Features of the formation of cucumbers in the greenhouse
So that the process of growing cucumbers does not turn into caring for an overgrown weed that looks like dense thickets, it is important not to skip such an important step as forming cucumbers in a greenhouse. Today we will talk about how to form cucumbers in a greenhouse, what methods of formation exist.
Features of the formation of cucumbers in the greenhouse
Why cucumbers are formed
Despite the fact that many gardeners refuse to form vegetables, it is still necessary to do this, according to Oktyabrina Ganichkina, a recognized specialist in the cultivation of agricultural crops. First of all, this is necessary in order to save space in the greenhouse, because the standard method of spreading requires a lot of space. Therefore, it is advisable to tie up vegetables, giving preference to the vertical growing method. We will find out for what other reasons it is advisable to use the formation of cucumbers:
- The method allows you to maximize the yield, as you manage to better control the vegetation of the plant. Due to the fact that excess shoots are removed, the plant directs all its forces to the creation of vegetables;
- Greenhouse area is used sparingly
- The formation of a cucumber bush in a greenhouse allows you to achieve the correct conditions of humidity and lighting in the morning and in the evening, it is also possible to avoid shading in the daytime, which will reduce the risk of plant disease;
- With the vertical method of growing, plant care is greatly simplified, this also applies to watering, weeding and harvesting;
- With the help of timely pinching, it is possible to achieve an extension of the fruiting period
Formation methods
Before planting cucumbers, it is worth deciding in advance which formation scheme you will use. There are several options:
- Vertical scheme, it is most often used in the case of growing crops at home. In this version, the loops are tied under a sheet located immediately below the vertical trellis. As the plant develops, the loops are knitted in a circle;
- The horizontal scheme assumes a method of tying between two thin supports, which are located horizontally, it is rational to use it in the case of a low ceiling in the greenhouse. It is worth saying that the method has a number of disadvantages, the most significant of which is that it is quite difficult for the cucumber ovaries to reach the next wire row of the trellis.
Separately, it should be said about the use of a specialized grid, it is also called cucumber, it can be bought in gardening shops. Judging by the reviews, the use of the mesh is most relevant in greenhouses, the fact is that it is easy for cucumber tendrils to catch on to this material, you just need to direct the rostr in the right direction.
Formation stages
If you decide to form cucumbers in a greenhouse, it is important to clearly understand what stages this procedure consists of:
- Tying leaves
- Getting rid of excess foliage
- Pinching of lateral processes and shoots
- Formation of multiple shoots
Features of formation depending on the variety
Read the variety description carefully
In order for all the efforts made to pay off with a rich harvest, it is important to know which variety of cucumbers you are going to plant: compact or climbing, Chinese parthenocarpic (the fruits of this culture grow elongated and thin, reaching a length of 30 to 80 cm) or varietal (Parade, Nezhinsky, Phoenix, Aquarius and so on). If you give preference to the varieties described above, then the formation of the bushes will take place according to the standard scheme. If you prefer to use hybrid varieties, you should know that it is not necessary to form them, for them it will be enough to remove the lower leaves.
If you prefer climbing varieties, it is worth considering that they grow quite quickly and densely, giving a large number of lashes. If you make a mistake during the pinching stage, there is a risk that such a bush will become sterile and never yield a crop again. In order to avoid such mistakes, it is important to adhere to certain rules step by step, which will be discussed below, let's start from the very first stage - tying.
How to thin out the landing
In order for the formation of the plant to be as successful as possible, it is important to thin out the planting. In greenhouse conditions, it is allowed to plant 2-4 plants per 1 meter. If you choose a multi-stemmed option for the formation of bushes, then you need to observe the distance between plantings of 70-80 cm.The only exceptions are parthenocarpics, in this case the distance between the bushes is reduced to 30 cm.The fact is that with close planting, a considerable part of the plant's strength will be spent to survive in a stressful situation.
