βStepchildrenβ are secondary, almost equivalent processes that have grown from a corner on the main lash, which also bear fruit later. But their removal is necessary, because cucumbers from them taste more bitter from the ends, smaller.
Is stepchildren necessary?
Removal of “stepchildren” is mandatory. Pasynkovanie cucumber plants produced in any greenhouse – no matter what its walls are built from: film or polycarbonate. The main thing is that it let in slightly scattered sunlight – this is its purpose. And in order for the cucumber growth to contribute to the growth of the main shoot, like a grape bush of climbing varieties, it is stepchildren. This measure will also be needed to prevent the development of diseases caused by various pests and the general weakening of vegetation.
With the growth of a cucumber bush (or creeper, as it is sometimes called), the main whip originates from the root. It accounts for the main crop. In certain places, from some nodes, in addition to the main leaves, lateral shoots sprout, called “stepsons”. If they are accidentally saved, they will give a cucumber “offspring”, but the cucumbers from them will turn out to be noticeably worse. The main principle works: the farther from the root, the less water and minerals get to the fruits, since the vine (or trunk) and the main branches are the main conductor of the nutrient medium obtained from the soil.
But βstepsonsβ are an exception: they are not a full-fledged whip, they are just secondary processes of the aerial part of the plant.
The interest is that from one βstepsonβ a second one (child, stepson of the second order) can grow. Theoretically, they can grow indefinitely – at least a few. “Stepchildren”, like tree branches, are capable of both branching and yielding crops. And the farther from the main lash, the worse the quality of the crop will be, even if there is full-fledged watering, spraying from pests and (outside) root dressing, always done in a timely manner. All unnecessary growth must be removed – it will go to the compost, here it simply will not bring any benefit.
“Stepchildren” take away the vitality – in every sense of this definition – from the main lash. A “wild” and overgrown cucumber bush consumes nutrients for the constant growth of new branches, preventing the owner from planting a full-fledged crop. Removal of excess shoots is required not only for the cucumber, but also for all plants of the pumpkin family: one day there comes a moment when the growth of shoots needs to be limited, because one root is not enough for such an βarmyβ of cucumbers. The disadvantage of pinching is labor costs, but it will not be possible to completely do without labor investments: any culture requires timely care.
Dates of the procedure
For the first time in the “cucumber” season, stepchild cucumbers appear after the plants have at least five leaves. The bush reaches a height of about 35 cm. “Stepchildren” grow an average of 5 cm. You canβt let them grow further – they will impoverish the main plant. These processes are cut off according to a specific situation, without regard to the lunar calendar. In general, pinching is not delayed until August.
The maximum number of sessions of this procedure is no more than 3. The removal of “stepchildren” is repeated due to the appearance of new processes of the same kind.
Removing the shoot leaves a cut several millimeters long on the main stem from it. If you remove it βlevelβ, then the main lash will suffer, because 2β3 mm of tissues die off, and drying out of the cut will damage the main stem.
These are not lignified shoots in the vineyard that can be cut flush with the stem – annual crops react painfully to improper removal and often die before they have time to produce a crop.
It often turns out that pinching cucumbers is done in May, June and July.. Remove the “stepsons” with a clerical blade or well-honed scissors. Correctly cutting off or trimming stepchildren means not only preventing damage to the stem, but also not accidentally removing the main top. When the bush turned out to be loose, or there was no support for it, for which it could cling, eliminate this flaw. The best support option is a trellis structure; in the simplest case, a mesh or at least a fishing line can be stretched at several heights above the ground.
Fundamental rules
Even those “stepchildren” on which there are already set fruits are subject to removal. At a height of up to 40 cm in the first stage of the procedure, not a single lateral process should remain. This will allow the roots of cucumber shoots to develop better: organic matter is not spent on absolutely unnecessary shoots. The reserve that the plant continues to receive from the soil will be needed for the main development of the whip with leaves. After the pinching session, loosen and water the soil under the root of the plant.
When the height of the bush approaches a meter, the cucumber vine blooms. The lowest leaves of the plant – the first 3 – are removed, because they will not be of any use. Organic substances formed due to photosynthesis are produced in the right amount from the overlying leaves, then they flow to the lower and underground parts of the plant.
At the second stage of pinching – about a month later – the procedure for cutting off excess inflorescences is also performed.
The rule here is: one inflorescence near one leaf. Too many cucumbers will spoil the overall quality of the crop – as well as stepchildren.
The third stage consists in cutting out stepchildren and extra inflorescences only after the next growth of the βtopsβ by 40 cm. The cutting process repeats the previous sessions. After the growth of the vine by 120 cm, you can neither pinch nor remove excess flowers. At this stage, the yield will be the largest. The regrown lateral branches of the bush are lowered – having released the “whiskers”, they can cling to the ground with them and take root again.
With a decrease in the growth rate of the vine and the threat of a decrease in yield, the plants are fed, and they are additionally sprayed with pesticides.
Schemes
They mainly use the classic pinching scheme with pinching the main branch, the βDanish umbrellaβ and processing the main lash.
classical
Pasynkovanie cucumbers according to the classical scheme is carried out according to the step-by-step instructions described below. As a pruning tool, choose a pruner or knife.
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Harvesting is carried out in the morning or after sunset, at low air temperatures.
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You need to cut off only the extra side branches, as well as the shoots that form below the first pair of leaves.
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Bushes should be thinned once a season to get abundant fruiting.
You canβt get carried away with pasynkovanie. This method is called “grandfather” – it has been known since the time when cucumbers became widespread as a table (edible for humans) culture, and the most resistant varieties to cool weather were bred.
