Step-by-step instructions for beginner gardeners: how to tie cucumbers correctly, the best ways

Thanks to tying, air exchange increases, the growth and productivity of cucumbers increases. We will tell you in detail about the types of structures and give step-by-step instructions for their manufacture.

Why tie up cucumbers?

The cucumber tying system is important for obtaining a high yield.

Why tie a cucumber:

• due to the support, the bush is formed correctly;
• a neatly formed plant is easier pinch;
• the development of lateral shoots increases;
• air exchange increases;
• compact bushes are formed;
• watering the plant becomes easier;
• contact of diseased and healthy shoots is excluded;
• convenient to collect fruits.

Stems creeping along the ground quickly dry out or rot. If the bush itself begins to weave haphazardly in a vertical direction, untied vines may break off under the weight of the fruit.

Types of garters

A special structure is built for tying cucumbers. This process does not require much time or labor. The structure will not take up space in the garden bed, but on the contrary, it will help form cucumber bush and free up space. Summer residents use different methods of tying cucumbers, each of which is horizontal or vertical.

Horizontal

This type of tying is traditional.

Basic steps for assembling the structure:

1. Take a 150-200 cm support and drive it into the two long sides of the bed so that they hold firmly.
2. Maintain a distance of 40-50 cm between supports.
3. Take a strong rope and stretch it evenly between the posts.
4. Make the distance between the rope rows 10-15 cm.

After making the structure, young shoots are directed to the lower tier. As the plant grows, it will crawl along the stretched rows of rope and take shape.

Important! The tiers of rope are pulled tightly parallel to each other.

Advantages of this method:

• the design is easy to manufacture, even a beginner can handle it;
• does not require effort in forming a bush.

The only drawback of this method is that when the cucumber vine reaches the first horizontal support, it does not try to weave upward, but curls along it. You have to direct the escape manually.

Vertical

Vertical formation of a bush is a popular way of gartering cucumbers among experienced gardeners.

The difference between this type and the horizontal one is in the arrangement of the ropes.

Step-by-step instructions for assembling the structure:

1. Take two supports 200 cm high and drive them into the center of the short sides of the bed.
2. Using a rope and a crossbar, connect the pillars to each other. It should be a U-shaped structure.
3. Plant cucumbers under the crossbar at a distance of 30 cm.
4. When the plants begin to curl, take the tape and wrap it around the stem, pull it to the crossbar and tie it.
5. Along a vertical fabric ribbon, the cucumber will cling to the mustache and grow upward.

Advantages of the vertical tying method:

• easy to implement;
• saves space on the site;
• does not require additional effort to form a bush.

The disadvantage of the vertical method is that if the installation is not secure, the structure will collapse and damage everything. landings.

Important! The horizontal crossbar is often replaced with a strong rope.In this case, it is pulled tightly so that it can withstand the weight of an adult plant.

Garter methods

Methods for tying a cucumber are variations of horizontal and vertical types. Each gardener chooses the method that best suits him. The choice depends on the time and materials available.

V-shaped

The V-shaped option refers to vertical types of tying. The difference lies in the possibility of forming a divided bush.

When using this method, a structure similar to the vertical tying method is built.

Stages of tying:

1. Take two fabric ribbons and tie them at a distance of 20 cm from each other above the cucumber bush.
2. Tie the ends of the ribbon at the base.
3. Place the main shoot on one strip and a large side shoot on the other.

The plant itself will cling to the tape and grow upward.

Important! With a V-shaped tying, the thickening of the base of the bush is reduced, the plant is less sick and receives a sufficient amount of light.

Mesh

The basis of the design in the mesh method is the mesh. Garden stores offer a huge selection of special nets made of metal and plastic. They are intended not only for cucumbers, but for all climbing plants.

The mesh is a horizontal and vertical garter at the same time. The mesh is placed between two supports or in another convenient way. The cucumber is directed onto the frame, and it weaves around the cells as it grows. The plant feels free, as it easily reaches all the cells.

Advantages of the mesh method:

• robust design;
• durable;
• does not require effort to form a bush.

The disadvantage is the time and labor required to find and install the mesh.

In an arc

Garter on arches is an alternative method of the horizontal version. Arcs made of plastic or metal and rope are used as the basis of the structure.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Take the arcs and place them at a distance of 80-90 cm from each other along the ridge.
2. Connect the arcs around the circumference with ropes.
3. Place the rope tiers parallel at a distance of 20 cm.
4. Plant the plants in the middle along the ridge.
5. After branching begins, direct the bush to rope tiers.

For greater strength, the structure is reinforced with supports on the sides of the bed.

The advantage of this method is the ability to cover crops with covering material. Therefore, this option is relevant for regions with sharp changes in day and night temperatures.

The disadvantage of this method is that manufacturing the structure takes a lot of time.

Pyramid

This method is also called “herringbone garter”.

The basis of the structure is a pillar. It serves as a support, so it must be strong and stable.

Stages of tying with a pyramid:

1. Install a support pole at least 1.5 m high.
2. Tie ropes to the top of the support. The number of ropes is equal to the number of plants. The length of the rope is equal to the height of the pillar.
3. Lower the ropes to the ground and tie them to the bases of the plants.

You don't need to do anything else. The cucumber itself will braid the rope until it reaches the top.

On the trellis

A trellis is a lattice with a frame that serves as a support for plants. It is made of metal or wood.

Trellis come in different shapes and types. This method of tying a cucumber is not only functional, but also beautiful.

Typically the structure is placed in an A-shape or U-shape. Cucumbers are planted at the base and allowed to weave around the mesh. This method is similar to the mesh method.

