Is it possible to trim leaves from cucumbers and how to do it correctly

It’s hard to imagine a summer cottage without a neat bed of cucumbers. However, growing this crop raises a number of questions for beginning gardeners. In particular, do cucumbers need leaf pruning? Is it worth forming a vine?

In the article you will find detailed answers to these questions. We will tell you whether it is possible to trim the leaves of cucumbers for better fruiting, at what time and how to do it correctly. After learning the specifics of care and reading our recommendations, you will decide for yourself whether it is worth pruning cucumbers.

Is it possible to trim leaves from cucumbers?

Trimming leaves is not only possible, but necessary. Let's look at why cucumber leaves are trimmed, and which ones exactly.

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

Is it possible to trim the bottom/top leaves?

The formation of the vine occurs 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 and leaves touching the ground.

This pruning provides ventilation and also allows the plant to direct nutrients to the fruiting zone. For hybrids, the entire upper part is removed, starting from the sixth leaf. Three subsequent side shoots are left for fruiting.

During harvesting, the upper leaves are not cut off, as they play an important role in the formation of the fruit.

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

Why do this

Many gardeners are not sure whether to trim the leaves of cucumbers. Let's look together at what this method does:

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 Trimming

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 disadvantages in pruning leaves, provided that crop care technologies are followed.

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

Types of pruning

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

The male ones grow on the main stem and do not produce fruit. They are called "barren flowers". To increase the yield, such inflorescences are pinched. The leaves are not torn off, since the plant absorbs nutrients through them.

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

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

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

General

This type of pruning is used for self-pollinating cucumbers. Such crops produce a bountiful harvest and require pruning.The fruits are formed on the main stem, which can support a large harvest. Some fruits are also left on the side shoots to grow.

Important! In hybrid varieties, the harvest 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 nodes).
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. At the bottom of the lash, all inflorescences, barren flowers, side shoots, yellow and drooping leaves are removed.
2. Pinch off the top part after the sixth leaf to develop side shoots.
3. In the second part of the vine's growth, three main sprouts are left 0.5-1 m from the ground, the rest are removed.
4. In the future, they work with these sprouts, leaving four sprouts 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.

Trimming Features:

• remove side shoots;
• remove leaves that darken the vine;
• cut off hanging, limp, yellow leaves;
• Leave 2-3 fruit ovaries.

To increase the yield, in some cases the side stems are left at the first nodes. Side shoots are lowered down to the ground. So the stem stops growing, the fruits begin to actively fill.

How to prune correctly

Correct and timely pruning will help you grow a bountiful harvest and enjoy fresh cucumbers until late autumn.

Let's look at how to properly trim cucumbers in open ground:

1. The procedure is carried out in the evening.
2. After pruning, it is recommended to water and fertilize the cucumbers.
3. Pruning is carried out along the entire length of the plant.
4. Work begins after the sixth leaf grows.The whip is wrapped around the trellis and the growing point is pinched.
5. Remove the side shoots in the first half of the vine, as well as all leaves that look down or are wilted.
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 should not let it grow, so as not to darken the beds.
7. Growing shoots in the second and third parts of the vine are placed on trellises.
8. For uniform lightening, the shoots are distributed in a checkerboard pattern.
9. The lashes are pinched at a distance of 0.5 m.
10. After pruning, leave 3-4 ovary nodes and some leaves.
11. Shoots extending beyond the row are cut off.

In hybrids, pinch off the tops after the sixth leaf, leaving three shoots, the rest are removed. Conventional varieties are grown with a single stem.

The procedure is carried out with garden shears in order to reduce the damage to the tops.

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

Which leaves to trim for a good harvest?

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

Features of pruning in greenhouses and open ground

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

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

When pruning cucumbers in open ground, you should know:

1. The tops of growing shoots should be well lit.
2. If there are an abundance of barren flowers, you need to dry the soil, remove the growing points, then pick off the barren flowers.
3. Promptly remove yellowed leaves, as well as those located 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 varieties, which are pollinated by insects, freely so that bees and other pollinators can reach the flowers.
6. When harvesting, try not to damage the lashes and tendrils, so as not to harm subsequent ovaries.
7. Do not change the position of the lashes when picking fruits.

Let's consider the features of the formation of a cucumber vine when grown in a greenhouse. To do this, we will conditionally divide the whip into four parts.

We carry out work on the following points:

1. In the first lower part of the lash, we remove all the ovaries and side shoots up to the fourth leaf. At the same time, the tops continue to grow.
2. In the second part of the four nodes, we remove the growing point, leaving 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 growth slows down, cucumbers in greenhouses undergo lightening pruning. Remove side stems, downward-pointing leaves, and empty flowers, leaving the ovary on the main stem.

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

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

Optimal timing of the procedure

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

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

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

Advice from experienced gardeners

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

Basil: «I have been using the method of forming a cucumber vine by pruning for a long time. I prefer self-pollinating 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 harvest.”

Tatiana: “I recently learned that you need to trim the leaves of cucumbers, and found out which ones to remove for a good harvest. I started doing this and noticed that pruning helps 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 away nutrients. The cucumbers are filling faster and there is more ovary.”

conclusions

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

You also learned how to remove leaves from cucumbers so as not to damage the ovaries or break the vines. By removing the male inflorescences, you will direct the plant’s energy to the growth and ripening of fruits.Carry out pruning carefully using our recommendations and advice.