How to pinch cucumbers in the open field and in the greenhouse correctly
Open field pickling of cucumbers is a prerequisite for proper care of this vegetable crop. The procedure allows you to increase yields and solve many other problematic issues.
The need for a procedure
What is pinning? Lateral shoots are called stepchildren, which do not allow the cucumber vine to develop normally. They take up moisture and valuable components necessary for the formation of fruits. Stepchildren are formed between the leaf and the stem. Stepping out is getting rid of lateral ramifications. They begin to remove them when the plant reaches a height of 6 cm.
It is important for beginners to know what stepchildren are and how to distinguish them from a regular sheet. Lateral shoots appear between the central stem and the leaf. First, the leaf itself unfolds, and only then, a little higher, branches are formed. Only the upper sprout should be cut off. The best time for pickling cucumbers that grow in open beds is mid-July. At this time, the plant will gain enough strength to give a good harvest.
The answer to the question whether it is necessary to pinch cucumbers is unequivocally positive. It is necessary to get rid of the side lashes, but this must be done carefully. The procedure is not just about removing all excess vegetation. Correct pinching of cucumbers is to maintain healthy, strong leaves. It is they who enrich the plant with ultraviolet light and oxygen. Without knowing these features, you can lead to the death of the culture 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 is increasing;
- fewer weeds appear, so there is no need for frequent weeding;
- in a rainy summer, the likelihood of rotting decreases;
- a ripe crop is easy and simple to harvest;
- it is not difficult to take care of the beds.
Do I need to pinch cucumbers of all varieties? Not all varieties of cucumbers will benefit from pinching. Single-stemmed species do not form long stems, therefore they do not curl. In such crops, as they grow, a neat bush is formed, 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 must be removed. Otherwise, the cucumbers will form bitter.
It is necessary to remove not only the side branches, but also diseased, dry, damaged leaves. Only pinching and cleansing of diseased leaves are not carried out in one day. Do not use the same cutting tools so as not to spread disease.
It is recommended to remove them in time 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 pinch the cucumbers in order to prevent damage. After the extra shoot is determined, you need to slightly move the leaf with one hand, and with the other, tear off the shoots near the stem. It is recommended to leave a small scion to prevent re-formation of the stepson and reduce the risk of infection.
How do you trim the side outgrowths? For these purposes, sharpened scissors are used, which are selected specifically for these purposes. You cannot do other work with scissors at the same time. It is necessary to remove side shoots when their size reaches 4 cm. Only in this case it will be easy to notice and tear them off.
How to pinch cucumbers in the open field, there are several schemes.
- All additional branches are supposed to be removed. Leave one central, strongest stem. The method is especially suitable for areas where the cucumbers are planted tightly together 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, as the fruits will be visible.
- If the cucumbers are not supposed to be tied to a support, then pinch the cucumbers in an open area begin by removing only those stepsons who are up to 4 leaves. The bush will look lush, and the fruits will ripen a lot. The main stage is pinching the growth point, due to which the lateral processes will gain strength. It is on the lateral branches that female flowers are most often formed.
It should be borne in mind that pollinating inflorescences are most often formed on the main branch, and female ovaries appear more often on the lateral branches. Do not forget to remove stepsons from the side lashes.
How long does it take to form a bush? It is possible to correctly pinch cucumbers in the open field if you follow the following scheme:
- the cucumber stem is conventionally divided in length into four equal parts;
- stepchildren begin to remove from the bottom, which are located in the axils of the fourth sheet;
- in the next part, work is carried out between the fifth and seventh leaves (you need to remove all lateral sprouts, leaving one leaf and one ovary each);
- 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.
Greenhouse culture care
In a greenhouse, pinching is necessarily carried out, since comfortable conditions contribute to the growth of greenery. The plant ceases to get not only nutrients, but also lighting. Stepsons begin to remove when they reach 4-6 cm.
The diagram will help answer the questions of how and how many times it is recommended to remove stepchildren when growing cucumbers in a greenhouse.
- After the fourth leaves unfold on the seedlings, all the processes located below are torn off.
- To remove the stepsons next time, they begin when the eighth sheet is expanded. On the lateral branches below the level, one ovary and one leaf are left.
- It is recommended to repeat the procedure when 10 sheets appear. You need to leave a couple of leaves and ovaries.
- After 11 leaves, three ovaries and leaves are left.
- As soon as the height of the bush reaches 50 cm, pinch the central stem. Do not forget to carry out pinching on the side branches.
Gardeners' advice: “We remove our stepchildren without regret, 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. "