The advantage is the strength of the structure. The only drawback is the labor cost.

On the pegs

Garter on pegs is suitable for low-growing varieties.

The structure is based on wooden pegs. They are installed next to each bush. The length of the peg is measured based on the characteristics of the variety. It should be equal to the maximum length of the cucumber stem.

The main garter is located along the central stem. Ropes are also attached to the remaining shoots.

On the stairs

The main structural element is a wood or metal support, reminiscent of a ladder. You can make it yourself or buy it at a garden store. This method is similar to tying on pegs.

The structure is placed near each bush. As the plant grows, it rests on it and grows upward.

Unusual methods

Cucumber lovers from all over the world continue to modernize old and well-known garter methods and, at the same time, develop new, original ways of forming a cucumber bush.

Cucumbers in a barrel

The basis of the design is a barrel. Plants are planted in a container filled with soil. Due to the force of gravity, as they grow, the shoots begin to hang over the edges and grow vertically downwards. This method saves space on the site.

cucumber tree

The basis of tying is to form a bush into several shoots so that it looks like a tree. To do this, build a structure with horizontal crossbars. A rope is attached to it, which will connect the main stem and the crossbar. Ropes are also attached to the side lashes and spread to the sides. After the formation of women's ovaries the side stems are carefully brought to the main one.The angle between the central and side shoots is left at 60°, so the plant is not injured. The tendril from the central shoot is wrapped around the side shoot, and the remaining shoots are removed.

Plastic bottles

In this method, a plastic bottle is used to secure the cucumber stem to the structure. The bottle is cut into strips of the required size. A strip is wrapped around the stem and the structure at the attachment point, and the ends of the plastic are connected with a stapler.

Natural trellis

The fence serves as the basis for tying. Plants are planted along the structure, and if it is a chain-link, just point the cucumber, and it will begin to weave around the mesh itself. And if the fence is wooden or metal, string ropes from the top edge to the base of the bushes, and the cucumbers begin to weave around them.

What you need to prepare in advance

The list of materials that will be needed to make the structure depends on the chosen method of tying, the capabilities of the gardener and the characteristics of the site.

Basic materials for popular types of tying:

• metal or wooden poles;
• twine or other strong rope;
• strips of cotton fabric;
• metal or plastic mesh;
• arched arcs;
• scissors.

To help gardeners, gardening stores have special clips for fixing plants. And for large-scale farms, a stapler that is charged with garter tape will be useful.

How to properly tie cucumbers - step-by-step instructions

Compliance with the rules of tying increases the productivity of the plant and improves the quality of the harvest.

Important! Tying begins when the plant has reached 30 cm in height and has at least four true leaves.

Features of tying a cucumber:

• use soft cotton fabric so as not to damage the shoot;
• the binding loop should not be tight, otherwise the stem will break;
• control the process of bush formation and promptly guide the top around the support;
• do not tighten the ropes too much when tying vertically;
• overgrown bushes are tied up carefully so as not to damage the stem.

Failure to follow the rules leads to bush injuries that are not immediately noticeable. Subsequently, such a plant can become infected with a fungus.

In the open ground

Garter in open ground is especially important for plant development because:

• a tied bush throws out long shoots, on which more inflorescences appear and more fruits are set;
• a plant affected by a fungus or viral infection brings healthy shoots to the top, avoiding the spread of the disease;
• a vertically tied bush takes up less space on the site;
• It is more convenient to collect fruits without bending to the ground.

Without a garter, cucumbers in the open ground do not send out long shoots, thicken, rot and dry out, the stems break off under the weight of the harvest, and the fruits curl, wrinkle and lose their presentation and taste.

In a greenhouse, greenhouse

Reasons for tying a cucumber greenhouse:

• plants receive more sunlight;
• air exchange between bushes increases, and plants get sick less;
• lateral shoots are formed more actively, and the productivity of the bushes increases.

If traditional methods of tying are used in open ground, then in closed ground they use other methods.

Methods for forming a cucumber in closed ground:

1. Blinding cucumbers. This method is based on the vertical garter method.The main stem is fixed on a support, and all side shoots and tendrils located above 50 cm from the ground are removed. Thus, the central stem is strengthened and fungal diseases are prevented.
2. Formation in a polycarbonate greenhouse. The fabric is cut into strips of length equal to the height of the greenhouse. They are fixed to the metal profile of the structure. For each plant, tie a rope and guide the cucumber along it. In the same way, instead of ropes, they use long stakes, sticking them into the ground near the bushes.

Advice from experienced summer residents

There are many options for tying cucumbers. Each of them has its pros and cons.

Advice from experienced summer residents:

1. Tie in the evening or morning so that any accidental damage to the stem has time to dry before the scorching sun.
2. Tie the side shoots to a separate rope. If this is not done, they will begin to curl around the central stem and cause damage to it.
3. Pinch off the top. When the plant grows more than 2 m, it begins to cast a shadow, which slows down the growth of other cucumbers.
4. For one of the horizontal methods, use any rope, and for vertical tying, use a piece of fabric 2-3 cm wide.

Mistakes to Avoid

Mistakes made when tying cucumbers:

• use of thin threads;
• too tight;
• too early or too late tying;
• too frequent tying of new shoots.

Conclusion

How to tie cucumbers is up to the owner of the plot to decide on his own. Some people attach ropes to the fence and plant cucumbers along it in a checkerboard pattern. If cucumbers grow in the middle of the plot, make trellis fastenings. The main thing is that the chosen method is suitable in terms of labor intensity and materials.