With pinching of the main loop
Pinching the main branch of cucumbers is performed according to the following scheme:
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from the moment when the fourth leaf appears on the main stem, and before the fourth inflorescence is formed on it, the top is pinched;
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if possible, wait when all the cucumbers are tied at the top of the stem, and then hold two more pinches;
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as soon as a cucumber is tied on the brush, you need to pinch its top so that the plant directs all its forces to the filling and ripening of the fruit.
Pinching – slowing down the growth of the cucumber vine. It is necessary to redirect nutrients – not for the endless growth of branches and tops, but in order to accelerate the ripening of already existing fruits. This is a method to avoid the appearance of a significant number of “barren flowers”.
Pinching the main lash gives cucumbers the following benefits:
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increases the number of female flowers on a bush pollinated by bees;
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releases side shoots;
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forms new lateral lashes, on which there will also be buds and fruits;
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due to pinching, you can get cucumbers with shorter internodes, with a larger leaf area, which contributes to better illumination and ventilation of leaves and fruits.
Plants with short internodes have better light exposure, so they produce juicier, sweeter fruits. Growing the main lash above 120 cm is meaningless in practice.
“Danish Umbrella”
The complexity of the work when pinching the “Danish method” justifies itself with a simplified care for cucumbers: it is easier to process them from diseases and pests. At the same time, all cucumbers are higher, which is undoubtedly a significant plus. Remove the side shoots and the accompanying “offspring” should be according to the scheme below:
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the main branch is pressed when the cucumber plants grow to the height of the 9th leaf;
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on the lateral shoots, several of the most healthy leaves are selected, the rest must be removed;
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the growth of lateral shoots is adjusted to 4 nodes, after which they are pinched.
A cucumber bush, having 12 growing points, will give a good harvest. But there is another option for cutting off excess leaves and shoots – under the same definition.
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Up to 5th sheet all lateral vegetation is removed.
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Until the 9th – remove all elements, except for the number of fruits equal to the number of sheets.
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Until the 13th – leave two fruits near each leaf.
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At the 14th sheet leave one stepson shoot, cut off all the fruits. As it grows, this side shoot is pinched when it has grown two leaves.
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Until the 20th – leave a couple of “stepchildren”, remove the fruits. The distance between the “stepsons” is at least one sheet.
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Near 20 sheet leave one lateral process. After growth to 8 sheets, it is pressed.
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main whip transferred through the trellis and pressed down after 3 sheets.
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On the second sheet leave a side shoot, after growing 5 leaves it is pressed down.
If you follow this scheme clearly, then pinching will keep the fruits that have not been removed in good quality and allow them to ripen thoroughly and correctly.
In one whip
The simplest is the removal of all lateral processes. Only the leaves on the main branch remain – with fruits set nearby. This method is suitable for self-pollinated varieties of cucumbers.
Possible mistakes
When pinching, you can not use insufficiently sharpened garden tools, for example: side cutters or pliers – neither of them have sharp edges that can clearly and quickly cut off unnecessary growth. It is also undesirable to tear off the βstepsonsβ with your hands – if you accidentally tear off part of the stem, you simply ruin the plants.
Pasynkovanie is best done immediately, as soon as possible, when the lateral shoots have just appeared. It is not advisable to remove lateral overgrowths: they are a full-fledged part of the vine, as, for example, happens in the case of grapes. But until they get thicker and tougher, they are much easier to remove. But be prepared for their appearance in other nodes on the next day or in the coming days. There is a risk of losing count by removing even those that were supposed for further growth: it is also undesirable to remove absolutely all stepchildren, because the plants will not grow to a height of more than a meter.
Having lost many lateral shoots and some unnecessary fruits, the bush will receive a “respite”, but it will not be long: the roots and preserved stems, leaves and fruits will go into rapid growth. This means that watering and fertilizing cannot be neglected – the opinion that the plant needs reduced care is deceptive. On the contrary, after circumcision, it receives a kind of stress, becomes more vulnerable to possible drought, pests and diseases – it is important not to let it wither during this period. Sanitary pruning – removal of dried and affected leaves – is also important.
The strong growth of the lateral shoot also depletes the plant, which gave it a significant share of the stored moisture and nutrients. If, during pinching, a certain shoot was skipped and grew by 5 or more leaves, cut it off late – let it grow, but the next pinching should remove all second-order shoots that have grown on it and go beyond one of the above schemes.
It is not necessary to regret the extra shoots to be removed. If you give the cucumber plant complete freedom, then it will grow too many stems and leaves, most of which will not bring any sense. You grow a fruit garden crop for the benefit, and not an ornamental or wild-growing one for the sake of beauty, decorating the site. Cucumber, like most plant species that produce edible fruits, wastes nutrients and water for branches, from which there will be no sense other than coolness and purification of the air from carbon dioxide.
If you want to grow green mass, then use climbing perennial flower bushes – and not cucumber and similar crops.
Don’t let your cucumbers take care of themselves – even in a greenhouse. Despite the fact that in greenhouse conditions weeds germinate several times less often than in the open part of the garden, cucumber beds must be regularly weeded.
If there is not enough natural light in the greenhouse on a gray and rainy day, then turn on additional lighting. For example, LEDs are a great option.
It is impossible to swamp the soil in places where cucumbers grow. It should be wet, and not be impenetrable dirt. When this condition is violated, the roots simply rot from lack of oxygen – they also breathe through the fertile layer in which they continue to grow. A few hours before watering or rain, the soil must be dug up – water will easily seep into it and reach the lowest roots faster. The formation of a crust on the soil surface is unacceptable.
If all the conditions for pinching cucumbers are met and timely and proper care is taken for the vines, then the harvest will not be long in coming. The quantity and quality of fruits are on average proportional to adequate measures and methods of caring for cucumber plants.
