods of formation, the choice of which is determined by several key factors. At the same time, it is worth considering the classic version of the described agricultural technique aimed at increasing the yield of a popular vegetable crop. It is relevant both for modern bee-pollinated species and for hybrids related to parthenocarpic.

It is important to note that the universal method is suitable for plants in which female flowers form both on the central stem and on side shoots. If, during the growth process, it turned out that there are no ovaries at the level of 6 or 7 leaves, and only male flowers are formed, then the main stem can be removed, leaving a pair of the strongest lateral ones. They are fixed on a trellis and the growth points are removed after the 5th sheet. Another key point is that it is unacceptable to cut off male flowers, which are necessary for pollination and the formation of ovaries.

Bushes of weakly branched hybrid varieties with a bouquet type of flowering are formed, as a rule, according to the so-called umbrella principle. As already noted, the working scheme is chosen taking into account the place where vegetables are grown. So, this method involves the construction of two trellises in the upper part of the greenhouse. The main thing is that pruning and pinching should be done in the morning using a sharp and machined tool.

How to form cucumbers?

How to form cucumbers?

Parthenocarpic and hybrids

Initially, it is worth noting that modern hybrid varieties differ in that they have almost 100% female flowers. It turns out that the ovaries of such cucumbers are formed on the main stem. Often, in such species, several embryos can form in each leaf axil. But it should be remembered that only about 1/5 of them will eventually become full-fledged fruits. The rest will dry up and fall off during the growth of the bush. That is why it is necessary to form hybrids and parthenocarpic varieties of cucumbers.

Hybrid bushes are most often formed into one stem, while taking into account the following important points.

  • Plants are tied to a horizontally oriented trellis in any convenient way. Do this approximately 12-15 days after planting cucumbers in the ground.
  • The tops of the lashes should remain free and be able to wrap around the tied twine as they grow.
  • As soon as the main shoot reaches the top of the supporting structure, it must be tied up and the top pinched or cut off.
  • At the next stage, all side stems are removed, as well as antennae and flowers up to the third leaf from the bottom.
  • Shoots that grow after the indicated mark are pinched. It is important to note that the harvest in such cases is formed mainly on the main lash.
  • If we are talking about long-fruited varieties of cucumbers, then after all the listed parts of the bush are removed up to the 3rd leaf, the central stem is pinched approximately on the 3-4 leaf line. The main thing is that before that he has grown to the top of the trellis.

The shoots formed later in the axils of these leaflets will need to be thrown over the trellis and directed towards the beds. Then they are pinched a meter from the ground. The cucumbers themselves in such cases will be formed first on the main, and then on the growing stems.

Beam

Nowadays, the popularity of cucumber varieties that have bunch, that is, bouquet fruiting, is actively growing. In such species, 5 full-fledged fruits or more are formed in each sinus. As a rule, such bushes are formed in one lash. Their excessive thickening with lateral stems with an abundance of ovaries leads to depletion, therefore, to the inevitable loss of part and a significant deterioration in the quality of the crop. The algorithm of actions in the formation of a bunched cucumber bush is as follows.

  • At the initial stage, after removing the fruits, a full-scale pinching is carried out in the lower part of the bush.
  • As soon as the main stem reaches the trellis, this whip is thrown over it. In this case, the stem is directed towards the ground and, as it grows, is cut off at a height of 20-30 cm from its surface.

With this formation of a cucumber bush, it is mainly the main lash that bears fruit. It is worth noting that gardeners also use another way to implement the considered agrotechnical measure.

  • Lateral stems are removed to the level of the trellis.
  • The central shoot is wrapped around the supporting structure and pinched.
  • At the top, 1-2 stepsons are left, and then they are thrown over, after the second leaflet with the ovary they are pinched and sent down.

Regardless of the method of formation of bunched cucumbers, the so-called blinding of the lower sections of the stems must first be performed. This implies the removal of all, without exception, lateral shoots, flowers and tendrils to the level of the 3rd leaf.

Indeterminate

In this case, we are talking about long-known traditional, as well as strongly branched more modern varieties of the described culture. It is no secret that they actively bear fruit precisely on the lateral stems. Based on this, such bushes are formed in several lashes.

  • The central shoot is plucked off after 4-5 leaves.
  • Two stepsons formed at the top are pulled out and directed in opposite directions.
  • The shoots are fixed (tied up) and pinching is performed.
  • The stems left after being thrown are cut off about 1-1,5 meters from the ground.