- Wait for the moment when the plant grows to the very first rail, then, using a figure-eight tying, attach it firmly to the support
- It is important not to stretch the stem too much, otherwise you risk getting the plant roots out of the ground
- Once a week, you need to wrap the stems strictly clockwise, using a vertically located twine as a support
- It is important not to damage the top, it must remain free, if this is not done, the top of the cucumber bush may turn yellow, and later get sick
If everything is done correctly, the number of side shoots will not be critical, it will be easy to get rid of them.
Getting rid of leaves
From below, you need to completely get rid of the leaves, in particular from those that touch the soil, usually 2-4 leaves below. The fact is that in the process of watering, water inevitably gets on them, which becomes the cause of the development of rot.
In no case break off the leaves, otherwise the resulting wound will become an excellent conductor for the penetration of certain pathogens. Remove leaves so that no stump remains.
Getting rid of side shoots
Side shoots have another name - stepchildren. It is worth saying that it is worth getting rid of most of the stepsons, since they do not allow the plant to develop normally and reduce the fruiting rate. If the process is carried out correctly, you will be able to harvest an earlier crop, as well as increase the number of female inflorescences.
Stepsons prevent the plant from developing
It is advisable to carry out the pinching process at the stage when side shoots of at least 4 cm in size are formed on the bush, if this is done later, the growth of the plant will slow down significantly, and you can also lose part of the crop.
It is important to carefully carry out pinching of cucumbers, on the side shoots of which female flowers grow. If you cut off such a stepson, there will be no harvest from this plant.
Topping
There are some varieties that do not have to be pinned at all, you can limit yourself to pinching, that is, you need to remove not the entire lateral shoot, but only part of it. Such a procedure will help form second and third order shoots on the bush, and will also contribute to the formation and growth of new ovaries.
The first to pinch is the shoot located as centrally as possible, you need to wait until it grows to the uppermost wire rail. Central pinching is useful if you use the 2- or 3-stem shaping method.
How to pinch side shoots
When forming bushes, it is important to pay sufficient attention to pinching the lateral shoots. Put a 20 cm mark on the stem, everything below it should be cut off. This procedure will direct all the nutrients up the stem, giving an impetus for the development of new ovaries. At a height of about 1 meter, it is worth leaving a few internodes, usually no more than 4, one of the internodes left will subsequently become a shoot that will continue the growth of the bush.
The presence of shoots extends the growing season of a withering middle-aged plant, in other words, rejuvenates the bush. If there are side shoots above the 2 meter mark, they should not be removed, pinching is performed only if further growth is hampered by the low ceiling height of the greenhouse.
Next, we will talk about how the process of forming a bush changes depending on how many stems there will be on it.
We form a bush into one stem
There are types of cucumbers that are recommended to be formed exclusively into one stem; varieties such as parthenocarpic vegetables or those that give a small number of branches during the growing season fall here. The fact is that such plants give female inflorescences. In this case, it is advisable to pinch the central stem at the time when it reaches the level of the central support. As usual, the leaves located at the very bottom of the bush are subject to removal. Make sure that the side shoots do not grow more than 5 centimeters in length.
Count the fifth leaf from the bottom; at this level, shoots no more than 20 cm in length are left. As for the side shoots at a height of one meter, it is recommended to leave shoots no larger than 30 cm or more when growing long-fruited varieties.
Formation of multiple stems
In some varieties of cucumbers, fruits are formed not only on the central stems, but also on the lateral ones, respectively, the formation of the stems will be slightly different. In short, such a bush will have several central stems that emanate from one base. 3-4 leaves are left in the lower part of the bush, while opening the stepsons and buds. Those shoots that were actively growing on the side should be left intact until the first ovaries appear. You should find the strongest shoots and tilt them towards the main central one, while observing the correct angle of inclination - 60 degrees.
Those stems that are on the sides need to be attached to the central support with the help of a mustache, after which they are parallelly attached to the trellis. If there is too active growth of shoots, it is worth pinching them, but in no case cut off. As for the shoots of the second order, it is also recommended to pinch them, while it is important to get rid of all excess leaves. It is also worth carefully cutting off all shoots that have already borne fruit, yellow shoots, leaves affected by the disease.
Now you know how to properly form cucumbers in a greenhouse, you can rationally use the greenhouse area and harvest a rich harvest.