As a result of such actions, the plant will begin to evenly bush in two directions. This, in turn, will contribute to the emergence and full development of a large number of high-quality cucumbers.

There is also an alternative course of action. Pinching the top of the main stem, that is, the part where most of the empty flowers form, allows you to achieve the formation of the maximum number of side shoots. This is what will be, with proper care, the key to a future abundant harvest. Here it is important to shorten all new stems after 2-4 leaves, taking into account the thickening of the planting, as well as the degree of illumination.

How to form cucumbers?

How to form cucumbers?

The nuances of carrying out, taking into account the place of cultivation

As already noted, the choice of one or another method of formation is influenced by the location and conditions in which cucumbers are grown. So, if we are talking about greenhouses, then the main task will be to prevent the growth of lashes. The dense jungle with its leaves will obscure the fruits from sunlight, as well as hide them from bees and take away nutrients in parallel. At the same time, when growing a crop in the beds, they try to make the bushes thicker in order to protect the crop from temperature fluctuations.

Taking into account such features, abundantly branching varieties are more often planted in open ground. The formation of bushes in such situations has a number of important features. When constructing support structures, the area used for cucumbers, as well as the convenience of plant processing and harvesting, are taken into account.

How to form cucumbers?

In open ground

If we compare varieties that are most suitable for greenhouse conditions and open beds, then in the second case, cucumbers are preferred, which are characterized by abundant shoot formation. Here, the thicker the cucumber jungle, the richer and better fruiting. It is unlikely that on such beds it will be possible to see a whip in splendid isolation. When forming such bushes, it is recommended to consider the following most important points.

  • Pinching is usually not used.
  • Flowers of both sexes appear simultaneously and in comparable numbers on all stems.
  • Fruits are formed and develop evenly throughout the bush.
  • The number of shoots is directly and directly proportional to the creation of a microclimate.
  • In dense cucumber thickets, carbon dioxide is released, which is so necessary for the full growth and development of this vegetable crop.
  • Long and branched shoots are able to effectively protect the fruits from difficult weather conditions, as well as direct sunlight, which can cause irreparable damage to the crop.

However, when growing cucumbers in open ground, certain rules should be followed, taking into account the area of ​​​​plant nutrition. In particular, we are talking about varieties that are characterized by excessively long main shoots, which are formed to the detriment of the formation of ovaries. Such specimens, as a rule, are shortened after 6-8 leaves. This leads to the germination of side shoots with full and strong ovaries. In other cases additional agrotechnical operations aimed at the formation of bushes will not be required.

How to form cucumbers?

How to form cucumbers?

In the greenhouse

In this case, the formation of bushes is of particular importance, since it allows you to create the most favorable conditions for the growth and development of the plant, as well as increasing the yield. The key to success will be the observance of certain simple rules. It is important to take into account the key features of greenhouse cultivation.

  • The nuances of the implementation of agricultural practices will depend on whether varietal or hybrid vegetables are grown.
  • In the situation with varietal samples, female flowers appear mainly on lateral stems. The main whip here serves as a platform for males (barren flowers).
  • Premature pinching of the main trunk provokes the active development of lateral processes. The result of this will inevitably be a thickening of the planting with the subsequent development of diseases and a deterioration in yield.

How to form cucumbers?

How to form cucumbers?

Under the described conditions, bushes are formed in one lash, on which the future harvest will be concentrated. Proceed to the appropriate procedures 10-15 days after the transfer of seedlings to the ground. It will be important to remember the following rules.

  • All units must be tied up at a height of 100-150 mm.
  • The trellis is made at least 1,5 m.
  • Plants are tied neatly, avoiding tension.
  • The loops around the young stems must not be overtightened so as not to damage them.
  • You can wrap the shoots around the twine in any direction. It is important that the top remains free.

The next stage is the removal of all leaflets without exception, as well as ovaries and flowering up to the 4th true leaf. Cotyledons are not taken into account in this case. This procedure is called blinding.

It is worth noting that such measures have a beneficial effect on the development of plants and their productivity. The fact is that in the leaves of the lower row, a minimum of ovaries is most often formed, but at the same time they take away some of the nutrients.

How to form cucumbers?

Anna Evans

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